Any midwives or rhesus neg mums on here that can advise please?

[whysoserious]

I'm so sorry to keep banging on about rhesus negative/anti-D on these boards it's just that I am sooooooo confused about the whole thing and it's starting to stress me out.

I know the reasons why anti-D and the routine 28/34 weeks shots and to have them if there is a bleed. It's the bumps/knocks to the abdomen that I just DON'T understand. How serious do they need to be?

I am currently panicking because last night I managed to pull the wrong part or my seatbelt (whilst car was parked) and the bit around my bump that I thought I was pulling to move it was actually getting tighter (and being slow it took me a couple of seconds to realise). So basically I had the belt around my bump and pulled it tighter - steadily but it was quite firm. I suppose it would be the same effect of pressing down firmly onto my bump.

Is this cause for worry? Can this cause bleeding from baby? Am I being ridiculous?

The thing is when I have asked at hospital they say they can't be sure how hard a force needs to be. So I don't know if Im worrying about nothing or actually they mean it needs to be a blow or fall etc...

Sorry if this is rambling and sorry if you keep reading posts by me on this subject but I just want to get it straight in my head. What I need is a scale of things to worry about and things not to.

I'm rh- and whilst I had the injections during and after pregnancy I was never warned about knocks to my bump.

Mind you, that was 13 years ago.

Sorry, that was no help to you!

I'm sure someone who can help will be along soon.

I had DD last November and bumps to bump was not mentioned.

Anti-d is to stop your body fighting your baby if you have different blood types. More of an issue for second+ babies if your first was a different blood type as you have then generated the antibodies.

Maybe the person explaining to you was rushing through and mangled together anti-d and general advice about not knocking your bump?

With bumps the likeliness is you've done no harm at all, they are very padded in there! But, if you are ever worried ring nhs direct/your doctor/your labour ward and talk to them/go in. It is always better to go in and find it's a false alarm than stress about it.

I hope that helps!

Has the way the baby moves changed? Do you feel any residual pain from the pressure on your bump? If yes then it's probably fine but worth going in to put your mind at rest.

No no changes to movement and am not hurt in any way. Just need to know what I should be concerned about really because could literally find something every day

IANAM, but if you are finding things to worry you every day, either you are a working stunt woman or your threshhold for what constitutes a problem is WAY too low. :)

It's only if there was an incident that could have caused a bleed.

That would mean something serious - babies are well cushioned and protected in there, you won't cause a bleed by pulling your seatbelt too tight.

But you might if your car was in a very minor prang that caused your seatbelt to be activated.

As I said, I'm no expert. But until a midwife comes along I think I am safe in saying that you don't need to worry so much.

I had my DD1 7 weeks ago... I'm Rhesus neg. I had my injection at 28 weeks as a precaution, then again at 37 after I had a little bleed after sex. Bump-wise, it's generally after quite a hard knock or bleeding/spotting. However, if you are at all concerned or unsure you should just phone your MW. They will advise you on injections and they are always helpful. it's better to be safe :)

I have three dogs and was constantly getting bashed by them, the MWs said that was fine. So I think the bump needs to be quite strong to cause any bleeding.

x

Here is a link to the NHS website -

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rhesus-disease/Pages/Causes.aspx

The bit on sensitisation talks about "abdominal injury" which sounds like more than a light bump or bit of pressure.

Hope that makes you feel a bit more relaxed, but as previous posters have said, I'd ring your midwife if you're still not sure.

Thanks all. Feeling like a plonker because I had anti-D on sat and have spoken to midwives in detail about it but am still unsure of what they consider enough to have the injection for

The trouble is the medical staff have to cover their back in case of being sued, so they will give you anti D or say it's up to you, rather than saying there is nothing to worry about.

I've done some reading on this and really, the tight seatbelt thing is nothing to worry about. (Please don't sue me ). If you fell down some stairs, or someone whacked you hard in the bump, or something like that, that would be something to worry about and get anti D for. Basically it has to be something hard enough which would cause a bruise. Doing up your seatbelt tightly but slowly wouldn't bruise you (but as AThing says, being thrown forward suddenly against your seatbelt in an accident might).

If you had the injection on Saturday you'll be covered for weeks ahead anyway, so have nothing to worry about.
It does sound as if you're worrying to much in general -I'm Rhesus Neg and haven't been thinking too much about knocks to the bump -you get pressure to the bump all the time from the midwife and scans anyway, and that's fine. I think it's really only in extreme situations you have to be concerned -and you'll probably know that something is wrong, because you'll feel continuous internal pain.

I'm neg and on dc2 and have never been told to go in for bumps etc - when I had ds 2 years ago I was just told I'd need the anti-d at 28 weeks but wasn't warned about potentially needing more in the event of abdominal injury. Now 33 weeks with dc2 and have only been told I would need additional anti d if I have a bleed (and that was only mentioned in passing).
I therefore work on the basis that it would have to be something fairly significant to warrant more anti d. I'd say you're panicking unnecessarily, but if in doubt speak to your MW.

Hi it's for when you get knocks so bad there can be potential mixing of blood. Try not to worry. I think they mean like car accidents or falls that could cause internal bleeding. I had to have anti d post amniocentesis. T

I'm res neg and when I had Dd there was no mention of going in to have extra anti D. However this time they did and tbh I get pretty big knocks every day as DD is a hyperactive 2 year old, and I've told myself
Not to worry, If you really are worried or in pain/feeling fewer movements etc then do contact your MW for your piece of mind, they are very understanding. But IMO I really wouldn't worry about a seatbelt, I remember sometimes MWs press really hard to feel for babba's position!

Hi, I understand why you're so worried!
I have the Anti-D antibody in my blood and if I didn't I definately wouldn't want it!
The whole bumping your bump thing means proper bangs that make you go 'ouch'. Think about when your midwife feels your bump, if she's anything like mine she's not afraid to shove your baby around in there!
Hope this helps :) x

i don't think what you describe could be thought of as "trauma" or "injury". you'd need to do something that was hard/sharp enough of a trauma to break blood vessels. (i am O- so I've also received the spiel about trauma etc.)

i've noticed that you've started more than one thread about worrying yourself sick over something quite small... are you sure you aren't suffering from a bit of anxiety, possibly antenatal depression? maybe chat to GP/midwife?

Thanks for the info ladies. Spoke to midwife tonight and she really reassured me that pressure to the bump is fine even if strong - it's when it's more of a knock that would disrupt the circulation. She mentioned how hard midwives have a feel and that that is fine. She was very reassuring and I feel much clearer now! Had been a bit nervous about phoning in case they whipped me in for anti-D to cover their backs but she gave me a very sensible answer and told me not to stress about being rhesus neg