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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Rhesus negative

40 replies

Daisy111111 · 08/04/2021 21:39

Hello I am 16 weeks pregnant and have come back from my 16 check up to be told I am Rhesus negative. I am yet to find out my partners blood type but I am in the low 15% being negative I just wanted to ask other mothers experiences being rhesus negative with a positive baby and how straight forward the jab is. Smile

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WalkingMeAway · 08/04/2021 21:52

I'm also rhesus negative. I'm on my third pregnancy so had 4 anti D injections so far. I'm due one next week! You have your first at 28w then your second after birth, if the baby is positive.

It's not the most pleasant injection, it is quite big, but it's something you just have to get on with! I preferred when I had it in my bum rather my arm (more fat?! 😂)

The only other time you may have to have it is if you experience any bleeding so make sure you call your MW if that happens.

PeterPomegranate · 08/04/2021 21:54

Fine. I had the anti-d injection (or was there more than one can’t remember) and it was fine. Honestly. I remember the HUGE rhesus negative sticker on my yellow folder. HUGE it was lol

PeterPomegranate · 08/04/2021 21:55

Oh and they’ll still want you to have the injection even if your partner is rhesus negative. They don’t exactly say but it’s because sometimes the father is not actually the father so safer to use the anti-d injection.

dementedpixie · 08/04/2021 21:58

I've had 2 babies and am rh- too. Dh is A+ (only found out through giving blood) so I had anti d in pregnancy and after birth

MyBabyBoyBlue · 08/04/2021 22:00

They test the baby's blood now for type before giving you the injection. I am Rhesus negative and with my first child I got the jab (one at 28weeks and the second within 72 hours of birth) and it was fine, in my thigh both times.
With this pregnancy I had a blood test to determine baby blood type at 20 weeks, if the baby is also negative, you won't need the jab.
Either way, it is nothing to.worry about, but if you do need it, just remember you need the second shot after you give birth!

Amammai · 08/04/2021 22:00

I really hate injections and have had the anti- D fine. It is a bit of a stinger but nothing awful at all.

You’ll have it at 28 weeks then again once baby is born if they are a positive blood group. Also, I had an extra one with this pregnancy as I was in a car accident in my second trimester so they gave it then too asa precaution in case my bump was knocked and any blood had crossed over.

RatintheCat · 08/04/2021 22:02

I am negative and both my babies were positive. I also had to have another after a miscarriage. hate injections but coped with them all, combined with all the blood tests it's put me off having any more kids! Agree with the PP about having the jab in the bum being much better than the arm!

Jchina · 08/04/2021 22:10

I am RH- and my DH is +.
First baby is - blood type so didn’t need the jab after birth.
Second baby is + so did need the jab after birth
I’m pregnant with my third so will see. The injection is no big deal - I do remember it being a relatively big needle so best not to look 🤣

NinaMimi · 09/04/2021 00:18

If it’s your first pregnancy then it’s not likely to be an issue. It’s more likely to be an issue in pregnancies after that though again rare. You’ll just have the injection once or twice. It’s not an issue and I didn’t get any side effects- not even a sore arm.

Chelyanne · 09/04/2021 00:24

I'm rhesus negative, my husband is too so I don't really need the anti-D but they insist I do have it "just incase". I'm booked to have mine at 28wk and have it in my upper arm, they usually do blood tests at the same time. They test babys blood group at birth to see if you need a dose then.

SavannahLands · 09/04/2021 00:57

I am Rhesus Negative, DH is Positive, it’s never been a problem for us or our DC. I just got the Anti-D injection after they were born, and they were all fine, as was I.

It’s quick and painless, no worse than having a flu jab done!

Original poster
Daisy111111 · 09/04/2021 08:26

Thank you for all your responses and sharing your experiences it's quite overwhelming when it's your first baby and was a bit worried at first but I'm feeling a lot calmer about it all knowing it's just a simple jab. 😌🤰🏻

OP posts:
positivebex · 09/04/2021 11:22

I’m negative and I remember the midwife putting the fear of god in me when she told me, I of course went away and Google’s and found out a lot more but apart from having the injection which is just a bit of a stinger there’s been no other concerns. My baby was actually born negative and only found out when I asked why I hadn’t d the injection post birth and they said oh because baby’s negative too. Pregnant again and they have just said I will have the injection again at 28 weeks xx

bbb2019 · 10/04/2021 04:21

Hey, just to say if you have any bleeding, or a knock you’ll need to get an injection earlier than 28 weeks. I’ve been bleeding this pregnancy and I’ve had four so far. In my area they test your blood at 16 weeks to see what the baby has,’so you might be able to avoid one altogether if they’re negative. Get them to do it in your leg. It hurts less (but isn’t awful) 😊

LunaDreams · 10/04/2021 07:17

@Daisy111111 I've just been told I'm Rhesus negative with my first pregnancy too. I'm going to have a blood test in next few weeks though to check fetal DNA from my blood to find out if baby is positive or negative. I've been told if results are positive or inconclusive then I will get the anti D injection at 28 weeks and birth, or if any vaginal bleeding or blows to abdomen before then. Have you been told whether or not they will test baby's DNA now for you? Ask your midwife about it if not

BellsaRinging · 10/04/2021 07:26

Honestly? It's totally fine. Just a normal injection, as others have said. Compared with the other indignities and pains in pregnancy this is a walk in the park!

Jet888 · 10/04/2021 07:27

I had a couple of extra jabs in my pregnancy when I had a slight bleed (from thrush it turned out) and when I walked quire heavily into a table corner. Just called midwife, they made appointment for me to have an extra jab the name day, no bother at all. I remember I kept telling my husband remind them to give the jab after the baby is born! Think it's the first thing he blurted out as id ingrained it in his head!

noblegreenk · 10/04/2021 08:31

I'm negative blood type and it didn't really affect anything. I remember having a couple of anti d injections (one in pregnancy and one after giving birth) and they gave me a card to keep in my wallet to say my blood type and that should I give birth early/unexpectedly I would need anti d.

crossstitchingnana · 10/04/2021 08:55

Not wishing to scare, but I am one of the 1% that the anti-D didn't work for. I had it after my first baby but developed antibodies at my 32 week check up with my 2nd. To cut a long story short I was induced and baby was born jaundiced and anaemic. She spent a week in a billy box (regular post labour ward) and had to be on meds for about six months. It's very easy to treat. At 17 she is fine, met all milestones and is about to do her A levels.

Point of post is that, yes it was a stressful time, but if the worst does happen it can work out ok? I was bamboozled at the time about my odds. 10% are rhesus neg and of those 1% the jab doesn't work. Tiny chance of it happening for you.

cerealgamechanger · 10/04/2021 10:09

I'm R- and the injection hurt like hell. It's all fine in the end.

BlondePotter · 10/04/2021 13:22

I'm O- and at 16 weeks midwife took bloods to test for the antibody. She told me at 28 week appt that baby is also rhesus negative (dad is A+) so no jab required for me.

Original poster
Daisy111111 · 10/04/2021 15:32

@BellsaRinging I don't know why your saying "honestly?" Like that .. the whole point of Mumsnet is to be able to listen to others experiences and put your mind at rest. And as I can see there are slot of lovely mums nice enough to do that on here. You don't know me or my past experiences and o have a right to worry about something that's completely foreign to me n a potential harm to my baby.

OP posts:
sleepyyy · 10/04/2021 15:38

[quote Daisy111111]@BellsaRinging I don't know why your saying "honestly?" Like that .. the whole point of Mumsnet is to be able to listen to others experiences and put your mind at rest. And as I can see there are slot of lovely mums nice enough to do that on here. You don't know me or my past experiences and o have a right to worry about something that's completely foreign to me n a potential harm to my baby. [/quote]
You've misunderstood her.

gamerchick · 10/04/2021 15:41

@PeterPomegranate

Oh and they’ll still want you to have the injection even if your partner is rhesus negative. They don’t exactly say but it’s because sometimes the father is not actually the father so safer to use the anti-d injection.
Said exactly that to me when I refused the anti d.

If you dont know what blood group dad is then just get your jabs when they give them.

gamerchick · 10/04/2021 15:43

[quote Daisy111111]@BellsaRinging I don't know why your saying "honestly?" Like that .. the whole point of Mumsnet is to be able to listen to others experiences and put your mind at rest. And as I can see there are slot of lovely mums nice enough to do that on here. You don't know me or my past experiences and o have a right to worry about something that's completely foreign to me n a potential harm to my baby. [/quote]
You've misunderstood that poster OP. What kind of replies were you expecting. It's a routine question when you find out your Rh -. People are just answering you.