Me and DH both rhesus negative, do I really need anti-d?

[fridayatlast]

It's a long time since I did genetics at school but surely if we're both rhesus negative then baby will be too?

My midwide was insistent yesterday that I need anti-d at 28 and 34 weeks regardless. I'd rather not have it if I don't need it.

Anyone with knowledge/experience? Thanks

Hmmm. I am rhesus negative and my understanding was that the problem only occurs with second and subsequent pregnancies as the first baby could have been positive which would have caused your body to produce antibodies. Presumably though the only way for the first baby to be positive is if the husband is.

That said, this is my third pregnancy and they have never aksed what my husband is or tested him.

If you're both RH- then your baby will be too ... unless a) the baby isn't your DH's or b) there is something v weird going on (e.g. chimaerism).

I assume midwives feel it's safer to give anti-d than not, iyswim ...

This is given "just in case" despite both parents being negative which I presume means to account for the 10% of women (or whatever the figure is) who would swear blind their DH is the father but actually isn't ...

From their POV it's not worth the risk. Tricky one if you know you don't need it though.

I am rh neg and had the anti D AFTER my pregnancy with my first child, you can still have this but need to insist on it, it was a few days afterwards. They do a blood test on the baby to double check their blood group then if by some freak chance in your case that its Rh+ you could have it then. I think this was standard till really recently, like just a few months ago.

This time round (I am 38 weeks) I had the injection at 28 weeks since it was more necessary for me to have it as dh is RH+. I think now the idea is that if you have an accident whilst pregnant then you are covered.

may just be worth say you'll have it afterwards if needed.

I think it is a strange genetic quirk that can produce a rhesus positive baby from 2 rhesus negative parents. But it can happen.

As well, whilst pregnant, it is my understanding that the woman's blood group is done twice (to avoid errors? don't know?). In my first pg, my blood group was done twice, in this pg, I have been done twice again. They have independently typed my blood 4 times (all came back the same answer). So I am wondering, they are really sure of the woman's blood group, but how many times has the man's been done and how sure are you there is no error? That is prob why they want to give you the injection, combined with the fact that I think (not suggesting this is you btw) that women sometimes name the wrong father (and it is not uncommon).

Plus, they'd prob prefer to give it as it won't harm you if not needed but could be catastrophic (for 2nd baby) if is needed and not received.

Thanks for replies.

Probably should've mentioned that I already have one ds, who is Rhesus Positive - from previous marriage. I had anti-d when I was pregnant with him as I had some bleeding, and again after he was born.

I appreciate the cover-all stance of midwives worrying that women may name the wrong father but in my case I know 100% DH is the father and I know he is rhesus neg as he is a blood donor.

Maybe best just to play ball and have it, midwife seemed quite upset at the prospect of me refusing! It just seems unnecessary.

Thanks

I have just had this exact same conversation with my local hospital and the result is that I am not having the anti-d. Both my dh and I are rh-, as are both previous dc. Midwife told me that two rh - people couldn't have a rh+ child and that I didn't need to have the anti-d as long as I was positive the child was dh's.

I don't know if having a rh+ child previously makes this different for you, but my understanding is that is both partners oare rh -, the baby can't be rh+ and so anti-d is not needed.

i was told if the mother and father are both neg then you dont need it. the reason they say you do is incase daddy isnt the daddy . i didnt have any with dd1 (who turned out to be neg anyway), refused it with dd2 till after birth when she turned out to be positive and ive had it this time with dd3 at 28 weeks [ouch]

Ah, all becomes clear. It is the fact that you had a previous rhesus postive child I think. Your body will already be producing the antibodies which can cross the placenta./

the blood tests that you have during pregnancy don't just check your blood group but more importantly it looks for any antibodies it your blood that can be problematic for this or any future babies

I am RH- and asked during my first pregnancy why they didn't check my husband's blood group to see if I needed anti-D or not. She said they never ever assumed that the hubby was the father.

By the way, my husband is RH+ but I have always refused the 28 and 34 week anti-D and have only had it 1) if having a procedure such as amnio or CVS or ECV and 2) if baby turns out to be RH+ (which they all have).

If my husband was RH- I would not have it at all.

I had exactly the same thing - DH and I are both Rh negative but when I told the midwife she insisted that sometimes a RH positive baby can be born from two negative parents.

This sounds nuts of course since RH negative is recessive and I still do wonder if she was telling me so I could pass the 'fact' onto DH in case someone else miraculously impregnated me when I was asleep and I needed to bamboozle him.

HOWEVER I was sufficiently intrigued to ask the question on another forum - see here:

ask.metafilter.com/76686/An-O-positive-offspring-of-two-O-negative-parents

And one answer suggested that although a person is diagnosed as RH-Neg they could have some undetected positive antigens (I think they are called) which could be passed to the bub and therefore potentially cause problems if an anti-D is not performed (I think). Its getting into the realms of quite hardcore blood chemistry, not sure if I understand it completely.

Personally I am having the anti-D but only because it appears to be harmless and it give me a morning off work...

After a bit of a fight with the midwife, she checked with the doctor who said if we were both Rh -ve there was no need for anti D. Just to be sure, she referred DH for a blood group analysis. Then they wrote "no anti D" in big letters on my notes. It is a blood product, with associated (though tiny) risks - as there was absolutely no doubt who the father was, I thought it was better not to have the anti-D. Only had 2 babies, both wth the same father, so didn't want any extra unnecessary meddling.

That said, when DS was born there was some concern about antigens in his blood, and I had a bit of a panic about the fact I'd not had anti-D, but the paediatrician didn't seem to think it was a factor and it all turned out to be ok.

I just wanted to let everyone know that two rh-negative parents can produce a rh positive baby. I know this because my husband and I are both O- and have two kids, our first child is O- but our second child is O+. I thought that two rh negative people could not have a rh positive baby but my OBGYN told me that although it is rare it does happen and that I am at a higher risk if I get pregnant again.
I have included a link to a site that explains it a little better.
www.thetech.org/genetics/ask.php?id=114
Like I said it is a very rare occurance but it can and does happen.

Huh, that's very interesting mm! Thanks!

If both parents are neg then you don't need anti D.

I found out my DH's blood group because he'd been in an accident last yr,

I'm A-

and he's

A+

D'oh

To complicate things more, there are only certain types of rhesus positive parents that can produce a rheses neg child (only if the other parent is neg that is), I can't remember the name for it, but DH has this particular blood because our DS2 is neg.

Am negative but have never been asked what my DH is (but I am pretty sure that he is positive). Both my DCs are positive and I only had the anti D after each birth. They don't do it as standard here at 28 and 34 weeks. Asked my midwife why during my last pregnancy, as I had read that lots of health boards did, and she just said that it wasn't necessary. So I won't be having them anyway.

Did have it once during 2nd preg though when I had a minor accident.

It's my understanding that it is not what your Dp's blood group is, but what your baby's group is as it's the baby's and mothers blood that could cross over.
Personally, when I had my first mc, I had the Anti D, but then didn't need it after my Ds was born because he is Rh-. When I mc'd again some years later and with different Dp, I had to plead and ball my eyes out trying to explain to the Doctor that I needed to be sure. He sent me for a blood test and it came back that I did need the Anti D and so had it. Had I not, I could possibly and I think probably have lost my now beautiful Dd. I did have the two Anti D's during pregnancy with her, but as it turns out, she is Rh- too. I hate the thought of unnecessary injections, but there is absolutely no way I'd risk my baby by not having the Anti D. Been there, done that...PAIN, PAIN, PAIN and so unnecessary...

I was never asked about my partner's blood group either, OP.