Anti D injection tomorrow - googled and scared myself....

[LJHH]

So I'm a massive needle wuss, I have my 28 week appt tomorrow, was mentally prepared for the bloods i'm not as much as a baby with those now but the midwife sprung the Anti D jab on me (I'm B Minus I think) So I naturally googled and there was loads of posts saying it was really painful and the needle was huge. Cue massive panic.

Is it really that bad??!

[FloweryBoots]

I've had arm and bum, but when I had the routine one at 28 weeks they put it in through the what-ever-it-is-thingumy they put in to take the bloods, so one needle for the whole lot. When I've had it in arm or bum it is OK, it does sting a bit as the liquid is relatively viscous, but honestly it's fine. However, the intravenous one I had through the blood taking whatsit was entirely painless, I couldn't feel it at all. Ask if they can do that, loads better!

The anti emetic I needed befor glucos tollerence test, now that was a nasty one, couldn't sit down for days without pulling a face!

[Redling]

Got mine in my arm last week, didn't look at it so no idea how big the needle was, stung for maybe 5 seconds. Not half as bad as them trying to get blood out of my non existent veins. That's been a never ending chore of hospital trips and collapsing veins! Injection is fine!

[LJHH]

You're all making me feel much better, thank you!
Appt is at 9.20 so can get it out of the way nice and early and go to mothercare after and buy a present for the baby, that cheers me up :)

[autumnboys]

Take a book, or a magazine. My hospital made you sit round for 20 minutes afterwards in case you had a wobble.

[Idontseeanyicegiants]

I've had I think 5 of them all together and it's been fine. Most went into bum but the last 2 were in my arm. Definitely take a book as I had to wait for half an hour afterwards.

[tryingtocatchthewind]

I've had it done twice and it's fine. If you dont like needles, whatever you do don't try "water papules" during labour. Injections of water droplets in your back which is supposed to help. Never experienced pain like it I as about to scream and hit someone when thankfully it was over. Helped for all of half an hour. The midwife sympathised, they had all tried them in hands and agreed its very painful.

[LJHH]

Oh god, that sounds awful! Never heard of that?? You poor thing. Will steer clear though.
Already I'm anti epidural (unsurprisingly) but I can imagine I'll change my mind once labour really kicks in....

[CheckpointCharlie]

What time is it tomorrow? I will think of you smack my own bottom again in the name of camerarderie at that time and send you vibes!!!

[skinnyamericano]

Midwives aren't supposed to put it into your arm, surely!!!

Request it in your thigh or bottom.

I think the problem is that it's a slightly thicker liquid than other injections, but it's fine. One midwife told me to cough at just the right moment, and I never even felt it with her.

[Sweetpea86]

It is the least painful injection I've ever had didn't hurt a bit. Got ded cocky week after went for whopping cough injection and that was painful.

Don't worry my little boy was born 6 weeks ago and he's the same bloody type as me so didn't need another one :)

[Sweetpea86]

I had it in my arm too

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Why aren't they supposed to put it in your arm? It's an intramuscular injection so as long as it goes in the muscle it doesn't matter.

[LJHH]

You should commence your bottom smacking at approx 9.20am - I appreciate it! ??

[SellyMevs]

I'm B negative too. Unfortunately I have a condition that means I can't have normal injections........... I had to have it into my stomach just under the skin. You will be fine!!

(I also made DH donate blood in the hope he'd be rhesus negative. I was living in hope!!)

[SellyMevs]

I'm B negative too. Unfortunately I have a condition that means I can't have normal injections........... I had to have it into my stomach just under the skin. You will be fine!!

(I also made DH donate blood in the hope he'd be rhesus negative. I was living in hope!!)

[sonlypuppyfat]

I had mine in the top of my leg no problems.

[BuildYourOwnSnowman]

After birth both babies had blood test and were both negative so I didn't need the injection after birth. At my hospital it's the only time they will actually tell you the baby's blood group.

My sister had hers in the bum and I embarrassed myself by taking my trousers down before midwife said 'er....it's going in your arm'

[duchesse]

If your DP is Rhesus + then it's less likely that your DC will be negative. 2 of my 4 are (and they are both girls so will have to do this as well in due course).

[Wolfiefan]

I've had a few anti d injections. (I think only post birth it was a jab in the butt!!) I found them much less sore than a usual vaccination. Better than blood tests too!

[hugoagogo]

I had mine in my thigh after mc, I don't remember the actual injection hurting, but it did ache a bit afterwards.

Thankfully dh is neg too, so didn't have it with my 2 dc.

Never heard of having it whilst pregnant- is that some newfangled thing?

[Drofoxnow]

I have had loads of these, usually in my bum and can't remember them being painful at all. You'll be fine x

[LJHH]

My midwife told me it was to protect any future pregnancies and to stop my body attacking future babies that I may go in to have if they have a different blood group.... Is that even right??

We don't plan on any others so I was reluctant to have it but I had a MC before this pregnancy so wasn't sure if that would count as baby 1 and this would be a "future pregnancy"?

Better to be safe than sorry though to make sure my little one is ok!

[Snowflakepie]

LJHH your midwife is right, it protects future babies from rejection or possible blue baby syndrome. You may say no more now, but people change their minds and so it's for the best.

I've had one in the bum and one in the arm, they were nowhere near as bad as the flu or whooping cough jabs. The needle is wider in diameter as it is a more viscous liquid but it didn't make any difference. Just don't look, midwives are very used to giving this now and do a good job.

True to form, DD is A- and DS is A+ so both will potentially have to deal with it all in the future. I am O- and the blood service love me, DH is A+. I had to have a second dose after DS was born because he was positive. It was fine other bits hurt more lol you will deal with it because it matters. Will be thinking of you tomorrow morning, good luck!

[ItsAlwaysBetterOnHoliday]

A neg here. I had it in my arm and didn't look so no idea how big the needle was, but it was no worse than any other injection. Much preferable to blood tests!