Anyone else have a rhesus negative blood group?

[Littlemissjt]

Just got my results from blood test at first midwife appointment and I'm rhesus negative. Just looking for some reassurance my body isn't going to make lots and lots of antibodies and attack the baby.

You'll be fine. You will have to have an anti-D injection (hospital will send you an appointment). When your baby is born they will test his/her blood and you may need a section injection depending on their blood group. I only needed the one whilst pregnant.
Congratulations on your pregnancy

Second, not section. Sorry!

Yup me, I'm having my second. Is this your first baby? If so and your partner is Rh positive then you'll only need anti-d if you have a fall or bleed or anything of concern during pregnancy. Otherwise they'll check your baby after birth and if they are positive give you an anti-d injection after the birth to prevent any problems.

I'll get an anti-d injection in the next few weeks (currently almost 25 weeks) and then again after birth if I need it. I'm not overly concerned and I don't think you need to be either.

It'll be fine, it doesn't affect the first baby in any case (except where there is blood mixing, so you will be asked to let the MW know of any bleeding or bumps to your bump).
You have the anti-D a couple of times in pregnancy and again after delivery if your baby is also rh negative.

Do you know your husband/partner's blood group?

My third baby suffered from Rhesus disease of newborns, despite me having anti-D each time, and basically she had to go in a light therapy incubator which they use to treat jaundice for the first three days. After that she was absolutely fine, and because her blood was tested straight away, she was treated really quickly.

Sorry I didn't get an anti-d injection during pregnancy the first time (4 years ago) but this might have changed by now. Still, dont worry, they know the protocol well and I'm sure you'll be given injections if needed.

Sorry, should say you get the jab again after delivery if the baby is Rh POSITIVE not negative.

Your hospital should ensure this won't happen

At around 28wks you will have a repeat blood test to check for antibodies and an Anti D injection. The injection will reduce the chance that your body will produce anti bodies.

If you have any bleeding or a fall in your pregnancy you will require another injection.

After the birth of your baby. Cord blood will be taken from the cord and sent for analysis. As will your blood, this will tell if your baby is +ve or -ve. If baby is +ve you will require another anti d injection.

All of the above is routine, you pregnancy will continue the same.

Hope this is helpful for you and makes sense.

Me too! Awaiting the imminent arrival of dc2.
I had an anti-d injection at 28 weeks for both pregnancies.

Depnding on your lath trust you will wither get an anti D injection at 28 weeks only which is a longer action one or two; one St 28 weks and the other at 34 weeks. If baby is positive at birth, you will get another one usually within 72 hours of giving birth.
If you have a bleed before your anti - D, call the hospital as they will give you it early to avoid antibodies being made. My hospital only do this for past 13 weks now as I had a bleed at 12+5 and they refused to give me it.
It isn't harmful in the first pregnancy but subsequent pregnancies, if the antibodies have been made and baby number two is also positive, means there could be issues (rhesus disease) but this is extremely rare and in mild cases could result in a bit of phototherapy or blood transfusion. My first born needed phototherapy anyways and it isn't scary (mine liked the warm incubator too much!) I think worst case scenario is baby needing a blood transfusion in utero every few weeks but this is something like less than 0.1% of cases and only for subsequent pregnancies.
Thought I would give the facts but in all honesty it means very little these days due to anti-D being given as standard during the third trimester.

The professionals know what to do so just let them do their job. You will be given a card to put in your purse incase of energency.

The threat is generally with subsequent pregnancies. I had the anti-d when pregnant with my son, he tested as B+ when born (I am O-) and so I had the (rather bloody painful) injection the day after his birth whilst they were checking his hearing etc.

Thank you everyone. Feeling better about it all now.

My mom does, and my sister and I both have positive blood types. We were born in the mid 70's, my mom got the shots, and we're both fine (well, we're pretty sure any problems we have don't have anything to do with Mom's blood type.)

If this is your first pregnancy, your baby is at no risk at all.

It's only IF the baby is rhesus positive, and IF your body becomes sensitised to the baby's blood (this might only happen during birth, or you have a bad fall) that there's a problem in a future pregnancy. That's why you will be given Anti D, to mop up any antibodies from your first baby that might affect the second.

And also, you will be tested for any antibodies in subsequent pregnancies and will get treatment.

Just so you know, I'm rhesus negative and my first baby was rhesus positive. I had routine Anti D at 28ish weeks and after the birth. When I booked in with my second pregnancy, they tested for antibodies and I had none, so the Anti D did it's job.

Riding the storm... Thanks for giving us a full picture. I didn't know that, and am pg with my 3rd. I think the hcp s are really good at dealing with it, but not at explaining it

I am too, have been told that I will have to have two anti d injections, one at 28 weeka and another at around 35 weeks. Am trying to get my husband to find out his blood type first because if we are both rhesus negative we can only have a rhesus negative baby :) My first pregnancy

If your dp is also rh negative then you don't need anti d at all - two negative parents cannot make a positive baby. Hcp's will always err on the side of caution just in case you are not being honest about the parentage of the baby but I have refused anti d twice now with no issues.

I don't know if that's strictly true unfortunately! My friend is negative and so is her husband but she still had to have the injections in both her pregnancies "just in case the baby isn't her husbands"! She had to laugh really.

I am also negative and had to have 7 shots in my first pregnancy (routine ones, one after a fall and 4 after the birth).

Am currently pregnant with my second .

Whoops sorry Aloy, only read the first sentence of your post! You're right, they won't take your word for it!

I'm Rh - and have had four babies. The healthcare system is extremely good at managing rhesus, so please try not to worry. I've had anti-D jabs in all my pregnancies, including a fifth one that miscarried, to mop up any potential escaped Rhesus antibodies. I have 4 healthy children.

Two of my daughters are rhesus negative as well so presumably will be facing this situation as well in due course. It really is nothing to fear.

PS: Please make sure you quickly report any bleeds during pregnancy to your midwife as well as they may prefer to do an anti-D jab after a bleed too.

Yes, you get the anti-Ds regardless of your DH's blood group. In the light of research suggesting that up to 1 in 7 children are not the child of the man they are supposed to be, that's probably the wisest, most unawkward way of managing it!

There are other reasons too, that they will still give the anti-D regardless of your DH's Rh status - he might have a weak form of the D antigen, that isn't picked up, but could still trigger an antibody response.
It really is much simpler to just take the anti-D jabs and cover yourself and any subsequent pregnancies.

The Rh antigens aren't formed in a foetus until ~12 weeks, so any bleeds prior to that won't cause a problem (probably why the poster who had a bleed at 12+5w didn't need anti-D, bearing in mind that the actual age of the foetus could have been ~2 weeks less than that, as gestation is taken from the start date of the LMP)

Thanks again toe everyone who has left positive, reassuring messages. Had some other bad news yesterday - not baby related - so think I probably worried more.

Can't believe that stat about 1 in 7 don't have the dad the mothers claim are the dad. Clearly I'm living a sheltered life!

I declined the anti-d injections in my first pregnancy as my husband and I are both rhesus negative. The doctors and midwives didn't like it and asked me about it loads but I couldn't see the point when I knew who the father was (although I understand that they couldn't be sure). Anyway lo and behold our son is rhesus negative too.

I am now pregnant through egg donation and the donor is rhesus positive so I will be having the anti-d injections this time.