Rhesus negative and 2nd pregnancy

[Duvetsnake]

Hi,
I'm rhesus negative and had anti-D during first pregnancy and after the birth. I recently had a miscarriage at seven weeks but am pregnant again. I'm worried that the whole rhesus thing (which I will freely admit I never really understood brilliantly) caused the miscarriage and that I should be doing something now (even though it is only the 4 week mark).

Does anyone know what the process should be for a second pregnancy with rh-? Do I need to be asking for a blood test?

Thanks for any help!

Did they give you anti-D after the miscarriage? They should have done.

In my second pregnancy I had to remind my MW that I needed anti D at (I think it was) 28 weeks.

Duvet- also second pregnancy and RH neg. Just make sure you mention it to the midwife. They will give you anti-d at 28 weeks and I also had a small bleed at 24 weeks, so they gave me an additional dose of anti-d then. I was told to be careful of any "trauma" ( bumps, falls, etc) to my bump as they didnt want our bloods to mix. Definitely check with your midwife in case there's an extra dose you should have due to miscarriage.
Good luck!

Hi there, I too am rhesus negative and have one DS but will soon be coming off the pill to try for my second DC. I'm very sorry to hear you had a miscarriage and thought I would reply to your message because I too am really scared and nervous about the whole rhesus negative thing and second baby etc. during my first pregnancy I had anti D at 28 weeks and twice during my pregnancy due to two bleeds that I had. As far as I understand it, basically our blood is clever and if any other blood type enters into our bodies and is picked up by or detected by our blood type then our rhesus negative blood produces antibodies which attack or fight off the foreign blood cells. But I have been told by so many people that our blood type is perfectly safe! Firstly there is nothing to say that your baby this time round isn't also rhesus. My first baby isn't same blood type as me so it was important I for anti d. As I understand it, you/we may need to have more blood tests to check for antibodies and of course if u have any bleeding at all you must go to the hospital for anti D. I don't personally think your miscarriage will have had anything to do with the blood type. My sister is also rhesus neg and has had 4 healthy babies with no issues! Congratulations on getting pregnant again and try to relax and enjoy it. I must admit I have been worrying too as me and my DH are going to be trying for baby number two in the next month or two and I am concerned about being rhesus but mainly because I had two bleeds and it wasn't nice having to go have anti D. I'm not a fan of injections or blood tests! Have u seen your doctor or midwife yet or do u have an appointment?

I'm rhesus negative and AFAIK you need antiD to prevent rhesus disease. It's caused if you're having a rhesus positive baby and their blood gets into your bloodstream. From what I understand, it would then affect and subsequent rhesus positive baby you carry.

If your first baby was rhesus negative you'll be fine. You also need antiD after you have the baby if he/she is rhesus positive.

FWIW I'm rhesus negative and have had 4 DCs with no problems.

I am rh -ve and am just about to give birth to my second DC. I had the standard bloods taken early on in my pregnancy, which confirmed what I (and the docs) already knew in terms of my rhesus status. I was told to inform the medics immediately if I had any bleeding or trauma but, absent that, had the screening bloods taken and a dose of antiD at 28 weeks. I believe that the screening bloods confirm whether there are any antibodies present.

I also had a miscarriage at 7 weeks before this pregnancy and wasn't given any AntiD at the time. Unfortunately, I can't remember why or even whether this was discussed, but am assuming it was ok as nothing came up on my 28 week bloods (sorry, not very helpful). I agree with the other posters - I would definitely check with your midwife/GP in case you need a dose or a blood test.

Congratulations on the pregnancy

Breadrollsbuns- sorry for asking but does anyone actually know the cause of a miscarriage and are we more likely to have one if rhesus negative? I understood this was just a bloodtype and nothing to worry too much about but must say I am scared in case I too miscarry when trying for my next baby.

Hi mrsm22, I suppose you can never say never, but if you had AntiD during your first pregnancy and after the birth (as I did), I think it would be extremely unlikely to have caused your miscarriage. As I understand it, being rhesus negative can increase the risk of miscarriage if it is not managed correctly in your first and subsequent pregnancies. However, it sounds like you have had the correct treatment so should not be at increased risk. I understand your anxiety though, which is why it may be worth asking for some bloods to be taken. Hope that helps

That's really helpful, thanks. My son is rh +ive so I did have the shot after birth and am just worrying probably. I asked about it after the miscarriage and they said I didn't need another shot, but sometimes you get the impression they didn't do more than have a quick chat with the nearest (ie not necessarily best-informed) colleague, if that! I'll make a bee-line for the midwife.

I'm also rhesus -tive and had the shot during my first pregnancy and then had 4 mc's in between. I was given the shot with every miscarriage, but being rhesus -tive wasn't the cause of my mc's.

You are given the injection for subsequent pregnancies. I've read somewhere that you don't need it before 12 weeks if you miscarry as the placenta isn't formed yet so no chance of blood mixing, which may have been why you weren't given it after your mc. My hospital however gave me the shots as precaution. It must differ area to area.

I think being rhesus negative can only cause miscarriage if you develop rhesus disease and the baby you're carrying is rhesus positive. Rhesus disease is where your blood has mixed with rhesus positive blood during pregnancy and not having antiD. Your blood then develops antibodies against rhesus positive blood which 'attack' any rhesus positive embryos which can cause birth defects and miscarriage.

That's what i was told when I asked. But it doesn't mean that being rhesus negative causes miscarriage, only if you have rhesus disease can being rhesus negative cause miscarriage.

Sorry for sounding dumb here but how would you know if you had rhesus disease? Presumably in a blood test? I am wanting to start TTC with baby number 2 but am concerned. Can you or should you get a blood test before getting pregnant or is that silly and unnecessary? Is it basically a case of once pregnant and when you see your midwife for the first time then mention about being rhesus negative and should you be given a blood test fairly early on? I was also wondering (again sorry to sound thick) but I had a heavy and scary bleed with my first pregnancy and was given anti D and it turned out both me and baby were fine. No reason known for the bleed but if you have say a tiny big if bleeding or spotting is that also cause for anti D?

AFAIK it would be picked up in first blood tests when pregnant. I was told as long as antiD is given during pregnancy and after birth if needed then there's nothing to worry about.

I'm not sure about needing it for spotting it would be better to ask MW. It would have been given to you with heavy bleeding as a precaution.

crazykat's explanation is exactly what I was told (and she has explained it far more clearly than my vague ramblings ). Try not to worry OP, it sounds like you're covered and you can check with your MW/GP to be on the safe side