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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

30 replies

LUCIA22 · 22/01/2007 13:22

I have just found out I am Rhesus negative and 25 weeks. We decided that it would be simpler for DP to get a blood test to see if he was also negative which would eliminate the need for me to have injections. Didnt realise how difficult this would be. He has a different GP Surgery & they wont do a test without a formal req from my midwife. Unable to contact the midwife & my surgery seems to think that him being tested is not the normal thing to do. Surely it would save resources in the long run and unnessessary worry & injections for me if we could find out his blood type. I am scheduled to have the injections at 28 & 34 weeks but would prefer only to have them if really necessary. Has anyone else had this experience?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

misdee · 22/01/2007 13:23

can he give blood? very good waqy of finding out your blood group

Socci · 22/01/2007 13:25

Message withdrawn

coppertop · 22/01/2007 13:28

Dh found out his blood group through being a blood donor too. Awkward b*gger turned out to be Rh Positive.

misdee · 22/01/2007 13:28

yeah my dh is also Rh+, he says it makes up for all the jabs he has. grr.

Lorina · 22/01/2007 13:30

You dont need them with a first baby ,its only the subsequent ones.

misdee · 22/01/2007 13:31

you do if the baby is positive. as it affect future pregnancies if the blood mixes.

Lorina · 22/01/2007 13:33

I had to have it after ,not during pregnancy.

saralou100 · 22/01/2007 13:36

you do need them with 1st babies in order to protect the second baby!

one of the theories as to why they give the injection regardless is if the daddy isn't really the daddy iyswim.. but if you can prove he's negative you can refuse it... you can refuse anyway and wait till baby's here if you want.

cinnamongreyhound · 22/01/2007 13:37

You need them with your first baby to protect your second one (if you have another).

I was told by my midwife that it has been routine in the states to have them at 28 and 34 weeks for ages and has proved much more effective than our old method of just after the baby's born.

I don't know but am guessing, it makes no difference what your dh is as it may not be his baby and you may have lied(not suggesting anything about you!) and they need to protect the baby just in case of this.

As you say I would have thought it was cheaper to test dad than give unnecessary injections but there is no chance of that where I am either.

You can skip the one at birth if your baby turns out to be negative too but other than that think it's better to be safe than sorry.

sugarplumfairy · 22/01/2007 13:37

I'm Rhesus- and they didn't test my husband as they couldn't take my word for it that he was the father!
Didn't have any injections with 1st child until after.

Original poster

LUCIA22 · 22/01/2007 13:39

I was told I would have them at 28 and 34 weeks and then at birth if baby was +tive. I am happy to have them to be on the safe side but just thought finding DP's blood type was the obvious first step. Surely its cheaper to give him a quick test at the surgery than for me to go to the hospital for injections which may not even be necessary. Not sure he would go down the blood donor route as he is a bit squeamish!

OP posts:

Rhubarb · 22/01/2007 13:39

Why on earth are you having injections?

I am rhesus neg too, don't know what dh is, never found out. They tested dd1 as soon as she was born as if she was a different blood group then I'd have to have an injection to prevent some syndrome occuring in another pregnancy. But dd is the same blood group as me so all was well. Same thing happened during my 2nd pregnancy too and ds is also rhesus neg so I am presuming that dh must be.

I really don't think there is anything to worry about. It was never a big deal with me.

Rhubarb · 22/01/2007 13:40

Unless they suspect there has been a bleed inside you I guess, in which case they would need to inject you to stop any poisoning.

Original poster

LUCIA22 · 22/01/2007 13:45

If you can opt out of the injections anyway then why do they need to cover themselves incase you are lying about who is the father. Surely noone would make a decision based on their partners blood test if deep down they didnt think they were the father.
I am glad they are offering me 3 injections as although I havent had any bleeding I did have a fall at one point (before I knew about all this). I know not everyone is even given the choice.

OP posts:

poppiesinaline · 22/01/2007 13:47

I am rhesus negative. When I had DS1 (he is 10) they only gave the injection after the baby was born if the baby was positive. In my case he was.

When I was pregnant with DD (she is nearly 7) they gave an injection at 28 weeks or if you bleed and again after the birth.

When I was pregnant with DS2 (he is nearly 2) they gave the injection at 28 weeks and 35 weeks and again afterwards.

Guess its changing all the time?

LUCIA22 - whats the reason for not wanting the injections?

poppiesinaline · 22/01/2007 13:48

sorry, posts x

slayerette · 22/01/2007 13:49

I am Rhesus - but no one suggested I have any injections until after the birth - when ds turned out to be Rh- too so none needed!

BarefootDancer · 22/01/2007 13:49

Here's the NHS info on this.

Original poster

LUCIA22 · 22/01/2007 13:54

I am not against having the injections but DP & I thought that the obvious thing to do was to find out his blood group first as if he is also -tive then we know there is no need for anything further as there is no way that this baby or any future ones will be +tive.

OP posts:

nogoes · 22/01/2007 13:54

I just had the injections as we would have had to pay for dh to be tested and it was just too much hassle. I had the injections at 28 and 35 weeks and did not need one after the birth as ds was negative too. If you really want dh tested I would go private as trying to get anyone in the NHS to do anything that is not standard is as painful as extracting teeth.

TrinityRhino · 22/01/2007 13:55

dh was in the navy so we knew his blood type, unfotunatelt he is + so didn't help

Original poster

LUCIA22 · 22/01/2007 13:56

I am beginning to realise this. I dont want to pay for DP to be tested as the whole reason behind doing it was to save hassle and NHS money!! I wish I hadnt even bothered trying.

OP posts:

Rhubarb · 22/01/2007 14:01

He could always give blood you know, they send you your blood result if you do that. It's free and he's doing a good service!

DaisyMOO · 22/01/2007 14:06

I think it is entirely reasonable for you to ask for your dh to be tested. After all, anti-d is a blood product and I personally wouldn't want to have it unless absolutely necessary. I think I would write a brief letter (from him) to his surgery explaining that you are pregnant, rhesus -ve and he would like to be tested so you can avoid the anti-d if possible.

Why on earth should you pay for him to be tested? Absolute madness!

asleep · 22/01/2007 14:11

i am A negative. DD was A positive. DP is A positive. i had the anti-d when pregnant with DS. found out after his birth that he was also A negative. the injections were fine (and not with a 4 inch needle as someone on MN said!).

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