O -Rh and future babies...

[pavlovthecat]

I am O -rh and had the anti-D injection when pg with DD. She is also O-rh and as such I did not have another injection after her birth.

I received a letter from the hosp about 6 months ago or so saying there is risk (not high I think) that the Anti-D would not have taken, and as such I was invited to have a blood test to see if it i had developed anti-bodies.

I did not have the test and now I am pg again.

If DD was -rh like me, is this now not a problem? Or can it be a problem for next baby if next baby is +rh?

I am a bit worried...

I will watch this with interest for the answer.

I was due to have anti-d after dd was born but had it too late (forgot appointment!) they told me I would have to have the test for anti-bodies as well and missed it.

I thought it was for risk of any future children (not having anymore) so didn't think too much of it.

Have you asked your midwife, or has she not mentioned anything to you?

As I understand it, if your baby is rh -ve then there is not a problem as there was nohing for you to develop antibodies against.

It may be that your DD's blood group was not listed in the notes they are routinely contacting you.

NB, I'm not a medical expert at all.

I am o neg and all my 5 children are o positive. It only causes a problem normally if you bleed during the pregnancy and then they give another anti d. I bled with all of mine and had anti d each time but never after the pregnancy. no problems though

Not sure Pavlov. I am rh-, and did have the anti-D (what does the D stand for?!) after dd1. As we then adopted dd2 I was never pregnant again. So no useful thoughts I am afraid.

Can you call the hospital?GP/miswife tomorrow? Or can NHS Direct help you today with a query like this?

Good luck, and please let us know how you get on.

maybe i didn't need it because i had it during pg? Not sure why i never had it after.

Soup - I am guessing the same as you, they had said when pg with DD that if she was +ve I would need a further injection of anti-d, I was in hosp for a week and they confirmed a couple of days later that she did was -ve so I did not need it.

(what does ve mean? btw).

dh informs me i did have it after dd4

Dr said 'we will test anyway now' I just worry that now I am already pg it might be a problem, got midwife appt in a couple of weeks I will ask her.

magnolia .

Ok, so even if I needed it, the risk is bleeding, not an immediate risk of miscarriage? I think that is what I am worried about.

If your dd is rh- like you there is no risk and no need to have anti d after you've given birth. Nothing to worry about. Sounds like a routine letter to all rh +ve Mums-to-be and that they aren't aware that your dd is rh -ve.

Do you know what your dh is? If he is also -ve you don't need anti d at all as you will def have a rh -ve baby.

pavlov: -ve is negative +ve is positive

I'm rh-ve, as are all 3 of my dc. I have been offered and refused anti-d during pregnancy. And cord blood samples have confirmed that it was not required postnatal. Antibody levels are routinely checked 3 times during pregnancy in my area, if you are known to be rh-ve. I'm pretty sure that booking bloods test all women for rhesus factor and antibody level.

musthave - do you know, when the nurse said I needed the anti-d injection when pg with DD, we asked why they could not just test DH first see if he is -ve or +ve, she said, they did not test the fathers as they cannot be 100% sure that the father is in fact the father, sometimes women are not truthful about who the father is .

DH beleives he is +ve anyway, although not 100% sure.

I am glad there is no worry for the baby I am carrying, I will need the anti-D again though if DH is +ve.