Anti-D question

[Cosmogirl]

Hi ladies,

Wondered if any RH negative ladies can answer a quick questions. I just had my anti-D jab today at 28 weeks (first baby). Had to go to hosp where I am due to give birth as community midwife in our area don't do it. The lady who did it said that I would only need the one jab (unless I have a bleed). However, I was under the idea you have two - one at 28 one at 34 - even says this in my notes.

Is she giving the correct info?

TIA.

Ps. Was very pleased as it didn't hurt like I thought it would. She did it in a fleshy bit of my thigh. Arm where she took the blood hurts like hell though! Feels really stiff and achey.

Lotster - I think the routine use of shots has been introduced to 'catch' women who apparently slip through the net - do not report trauma to the bump or incidences of bleeding in the pregnancy. I will not take any routine shots unless I have reason to think I need them. It seem like a one-size-fits-all policy to me....I don't know what has been published about this though.

WRT the mercury derivative (thimerosal), it is my understanding that some preparations contain it and some do not, so you could ask to see the label first.

shewillbeloved and 27 - the RhD antigens do not appear on the foetus's blood cells until around week 12 of gestation. That means prior to that point, any bleed will not introduce D+ blood cells into your bloodstream. So a bleed at 6 weeks is irrelevant from this pov.

If you had a bleed at around 11 weeks, they would probably give you anti-D to be on the safe side because of course actual conception dates are rarely accurate.

You should routinely get the anti-D in pg, regardless of whether your partner is Rh neg, because there ARE people whose partners are not actually the father of the baby and therefore this renders the partner's blood group irrelevant.
If your 1st baby is RhNeg, you won't get anti-D afterwards. However, just because your 1st baby is RhNeg, does not mean that all your babies will be so each pg will be taken individually.

Lotster - it is better for you all round not to make anti-D yourself, even if you don't plan on having any more babies - should you in later life need a transfusion, you making no antibodies is better than making any - it slows the process down.

Sorry, I realise on reading that back that it might be construed that I am casting aspersions - I really wasn't, it was using the "you should etc." rather than "one should"

Not all preparations of Anti-D contain thiomersal/ thimerosal - for e.g. BPL doesn't:
What D-Gam® contains
The active substance is Human Anti-D Immunoglobulin.
The other ingredients are:
sodium chloride, glycine, sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium hydroxide.
What D-Gam® looks like and contents of the pack
D-Gam, in the form of a solution for injection, comes in quantities of 250 IU, 500 IU,
1,500 IU and 2,500 IU in glass vials. These vials are closed with a rubber stopper, held on
by an aluminium ring with a snap-off plastic cap.
Marketing Authorisation Holder, and manufacturer
BPL, Bio Products Laboratory
Dagger Lane, Elstree, Herts. WD6 3BX
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8258 2200

There are a few different preparations out there approved by NICE so do ask.

Thanks Electra and Thumbwitch, sorry to be thick but just clarify for me, when you say make anti-d myself do you mean by going without the injection?

thumbwitch - I realise that on a policy level it is necessary to advise all rh- women to have anti-D, but on an individual level I was certain of my babies paternity, so if my DH had been rh-ve I wouldnt have had anti-D

Lotster - If you are rh- and exposed to rh+ve blood then you make antibodies to the rhesus antigen, ie you make anti-D.

yes Lotster - if you are exposed to RhD+ blood cells and you don't have the prophylactic anti-D injection, then you are likely to make your own anti-D antibodies.

thought that was what you meant, thanks

can i just ask what levels does an anti d blood test have to be b4 being given anti d injection? im A rhs d negataive and my anti d antibody levels was 4.63 at 28 weeks and was refused by doctor at antenatal to have my anti d injection then at 32 weeks I went in with a bleed and was still refused. is this right or wrong? then at 33 weeks my anti d antibodies was 4.01

Hi guys,

I went to my 28 app they took my blood then gave me the anti d injection. They rang me 2 days later, my blood had been rejected from lab. Can I give another sample, which I did. They then ring me back again the blood sample I gave is showing up as having anti D in it so they need to take another sample and send it to another lab. So I told the midwife off course its going show up up with anti d In it because you gave me the injection after the first lot of blood was taken.

anyways ive been reading online if your body has already started to produce the antibodies the anti d injection would not work. therefore im worried the lab is not going be able to tell if the anti d injection will work because they cannot see my blood had any pre-existing antibodies before the anti d injection!??

anyone got any comments/thoughts

Did you also have blood taken at your booking appointment? Can they test that?

Sounds very stressful, sending my sympathy!