Anybody with Rh Neg blood experienced this? Maternal Red Cell Antibodies

[TokenGinger]

I've come home from work tonight to a letter which has got me worried. I'm at hospital tomorrow for something unrelated so I will drop in to the antenatal clinic to query it, but in the meantime, I wondered if anybody had experienced this?

I had a blood test last Thursday prior to my anti-D injection. I've heard nothing back since, except the letter I got today, asking me to go to an appointment in five weeks (which will be 3.5 weeks before my due date) to say I'm invited to meet with a midwife to discuss Maternal Red Cell Antibodies. It goes on to say the implications it can have for the baby and then says, you will likely need to attend regularly to monitor the antibody levels.

So there's been no letter to say they've found something, but the last sentence suggests they've found antibodies. I'm not sure if it's poorly worded or if this is something that all women with Rh Neg have to attend?

If it is that they've found something, I'm a little worried they plan on leaving it for 5-6 weeks before they see me when it says I need regular monitoring.

Again, I'll query this in the morning at hospital but wondered if anybody else had experienced this and if it's a completely routine appointment for those with Rh Neg blood?

Thank you x

Just in case anybody searches for this in future, it wasn't a routine appointment for rh neg women. It's because prior to administering the anti d, the blood test I had has shown I've already created antibodies and they need to monitor that now every 2-3 weeks.

Have you ever had a blood transfusion or anything, or had anti-d in a previous pregnancy? Sometimes that can leave antibodies in your blood. I think the monitoring they do is mostly after the birth so I wouldn't worry about your appointment being in a few weeks (no personal experience of this though sorry). Hopefully someone more helpful will come along!

Oh sorry just seen you've been to the hospital this morning, glad they could answer your question x

Yup Token. I know a woman who had this. No big deal as I understand, but they were very concerned that no blood crossed between her and the baby so she was induced a bit early. I never fully understood it but she seemed pretty relaxed.

This gives you more info -

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/rbc_gtg65.pdf

It's not routine for rH neg. Theres lots of different red cell antibodies that your body can produce, some are more clinically significant than others. The numbers of these antibodies can vary, but the concern arises when the levels are high. If the numbers stay low they're not so much of a concern. The monitoring you will have will include blood tests that will be used to essentially count the number of these antibodies in your blood. They will have already counted these antibodies when they detected them which is likely why they are happy to see you in 5 weeks time.

Thank you, ladies.

The midwife I spoke to said the letter she had written to me had more detail but it looks like this had been cut down by the secretaries. They aren't leaving me for 5 weeks. I have another scan in two weeks and she's written in the letter I need to report for blood tests on that day, and then again on the date detailed in the letter.

So thankfully they're keeping a close eye out for whatever it is that's the issue.

She didn't seem concerned at all though which is great news ❤️