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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anti-D post delivery - compulsory?

15 replies

pacinoFanOfBrusselsSprouts · 10/01/2006 18:49

Hi, had a check up yesterday with midwife (am currently 25 weeks) and we were discussing anti-d as I am rhesus negative.

Have had 2 lots already during this pregnancy due to bleeding at 11 weeks and also following an amnio, so don't think I'll take up their offer of any more during the remainer of my pregnancy (it is optional). However, according to my midwife, post delivery I HAVE to have it. I explained that I didn't think I would want it as I'm 100% certain we are not having any more children, but it seems the hospital will not listen to individual cases and all rh. neg mums are given it whether they want it or not. Given that it's a blood product and there are always risks, however small, in receiving blood products, why are the hospital so insistent I have it and what will happen if I refuse? Is it like this at every hospital?

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misdee · 10/01/2006 18:51

they cant make you have it. as long as you are aware of the risks in any possible subsequent pregnancies they should respect your wishes. and the baby may be rh-neg, ask them to check the baby as well. all mine where rh+ so i had the anti-d.

Jasnem · 10/01/2006 18:53

They can't hold you down and make you have it!

If you refuse (which you can) they may want you to sign something to accept responsibility, or that you are going against medical advice.

Jasnem · 10/01/2006 18:53

They can't hold you down and make you have it!

If you refuse (which you can) they may want you to sign something to accept responsibility, or that you are going against medical advice.

Blandmum · 10/01/2006 18:55

You can refuse any medical treatment, however if any later baby is Rh positive, the consquences can be very, very serious indeed for the baby. They would, I am sure, expect you to sing that you have been advised of the risks and regected treatment.

slinkstah · 10/01/2006 20:54

NICE guidelines state that you should be OFFERED ante -d at 28 and 30 odd weeks, this is only due to the very small chance of any tiny internal bleeds that you won't notice. its not compulsory.
when i had my 2 kids 7 and 9 years ago, there was no routine ante-d until after delivery or bleeds etc and all was fine.

coppertop · 10/01/2006 21:07

The Anti-D is completely optional. No-one can force you to have it if you don't want it.

In any case, if the baby is Rh Neg you wouldn't need it anyway.

coppertop · 10/01/2006 21:08

Sorry but lol at MB's idea that you have to sing your agreement!

Blandmum · 10/01/2006 21:13

lalalalala I will not have it done tra lalalala!

coppertop · 10/01/2006 21:34

Anti-D: The Musical.

Seriously though, I had my first appointment today for an Anti-D injection for this pregnancy. I'm probably at more risk than many people from Rh Neg complications as both of my previous pregnancies resulted in a baby with Rh Pos blood (although I had Anti-D after the births) but the midwife still didn't try to pressure me into having the injection. She merely went through the reasons why it's offered and what the procedure was if I decided to go ahead. There was no question of me being forced into it either now or later.

misdee · 10/01/2006 21:57

all of mine are rh+, bah, i got stabbed in the bum a fair few times.

Marne · 10/01/2006 21:57

Hi, im rhesus negative, ive had 3 lots of anti d so far (im 30 wks), got offerd it at 28 weeks but said no as i find it very painful, i will be having it after the birth if i need it.
You only need to have it if the baby is not rhesus negative, i did'nt have it with dd as she was rhesus negative. I cant see that they can make you have it but i would have it to be on the safe side.

Laura032004 · 11/01/2006 12:47

I haven't had it at all yet - wasn't routinely offered when pg with ds, and he was rh -ve, so didn't need it after the birth either.

However, this pg they offer it during the pg as part of the routine jabs. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to have it (blood product etc.) Does it hurt everybody? That would strongly influence my decision (esp. since we probably won't have any more after this baby).

I would probably have it after the birth though if this baby was +ve. Just because you never know for certain what might happen in the future with regard to children, and I'd hate to have that door closed to me, or have a difficult pg because of it.

oops · 11/01/2006 12:51

Message withdrawn

coppertop · 11/01/2006 13:11

I expected it to hurt a lot more than it did. It felt more like a sharp sting than anything else - but then that may be because my backside has more padding than most. As with other injections you have to hang around for about 15-20mins afterwards to make sure you don't have a reaction to it but otherwise it's very quick and straightforward.

firestarter1 · 18/01/2006 19:33

My dw is registered on the site (as am I now) and I came across this post. We have a 6 month old daughter, and dw is rhesus pos so didn't need the jabs. I work in a lab that tests for anti-D. Guidelines say that anti-D is only necessary after 12 weeks. After this point anti-D is recommended for any 'potentially sensitising event', meaning any fall, trauma, bleeding, ectopic, etc. Anti-D should also be offered at 28 and 34 weeks gestation routinely for Rh negative ladies and at delivery of an Rh pos baby. However, it is not only important that anti-D is offered, but the dose is also important. This should be determined by tests to find out how much fetal blood has crossed the placenta (normally called a 'Kleihauer' test). We also deal with ladies where anti-D injections have failed them (whether due to not being offered, or insufficient dose), and as a previous post has mentioned - the outcome can be devastating. Some of the cases under our care involve babies having a blood transfusion BEFORE they are born to prevent haemolytic disease (blue baby syndrome) causing untold damage to the baby. Anti-D should never be forced on any patient as it is a blood product (quite rightly pointed out in another post), but it is recommended. Hope some of this helps (and feel free to shout if more info is needed).

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