Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Anti D and blood donation

8 replies

AmeliaEarhart · 01/07/2010 23:21

I'm pregnant with my first baby, and I found out a few months ago that my blood group is O Negative. DH is definitely Rh Positive, so I've been advised to have the Anti-D injection.

My question is: As a recipient of a blood product (if I have the injection), will I never be able to donate blood? I was very excited to learn that I was a universal donor and planned to start giving as soon as possible after the birth.

If so, would it be crazy to refuse the injection? It seems like such a waste to have such useful blood and not be able to help anyone with it...

OP posts:

solo · 02/07/2010 00:00

IME, it was better to protect my pregnancy/future pregnancies. I don't know about donating blood after Anti D injections because they wont take my blood having had a transfusion. You could always ask the blood donor people.

Original poster

AmeliaEarhart · 02/07/2010 13:45

Thanks solo. I took your advice and called the helpline.

I can still give - I just have to wait six months after having the injection (seeing as I can't donate until nine months after the birth, this won't be a problem).

Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I won't need a transfusion during the birth.

OP posts:

solo · 02/07/2010 13:58

Excellent! good luck with everything.

GetDownYouWillFall · 02/07/2010 15:37

that's really good of you to want to donate

I was a blood donor before I had DD, but had a haemorrhage during labour and had to have a transfusion, so now cannot give anymore

I gave two units, I received two units. Ah well.

Original poster

AmeliaEarhart · 02/07/2010 20:24

I'm just ashamed that I've never got round to it before now - I'm 31!

It's something I've always meant to do though, and finding out that I'm a universal donor has spurred me into action!

OP posts:

smokeybacon · 02/07/2010 20:27

I'm rh neg, have had (a number of) anti D injections with various pgs, and have still donated.

Do it! I have just had a letter saying the O neg stocks are low but as I am pg again, I can't donate at the moment.

2plus2more · 02/07/2010 20:33

Good on you for wanting to donate. I am also O-, but have never been able to donate due to travelling a fair bit to places requiring anti-malarials and the timing of being pregnant 3 times. Maybe after this last pregnancy I'll finally be able to do it!

solo · 03/07/2010 01:31

I am also O rh neg and tried to donate on 4 occasions before being pg only to be turned away due to low hg. I guess I just wasn't to give my blood away

I was once with my Mum when she got a call from the hospital to donate immediately in the 70's. I went with her and was amazed to see a pg lady on a bed with a huge machine which was taking donated blood, whizzing it round and putting it directly into the lady! Mum had gained Lewis anti bodies to her O rh neg when she'd been pg with me in the 60's and her blood was in great demand. It was amazing! obviously, this was all pre HIV and CJD etc. I doubt they'd do it that way now.

Flip