Rh- anyone have problems with their first baby?

[BunnyN]

I just found out I am Rh negative. As I'm sure other pregnant ladies with this blood type know if my baby is rh+ (which is quite likely) it can cause a problem with compatibility of blood types between mother and baby. It only becomes a problem after some of the babies blood has gotten into yours, if that happens your body sees it as a as a foreign substance and your antibodies start to fight the babies blood as if you were allergic to it, this can be potentially serious for the baby. From what I understand it is very unusual to have problems with a first pregnancy because in the womb the babies blood stays separate from yours. At birth you have more chance of coming in contact with the babies blood by which time your baby is safe and sensitization to it's blood will only cause a problem for future Rh+ babies. Of course these days they use a shot which is effective in preventing sensitization.

Okay so that is all the theory, my concern is that my scan showed a small placental separation and blood clot behind the placenta. I also had a spotting at 7 weeks. I'm worried I could already have come in contact with the babies blood and have become sensitized to it. It is too late to receive the shot to prevent sensitization because it needs to be given right after contact with the blood. I've been able to find little information about this. Has anyone else been in the same situation or become sensitized during their first pregnancy?

 

[Scarletvixen]

You wont have problems with your first baby unless you have been exposed to rh+ blood ie in a transfusion mess up, your midwife would have tested to see if you have the antibodies.
I have rh disease mine is anti c and anti d antibodies and this is my 6th baby, this time round the levels are really high so looks like i could be in line for IUT unless the fetal geno type comes back as baby being rh - (my hubby has one parent rh+ one rh- so 50/50 chance of baby being rh - or + )

I didnt not get anti d after my first as the NHS had stopped giving it at that point due to contamination fears xx

 

[BunnyN]

Thanks so much for answering. I was tested in the beginning of pregnancy and had no antibodies but was worried because of having bleeding and problems with the placenta that I could have become exposed since then. I just got tested again for my peace of mind but won't have the results until next week. From what I understand the risks of becoming sensitized in early pregnancy are very small but I can't help worry a bit. It is hard to find information about what the risks are to the baby if it does happen, from what I understand it takes time for the antibodies to build up so it might not have too much effect on the baby but all the info I've read is talking about exposure in late pregnancy or at birth.

Does that mean you are on your 5th baby since you were sensitized? That is encouraging to me, even though it must be stressful for you. Did your other babies have problems? Hope you don't mind me being nosy but it helps me get an idea of what to expect. For now I'm just worried about this pregnancy, we'd quite like another baby but we might leave it at one, I'm 33 so it's not like we are planning a big family. I hope everything works out for you, you are very brave.

 

[Scarletvixen]

yeah 5th baby that i will have had rh disease with, my 2nd was rh+ but not effected, my 3rd was rh- so couldnt be effected my four was badly jaundiced with it but didnt need an exchange transfusion just some time in nicu and my last we though was effected by it as she was badly jaundiced, they treated her for rh disease of the newborn but it turned out that wasnt what was wrong it was bronzed baby syndrome caused by an immature liver.

This time though my levels are 82% 10% is the danger point and the highest they have ever been was 12% so think im in for the inter uterine transfusions this time around unless the fetal geno type test says the baby is rh- again xx

 

[BunnyN]

Well I'm hoping for a Rh- baby for you! My husband is getting his blood type checked just in case he is Rh-, I don't hold out much hope because both his parents are + but you never know. I asked about him being tested when they told me and they said they don't test the father anymore because they can't be sure he is the real father. We decided to go ahead and get him tested on our own though.

 

[Scarletvixen]

yeah they dont like doing the fetal geno type (or fetal dna test is its other name) just in case the father inst the father lol I have had it done with the last 5 though, they did mess up the paperwork for the last one so it needs done again, hubby will be pleased at that cause he hates needles lol xx

 

[Liesje]

I didn't have the RhoGam shot at all with my first pregnancy. His blood type is positive. I also had a c section and had the shot after.

 

[Scarletvixen]

yes you only need it after the birth or after any bleeding etc but int he uk they now like to give a shot at 28wks just in case, but for a while they stopped giving it and i never got it after my first xx

 

[BunnyN]

Do you know if they give the shot if you have bleeding early on in pregnancy too? I had spotting at 7 weeks and the ultrasound at 12+5 showed bleeding behind the placenta. The doctor never said anything about the shot then but from researching on the internet and reading the leaflet they gave me it seems like I should have been offered it after any bleeding but maybe they don't think it's needed earlier on?

 

[Scarletvixen]

I have heard a few people saying the dont give you the shot in early pregnancy.
You have to get it within 72 hours of bleeding otherwise its useless as your body develops the anti d its self.
As long as your bloods have came back fine then you will be ok, a full blood count checks for antibodies to the rh factor x

 

[BunnyN]

I went and got the blood tests myself as I was concerned about it. Won't have the results back until next week though.

 

[Liesje]

I had bleeding early in my pregnancy also, I think it's normal that early on, I never got the shot. It's recommended at 32 weeks here but I chose not to have it until after my son was born.

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi Bunny- the anti d injection is no longer given if you have any bleeding in the first 10wks of pregnancy because the risks are negligible. I have 4 kids only one of whom is rh- like me, and none of them have had any issues because anti d has always been given after bleeding - but only if the bleeding was after 10wks, routinely at 28wks, and after delivery. You'll be fine, in general the hospitals are very switched on about rh sensitivity, and will give you the shot if it's deemed necessary xx

 

[BunnyN]

That is reassuring, the scan showing a separation in the placenta and blood clot was actually close to 13 weeks and according to their own information about being Rh- I think I should have been offered the shot then but a few days had passed by the time I read it. After research and the helpful comments I've received here I am feeling that it was still early enough that the risk is very small so I'm not too worried about it. I probably didn't need to get tested but I'm still glad I did because that will take away any doubts.

 

[BunnyN]

Just wanted to update. My OH got his blood test results back and it turns out he is Rh- too . So no more worries about blood incompatibility. Thanks for the support and helpful information though it really helped when I was stressing about it. Hope things keep going well for you other Rh- ladies.

 

[Scarletvixen]

Yay great news! You wont need any anti d jabs xxx