rhesus negative 2nd child...

[Mondinomum2]

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!

You should get a shot in the third trimester. It's a preventative injection, as cross over bleeds are more common in the third trimester.

You'll only get another one if the baby is + at birth. If it says "not needed" on the birth certificate then that means he is -.

That shouldn't impact the need to have a shot during this pregnancy though.

This is why I prefer the french system. Everyone gets a card with their blood type and rhesus factor on at birth, and it's considered a vital document. All the doctors here couldn't believe I didn't know my own blood type.

When you think about it, it's bloody idiotic that you can go for over 30 years without ever knowing what your blood type is in the UK. My sibling was told if they wanted to know their type they either had to pay for a private test, or donate blood.

That's so helpful ladies! Thank you so much. I have absolutely no intention of having any more children after this one, so I can totally relax a bit now! I'll go and get the anti D of course but it sounds like the baby on board so to speak is not going to have a problem. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to write so comprehensively to reassure me!! Xx

lucy they've changed the procedure here in Ireland just in the last year or so and now give anti-d at 28 weeks.

I had my second baby 15 months ago and didn't get it (except after the birth) but now on my third pregnancy I had to go in and get it at 28 weeks.

Oh right maisie
I was quite surprised to hear that the uk have been giving it automatically at 28 weeks and not our hospitals!

I'm RH- and had no Anti-D injections throughout either of my pregnancies. I assume this is because both my children as RH- as i guess antibodies would have shown up in my blood tests.

I actually think it would be a really good idea to test children at birth so everone knew their blood group. My DH is 50 and still doesn't know his and the only reason i know is because i give blood.

For what it's worth, i found midwife contact during my second pregnancy fairly limited. Maybe they assume you know what you're doing by then!

You don't know what group the baby is until it is born and they test the cord blood. It is standard procedure to get the injections so I wonder why you didn't get them?