Anyone know the deal with Rehsus D negative blood group?

[PotPourri]

I heard something recently that said that it is dangerous for your baby if you are negative bloodgroup and the baby is positive. Anyone know what the deal is with that? I'm B neg.

in that case, i don't think i had it, but i wouldn't count on that being because ds is also o neg, frankly. i didn't get loads of the stuff i was supposed to have, including painkillers for episiotomy!

Bk - the reason the RCM does not support it is because women are less likely to be sensitised if the current guidance was followed in the first place. Women should have anti-D following any bleed after 12 weeks (for the reasons you gabe Gingernut) unless there has been a surgical termination of pregnancy performed.

Also, to give it routinely to all women during pregnancy is not necessarily a good thing. Anti-D is the only drug given to a woman to prevent problems in a future pregnancy - one she might theoretically never have. Where ther is a definite sensitising event then the benefit outweighs the risk. To give it routinely may put unaffected fetuses at risk - we just don't know.
A fabulous book to read is anti-D

mears, thank you. my mw has already offered this book, but i turned it down. i think i will take her up on it now.

By the way, anti-D should be administered in the deltoid muscle of the upper arm for best absorption. The fact that it has been put in the buttock or thigh may be a factor for women getting sensitised when they have been given it postnatally.
Large doses need to be split into an injection in each arm. The thigh is still used mainly because of lack of training and awareness. The thigh is still being used because that is what midwives have been trained to do - ithat needs changed.

Also, not all hospitals do Kleihauers test post delivery to measure the amount of fetal cells in the mothers circulation. That should be measured incase a larger dose of anti-D is needed. So 2 blood samples should be obtained post delivery from the mum. A sample of cord blood should be sent to check blood group of baby. If negative group then no problem. Anti-D not needed. If positive blood group, kleihauer should be checked to see what does is needed.

i am B negative, i have had anti-D after my first delivery. the baby is positive. after that i had a miscarriage at 50 days. i would like to know whether after the miscarriage should i have to go for anti-D shot once again. ( Cause i didnot have anti-D after miscarriage). now i am planning for a second baby. what should i do.i am bit scary, will i have any problem for the second one. pls answer my queries

im r neg. with dd1 she was neg as well so all fine. with dd2 i refused the anti d at 28 and 32 wks aas i didnt like the idea of blood product and figured if she was pos i would get injection after birth. she was and i did but now im preg again and not sure if i should have the anti d at 28/32? as my last baby was pos.!

any ideas?

What annoyed me when I had DS was the fact that I am Neg but so is DH, so no chance of DS being positive. However, the hospital insisted I have the antiD

If you have to have it by the way, ask for it in your bum rather than your arm - as its less painful (more fat LOL)

I'm rhesus neg and during my first pg they just kept an eye on things as we don't know what dh is. (btw, you can have a baby who is a different blood group even if you and your dh are the same, rare but it happens)

When dd was born they checked her and she was rhesus neg too so I didn't have to have the injection. It was the same for ds.

It's nothing to worry about.

I'm rhesus neg and only had the anti - D after the births of all 4 of mine (all +ve). Also had one after my mc. I had a couple of extra blood tests during pg but no extra anti-D.

Whizzz - like you dh and I are both Rh-ve. Hospital said they couldn't take my word for it that dh was the father! I was not impressed!

I am rhesus negative too and trying to decide whether or not to get the jag at 28wks as has been recommended...being REALLY thick here, but when I asked my midwife she said people's main objection was because it was a blood product, I saw someone else on here mention that too...why is a blood product a bad thing??? Is it because it might be infected blood? Not being cheeky or anything but I really don't know, can anyone explain? Thanks!!

Caz, some people object to blood products for religious reasons, ie; some Jehovass Witnesses may object.

And other people do worry about the safety of it. I believe that the product is sourced from America as they don't have CJD there.

Coffeepot - yes I got that impression too -

Hi - I'm RH -ve and have ds and dd1 who are rh-ve and dd2 who is rh +ve. I refused anti d during third preg - mainly due to a vastly painful bottom jab after a m/c. I can only think that they hit something as it was excruciating (and I am no wimp!) I also was 100% sure of no further children (snip, snip) As it happened though the third child was +ve and as I was gearing myself up for the post-birth jab, I realised they had already given it into my arm - hadn't noticed!

i too am o neg and the baby i am carrying at the moment is positive they found a rare anti body in my blood called anti kell the father needs testing which has been done but dont know what will happen till we see the consultant.

I have had three previous pregnancies all babys were negative and we dont know where this anti kell came from i did have a termination last year but had an anti d injection straight after it so i must have had a slight bleed this time round but not noticed any of it i could have been internally so i am pretty nervous as to what the consultant will say.

Hi all im reh neg and i had the anti d after i had my first child i never had it while i was pregnant! We are trying for another baby now and just wondering should i get anti d injection or should i wait until i get pregnant and find out if i need it then???

Am o-neg
After ist baby was given injection
After 2nd twin pregnancy cant remember.
After miscarriage 2 years ago was not.
Am considering another baby and am unsure of situation.
Husband is a pos.
Any advice?????

If you are rhesus neg they take a blood sample from the cord after delivery and perform a direct coombs test

If it comes back positive then the baby will have to have regular blood monitering because there is a risk of jaundice and anemia.

This happened with my 2nd child despite me having all the anti d's etc so they don't automatically prevent problems. Am now 36 wks with my 3rd child and have been told that there is a 50/50 chance of the same thing happening despite having the anti d's this time as well.

Btw my 2nd child developed no problems and monitering was completely precautionary.

Many tanks, alexandra!!
am hoping no probs.
have yet to conceive
maybe too old-39?????

Can anyone help with a couple of queries on this?

Am -ve, DH +ve, have had anti-D at 28 wks during both prev pg's and in this one (am now 33 wks). After birth of DS and DD did not have further anti-D...does that mean that they are both -ve also, or does Anti-D given at 28 weeks cover me either way?

If I have home birth, will MW sort out whatever test has to be done post birth from cord?