Can I still have a home birth if Rhesus negative?

[Ladypug]

Only just found out today I'm Rhesus Negative. Just wondered if this will rule out a home birth?

I'm rhesus negative, im not having a home birth for various reasons but the midwives I've seen are keen for me to consider it so I don't think it is an issue

Also rhesus negative and they tried to encourage me to have a home birth

Definitely not an issue.

I'm rhesus neg and was allowed home births. There is no reason why you shouldn't but you will need a dose of AntiD with (i think) 72 hours of delivery of your baby is rhesus positive. Do you know what rhesus factor baby's father is?

Check with your M/W what their policy is for this as sometimes you will be expected to go in to the hospital to have the Anti D which can be a consideration considering you will have a very newborn baby, depending on distance and ease of travel arrangements to hospital.

It is vital you have the AntiD in this timeframe IF your baby is Rhesus Positive to protect you for any future pregnancies.

I'm RN and had a homebirth. It was fantastic. I did have to go to hospital for my anti d injection but just popped up and had it done a few hours after the birth.

I did (11 years ago) DS was positive so they came and gave anti d at home too. Massive needle though!

Thanks guys, don't know DH blood type but expect we could find out from doctor. They said I would need an injection and also a blood test after birth but I hoped a midwife might be ok to administer that without hospital. I have a long way to go yet though so I will explore it at my next midwife appointment x

Shouldn't be a problem so long as you have an anti-D jab as your MW will recommend.

Even if Dh is rhesus positive doesn't mean baby will definitely be as well. They will usually test babys blood result from cord blood immediately post birth and then you will know if you need the AntiD or not. You will be offered a prophylactic dose of AntiD at 28 wks anyway so lots of time to discuss. Some M/W's can do it at home for you but a lot will get you to go in to the hospital - I think its more of a storage/access issue for community midwives rather than anything.

We found the gp wouldn't do a rhesus test on DH for 'no good reason' and said if we were just doing it for that we should go to private clinic as they don't do it on NHS. Alternatively you could get him to donate his blood and they should tell him then.... :)

Ah thanks Annie, I just figured they would have his blood "on file" somewhere from previous operations etc x

Its worth asking, they may well have! Good luck with it all!

Yes - I had 2 "home from home" births (in a mw-led unit) and the 3rd at home. Noone ever mentioned me being rhesus negative as an issue.

I'm rhesus neg and had a home birth. However my hubby is also rhesus neg so it's impossible for us to have a rhesus positive baby.
I declined anti d on that basis for both pregnancies.