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Original poster

Rhesus negative?

27 replies

K27 · 04/09/2007 13:15

Howdy all,
I am 27 and am 17 weeks today with my first baba. I had ny 2nd midwife appointment yesterday and found out I was rhesus negative. Did abit of research about it online at work today.
Just wondered if anyone else has this?
Thanks
KT

OP posts:
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harleyd · 04/09/2007 13:16

im rhesus negative. its common.
do you know what blood group dp/dh is?

ShinyHappySchmooo · 04/09/2007 13:19

15 per cent of the population is rhesus neg.

Our blood can be given to anyone so we are much sought after as blood donors.

RhNeg ladies needs an anti D injection within 48 hours of any birth (or miscarriage/significant bleed) to protect the baby (or next baby if after birth) from rhesus factor complications.

kittylouise · 04/09/2007 13:21

I'm rhesus negative, so's my mum. It caused no problems in pregnancy, just meant I had to give a little more blood than normal, and had to have an injection after birth to prevent any antibodies building up in subsequent pregnancies.

Think it used to be a problem in the old days, but not now.

feetheart · 04/09/2007 13:21

I'm rhesus -ve too and it didn't effect either of my pregnancies too much. I had to have 3 injections (I think!) 2 before the baby was born and one afterwards. They test the baby at birth (from the cord blood) and if the baby is +ve they give you the third jab I think.
My DH is +ve and both babies were as well.

Congratulations!!

toadstool · 04/09/2007 18:03

For the first PG, providing you have no bleeding or falls, you should only have an anti-D injection after the birth. They won't necessarily check the father's blood group because a lot of NHS authorities want to avoid problems should the baby be someone else's - but if the baby turns out to be rhes - too, that should be the end of the matter. Subsequent PGs are a different matter - you have 3 injections (28 wks, 34 wks and after the birth). You'll find some nurses make a big fuss about the jab stinging - I've never found it too uncomfortable. HTH.

dal21 · 04/09/2007 18:07

Hi - I am same as feetheart. 2 injections pre delivery. Then they take cord blood / your blood post delivery and give you the amount you need post delivery.
We had DH tested privately; he came back as rhesus pos so I had the jabs.
Dont hurt at all - when they are putting it in, wiggle your toes like mad and distracts from any stinging there may be. Suffered no side effects or bruising in the area either.

FlossieF · 04/09/2007 21:44

I just discovered I'm rhesus negative during medical management of a missed miscarriage, and they gave me the Anti-D jab "for future pregnancies" - positive thinking cheered me up a little bit.

I was feeling battered any bruised after the whole experience anyway, but the Anti-D jab was fine - no more painful than any other jab.

Original poster
K27 · 05/09/2007 10:30

Many thanks for your helpful messages. KTx

OP posts:
dressedupnowheretogo · 05/09/2007 10:39

i am too

ZoeC · 05/09/2007 10:42

Me too, although I have never had the anti-d as they tested both my dd's cord blood and said I didn't need it, by which I presume both girls are O- as well (dh is O+ so I don't think they can be anything BUT O type)

spugs · 05/09/2007 11:58

im R neg as well, dd1 was also neg so didnt need injection, didnt have injections with dd2 during preg but she was pos. so had one afterwards. when i mced at 6/7 wks they didnt give me it, apparently you dont need it till 12 wks! pregnant again with no 3 and not sure whether to refuse the injections during preg again or not since last dd was positive! will have to wait and see.

karlou · 05/09/2007 12:20

I'm RH neg too and both my daughters were +ve so I had the anti-D after they were born. I'm pg again now and was offered to have it at my 28 week appointment but decided to decline as if I do bleed they'll give me another injection anyway and I'd rather not have a blood product injected unless it is actually necessary so I'll wait and see what this LO's rhesus factor is. They took a blood sample anyway to check my antibody levels so if there had been a problem I would have had the injection then.

mustsleep · 05/09/2007 12:43

i'm rneg too and have had to have the anti d aster both preganancies as both kids were positive - so am assuming that dh is a pos group?

anyway nothing to worry about both pregs went ok and had no probs

one thing though whilst people are talking aout this had a miscarriage at about 5 weeks inbetween ds and dd and told the nurse after it was confirmed and told her that i was rhesus neg and asked about anti d and she was very flippant about it and said i didn't need it ?

karlou · 05/09/2007 13:01

Mustsleep - I'm not sure but does it depend on whether or not you needed a D&C? I had 2 late m/cs before having my daughters and think I had anti-d then although it was over 9 years ago. However I had an earlier (7 weeks pg)complete m/c last year and didn't have the injection then.

CathShuttlewood · 21/11/2007 11:06

I have just recently been told that I am also RNeg and in the area where I live they routinely will give me AntiD (unless I refuse it of course) at 28 and 34 weeks, as well as after the birth.... (and it's my first pregnancy too).... think it's one of things, as with so many, that vary from area to area

CathShuttlewood · 21/11/2007 11:14

I have just recently been told that I am also RNeg and in the area where I live they routinely will give me AntiD (unless I refuse it of course) at 28 and 34 weeks, as well as after the birth.... (and it's my first pregnancy too).... think it's one of things, as with so many, that vary from area to area

dd666 · 21/11/2007 11:15

hi im too rh neg i had one anti d at 27 weeks and one after they tested dd's cord blood as she is positive!

lubylu · 22/11/2007 19:16

I'm rhesus neg. Both my first children are positive so had the injection after the births. Am now pregnant with number 3, had one ani-D injection in this pregnancy already and due for my 28 week check soon and will have the Anti-D again at that point.

No probs at all with children or pregnancies. Infact I felt rather special being -ve, as it is only 10-15% of population and and several others have already said, our blood is very sought after.

Good luck for your pregnancy, LubyLu

papaya · 22/11/2007 20:59

congrats on your pregnancy, I too am rhesus neg, currently 23wks with DC2, had 2 injections with DD (28 wks, 34 wks and then after her birth as she is positive). Will be doing the same again this time. Must admit I found the injections hurt me but then I am a WIMP

Pk616 · 25/11/2007 11:09

Hiya,
I'm also RH-. I'm currently 29wks+2 PG with my first. For those of you who haven't had their Anti-d yet, they inject it into your thigh (some midwives inject into the arm) so have your best knickers on! The injection is a little painful, but not unbearable and the pain goes as soon as the needle is out. I had my first jab last week. Nobody told me it was going to be in my thigh so when the midwife told me to take my shoe off I was a tad confused!

natalies1982 · 26/11/2007 19:45

im rhesus neg and found out in my 1st preg, this is my 3rd now im currently 18+4 weeks and am due the anti d at 28 and 34 weeks.

both my children r also rhesus neg so i didnt need it after the birth but needed it at 31 weeks when i was preg with my son (2nd preg) as i had a bleed.

PiggyPenguin · 27/11/2007 09:41

I'm rh - too, but so is my dh, which means that although I am on my third pregnancy I have never had to have the injection. Both dc from previous pg's were tested after birth and both were rh- so not a problem. You can't guarantee that two rh compatible parents will produce the same in a baby though, both my mum and dad are rh + and I am rh-. Apparently it can be quite common.

lino · 30/11/2007 23:58

Hi All Just wondering if anyone could answer a question for me. Im rh- my daughter is + and after my first pregnancy i had the anti d we are trying for our 2nd baby now and just wondering if i should get anti d or wait until i get pregnant??

spugs · 02/12/2007 08:39

2 rh neg parents cant produce an rh pos baby, thats why if you are both neg you dont need any injections.

lino you dont need anti d till your 28 wks unless you have a bleed

lino · 03/12/2007 13:18

Spugs thanks for the info it puts my mind at ease and hopefully we will have good news soon