Anyone any experience with Rhesus factor?

[Marmite27]

Had to have a second blood test to check after initial bloods showed an antibody.

Just got a text reminder about an antenatal clinic appointment on Monday that I didn’t know I had, so presuming that test had come back positive too.

I’ve read all the NHS stuff, so am prepared from that point of view, but panicking slightly as this pregnancy isn’t as straightforward as DC1 so far.

If you are rhesus negative and the baby’s father is rhesus positive, you must have a ‘neutralising’ injection after every pregnancy to mop up any antibodies your system produces in response to the potentially rhesus positive baby. You must do this after a miscarriage as well. If you dont you are at a high chance of miscarriage with the new pregnancy.

Sorry I cant remember the real name of the injection. Some countries just give you the injection no matter what, some wait and test you for antibodies in case the first pregnancy was rheusus negative like the mother as then you wouldnt produce antibodies and wouldnt need the injection, iyswim.

I'm rhesus negative and it's fairly straight forward. After all your pregnancies you will need an 'anti d' injection, and at certain stages of your pregnancy, you'll need to make sure that if you have a fall or any type of bump you go to hospital to make sure the baby blood doesn't mix with your own.

It's not serious, I wouldn't worry xx

Thanks both, you know what it’s like, your imagination runs away with you. Not helped by the mystery appointment text and having to track down where the appointment was!

Helpfully the lady on the phone told me the appointment was in the anyway clinic and was to do with my pregnancy which made me laugh!

Anyway antenatal (auto correct)

I'm rhesus negative and both of my dc are positive.

I have a very rare blood group which wasn't detected until I was pg at 24 with dd.

I had to have 2 anti d injections during the pregnancy and one immediately after giving birth.
Same 8 years later with dc2.

It's really important as protects the unborn child against antibodies.

I'm rhesus negative. I had to have the anti d injection when I was pregnant.
I believe that if your child is positive, you have to have another after the birth. But if your child is negative, you don't.
My child was negative so I didn't.
It made my arm ache for a few days but it's not too bad really. (I asked them to do it in my left arm as I'm right handed, may be worth you asking them to do it in the opposite arm to your writing hand.

You just need anti D - all very straightforward.
It’s not true that you need it after every miscarriage - only those after 12 weeks.
That’s the general guideline.
I had a miscarriage, no anti D and no probs in next pregnancy

OP were you checked for rhesus factor or antibodies in blood due to first sample?

Rhesus factor is as posters have explained.

Antibodies however are like an addition to the rhesus factor and do not dissapear with an injection. Antibodies potentionally complicate things in two ways

1- if you bleed after childbirth and need blood you cannot simply have 0 neg blood as emergency, you need specific blood so this gets ordered as you go into labour

2- it can increase risks with baby around dealing with jaundice if blood mixes at birth. They will take cord blood at birth to check what group baby is and if any antibody is present.

That’s interesting LooseMoose, thank you.

And yes it was a retest for antibodies after they showed up on the initial blood test