Red cell antibodies ? Does anyone have a scooby what this is about ?!

[Blueeyedgirl21]

Hi there
I’m 29+5 and received a letter over the weekend, dated 16/3 so not like it’s been lost in the post or anything, saying red cell antibodies have been detected and I need an appt with the midwives from the red cell antibody team. They have enclosed one letter saying face to face appointment but scribbled it out and put telephone appointment this Thursday.

Now I’m a bit of an anxious Annie because I had a Mmc before this pregnancy and I have to admit I have turned to Google (I know basically the worst thing you can do!) and it seems these are normally detected in really early blood tests so I’m confused why they’re just checking and finding this now. Has something been missed? I have a thyroid issue so I’ve had a billion blood tests throughout this pregnancy at one appointment she took about 8 vials.

I had an appointment two weeks ago where they took blood as my hemoglobin was low and I’m assuming this is where they’ve found the issue. Also hemoglobin is red blood cells right, so it could be relayed? I am AB Positve so I can’t need the anti D injections either can I, as I would have a negative blood type.

So because I’m impatient AF I’ve just rang the community midwife who actually admitted she had no idea what I was talking about and put me through to someone else but their phone went to voicemail.

I feel like because they’ve sent me a letter and not rang me or asked me to come in Straight away, it’s not a big deal? A phone appointment to discuss it won’t achieve much will it so wondering if they’ll just book me in for more bloods ?

Has anyone had this so late in their pregnancy ? I had a friend who needed the anti-d but she found out at about 13 weeks.

Hopeful bump!

Hi, they do test twice for antibodies - once at booking at once at 28 weeks so it's not necessarily something missed the first time. I've only had a Google like you, but seems there are different subsets of blood groups - one is K and one is c for example and this can be different between mother and fetus and cause the antibodies to be produced so it's not just the rhd one which might be easier to test for early on. I think you're right, the phone call will probably just be to explain and set up regular monitoring. Good luck with it

It's a really complicated thing to explain but you will likely have repeat bloods to test the antibody levels. There is a very helpful Facebook group called 'Antibodies in pregnancy: an AHF support group' you can find all sorts of information here and the members are so knowledgeable.

Thanks both! It makes total sense that they test twice - so probably weren’t there the first time and have appeared now? I’ll have a look for that Facebook group, thanks so much !!