blood antibodies problem - anyone else?

[roundabout1]

Hi I am 19 weeks & after many blood tests to confirm apparently have a problem with antibodies. I haven't managed to see a midwife since this problem was confirmed. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it the rhesus negative/positive thing? All I have been told so far is that I will need monthly & then possible weekly blood tests to check my levels but then no one has told me what happens if the levels go up. Didn't really want to google it as I tend to always find the worst case scenario & don't want to worry myself more than necessary. Thanks

[bluefootedpenguin]

Hello. I haven't had experience of this myself, but like you I an rhesus negative. During my first pregnancy I received the antiD injection to help to stop my body producing antibodies in the case that fetal blood should come into contact with my own. From what I understand, now that you have created antibodies, these will always remain in your bloodstream. The greatest risk to your baby is anaemia and jaundice and so it is likely that you will be monitored closely and referred to a specialist. If you want to know more - based upon facts - have a look here it does give all the possible outcomes but is medical information for patients from the NHS. Ring and speak to your midwife/gp for more information or reassurance if you can't get to see them. Take care.x

[Poledra]

roundabout, do you know which antibodies are the problem? Most people have heard of Rhesus D, and it's by far the most common, but there are number of others which can cause concern (anti C, E, Kell and probably more I don't know about).

[roundabout1]

Thanks for the replies, I am getting increasingly worried though! I have my 20 week scan booked next week & have just arranged to see a midwife & have some more bloods taken while there so hopefully will get a chance to find out more. My own midwife is off sick so don't really have anyone to ring unless it's an emergency.
Poledra - No I don't know for sure which antibodies are the problem. Have had a nightmare with the hospital & communication, was told everything was ok twice, then had a letter saying I needed more tests, turned out there was nothing mentioning the antibodies on the computer just in my written notes which it took them over a week to find.
I have not been very confident about this pregnancy from the beginning as it occurred just after a mc & with a dd who is so so excited at the prospect of a sibling I'm paranoid things will go wrong & she will be so heartbroken.

[Poledra]

roundabout, please don't get so stressed! I had anti-E with my second and third pgs (your first pg is what 'gives' you the ABs). They were no problem at all in my second pg (very low levels) but went much higher in my third. I was scanned on a monthly basis and had blood samples taken. The absolute worst that could have happened was that she would have needed an intra-uterine blood transfusion (she didn't). I was looked after by the Foetal Medicine consultants at my local teaching hospital, and they said they had never actually had to do that for an anti-E patient.

In the end, DD3 was induced a day after her due date and 12 hours later developed Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN) which means she had severe jaundice. She spent 5 days in SCBU under lights to treat it, 2 more days in hospital for observation then we had paediatric outpatient appts for 3 months. She is now 18 months old, and absolutely fine.

There is an old thread here, and please just ask if you want me to expand on anything.

It will be fine, they know about the ABs now and can give you the best possible care.

[roundabout1]

Thanks Poledra for the reassurance- am having one of those weeks when I obsess over every slight symptom so finding it hard to keep things in perspective - damn those pregnancy hormones! My 4yr dd told me this morning that if you wish really really hard for something it comes true as she was wishing for ages to be a big sister & now it's come true, think that just set me off worrying that things will go wrong & she'll end up emotionally scarred. Off to pull myself together & have a cup of tea now.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

I have Anti M and sobbed my heart out the first time around - I was googling things and imagining heart problems, brain damage, still birth.

In reality it is absolutely fine for the vast majority of people. I was monitored with blood tests every 4 weeks to check the amount. Mine was always negligible or very low. It would have to be a high level (which is rare) to put you at risk of any problems.

Both times my levels were extremely low or didnt even register some times. I had a home birth with DD (2nd baby).

To put your mind at rest you need to find out what antibody it is. It could well just be rhesus negative. There are lots of antibodies that cause little problem. Let us know.

[roundabout1]

Thanks Peppa, it is so easy to worry about everything isn't it. I assume then with the monthly blood tests that they tell you the results after each time which is good especially if they are low. I've been thinking and am sure I am positive not negative, roll on tuesday when hopefully I will get some answers.
Poledra - Thanks for the link to the old post, it was very reasurring to read, it's good to know we're not alone in this isn't it.
I'll let you know when I find out some more info. Thanks again x

[roundabout1]

Well I saw the midwife at the hospital yesterday, I have anti e antibodies & also an unknown/unassigned one as well. The blood people had sent a note through with the results saying that it was unlikely to cause a risk of haematatic (sp?) disease but apart from that I don't know anymore. I will be having monthly bloods done to check the levels. The midwife didn't really know anything about it herself. Am more chilled out about it now, especially as I had my 20 wk scan yesterday too & that was fine. Am seeing my own midwife next week so hoping she will have more of an idea about it although not expecting much!

[shangrila]

Hi I was diagnosed anti k this pregnancy and have been horrified at the lack of awareness amongst my caregivers. My plan of action would be 1. Find out exactly your antibody status 2. Get your partner 'phenotyped' (posh word for antibody testing) -
After 5 weeks of the most awful anguish, this was arranged for me and based on the result, the problem pretty much disappeared as we were told it put us at no risk of HDN. As others have said, even if this proves not to be the case, all can be fine, given monitoring and management. But at every stage, question, push for understandable answers and don't be fobbed off! Very best of luck. Sure all will be well.

[shangrila]

Sorry roundabout, missed your post! Now they are on the case, I am sure you are in good hands. Best of luck.

[moonmother]

I had anti k antibodies with both my pregancies.

With my first- I was given no information and paniced. My partner at the time was tested too but was negative.

I had to have monthly blood tests up till 6 months and then weekly ones as well as regular scans, if I remember correctly I think I had 2 extra scans- the last one being between 7-8 months. They tested the cord blood in both once they were born but both my children were born perfectly healthy

[HeathersMummy]

I had anti C and anti D antibodies with my second pregnancy. (Anti D is not administered in my Health Authority).
I was given fortnightly blood tests throughout my pregnancy - fortunately the levels remained low. I did have a lot of extra scans (but I had gestational diabetes too, so it may have been because of that).
When DS was born, the cord blood was checked and he was diagnosed as Coombes Positive. It gave him pretty severe jaundice, however it was treated with phototherapy and Folic Acid drops. What I wished I had found out sooner, is that Coombes Positive jaundice can take up to 16 weeks to clear the bloodstream. I kept waking up each morning expecting the jaundice to be gone, and when it wasn't I worried - unnecessarily. In the end it only took about 7 weeks to clear.
Now I have a perfectly happy, health 1 year old.