RH Negative

Keekee3

Hello ladies! I was just seeing if anyone was going thru this. In 2012 while pregnant with dd2 I had a blood transfusion due to anemia. Well now at 21 weeks with dd3 I am being sent to high risk ob because the blood I received had the RH antibodies. Not too sure of how this all works and the nurse wasn't very helpful at my normal ob's office. I am now RH negative due to donor blood, I read online they can give injections to help. Has anyone recieved the injections? Also were you sent to high risk ob? Sorry so long, just super stressed over this.

Coll910

I am RH negative but wasn't at high risk, they just gave me a shot around 28 weeks I think and then after baby was born. I have to get it again this time. I'm sure your doctor will explain everything to you at your appt. Make sure you ask about all your concerns so you can have a better understanding of your situation and a clear head.

CountrieBum

I know they will give you the Rhogam Shot for being RH negative. I am RH positive as is DH and we were told that since we are both positive my need for the Rhogam shot is not necessary. As far as the rest of it, with the transfusion and the RH negative qualities from the donor blood I can't speak for and if the Rhogam shot will fix it. I hope the Dr will explain it all in great detail for you because that is a very convoluted situation. 

Serious good thoughts and vibes sent your way!  

Mrschadwick72

I'm RH negative as well , my doctor told me that it isn't something to worry about to bad as long as I get the shot . She said sometime around 25 weeks I'd get it, and then also if the baby is born RH positive we will both get the shot or else our bodies will want to attack themselves. I'm not sure why you were put on high risk though, I don't see anything high risk. I'm sure everything is ok though !

Publius

I'm a little confused.  Being Rh- just means that you don't have a certain protein naturally occurring in your blood so when that protein is introduced your body fights it off like it's a foreign invader.  It's not something you can become, it's your blood type and you're born with it.  

As I understand your post, you are Rh- and last year had a blood transfusion.  That transfusion was also Rh- blood but came from someone who had been sensitized to the protein carried by an Rh + person and therefore you are now sensitized to it as well.  Is that correct?

If that's the case, then the injections aren't going to help you.  The point of the RhIg shot is to prevent an Rh- woman from becoming sensitized (creating the antibodies that will seek out and destroy the Rh+ protein where it occurs in the body--which would include the blood of an Rh+ fetus) in the first place.  If you've already been sensatized there is no way to become unsensitized.

Is your H Rh+?  If not, you don't need to worry.  If he is and the fetus is also Rh+ than it's a really good thing that you've been referred to a high risk OB.  They need to keep a close eye on you and how you progress and might want to deliver early to keep your body from attacking and possibly killing the fetus. 

If you must use Dr. Google, you want to be googling "Rh disease" and "Rh sensitisation" not "Rh-".  Also, it might help you to calm down if you ask the OB if they can blood type the baby.  If she's Rh- like you there is nothing for you to be worrying about.

 ETA: FWIW, My Rh- grandmother gave birth to two Rh+ children after being sensatized to the Rh protein. 

Publius

Also, can I ask how you found out you had the antibodies?  I'm also Rh- and this is my first pregnancy so I shouldn't be sensitized but I did have a series of whole plasma transfusions last year.  I guess I'm wondering if it was part of the standard blood testing or if they specifically said they were looking for it.  

fish000

I'm RH- too and just got the shots and that was quite simple from my perspective. My doctor told me that it is all controllable now that they know about it. Rest assured it's all much better now that your doctors are onto it and can monitor it closely so it doesn't affect your baby.

Keekee3

With my first and second pregnancy I was RH positive but the donor blood was RH negative and has since changed my status. The nurse did tell me that it's not something they usually test donor blood for. I'm guessing this might be the reason for the high risk ob. I feel a lot better after hearing all the other ladies stories and now just waiting for my appointment tomorrow.

Publius:

I'm a little confused. nbsp;Being Rh just means that you don't have a certain protein naturally occurring in your blood so when that protein is introduced your body fights it off like it's a foreign invader. nbsp;It's not something you can become, it's your blood type and you're born with it. nbsp;As I understand your post, you are Rh and last year had a blood transfusion. nbsp;That transfusion was also Rh blood but came from someone who had been sensitized to the protein carried by an Rh person and therefore you are now sensitized to it as well. nbsp;Is that correct?If that's the case, then the injections aren't going to help you. nbsp;The point of the RhIg shot is to prevent an Rh woman from becoming sensitized creating the antibodies that will seek out and destroy the Rh protein where it occurs in the bodywhich would include the blood of an Rh fetus in the first place. nbsp;If you've already been sensatized there is no way to become unsensatized.Is your H Rh? nbsp;If not, you don't need to worry. nbsp;If he is and the fetus is also Rh than it's a really good thing that you've been referred to a high risk OB. nbsp;They need to keep a close eye on you and how you progress and might want to deliver early to keep your body from attacking and possibly killing the fetus.nbsp;If you must use Dr. Google, you want to be googling "Rs disease" and "Rh sensitisation" not "Rh". nbsp;Also, it might help you to calm down if you ask the OB if they can blood type the baby. nbsp;If she's Rh like you there is nothing for you to be worrying about.nbsp;ETA: FWIW, My Rh grandmother gave birth to two Rh children after being sensatized to the Rh protein.nbsp;

mboruch

I found out i was RH Negative due to first trimester bleeding. As a result of my bleeding, i have to get the Rhogam shot every 12 weeks. However, if you have had no bleeding then you get the shot at 24-28ish weeks. No, i was not considered high risk due to being RH negative.

Publius

Keekee3:

With my first and second pregnancy I was RH positive but the donor blood was RH negative and has since changed my status. The nurse did tell me that it's not something they usually test donor blood for. I'm guessing this might be the reason for the high risk ob. I feel a lot better after hearing all the other ladies stories and now just waiting for my appointment tomorrow.

Publius:

I'm a little confused. nbsp;Being Rh just means that you don't have a certain protein naturally occurring in your blood so when that protein is introduced your body fights it off like it's a foreign invader. nbsp;It's not something you can become, it's your blood type and you're born with it. nbsp;As I understand your post, you are Rh and last year had a blood transfusion. nbsp;That transfusion was also Rh blood but came from someone who had been sensitized to the protein carried by an Rh person and therefore you are now sensitized to it as well. nbsp;Is that correct?If that's the case, then the injections aren't going to help you. nbsp;The point of the RhIg shot is to prevent an Rh woman from becoming sensitized creating the antibodies that will seek out and destroy the Rh protein where it occurs in the bodywhich would include the blood of an Rh fetus in the first place. nbsp;If you've already been sensatized there is no way to become unsensatized.Is your H Rh? nbsp;If not, you don't need to worry. nbsp;If he is and the fetus is also Rh than it's a really good thing that you've been referred to a high risk OB. nbsp;They need to keep a close eye on you and how you progress and might want to deliver early to keep your body from attacking and possibly killing the fetus.nbsp;If you must use Dr. Google, you want to be googling "Rs disease" and "Rh sensitisation" not "Rh". nbsp;Also, it might help you to calm down if you ask the OB if they can blood type the baby. nbsp;If she's Rh like you there is nothing for you to be worrying about.nbsp;ETA: FWIW, My Rh grandmother gave birth to two Rh children after being sensatized to the Rh protein.nbsp;

 

That's crazy!  I had no idea that your physical blood type could change.

Something to keep in mind is that no one in this thread has been sensitized to the Rh protein.  We're all just Rh-, which by itself isn't a big deal.  It just means we have to get the RhIg shot, which prevents you from developing the antibodies that fight off the protein.  It sounds like you already have those antibodies so you're in a different situation than we are.  I don't want to freak you out, but being sensitized does make you high risk and can create some serious complications for the baby.  That's the reason they try to prevent the antibodies from being formed with the RhIg shot in the first place.  Fortunately they do know what to watch for and you'll be monitored.  If there becomes a serious issue for the baby's health later on they'll recognize it and there are things that they can do.

I can definitely understand why you're stressing out though.  Is it your high risk OB you're seeing tomorrow?  Do you have a list of questions to take with you?  I'd probably want to ask if it's possible for the baby to inherit an Rh- blood type from you given that you were born Rh+.  I'd also want to know if they could determine the baby's blood type now so that you don't need to spend the next several months worrying about something that is a nonissue (because if the baby is Rh- there is no protein in her body for the antibodies to attack and therefore no problem).      

I hope all goes well at your appointment and you get all of your questions answered.  

amichelle723

Publius:

Also, can I ask how you found out you had the antibodies?  I'm also Rh- and this is my first pregnancy so I shouldn't be sensitized but I did have a series of whole plasma transfusions last year.  I guess I'm wondering if it was part of the standard blood testing or if they specifically said they were looking for it.  

My doctor said that they will do lab work to check to see if I have been sensitized before they give the shot, then I have to come back the next day to actually get the shot. 

SweetPeaK26

RH neg here, not high risk. Got a RhoGahm shot at 28ish weeks, and any time I had spotting. So far, none I my babies hav had a positive blood type, so I haven't had to get a shot after delivery, but that is the other time you'll need it if baby has a positive blood type. Although, I'm not sure how that works for you, if you originally had a positive blood type.

NNGnome

OK, there is a lot of incorrect information above. There are many many different types of blood, Rh negative only refers to one type (It shows people are negative for the D Antigen), the reason they don't test for the rest is that they are rare, and if you have them there is absolutely nothing they can do to stop you being sensitised during pregnancy (The Rhogam shot only works for D).

For example, my blood type is A+, but I am Little c, Big E and Kell negative.

If you have a positive blood type getting blood from a transfusion will NOT change your blood type, the only way a blood type changes is if you have a bone marrow transplant.

From what you say it sounds like you have a positive blood type and when given a transfusion you were sensitised because you are negative for a different antigen.

Your high risk doctor will explain all of this, but please check out the website in my siggy it has a wealth of information, as this is pretty rare most general doctors and OBs are not that aware of what happens.

I was sensitised through a transfusion before I had children and as you can see I have a healthy baby boy and a second on the way so although all ISO pregnancies are high risk, with regular monitoring you should do fine.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

ETA. It would not make any difference if the blood you received had antibodies if you were positive as they only take a few weeks to break down in your body (This is what happens once ISO babies are born) It is only if the blood is positive for Antigens that you are negative for, then you start to create your own antibodies.

Keekee3

Ok everything you said was so right. The high risk ob explained it all and confused by my lab work as she has never seen it before. I am RH positive with a D antibody that only RH negative people have. She stated this can make baby become anemic and we would do inuterin blood transfusions. First we are going to retest my blood to make sure there was no lab error and then go from there!

NNGnome:

OK, there is a lot of incorrect information above. There are many many different types of blood, Rh negative only refers to one type It shows people are negative for the D Antigen, the reason they don't test for the rest is that they are rare, and if you have them there is absolutely nothing they can do to stop you being sensitised during pregnancy The Rhogam shot only works for D.For example, my blood type is A, but I am Little c, Big E and Kell negative.If you have a positive blood type getting blood from a transfusion will NOT change your blood type, the only way a blood type changes is if you have a bone marrow transplant.From what you say it sounds like you have a positive blood type and when given a transfusion you were sensitised because you are negative for a different antigen.Your high risk doctor will explain all of this, but please check out the website in my siggy it has a wealth of information, as this is pretty rare most general doctors and OBs are not that aware of what happens.I was sensitised through a transfusion before I had children and as you can see I have a healthy baby boy and a second on the way so although allnbsp;ISO pregnancies are high risk, with regular monitoring you should do fine.Please let me know if you have any questions.ETA. It would not make any difference if the blood you received had antibodies if you were positive as they only take a few weeks to break down in your body This is what happens once ISO babies are born It is only if the blood is positive for Antigens that you are negative for, then you start to create your own antibodies.

NNGnome

Keekee3:

Ok everything you said was so right. The high risk ob explained it all and confused by my lab work as she has never seen it before. I am RH positive with a D antibody that only RH negative people have. She stated this can make baby become anemic and we would do inuterin blood transfusions. First we are going to retest my blood to make sure there was no lab error and then go from there!

Often the first bloodwork you get from the regular OB is not as specific, and each lab can do things differently so what she is saying is perfectly normal, most high risk OBs want to use their own blood techs.

They will come back with Titers for the Antibodies you have, anything below 1:8 means less monitoring as it is to low to have too much of an affect on the baby. If it is higher than 1:8 ( they double every time, so you go 1:2, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 1:16 etc, for example mine are 1:64) you will need regular u/s to check the baby's blood pressure, which is done by measuring a blood vessel in their head, if the blood pressure is low then the baby is unlikely to be anaemic (They plot the blood pressure on a graph, ask to see it is they don't show you it will make you much more reassured).

Also, many Iso babies do not need IUTs, especially if it is your first, my DS didn't need any IUTs and my titers got to 1:128 the first time around..he did however need an exchange transfusion and 4 blood transfusions once he was born.

There is a really helpful board in my siggy, it is pretty slow but there is a wealth of information on there, and please PM me if you have any more questions, I know when I found out with my first I was pretty scared, but in the end most Iso babies are OK, it is nothing like the old days where you had to stop having children after your first baby with Rh Disease, and there are no lasting affects form the Antibodies.