Anti D Titer of 1:512 after 2nd child - should i try for another?

[benson76]

I gave birth to my second son a year ago, after finding out during the pregnancy that I had antibodies. They slowly rose through the pregnancy to 1:256 when I delivered at 38 weeks. Baby was jaundiced and anaemic and needed a dose of IVIG and two blood transfusions, but thankfully after a scary couple of weeks he is now fine with no lasting problems at all. We would love 1 more child and have recently spoken to a specialist who was very positive, but he suggested the following program for my next pregnancy:

• twice a week from conception I should receive IVIG
• at week 14 they will send my blood for testing to see the blood type of the baby
• if he / she is positive then they will continue with IVIG and if necessary in-utero blood transfusions

Wow, now I've written this down it looks scary!
However I've read so many stories where women have had healthy babies, and that your titer levels aren't always an indication of whether the baby will be effected. Has anybody had this experience? Or been suggested the IVIG treatment during pregnancy? I would love to hear from you. I live in a different country and so was wondering what they suggest back at home in the UK?

Thanks

Sorry, I'm afraid I can't advise. I'm rhesus negative and have a rhesus positive husband and daughter. I didn't even know women were routinely tested for antibodies in subsequent pregnancies!

Or... maybe the NHS don't.

I just had my 28 week bloods and they are screening them for antibodies, so I presume this is routine on the NHS. After all it is a cheap test and can prevent huge complications so it definitely offers good value for money!

Unfortunately this is only my first so no idea about subsequent pregnancies, but I guess if the consultant is positive about it then it should have a good success rate. I think the chance of a rh- baby from a rh+ father rh- mother is about 30% so there's a 1 in 3 chance you won't need any treatment at all once you can find out baby's blood type.