Rhesus Negative during pregnancy

[LOX]

Hi all, I would just like to make everyone aware if you are pregnant or planning on having a baby and you are RN and youhave even the tiniest spot of blood to contact the hospital because you NEED to have an injection called D antigen which protects your own blood from your baby's blood [should the baby be R possitive} the bloods could cross , This should be given within 72 hours This wont cause any problem to you or the baby during your first pregnancy but it could any future pregnancy's. This happened to my daughter 5 weeks ago and she was'nt advised about the injection!!!! Her GP was aware of the bleed and just sent her home to rest. She is 25 weeks pregnant with her first baby and now does not yet know weather her blood has been effected which will effect future pregnancies!!!!!! This only came to light yesterday when she went to see the midwife for a routine appointment. I am really worried and would'nt want anyone else to be in this situation. Hope all this makes sence to you, I am really upset. x

[Ethel]

Just to add, this won't be necessary at all if the father is also rh neg.

Try not to worry until you get the blood test results back.

[warpig3]

First I have heard of it LOX. I am RH neg and had to have the injections during my pregnancy, no one mentioned anything to me about bleeding and seeking the injection if this happened. As I understood it (as it was explained to me) the injections were to combat contamination from the babys blood at the birthing process. Interesting, you learn something new every day!

[daffy654]

I am blood group O negative and have had the anti D Immunoglobulin injection twice.They give it automatically after each pregnancy. I haven't had any problems during any of my pregnancies because of my blood group.

My understanding was that if you(the mother) are rhesus negative and the baby is rhesus positive your blood makes antibodies which see the baby as a foreign body or infection and will try to fight it off - effectively causing miscarriage.It's been a long time since I looked into it all

[Nik315]

Hi Lox,
It is quite worrying however i have been through this situation with Mrs Nik ( she is Rhesus negative ) after the first pregnancy ( twins ) she was given the anti D but unfortunately it didn't work.. We knew nothing about it until our second pregnancy and although it was a stressful time during which we had to make weekly visits to Kings our youngest was born six weeks early and after some initial worries he is now the biggest and mischievous three year old I've ever met. I am fairly sure as per previous answers that the anti D is given as a matter of course in rhesus negative births and it is 99% effective so I wouldn't be too concerned for your daughter, I'm sure everything will be fine for her.

[LOX]

Thank you all so much for your re-assurance, my daughter should soon get blood results. Apparently, the midwife told her that the anti-D should be given after any kind of bleeding {however small} even during pregnancy. Thanx again, your replies have certainly made me feel a little less worried x x