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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be broody when I have RH negative status?

109 replies

FortifiedWine · 11/03/2016 20:41

Hi all. Looking from advice from any RH negative mothers who have had more than one pregnancy.

Had a baby in 2011, after finding out I was rhesus B negative, received two anti-D vaccinations during pregnancy to protect the next pregnancy. in 2012, 11 months after my first birth, I found out I was expecting again. I refused the anti-D this time, as (stupidly) I was convinced I'd never have any more children, had a REALLY hard time with hyperemisis to the point I was sleeping on the bathroom floor near the toilet. Plus wasn't too keen on a blood product with whatever else in it being injected into me.

When I'd received this shot the first time, I developed PUPPS straight away, which is basically an unbearable intensely itchy skin condition where you are scratching your skin off 24 hours a day and nothing relieves it except giving birth - so rare that my consultant was the only person who had heard of it - I knew what it was beforehand though as I'd trawled the internet wondering WTH was going on with my body. But consultant agreed that's what it was after a test for choleastasis(sp?) But imagine being SO itchy all over that you literally cannot leave your house, get out of bed, do ANYTHING... at that time I was scratching myself with anything that was around, a pine cone, hairbrush, and at one point a pair of tweezers until I was bleeding. I was admitted to hospital at 39 weeks pregnant because I couldn't bare it anymore. I was awake day and night scratching, making my skin bleed, not knowing what to do. I couldn't focus on my upcoming birth as my entire body ITCHED like crazy. It really was something else.

At that point, they kept me in and gave me a sweep and some anti histamines. Whilst they helped me sleep, I still itched. I was crazy angry with everyone and everything at that point, it's bad enough going through late pregnancy without that! However, another sweep later and I gave birth on my due date. Itching went instantly.

So in 2012, upon discovering I was pregnant again I was TERRIFIED. However, I didn't get it second time, amazingly! I was so happy. But as I'd refused the anti-D, believing that had caused it and I wanted no more children, I am now (four years later) thinking of having another child. I am getting towards my 30s and (if it makes a difference) the father would be different to the first two. Am I able to have another baby? The doctors and midwife said I would be high risk as I haven't had the shot in my second pregnancy and there's nothing they can do except monitor my antibodies. Worst case scenario... the baby is stillborn. Best case... it needs a blood transfusion in the womb and will be in special care after with jaundice and other problems. I have also been told that if I was impregnated by a RH negative donor, there would be no issue as blood wouldn't mix.

So I am now looking at sperm donation, which is obviously expensive especially if it doesn't work. I've also been told that the blood mixing rarely occurs anyway, even if I got pregnant by RH positive partner. Not sure what to think. Don't want to risk it obviously, but also don't want to spend thousands on sperm donation in a clinic that may not work?!

OP posts:
Diggum · 11/03/2016 21:24

Two questions: 1) do you know if your second DC is Rhesus positive or negative? Because as coconutpie says if they are negative you may not have a problem here. 2) Do you actually definitely now have anti-D antibodies in your blood? The first step would be to check that and unless you have had your blood tested since you had your last DC then you can't know for definite.

If your second DC is positive and/or you know your body is now making anti-D antibodies, the next step would be to check the level of circulating anti-D in your blood. That can give an idea of how risky a pregnancy would be. If it's present and you become pregnant they'll check those levels every 2-4 weeks and act (by monitoring the baby's blood flow for signs of anaemia) if they rise above a certain threshold.

That's as much as I know because despite being given anti-D in my last pregnancies, I seem to have managed to produce some antibodies, so my current pregnancy is being watched. I'm waiting to see what my levels are like so have no idea yet how much monitoring I'll need.

HTH.

JuxtapositionRecords · 11/03/2016 21:25

keepingitsurreal how did she put her baby at risk ?

mayhew · 11/03/2016 21:27

I am a midwife. To be clear
: there is no known link between anti D and PUPPS
: a baby is only at risk if you have started generating your own antibodies and the baby is rhesus positive
: you don't know if you have produced antibodies, you might be ok.
: your GP can request a blood test to check.

If you have antibodies, then you have to consider your options.

FortifiedWine · 11/03/2016 21:31

Diggum - I checked and second DC is positive.

To everyone else - I appreciate it seemed irresponsible. I'm now in my late 20s, but at the time I had my first two babies I was barely out of my teens, my pregnancies weren't planned and I didn't have the knowledge I have now. I've since trained in a healthcare profession and I appreciate how stupid it was. But at the time I was still a kid really - didn't think about what would happen when I got to my late 20s and was clucky! My priorities at 21/22 were much different to my priorities now at 27. I can only excuse it as being a silly young and ignorant girl back then.

OP posts:
FortifiedWine · 11/03/2016 21:33

Mayhey Thankyou - I will request that. Should I do that before I plan on getting pregant?

OP posts:
Diggum · 11/03/2016 21:33

Okay so I'd follow mayhew's advice and go to your GP to get your blood group & screened. Then you'll know if you have a potential problem. If you're rhesus negative with no antibodies then away you go!

Diggum · 11/03/2016 21:34

XPost- yes do that test before getting pregnant. Good luck!

Jesabel · 11/03/2016 21:35

You don't need to give an excuse Fortified - the itching sounds absolutely horrendous and of course you'd do anything you thought might prevent going through that again. You couldn't have known then that you'd want another baby.

I hope keepingitsurreal comes back to apologise.

coconutpie · 11/03/2016 21:35

OP - you need to be checked after pregnancy for antibodies as it is through birth where it is most likely that the blood will mix. So the only option you have here is to get your blood tested for antibodies. Only then will you be able to make an informed decision. You may or may not have them.

As for a sperm donor - that seems a bit extreme to be thinking about because (a) you don't even know if you have antibodies present and (b) you are in a relationship. Your partner may not even be willing to entertain such an idea. You really need to get a test done first. Then you will know where you stand.

FortifiedWine · 11/03/2016 21:36

Thanks Diggum - I will do that. I wasn't sure if antibodies appeared before or during pregnancy. But once the time's right, I'll approach my GP. :)

OP posts:
coconutpie · 11/03/2016 21:37

X post - yes! Go to your GP immediately and get tested first for antibodies. Don't even think about getting pregnant until you get the results back.

coconutpie · 11/03/2016 21:39

OP - antibodies appear DURING pregnancy (or in labour) when the blood of the foetus can cross into your blood. That's the only time it happens. Hence why getting the anti D also if you suffered a bleed / miscarriage is v important because as from your own mother's experience it can cause miscarriages down the line if anti D wasn't taken.

FortifiedWine · 11/03/2016 21:39

coconutpie - I was honest with my partner from the start, and he accepts we may need a donor. Neither of us want to risk it and we have a pretty good relationship that would survive it. All the paperwork I have from my last pregnancy say that there are no antibodies detected, which hopefully is good.

We will see I suppose..

OP posts:
Sausagema · 11/03/2016 21:39

Please ask for a pre conception consultation with an obstetrician if you do have antibodies. In the nicest way it sounds like you've got your knowledge of this from googling. Even if you do have the antibodies, a healthy pregnancy isn't out of the question. Just inform yourself fully so you can make a decision. Antibodies are a complex thing so a specialist opinion would be better

MrsJayy · 11/03/2016 21:40

Oh my god step away from the homeopath i dont know what you should do I had Anti D with no issues but whatever you do dont mess about with homeopathy

happyhearts7 · 11/03/2016 21:44

I'm rhesus negative & DH is rhesus positive, I've had 5 DSs, 4 of them are positive too. I was only a "girl" Hmm when I had my first baby too (early 20s) very hard pregnancies too, yet I knew to listen to the doctors because that's their job & they knew better than me. If I was you I'd learn to live my decision & forget about trying for another baby.

Bogeyface · 11/03/2016 21:45

I've had six kids and I am RH neg. I didnt have the injection after DC 5 as I was sure I was done. Had DC6 with no issues, I had blood tests throughout the pregnancy and it showed no issues, so I didnt have AntiD in the pregnancy either.

The key is making sure that your HCPs are all aware of your status and you attend all the appointments, have the blood tests etc.

Travelledtheworld · 11/03/2016 21:49

There was a thing on Radio4 this week about Intolerable itching and it's connection with a liver problem. There was a consultant, in Brinmingham I think, who specialised in this. Sorry to be a bit vague.

I am Rh negative and had the antiD shot after first and second baby. No problems. No idea what my kids blood groups and RH factors are.
Talk to a consultant.

Baaaaaaaaaaaa · 11/03/2016 21:49

Gosh there's an anwful lot of confusing information on this thread, and mostly from the op.

I'm rh neg and have had three successful pregnancies, all thankfully rh neg too. On each occasion because my records showed I was rh neg My babies were tested for their blood group as soon as they were born and no action needed.

OP, Please don't say not so much was known about blood groups when you were born. I had two of my children nearly 40 years ago and it was known about and checked (see above) way back then - and I was 21 when I had my first child. The checks were no different when I gave birth to my last child 19 years ago. I think you have just been extremely unlucky with the information you've been given. i think you need to go and see your gp and have a good talk and maybe have a blood test and see what's going on.

bluespiral · 11/03/2016 21:49

If you're only in your late 20s it's very strange that your mother wasn't offered the injection. I'm nearly 40 and my RH neg mother had it when she was pregnant with me.

SmillasSenseOfSnow · 11/03/2016 21:50

I met a homeopath who claimed she could change the babys' blood to negative should I get pregnant

LOL

SoupDragon · 11/03/2016 21:51

If I was you I'd learn to live my decision & forget about trying for another baby.

Really? You wouldn't maybe find out if there was actually a problem first...?

I'm the RH+ baby of a RH-ve mother. Admittedly I was born 4 weeks early and required exchange transfusions at birth but I'm still here many many years later.

gasman · 11/03/2016 21:51

You need to get your antibody status checked and speak to an obstetrician.

Step away from Google. Your predicted scenarios are wildly OTT. Best case is you will have an uncomplicated pregnancy!

Ditsy4 · 11/03/2016 21:52

I'm Rhesus negative 'o' my husband is positive. We have had four children and possibly two miscarriages. Last one was when I went for a scan and there was no heart beat. It is so long ago. I remember there being a problem with son 1 as I had to carry a card everywhere with me. I had an injection after S2, I presume I had one after one but he was a C section. I difficulties after baby 3 retaining placenta till last minute and gritty and fit after baby four. So I don't remember. I assume i did. All four were positive but only Son 1 had constant monitoring like every fortnight. Had bloods taken every visit with others.
I would ask for a referral to an obstetrician if I were you.
The homeopathic woman is crackers. I believe in some homeopathic medicines and I do take some but that is bizarre. I would be inclined to report her to your GP because someone might believe her with dire consequences.
The itching sounds horrendous I sometimes get it with allergic reactions and it is awful but to be pregnant too!
I hope you can solve this dilemma as wanting another child can be such a strong feeling. I had a gap between 2&3 because of fertility difficulties and then went all excited for an early scan 8weeks and then they found no heart beat was awful. Even the GP was upset as I had been trying for a few years. So there will also be a risk of miscarriage.
Keeping it surreal that is nasty and please read the thread again OP didn't put her baby at risk she had the Anti D the first time but not the second because she thought she wouldn't have any more children. OP would now like another and is asking for opinions/experiences.
Good luck Fortified wineSmile

SoupDragon · 11/03/2016 21:52

I was born before Anti D jabs.