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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:
ridemesideways · 11/03/2016 22:42

She said she was tested during and after her 2nd pregnancy - that should say ^

coconutpie · 11/03/2016 22:43

Jellycat - ah! Thanks for clarifying that about antibodies / proteins / memory T cells.

Bogeyface · 11/03/2016 22:46

Fortified as I posted above, I have had 6 lives births (and many miscarriages) and didnt have AntiD after DC5. DC6 was fine as I was checked regularly throughout my pg.

jellycat · 11/03/2016 22:47

Sorry, I didn't see that, but even if she didn't have antibodies then it's still no guarantee.

Ludways · 11/03/2016 22:50

I'm O- and Dh is O+, I know there was blood on hand when I had my babies but other than that I remember nothing. I know I had everything the professionals suggested though, so if they'd offered me an anti-D, I'd have had it.

ridemesideways · 11/03/2016 22:52

Sorry, I didn't see that, but even if she didn't have antibodies then it's still no guarantee

Sure, but I think the situation isn't as dire as the OP thinks re needing a sperm donor.

OP - There are many, many, many different antibodies that may or may not affect all of our pregnancies. The booking bloods and 28 week bloods check everyone's various antibodies.

I'd go to your GP or ring up delivery suite to see who you could talk to about your individual risks (or not, as the case may be).

Thethingswedoforlove · 11/03/2016 22:56

Jelly when I was pregnant the ante natal anyone was new. I couldn't really see the benefit as I felt there were potential risks to my current baby from introducing a blood product into my body (I was thinking eg of hep c which wasn't known about when my brother had blood transfusions in the 70s) to possibly protect a possible future baby who may never exist from a risk that probably wouldn't manifest itself. It was all fine for both my babies.....

jellycat · 11/03/2016 22:57

I agree, I don't think a sperm donor is necessary. I think the best option would be for her to discuss with her doctor, get tested and see what the results are, then get monitored during pregnancy.

ridemesideways · 11/03/2016 23:02

Indeed Smile

jellycat · 11/03/2016 23:07

Thethingswedo, I ummed and ahhed for ages before deciding to go for it. After all, ds1 was fine without the antenatal injections. In the end I decided I would never forgive myself if I had a silent bleed and was sensitised without realising, and I had refused something that would have protected my baby. The risks are tiny though, and of course there is a different risk from taking a blood product like Anti-D so you have to decide which risk to take!

FortifiedWine · 11/03/2016 23:23

Aww, thanks everyone. I feel slightly better now. Wasn't really aware of how minimal the risks really were should I go ahead with partner. At my hospital they offer it at 28 weeks and after birth. I almost refused during first birth, and midwife who delivered my baby pushed me into it saying I should give myself the option of having another even if I didn't feel like I did at the time, so I did. Not really sure about the risks of anti D. Asked a nurse once "how did people have babies before antiD was invented?" and she answered "well UNFORTUNATELY babies died before or after birth..." as jellycat says though, it's the silent bleeds I worry about. My youngest is 3 and SN so tend to carry him around a lot during meltdowns.

I think I'm having that late 20s freakout about fertility and my body is screaming at me to have another before I get too old ;)

OP posts:
rubyshoes3 · 11/03/2016 23:24

I am A- and my husband is B+, during all 3 of my pregnancies I was never offered Anti-D I was told when baby was born they would test baby's blood and it was + I would have the Anti-D. All of my children are negative blood group so I have never had the Anti-D.
My blood was checked roughly every 2 weeks during pregnancy if I remember correctly.

happyhearts7 · 11/03/2016 23:30

FortifiedWine yes, I'm Rhesus negative and DH is positive.. four of our DSs are positive and one is negative. Therefore I had the anti D injections with 4 pregnancies so not much help to you!
I do get where you're coming from though as I've always been broody and would have been devastated if I'd been told I couldn't have the family we have now but I also know if the Dr told me there was a very big possibility the baby wouldn't make it, then I personally could not risk it.
OP only you can decide what's right for you Flowers

RoobyTuesday · 12/03/2016 08:16

If you have no antibodies and get pregnant now you may be offered extra prophylactic anti d thought the pregnancy to protect from potential silent bleeds. I am o neg, had 3 babies and 2 miscarriages (very early ones, not related to my blood group). I have had bleeds throughout my last two pregnancies and have been given extra anti d shots. My first child is negative, the last two are positive. Never had any problems. I did have all my anti d shots though as advised. There are some quite comprehensive guidelines on this on the Royal College of obs and gynae website - you should be able to find them with a Google search, your best advice given here though is to consult a doctor who knows this inside out (ask for a referral). My experience throughout all three pregnancies is that many staff are misinformed or don't really understand it well. There is a blood test you can have during pregnancy to check for fetal mixing - I had this several times as a precaution as it was thought i may be having silent bleeds - if the test comes back positive you can be given anti d immediately to prevent a problem occurring.

DisappointedOne · 12/03/2016 09:20

I think I'm having that late 20s freakout about fertility and my body is screaming at me to have another before I get too old ;)

Perhaps your body needs a bit more education about female fertility. Wink

Northernlurker · 12/03/2016 10:42

I think you need to own the decision you made three years ago tbh. That decision was poorly made and has consequences you don't now like. I think you need to accept that.

cricketballs · 12/03/2016 10:57

I am O- and have 2 DS and a miscarriage in between; I had to have the injections once a month with the DS1 but everything was fine, with DS2 he was tested as slightly positive (can't remember the accurate name for the test as it was over 16 years ago!) after his birth and we were kept in an extra 24 hours for checking his jaundice (he didn't even get the normal new baby jaundice)

MLGs · 12/03/2016 11:08

I am rh -. Partner rh +.

DD rh +, DS rh -.

So as it happens would have been fine without the anti D, as DS (dc2) was negative. I don't plan on having any more.

But obviously you can't bank on this as it is luck.

Do you know if your dc2 was + or -.

I don't know much about the specific condition you describe (can't spell it either) and whether there is a connection to anti d. Did you consultant say so? I thought it was a problem with the liver, so maybe your liver couldn't cope with the pregnancy.

I've heard of it as I suffer chronically with unbearable itching on my feet, going back to childhood. Have been planning to ask GP about the possibility of the same condition. I believe it also causes terrible tiredness?

dratsea · 12/03/2016 11:41

Get level of antibodies tested. Did you have a significant obstetric bleeding event with the second? If neither positive, go for it but if there are any complications then it is just possible no anti-D could have already initiated antibody production.

The anti-D was all obtained from mothers who had lost rhesus children when I did obs in 70's but it was in short supply, I wrote up one patient as one of my five case studies for finals. In States they injected prisoners to get more supplies, in UK post menopausal blood donors. Clearly a few drs on here, anyone know what happens now? Dr Google bit vague, but I have only looked at the first couple of pages in various formats of question.

CointreauVersial · 12/03/2016 11:55

OP, not true that pre-anti-D all babies died - my aunt is Rh- and uncle Rh+ and they had six children during the 60s and 70s. No still births, two needed an early transfusion but were fine.

I'm Rh- too, but sensibly chose a Rh- partner. OK it was luck I still had to actively refuse the anti-D each time, because it was hospital policy to give it to all mothers.

SoupDragon · 12/03/2016 12:28

Asked a nurse once "how did people have babies before antiD was invented?" and she answered "well UNFORTUNATELY babies died before or after birth..."

Like I said earlier, I'm a +ve baby with a -ve mother and at least one +ve elder sibling. Not all babies died, some, like me, were saved with blood transfusions. Not ideal but I also suspect medicine has moved on dramatically since then!

SoupDragon · 12/03/2016 12:29

(Was a +ve baby... I am now, clearly, and adult!)

JanetOfTheApes · 12/03/2016 12:40

No, not all babies died. Just 10,000 a year or more, in the US, now almost none.
Anti-D was named one of the top ten medical advances of the 1960's. It was quite literally a miracle for Rh- women.

The plasma from one single man (James Harrison) has saved more than 2.5 million babies, he's been donating plasma for over 50 years.

Booboostwo · 12/03/2016 13:45

You are a health care professional and you are listening to a homeopath who claims to be able to change your baby's blood with magic water?

I want to cry.

Northernlurker · 12/03/2016 14:21

Yes medicine has moved on - with anti-d!

I don't think advising the OP to get a blood test for antibodies is particularly wise counsel. If she doesn't have detectable antibodies she'll doubtless just think she's 'got away with it' and go on to have anther pregnancy, refusing anti-d.