Any other rhesus negative mums-to-be?

[MayimBialik]

How have you found being pregnant and rhesus negative especially concerning every day knocks and bumps?

I find that I generally every day seem to knock my tummy into something recently (now I'm getting bigger - I forget how much I stick out!)

It's nothing major, never hurts or bruises, but I'll always think "eek" in the back of my mind and have to have a little word with myself that it couldn't have possible caused any fetal bleeding otherwise I'd literally be at the hospital EVERY DAY demanding anti-D!

Have other fellow rhesus neg mums found they've had general 'every day' knocks and bumps and slightly worried, or do you just not think about them at all? Am I just a worry wart?

Interested to hear other people's experiences...

I am Oneg and pregnant with number 2, I never ever think about it to be honest. I had a doctor in A&E say that they weren't even 100% sure that anti-d was needed if you did have a bleed as there was no definitive study to prove the usefulness of it, but I just dont honestly know, I know all other doctors and gp's and mw's etc stress how you do need it. I have had a few injections - all of the ones that you get given by your midwife that you are supposed to have. It doesnt really enter my head to be honest.

Thanks iheartpasties, interesting to hear other people's approach to it.

Just realised I must think about it a lot as I also started another thread about this a while ago! Oops.

Must be more relaxed to avoid giving birth to a stressy baby haha

rh-ve mum of three here!
The amount of 'accidental' foetal blood transfer needed to generate a significant rhesus reaction is actually quite significant...there are guidelines about when and when not to give antiD in obstetric departments and it would have to have a fairly large bleed or big car-crash type accident to warrant it, I think. Bashing your bump into shopping trolley handles is fine!

So just put your feet up and relax cos your time to do that is becoming limited

But please do have your postnatal jab - that is important!

Ah good advice there timetosmile - am becoming aware of my life of freedom and lie-ins slowly slipping away. Can't wait though! (I'll regret saying that won't I).

Yes it seems silly to even think about little bumps - especially as they are bound to become more frequent as I get bigger...

Another rh- here, never really thought much about it until having extra anti d injections throughout due to unexplained bleeding.

Am currently pg with dc2 but we have since learnt that my dh is also rh-!

I didnt get a postnatal jab, must ask mw about that.

Iheaartpasties - you might not have had a postnatal jab if your baby is rhesus neg too - they only need to give it once baby is out if baby turns out to be rhesus pos, but worth checking with your midwife if you're not sure.

Hi there Rh- mum of 4 here. Only ever once had to have a top up jab (fell out of a caravan and landed on my bum) other then the scheduled jabs.

Make sure they check your baby after birth to see if - or +, I love when the baby is - , one less jab for me ? It is not something I tend to dwell on, but just make sure your partner mentions it to MW after the birth (you may not remember or be busy cuddling your baby)

I didn't worry at all with dc1. Because its mostly about subsequent pregnancies I think.

With dc1 I had anti-d at 28 weeks and then after birth (she's positive).

With dc2 the protocol had changed and I had 2 lots of anti d during preg and one after birth (he's Rh pos too).

With dc3 I had anti d twice during pregnancy and once after birth (he is also Rh pos). But for some reason (not sure what happened but I wonder if a bit of a bump against a door knob at 38 weeks was a factor) had a letter when he was 14 days old from gynaecology dept saying my anti d levels were too high and then dramatic phone call from paediatrics at 28 days post partum asking me to bring dc3 in straight away for blood test. He was quite sleepy, but not jaundiced.

His iron was at 6.2 (should have been around 14/15 in a one month old) and he had to have a top up transfusion and folic acid for 3 months and follow up blood tests.

Issues in my case were that the haematology dept cotnacted gynaecology AND paediatrics at same time, but possible because I'd been a homebirth, paediatrics didn't respond until they'd had a second cautionary letter from haematology. And that for some reason The anti d hadn't prevented me building up and passing on antibodies.

Had appt with consultant gynaecologist who said that the transfer could have happened at birth and that the prophylactic anti d at 34 weeks had worn off by then. Apparently even a short exposure can cause antibodies to develop.

Anyway - he's 3 tomorrow and fit and well and it's all a long time ago now (but was awful at the time). I do wonder whether I should have got jab when I knocked my stomach on the door knob (lever one, and it did hurt and I did have bruising). But all's well that ends well.

Oh and I now have a card to carry in case I need a transfusion because I've got anti-C and anti-d antibodies and the consultant said that if I really really wanted another baby then the pregnancy would be more complicated and would involve a much greater degree of monitoring and possible treatment in utero if the baby was Rh pos (3 out of 3 so far).

That made me really sad. I know that we only wanted 3 and that was always the plan. But I wouldn't want to risk another and so that's definitely that for us.

I was, there is NO RISK for your first baby, it is a distant possibility that with a second baby your body starts making anti bodies, there should be no worries at all with your first. And neitehr with your second, as you will have had the injection by then.

Your doctor should have told you that, really.

Oh gosh Pooka that sounds stressful!