Panic over blood type!

acia

The previous post about blood types got me thinking (and worrying).... I just found out yesterday at my first OB appointment that I'm A- bloodtype. So I started doing some reading, and in one of my pregnancy books it states that you need to have an injection of Rhlg during and after pregnancy if you're Rh negative, like I am. Apparently without this shot, you can cause significant problems for the baby in utero and after birth.

So here's my panic: I had a miscarriage and a subsequent D&C 2 years ago, and apparently I should have received an Rhlg shot after this procedure. But I never did - I don't know why. Obviously I'm going to call my OB about this tomorrow, but now I know I'll be worrying about this all night! I don't understand much about this stuff, but has anyone else been in this situation? Do I need to worry?

robin house

That shot is if you are RH-... not A-

 

I think you just confused me.

You said you were A- 

then said you were RH -

 

Those are two totally different ball games.

mikeandjen

If DH is Rh- then you are fine, because there's no way you could have a Rh+ baby.  I would definitely call your OB tomorrow.

btw - having any negative blood type means you are Rh-.

Mrs.Greenie

You can have your blood tested to see if your body had the antibodies. If the baby you lost was negative also there is no problem. If baby was positive, it is possible that your bady would build up antibodies (lika an immunity) to the positive blood, which does not mean that you would not be able to carry another positive baby, but may need more monitoring.

HotDish!

When you have your initial blood tests they test for your blood type as well as any anti-bodies, if you had any anti-bodies (which is the part to be worried about) I'm sure your Dr. would have mentioned it. I had a miscarriage and thought I didn't have the injection....when I questioned my dr about it years later she said it showed on my chart that I in fact had had the shot.

acia

luvsong04:

That shot is if you are RH-... not A-

 

I think you just confused me.

You said you were A- 

then said you were RH -

 

Those are two totally different ball games.

From what I understand you can be one of the bloodtypes (A, B, AB, or O), and for each of those you are either RH+ or RH-. So if you are type A, and RH-, then your type is A-. But maybe I misunderstood Grade 11 biology??? It has been a while....

jk09uhed89

luvsong04:

That shot is if you are RH-... not A-

 

I think you just confused me.

You said you were A- 

then said you were RH -

 

Those are two totally different ball games.

 

arent you RH- if you have any negative blood type??

robin house

mikeandjen:

If DH is Rh- then you are fine, because there's no way you could have a Rh+ baby.  I would definitely call your OB tomorrow.

btw - having any negative blood type means you are Rh-.

 

..then i retract my previous statement..lol

mooninlv

i'm O- and will be getting the shot as well. from what i've read, and what my doc has told me, it's really not a huge deal - as long as you get the shot. with your prior history, i'm not sure how/if that affects things- but try not to worry. just discuss it with your doc and do what you need to do. i'm sure it will be fine!

acia

mikeandjen:

If DH is Rh- then you are fine, because there's no way you could have a Rh+ baby.  I would definitely call your OB tomorrow.

btw - having any negative blood type means you are Rh-.

 

DH is A+, so there's definitely a chance of me having built up antibodies from my last pregnancy. Yikes!

Jen930

mikeandjen:

If DH is Rh- then you are fine, because there's no way you could have a Rh+ baby.  I would definitely call your OB tomorrow.

btw - having any negative blood type means you are Rh-.

I was just about to say the same thing...."A" is the blood type and (-) or (+) is the Rh factor.  Try not to worry tonight (I know, easier said than done) and definitely call your doc in the morning for clarification on whether or not you need the Rhogam injection.

mikeandjen

HotDish!:

When you have your initial blood tests they test for your blood type as well as any anti-bodies, if you had any anti-bodies (which is the part to be worried about) I'm sure your Dr. would have mentioned it. I had a miscarriage and thought I didn't have the injection....when I questioned my dr about it years later she said it showed on my chart that I in fact had had the shot.

I agree - I'm sure any antibodies would have shown up in your initial bloodwork. 

Mrs.DeliaMarieP

I am also A-, which means I am Type A, Rh-

On that note...don't worry.

The purpose of the shot is to prevent your body from causing any harm to your baby, if the baby is + for Rh factor, even if you have already been exposed in the past (due to your miscarriage).

As long as you get the two shots of Rhogam, then your baby will be perfectly fine.  The Rhogam ties-up your body's antibodies, thus preventing them from attacking your baby.

Don't worry, just get the shots and everything will be a-okay!

ashleynicole_65802

if dh is positive and you are negative you will def need the shot, i think you get it somewhere around 6 or 7 months then again before or after labor.  like pp said you were tested for antibodies when you had your first blood work done and they would have notified you if you had the antibodies.  i wouldn't worry too much because you don't share a blood supply with the baby. if you mentioned the m/c in your medical history, dr would be aware to look for any possible complications.  gl and try not to worry!

Ekstasis

It only matters if you?re Rh Negative or Positive NOT in the A,B,O or AB. It only matter in your Rh factor.

 

If your fetus was in fact Rh Positive and had time to sensitize itself you and your fetus can be in danger within time.  It can cause sufficient damage to you and your fetus. You defiantly need to bring this up to your OB. Sensitization usually doesn't happen until after the birth of an RhD positive baby. Later pregnancies and deliveries may be affected unless the mother is treated with rhogam after EVERY birth, miscarriage, and abortion.

 

Knowing if you?re Rh sensitized can be determined within blood work I believe.

zubenescamali

routine blood work on first OB visit will show either a positive or negative antibody screen.  if it's negative, then you have no worries from your previous D&C causing Rh sensitization.  plus, just because your DH is Rh+ does not mean baby will be unless DH is homozygous genotype because the + allele is dominant and will be expressed as the phenotype regardless of whether or not he is ++ or +(-).  you can guess if that is the case if he has any siblings who are Rh(-). 

okay i maybe just confused, but PLEASE everyone educate yourselves on RhIg because there are benefits and risks to the injection that the doctors don't always tell you about because it's so "routine".

war_eagle

I believe you only have a 15% chance of building up the antibodies without the shot, so it is likely you don't have the antibodies (not that you shouldn't get the injection, but that your previous issues more than likely did not cause antibodies). ?The shot hurts like a mo-fo though! ?I had to get one early due to spotting.

~Soleil~

From what I understand, being Rh- is only a major problem if the baby's Rh+ blood travels into your system. So until you talk to your doc I wouldn't worry about it.