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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Has anyone else refused the Anti-D jab with their last baby?

24 replies

Fakebook · 10/06/2013 10:37

I'm expecting dc3 and we are 100% sure this will be our last baby.

I have a fear of needles and really have to psych myself up for blood tests and jabs. With my last pregnancy I couldn't go through with the anti D jab at 28 weeks after the blood test out of fear and was sent home by the mw with emla cream and then went back an hour later for it. Even then I was shaking with fear.

Would it be ok to refuse the jab this time? I can't really think of any reason I'd need it now. I would like to refuse the shot after birth too.

Anyone else done this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BentleyBelly · 10/06/2013 11:29

Do you understand why you need it? You are obviously rhesus negative. If your baby is rhesus positive your body can identify the babies blood as foreign bodies and attack it which can cause all sorts of complications. If you have the anti-d injection it stops this happening. It is really only a tiny little needle and a very quick sting. I think that is worth it to help protect your baby, don't you?

TheSecondComing · 10/06/2013 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 10/06/2013 11:34

I don't understand why you'd put your baby at risk due to your fear of needles. Some of the complications are really quite serious and life altering.

Shylepite · 10/06/2013 11:35

Do you know dh/dp's blood group? It's only necessary to have anti d if the baby's blood is Rh+ so if you know that the father is Rh- too the anti d could be unnecessary anyway.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 10/06/2013 11:35

Oh, I thought it affected the baby you are carrying at the time.

madamecake · 10/06/2013 11:36

It is actually more important that you have the injection for subsequent pregnancies than in your first pregnancy. As bentley says, the consequences of not having it can have complications for your baby, some of which can be severe, including brain damage and in some cases heart failure. Please have the injection.

TheSecondComing · 10/06/2013 11:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BabyRuSh · 10/06/2013 11:40

It will also be important for you as if you develop the antibodies, it may be an issue if you ever need a blood transfusion in future as it may be more difficult to find blood that you won't reject. I would say have it. Also you may be sure now you don't want another, but you may be in a different set of circumstances in the future.

ActionLog · 10/06/2013 11:54

Why on earth would you risk your baby having a potentially very serious disease when this can be avoided due to a simple shot? By all means speak to get some health professionals to get accurate info but I wouldn't be taking chances here.

If you have a threatened prem delivery would you refuse steriods to mature the baby's lungs because it involves needles (and they are big ones that hurt)?

meditrina · 10/06/2013 11:55

Are you/DH planning to be sterilised?

For unless you are both very sure that this is your last planned DC, and are going to go for extremely reliable contraception, I think it would be foolhardy to refuse the jab.

NatashaBee · 10/06/2013 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Fakebook · 10/06/2013 12:09

Thanks for the replies.

First of all, yes I do know why I have the jab. I've had it when pregnant with dc 1 and dc 2 and have also had it when I miscarried 3 of my pregnancies. The shot is important for subsequent pregnancies not the current pregnancy. My antibody levels have come back normal up until now so I'm not sensitised.

If there will be no subsequent pregnancy then there's no point in having the injection IMO. I appreciate everyone's concerns but my current baby is healthy and well and will remain so even if I decline the shot. It may seem like a small sting to those of you without a needle fear but to me, it doesn't feel like that. I'm already fearing the flu and whooping cough ones, which I will have to force myself to have because the risks are too great.

We will be looking into a reliable and permanent form of contraception. This is definitely our last planned child. I will probably book a midwife appointment after my 20 wk scan and discuss this with her before 28 weeks.

OP posts:

Backinthebox · 10/06/2013 12:14

My midwife lent me this book when I was pregnant with my last baby. As with many things in life, there are very good and valid arguments for both sides.

To all who are worried she is going to harm her current baby - it is future babies the anti-D jab protects. She will not harm her current baby by not having it.

It is also worth (as has been mentioned) checking your OH's blood group, as it is unnecessary if he is also Rhesus -ve.

I didn't have the jab with my last, but I did have blood tests to check whether there had been any transfer of blood from my baby to me during the birth and whether I had made antibodies. If you are going to not have the jab, I don't think you are going to avoid needles. I was a private patient too, I think you would have trouble persuading an NHS MW of this approach.

GobblersKnob · 10/06/2013 12:19

It's not a totally 'simple shot', it not a vaccine, it's a blood plasma product and so carries all the (small) risks that that entails.

Both of my dc's turned out to be neg though my other half is positive. I had it on my notes that I was refusing anti-d after the birth of dc2, even if he had been positive as I knew i didn't want any more, I have never had anti-d through either of my pregnancies, it wasn't given routinely during pg at the time only after birth or possible trauma that could have caused a bleed.

Original poster

Fakebook · 10/06/2013 12:27

Thank you Backinthebox. DH is A+ so up until now, they've been very important for me to have. I have never been told my children's blood groups so it might be worthwhile asking the GP to let me know what they are too.

Did they do the blood test to see if there had been any transfer straight after labour? Or was it a few days/months later? Thanks for the link to the book, I might ask my midwife if she has it for me to borrow.

OP posts:

Backinthebox · 10/06/2013 12:30

It's a bit of a blur now, sorry! I know I had a blood test before and after birth, but I can't quite remember exactly when it was. I know that's no good to you.

Original poster

Fakebook · 10/06/2013 12:31

Gobblers, I agree. I had to do a lot of research and make a firm decision with my first pregnancy about whether I wanted it because it is a blood product and that does involve a small risk. I decided for, as DH was rhesus positive.

OP posts:

Original poster

Fakebook · 10/06/2013 12:32

That's ok Backinthebox! At least I know I may have an option now. I'll see what the midwife says when I meet her next.

OP posts:

nowwearefour · 10/06/2013 12:33

I refused the jab for both my pregnancies as I felt it wasn't worth risking a blood product on the baby I had inside me for one I might have in the future. You shd def refuse it if that is what you are inclined to do- a risk to this baby and to you. Not worth it

Longdistance · 10/06/2013 12:39

I had my rhesus jabs in my bottom, and they gave me a choice iirc.
I would still think it important even if you say it's your last child, to have it done as you may fall pg by accident next time, or change your mind about another.
I got a fear of needles when I was pg, and hated the sight of them by dd2 pg. I always look away when they do it too now.
I broke my leg a few months back and had surgery, and ended up being prodded and poked again, and feel like I'm over my fear now.

Shellywelly1973 · 10/06/2013 12:40

At the end of the day, its your body & ultimately your choice. You are making a decision with good knowledge, you do what you feel comfortable with.

looneytune · 10/06/2013 13:16

Ds1 is RH-
Ds2 is RH+

Ds2 was going to be our last, he's going to be 5 next week, 2 days after ds3 is due!! This pregnancy was a massive shock, I was in a state and it took a lot of getting used to but now I'm very protective of him and so pleased I had my Anti D after ds2 as I'd have felt awful if I hadn't.

I know it's supposed to be all future babies that we have the anti d for but I've had loads of anti d's in this pregnancy so now I'm not so sure. From week 14 to 22 I had a TINY bit of blood on wiping every few days, never much at all but I still required anti d after. After a while (as it was getting crazy) they decided to spend £250+ on a special blood test which would tell me my babies rh factor. We found out his is RH- so I no longer needed anti d every few days. I then found out that although the blood I had was TINY, the bleed HAD crossed the placenta and therefore had baby have been RH+, my body would have started to create antibodies. Found out they even had the blood transfusion department on standby (this was all because I had 5 bleeds over 2 weeks and GP didn't mention the need for anti d so I missed the '72 hours' window). Anyway, I've understood this as being THIS pregnancy they were concerned about as my body would start attacking my baby if I had antibodies detected. If this is correct then I'd say it's a risk for people who may have this bleed inside with nothing coming out as mine really were the tiniest of bits of tisssue. For that reason I would never risk not having it (I hate needles too and always had in my bum). And if you don't have it, you need to make sure you're 100% covered from any accidents as this was a shock of a pregnany for us, clearly we were meant to have number 3!

rosiedays · 10/06/2013 14:28

Hi fakebook. I totally agree it's your body and your choice. However My last dc was definitely my last ( in 1990) Mmm the little kicks I'm getting right now seem to be telling me i got that wrong! Other than hysterectomy or complete selabacy no contraception is100%. Is it worth the risk?

DoodleAlley · 10/06/2013 14:34

My understanding from speaking to consultants is that it's only a minor risk to this baby but there might be some risk.

It's very complicated so I think you need to speak to an expert

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