Rhesus Disease

[Shaunieh95]

Hi ladies.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any stories about rhesus disease.

I am rhesus negative blood type - During my first pregnancy towards the end I started producing anti D antibodies so ended up with weekly blood tests to track this.

I was told this wouldn't effect my first baby (which it didn't and I ended up being induced anyway for a separate problem)

However I am pregnant again and have been told that there is a possibility my baby may contract rhesus disease as I created antibodies in my first pregnancy. I have my blood screening tomorrow to see whether or not I have in fact created the antibodies again and will then have extra tests to see if these are attacking baby's red blood cells.

I'm just trying to prepare myself and I can't find any stories online, has anyone had/have this? Did you need inducing? Did baby need blood transfusion/ light therapy?

I have so many questions and no answers 😩.

Thank you in advance xxx

I had rhesus disease when I was born (I was my mum's second Rh+ baby, she is Rh-). A week of phototherapy did the trick, no lasting problems.

@SecondmentWoes I also considered that a couple who are both rh+ could potentially have a child that is rh-, but thought it unlikely, but come to think of it I suppose it's a 25% chance. None of the women I've spoken to, who are Rh- and with a partner who is Rh+ have been lucky enough to have a Rh- child though (despite them saying it often should be 50/50). I keep my fingers crossed for the one I'm pregnant with now, but won't keep my hopes up. My sister is the only one who has Rh- kids that I know of, and that's because her husband is Rh- too.

I used DH family above in order to determine whether he's hetero- or homozygous and concluded he must be heterozygous due to his sister being Rh-. I suddenly remembered that one of his brothers is too actually. They are four kids - DH is Rh+, his sister and brother are Rh- and the last brother doesn't know. So at least when considering the maths, it is most likely his dad is Rh-, although I know we can't be certain of it unfortunately.

Suppose it could be 25%, I meant to say

@Sofin i don't think it matters if the parent is positive and has a negative baby. That's why O neg is described as the universal doner; people with positive blood can cope with negative, but not the other way round. I'm not an expert though.

@Whyhaveidonethis Yeah, sorry, I know it doesn't matter, it was just a very roundabout way of me trying to find out whether DH is hetero- or homozygous Rh+ by looking at his parents, and the possibility of them both being Rh+ and still having two Rh- kids.. Haha, I even confuse myself, so sorry about that! As a researcher (social science, but still), I can't resist going off on one sometimes.

And yeah, O- are universal donors - I'm probably not the only one being stalked by the blood centres. I love giving blood though, so not complaining :)

@Sofin lol. Oh right!! I see what you mean now!! 😂

@Sofin @Whyhaveidonethis I wish I was brave enough to give blood 😩

I'm a serial fainter 🙈😂 x

@Sofin I'm not allowed to as I've re ieved blood products in the past. I'd love to though. Needles don't bother me at all.

Argh that should have said as I've received blood products in the past. And been directed at @Shaunieh95!!

@Whyhaveidonethis to be honest since baby girl 1 I'm getting better 😂 however I'm still not there yet haha

@Shaunieh95 by the time this is over you will be fine!!!😂😂

@Shaunieh95 I know! I was terrified of needles in the beginning and I actually did faint once..

What is fantastic about O- blood though, is that it can be given to everyone and it's the blood given to babies born prematurely. And not only that, it's also the blood given to babies born with rhesus disease!

@Whyhaveidonethis I have a negative baby!!!

Still long road ahead as still the battles of checking IUGR and issues with a complicated Hernia in my pelvis however I can kind of settle over the antibodies now.

So pleased! Thank you for all your support through such a stressful time!!

Xxx

@Shaunieh95 woo hoo!!!! So pleased for you!! Go relax!!!

Just read this, so pleased to hear no 2. is Rh-, that will be a great load off your mind (and off the minds of your consultants too I think!) Best wishes for all the other issues.

@shaunieh95 I don't know if you're still out there but I'm hoping you can help me as I'm in a similar position with baby 2.

Did you have antibodies in first pregnancy? Did they ever work out why you had antibodies in your second pregnancy if baby was negative? Thank you x