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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

rhesus negative 2nd child...

31 replies

Mondinomum2 · 12/11/2015 23:03

Hi, I'm quite confused about the whole rh- thing. I sort of understand the basic scientific explanation but I'm quite concerned now...
I am rh- and had my little boy 3 years ago - husband is presumably rh+. So...this time I'm 21 weeks now by still not had antiD injection - that's at 28 weeks. Having read possibly too much on google I'm now thinking that might be too late. The hospital were terrible when I had my son and made some serious medical mistakes. I ended up very traumatised and I have no recollection of being given an antiD shot after my first child. (They may have done it I just don't know or trust them really). Should I be worried? Any rh- mums there with more than one child? Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 12/11/2015 23:06

28 week injection is national guidelines and is backed up by research.

If you have any bleeding or a fall/trauma to your stomach you should get medical advice as you may need an extra injection.

After the birth they test the cord blood to see what group the baby is. You only need an injection then if baby is positive.

Wolfiefan · 12/11/2015 23:07

Hi. My last was a few years ago so can't remember when in pregnancy I had the anti d. But the policy of our hospital was to test after birth and if there was no need then not to give it after birth.
What does your mw say?

Wolfiefan · 12/11/2015 23:07

X post!

dementedpixie · 12/11/2015 23:11

Do you know that your dh is rh+? Both my mum and dad were rh- . I have 2 children and am rh- whereas dh is rh+. No issues with either of them

SapientPearwood · 12/11/2015 23:11

I have 3 children and also had a few bleeds and a fall whilst PG so have had lots of anti-D. No problems at all. I seem to remember that they test you for rhesus antibodies at some point during pregnancy if you are negative, so they know if you would have a problem

SapientPearwood · 12/11/2015 23:12

Talk to your midwife if you are worried, but it's really common, they deal with it all the time

Lindorballs · 12/11/2015 23:19

I am rhesus negative and had a blood test in pregnancy called a free fetal DNA test which could check whether my baby was positive or negative. She was found to be negative so I didn't have to have any anti D. Ask your midwife if they do this in your area. It was a new test when I had it but that was 2.5 years ago now.

kep1979 · 13/11/2015 10:17

This is baby number 3 for me (fourth pregnancy). They test for antibodies in the usual blood tests and then repeat at 28 and 34 weeks. And give the anti-d at 28 weeks, unless you have a fall then they will give it then.

Try not to worry.... do you know what blood group your son is? Both mine were rh- too.... even though this is quite rare, given their dad is +.

LucyBabs · 13/11/2015 10:38

I wonder why its different here in Ireland.. I am rh- and did not receive anti D on both my pregnancies at 28weeks.
I had the usual blood tests and this was checked for antibodies. Both my dc's cord blood was checked and they are both rh- so I didn't need the anti D after their births.

cathpip · 13/11/2015 11:00

I have 4 dc, I had anti d at 28 weeks with all 4 of them but only needed anti d after their births with dc2 and 4.

TrashPanda · 13/11/2015 11:10

I am Rh- and DP must be +. I had a termination about 8 years ago and was given a shot of antiD then.

When I had DC1 6 years ago I was given 2 lots in pregnancy and 1 after birth without his blood being tested, it was very soon after delivery and I think if I had been out of it at all I may not have noticed. I think it was given without testing because it was a cottage hospital with no blood testing facilities and I was going straight home after a straight forward birth.

With DC2 recently I was given one lot at 28+ weeks and one after delivery but this time after a blood test.

If you are worried, do speak to your midwife. They are there to help and advise and there is really no such thing as a stupid question.

Luckygirlcharlie · 13/11/2015 13:44

Hi. What blood group is you son? You wouldn't have been given a second one if he too is rh neg regardeless of what your partner is. The first one is in case your baby is a different blood group from you and you produce anitibodies again it. The second you only get if the baby is anything other than rh- to protect against future pregnancies. But if he's the same as you you don't need it as there'd have been no antibodies. I'm the same.

Bixxy · 13/11/2015 14:04

I wouldn't worry about the 28 week injection - you don't actually need to have it, you only need the anti-d if you have a trauma to the bump. If this happens you will have a further injection regardless of whether you had one at 28 weeks.

The important one, as pp have said, is the one post birth if your baby is rh+.

NotAQueef · 13/11/2015 14:12

Can you get hold of your notes to see if they comment on it?
My ds was + and had the anti- d a few hours after birth
Dd turned out to be - but they were shit hot on making sure as her cord bloods clotted before they got to lab so day after she was born they sent a midwife to my house to make sure we went back to get her bloods done again straight away in case I needed anti-d
My point being as long as your .rhesus status was clearly on your notes it is highly likely you received it, but speak to your midwife to check x

Original poster

Mondinomum2 · 13/11/2015 21:19

Thanks very much everyone. I don't know what my sons blood group is. It wouldn't be anywhere in that little red book they give you would it? I don't have his birth records and I think it is really hard to get hold of them. It was a different hospital to this time. Don't know my husbands blood type either, but I know his mum is rh+.
It does sound pretty routine so I guess I just have to put my faith in the team last time and hope they managed that,
Really appreciate the replies!
X

OP posts:

kimberly1 · 13/11/2015 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

Mondinomum2 · 14/11/2015 22:35

Remembered we took a photocopy of my sons birth records. It just says "not needed" next to anti D in the post birth section. I had it at 28 weeks though and I'm definitely rh-. There is no reference anywhere to my sons blood type and I don't know what it is :-/ Think I definitely need to phone my midwife in the morning and try to get to the bottom of this. I have a bad nagging feeling that something is wrong. My instincts are normally spot on.

OP posts:

Luckygirlcharlie · 14/11/2015 22:37

If it says not needed it should only be because he's rhesus negative too.

dementedpixie · 14/11/2015 22:40

I agree that if it says not needed then your son is rh- too. I don't know my children's blood groups either btw as it's not something they tell you

TwoTwoOneBravo · 14/11/2015 22:44

I'm rh-. As was my baby when she was born. The midwife wrote 'not needed' in my notes as well. As a shorthand for 'Anti D not needed as baby rh-'. Do double check if you're worried but it sounds as if everything was done properly.

TwoTwoOneBravo · 14/11/2015 22:45

I don't know either of my DCs blood type beyond the fact that they were both rh-.

Hangingbasket14 · 14/11/2015 22:48

I had anti D at 28 weeks in both pregnancies, both DC's had anti D after birth. I believe that this is standard although as others have said it's really only necessary of you have bleeds/trauma

Original poster

Mondinomum2 · 14/11/2015 23:32

sigh...so complicated!! Ok I'm going to assume that my little boy is rh- and go to sleep. I'll not pester midwives tomorrow but I'm probably going to try and phone the community one in Monday. I was just worried because during this pregnancy I've been told that I would have had the injection after birth last time and I was sure I hadn't. Sometimes a bit of information is worse than none isn't it!
Thank you so much again ladies.
Night night xx

OP posts:

gallicgirl · 14/11/2015 23:37

I'm rhesus negative and I'm not at all sure that I had antiD after first birth or that DD was tested. With second baby the hospital erred on side of caution and gave it to me anyway. They lost blood tests after DS born so gave antiD as benefits outweighed risks.

Mind you, I knew DP isvus also rh -be so risk was small.

Sunnydays321 · 15/11/2015 08:20

Like everyone else has said, if baby was Rh- you wouldn't have needed the one after birth. But also be reassured that if you had all the blood tests at your booking appointment this time a problem would have shown up.

A bit about how anti d works: The risk of not having anti d is that during a sensitising event (such as labour, where yours and baby's blood are likely to mix. or as other people have said, bleeds, falls etc) your body's immune system sees the baby's blood as different to its own (like it would a virus) and it builds up antibodies against the baby's blood type. If this happened and you didn't get anti d these anti bodies can attack future babies blood.... In simple terms The anti d works a bit like a "sponge" and goes round your body "mopping up" these antibodies so they can't cause any problems. At your booking appointment you should have been offered a range of blood tests. The one that tests your blood group also screens for these antibodies. If you had antibodies due to a missed anti d it would have been picked up. In your notes it should say antibodies negative. You will get another of these blood tests at 28 weeks before your anti d, and again after labour (when they also send the cord blood).

Hope that helps xx

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