rhesus negative

[Lolalu09]

Hi guys,

I hope there is someone who can help me out.

I have recently found out I am Rhesus negative. I found out when I was around 17 weeks. Only a week ago.

I have had two knocks (very small) to my belly. Called midwife and was told to go straight to the hospital even if it is a small light knock. Any knock or fall I have to go right in.

I was wondering if there is anyone on here with the same condition? I have recently told my work I am pregnant but now have to tell them about this condition and what tops it off is that I am a teacher and I am always being knocked or hugged by a child. Kneeling down etc. Has anyone experienced this before?

Thank you.

It’s honestly nothing to worry about OP. I’m RH- so midwife requested a second round of bloods to check baby, who is also RH- but if she had have been RH+ we l’d have just had the anti-d jabs around the end of the 2nd trimester.

Another O neg mum here - two positive babies. I only had the Anti D injection at 28 weeks and postpartum with each child. It’s unlikely that in the course of your job a child is likely to hurt you in a way that risks your baby. My kids have both had pregnant teachers in their infant department and kids are usually briefed about the baby and the need to be extra careful with Mrs X.

My kids are 23 months apart so whilst pregnant with #2 I was continually prodded and poked and wrestling a toddler. I would have had far more impact on my bump than you are likely to experience in primary school.

It didn’t occur to me that I would need Anti D every time I got a slight knock. My understanding was if I experienced a fall or bleeding. The thing is, the Anti D injection isn’t all that nice (but is very important), I have had a bad reaction several times now. But if you go to a hospital claiming an impact they will almost certainly give Anti D because they wouldn’t want to take on any risk.

I am rhesus negative too, I was never told to worry about small knocks, only significant ones. I had the injection and didn't really feel it or have any reaction. Honestly, you will be fine, it is really common and nothing to get too worried about.

Exactly Burn my mw told me they don’t involve the father blood type as they kept finding out the father couldn’t actually be the father which got awkward! So they inject the mum. It’s fine something and nothing now.

Im rh neg Dh is positive both teen
dds turned out rh neg like me.

Another RH- here and also a teacher. As people say it's your blood type, not a condition. In my first pregnancy my midwife was very cautious about it and I even had a card that was to be in my purse/on me "at all times" in case I was in an accident saying I was RH- and pregnant. I did disclose it to my boss only as I was working somewhere where being punched/having chairs thrown etc was unfortunately a fairly common experience (whole other thread there). But in the end I never needed any extra jags - they're talking about big knocks like falling down/being punched in the stomach/vaginal bleeding, not things like kneeling down or hugs. Otherwise the world would be full of sick babies with rhesus disease.

Be aware of it but don't let any worries of it taint your pregnancy. I'm pregnant again and this time my midwife is much less concerned and just reminded me if there was a big knock or concern, head to triage.

I’m a teacher and was pregnant last year, I told my work at 9 weeks thinking it was really important that they knew. I was constantly around violent children, I was just really careful to constantly swerve them but it’s hard. I had the most pointless risk assessment that meant nothing additional was in place at all 🙄 In hindsight I wish I hadn’t told them so early as my head teacher told multiple other people when we hadn’t even told family yet. We’re going to try again soon and this time I won’t tell them until quite far on I think. If I was to have any bleeding or a knock I would just tell them instantly and go

This pregnancy I had a blood test to check the blood type of the baby. If they were rh -ve I would t have had the anti d.

Annoying all 4 of my babies are + 🙄

Being knocked by children and jostled about is not a concern OP. My older children can be over enthusiastic, I also carry them etc, none of that is a problem.

Nasty falls, Car accidents and any bleeding go in for a jab. I've never needed to.

Can someone just confident for me, if you're negative and baby is positive, it's mentioned about getting anti D if injured - is that only if the injury happens to the belly or, for example, what if you injure your leg or arm, will the antibodies from that do anything to the baby?

Confirm*

@startfresh interesting question. I'm not sure.
BUT the antibodies will not harm the current baby. It's to protect future (hypothetical) babies.

I listened to a podcast that put forward the interesting fact that anti D treatment is the only medication that does not benefit the recipient (mother) or the current baby but is given on the chance that a future baby will be Rh positive. Is this ethical?

I'm not posing the question to you specifically@startfresh , just adding to the thread!

Really?! I heard it was for current baby as well, in case blood travels through the cord so your body doesn't start to fight the baby. That's very interesting if not. Think I'll have to look into it more. Maybe later in the day, though.

Interesting question, what would you suggest may be unethical? It's not forced, it's your own blood product, it's not harming mother and baby (except the needle, ouch) so I'd like to see the angle I'm missing?

Really?! I heard it was for current baby as well, in case blood travels through the cord so your body doesn't start to fight the baby.

No, it is not for the current baby. An antibody response that is fast and strong enough to harm the current baby cannot be mounted in a first pregnancy, even if a woman has multiple bleeds in the pregnancy. It is just for future babies.

it's your own blood product

It's not your own blood product, it is from plasma of a large pool of donors.

For those interested in anti-d, Sara Wickham has a fantastic book on it. It's an amazing innovation that has undoubtedly saved many babies' lives, but it's a much more complicated and nuanced picture than is presented in the quick chat/leaflet you're given.

I'm negative, I had a really bad fall when I was pregnant, it was all fine,

I am h positive and my husband is negative. I am constantly hitting things and i was fine during pregnancy. Dont worry that a hug will cause you to bleed. I got the anti d after my first child (all kids are o positive) and had 2 healthy pregnancies after the first. Look after yourself but you would have to have a huge bang to make you bleed and affect the baby. Have a safe and happy pregnancy.

@DumDeeDoh why did you need Anti D if you yourself are Rh+?

Thank you for the Dr Sara Wickham reference. She was talking on the podcast I heard.

Anti D is actually not made from your own blood! It is from blood from multiple, multiple people. Which is not disclosed. People might not be so blasé about taking a potentially unnecessary injection if they realized it exposed them to the blood products of so many people . When I say blasé I mean unworried as opposed to uncaring.

None of what I say is meant as a judgement/ attack on any woman taking it. I myself have had it. Unnecessarily as my DH is Rh - , which the hospital (and I ) knew

I just wonder if it was a man's area of medical intervention would the men be disbelieved about the father of their baby, given unnecessary blood products and not be informed of the full facts (doesn't benefit this baby, doesn't protect the parent, is blood from multiple people)

Im RH negative.
They usually give you an Anti D injection at 28 weeks. However, with this pregnancy, they did a blood test early on to see what blood type the baby was. The baby was the same as me so didn't need the injection and it was safe if the blood mixed. It's just if the baby is a different blood type then it is a concern.
The hospital should be able to tell you with a blood test.

pca.st/episode/da3cab74-7cc6-4d41-98f6-216f9d3ddcb0

A link to the podcast episode I heard

It isn't light knocks, it's proper falls, or major knocks to you.

I have a 19 month old and Rh- she is forever climbing on me and knocking me. I'd be in everyday for a jab if it was light knocks 🤣.