Help? I'm confused and getting mixed answers!

HayleyBug55

Hello. I'm 25 weeks now but when I was 9 weeks I had heavy cramping and some bleeding. I went to the hospital and after waiting 7 hours they finally saw me. They told me I was O- and Rh- and gave me a shot in my butt and sent me home. Didn't look at an ultrasound or anything, just did blood work!! The shot is called Rhophylac. And they even gave me a card thingy and said I need to present it anytime I go into the hospital while pregnant. Here recently I've seen over and over how you're not supposed to get that shot till you're 20- something weeks and that before then it does nothing. They never explained anything to me. So my question is did they do right by giving me the shot at 9 weeks and with me being O- and Rh- how does or does it even affect my baby?

cls78

I don't think it matters that you got one early, but you still need it at 28 weeks and after birth. Has your OB brought it up?

wintersong139

Does the baby's father have a positive blood type? (I would assume yes, since they gave you the shot, but I wanted to ask to make sure.) If not, then I don't think the shot is even necessary. 

aggiebug

If you are Rh- and you have an indication of bleeding they will give you the shot at any point in the pregnancy. I believe it lasts for 3 months so if you got it early you will get it again. Yes you should get the shot during all of your pregnancies.

We just had a discussion on the Rh factor and why you should get it even if the father is rh- too thanks to some fantastic info from @chicagojackie‌
https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/84988131#Comment_84988131

jennypolkadots

A/B/AB/O is your blood type. +/- is your RH factor. So you are just "O negative" with "negative" indicating your RH factor. It is redudant to state you are both O- and RH-, since the - after the O already says you are RH-, make sense? I just thought I would throw this out there since you will probably say it several times throughout pregnancy and some people will be silently thinking you are silly.

I don't think the shot at 9 weeks would matter, but you will need it again at 28 weeks. You don't need the shot at all if the baby's father is RH negative since blood incompatibility isn't a risk. Sometimes doctors do it anyways because they don't want to take the chance that the father isn't actually the father, if you know what I mean. I'm guessing you already had the 20 week u/s and everything was good so I wouldn't worry about it! There are many different reasons that women experience bleeding and cramping in early pregnancy without there being anything wrong. 

After you went to the ER did you not tell your OB about your visit and the shot they gave you? You need to tell them at your next visit for sure and discuss the shot. My guess is they will say everything looks great and you can expect to have the shot again at 28 weeks unless the dad is RH-. 

CogDis

My guess is that they gave you the shot to protect you (not the baby) in case you miscarried. Like pps said, be sure to discuss it with your OB.

And try not to worry. Most often, docs won't so anything that would put your baby at risk so it is likely fine for your baby. Sorry you've had a hard time getting legit info. That's not cool.

nohalo21

Anytime there is bleeding (or risk say with a version) you will be given a Rhogam shot. By being - you don't have the antibodies in your blood. If by chance, your blood mixes with the baby it could have negative results on the baby.

I have had my shot for each pregnacy due to bleeding. You will get it again at 28 weeks and then again after delivery. Don't be afraid to speak up if you don't understand what your doc is doing. In my experience I have found that they assume the patient gets what is going in. You have to advocate for yourself.

StephanieLBerg

Sounds to me like the first shot was to ensure your pregnancy took past the normal miscarriage period if you were experiencing cramping and bleeding at 9 weeks. You should get it again around 28 weeks. I would definitely bring this up with your OB at your next appointment since they haven't brought it up before now.

chicagojackie

If you are Rh- anytime you have bleeding (or certain procedures) you need to receive that shot to prevent you and the baby's blood from mixing so you don't allow antibodies to attack your baby's red blood cells (which carry oxygen and are crucial for life). This will be true for all of your pregnancies unless you have a baby that has a medical problem associated with the above.

You should receive the shot again at 28 weeks and again at delivery to facilitate this process for this pregnancy and this baby and to protect you in the future should you decide to have another child. If you have an amniocentesis, an external cephalic version or experience bleeding again you'll get additional doses of the medication.

You should discuss this with your doctor and they will give you some literature. This is very important and not at all optional.

chicagojackie

Yes, you'll have to do this with each pregnancy unless you have a child with a complication from untreated Rh incompatibility (and they think the serum or the shot won't work).

You WANT to do this anytime they think there is a chance of danger to the baby. Remember that this is a routine protocol at all hospitals in the united states and why we screen moms at the first prenatal visit.

You can read about it at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/rh/

wintersong139

aggiebug said:

If you are Rh- and you have an indication of bleeding they will give you the shot at any point in the pregnancy. I believe it lasts for 3 months so if you got it early you will get it again. Yes you should get the shot during all of your pregnancies. We just had a discussion on the Rh factor and why you should get it even if the father is rh- too thanks to some fantastic info from @chicagojackie‌ https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/84988131#Comment_84988131

How interesting! I had no idea that there was even a possibility that parents with two negative blood types could have a baby that is Rh+. I just assumed doctors had everyone with a negative blood type get the shot because they didn't trust fathers to know their own blood type. ;-) 

Proudmummy2217

If your RH- they will give you the shot everytine u bleed. One of my mate had up to 6 Shots as she had bleeding through the early stages of pregnancy.

HayleyBug55

No. I have an appointment on Wednesday I'll bring it up then. Thank you Do you know I if I'll have to do this with every pregnancy?

HayleyBug55

I just switched OB's and didn't even think to bring it up. I definitely will be on Wednesday though. Thank you ladies!