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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anti-D unavailable, anyone else having this problem?

15 replies

tinierclanger · 22/04/2008 13:09

I have been trying to get my anti-D for weeks now...they were supposed to give it to me to take home at the 20 week scan, but the fridge was empty. Asked to ring back a couple of weeks - then they only had stuff with short expiry dates. Asked to ring back again last week, nope, none in stock, the whole country is short of it apparently! I do wonder would I ever get it at all if I don't keep making phone calls...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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fleximum · 22/04/2008 13:14

It is increasingly hard to get hold of as fewer people produce the necessary antibodies to make it. They have started a new test on maternal blood that can determine if baby is positive or negative and thus if anti-d needed to try to help conserve supplies but not in routine use yet.

Original poster

tinierclanger · 22/04/2008 13:23

Midwife told me that the NICE guidelines have changed, and that until last year the guideline was still for the one injection after birth, and only this year did it change to the two in pregnancy. If that is the case I can see why they are running out... it's still a bit frustrating though. And actually they didn't even offer it to me at the scan (even though that's what it says they do in my notes). I asked and she was 'oh yes, I must go and look for that for you'.

OP posts:

comet3 · 22/04/2008 14:47

Now I'm worried/confused: I was told I didn't need it till around 27 weeks (which is now - I have my midwife appt tomorrow and they said they'd give it to me then). Is that not normal? Should I have had it already? Is this one of those regional variation things? And is it worth my phoning the midwife in advance to check they have supplies?

lollipopmother · 22/04/2008 15:04

I think I've decided to give Anti-D a miss, I say think because I'm still not 100% sure but it seems a little unneccisarry to do it just on the off-chance that you may bleed. I hate going against these guidelines etc though, you'd think they were there because they were good but I'm not so sure with Anti-D having read various topics on here.

Original poster

tinierclanger · 22/04/2008 15:35

Sorry comet3, didn't mean to mislead! No, you don't actually get it until 28 weeks, but because we have community midwifery at the practice here, they give it to you earlier at the hospital (in theory!) and you take it home and keep it in the fridge until your 28 week ante-natal.

I am not sure what the need is really, but I assume that if NICE have changed the guidelines, they've done it for a reason. I may be being naive though, haven't investigated that thoroughly.

OP posts:

chloeb2002 · 22/04/2008 19:30

I think it is given at 28 and 32 weeks to all Rh neg women as a prophelactic dose in case of any silent bleeds or cross contamination between bub and mum. It is just a cautios thing as if bub is also neg then it wouldnt be needed. I am in australia and all anti d here now is synthetic and no shortages as far as i know. recieved mine as required. not sure if i get another dose at birth or not if ds is Rh pos.

Thankyouandgoodnight · 22/04/2008 21:26

It's 28 and 34 weeks.

MW explained all at my appointment today. Also worth having even if both parents are rhesus negative as there have been occasions where something has popped up out of the gene pool and baby has been positive. Not to be messed with.

misdee · 22/04/2008 21:29

i was given it at 28 weeks and 34 weeks when pregnant with dd3 is now 3years old so its not new this year.

hope there isnt a shortage of it, as would prefer to have it in pregnancy again due to 3 ratehr boisterous children already and knowing they will knock me at least once.

PictureThis · 22/04/2008 21:37

Chloeb2002, if your baby is Rh pos then you will require a further dose of anti D. Cord blood will be taken to check baby's blood group.

SoExcited · 28/04/2008 18:33

It doesn't have to be 2 doses during pregnancy. It can be 2 low doses, or 1 slightly higher. This will vary between regions. I am sending my DH to give blood, so we can check what blood group he is - If he's negative it's not necessary, as the baby must be negative. While I know he is likely to be positive, I don't want it unnecessarily. I also haven't decided whether to refuse the antenatal dose, and wait until they can check the blood group at the birth.
Here's a link to the full NICE guidelines (patients version):

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=download&o=32363

SoExcited · 28/04/2008 18:35

Thankyouandgoodnight, I'm pretty sure they say this to try to make it easier for people who are not totally sure of the father. I am quite sure that there is no possible way of two negative parents producing a positive baby.

PregnantPenguin · 28/04/2008 19:36

I'm meant to have my second injection tomorrow (34 weeks) - will let you know if there's a shortage....

PregnantPenguin · 30/04/2008 13:46

Forgot to post yesterday - MW had no knowledge of a shortage.

Original poster

tinierclanger · 30/04/2008 20:33

Thanks Penguin, so there must be some out there somewhere! I will just have to hassle harder.

OP posts:

lulu25 · 30/04/2008 20:40

Soexcited, my GP told me that they don't ask about the father's status any more because it's unreliable - there are more children happily growing up with men who aren't their biological fathers than you might think, or words to that effect.

She also said that i should give blood once i'd had the baby, not that i've got round to it yet but maybe i/we should be doing just that to address said shortage (is that how they make it?)

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