Is anyone here Rh negative?

pblge · September 2014

I'm Rh negative and my husband is definitely Rh positive. I think I got the Rhogam shot appropriately for prior losses, but I'm not 100% certain (it's complicated). I've been spotting on and off for a while--just brown blood and very lightly (this is apparently more common among IVF patients), so I wasn't concerned until I realized that this could be a problem for Rh negative women. The doctor doesn't want to see me yet (next appt is 9/24), but she wants me to come in ASAP for the Rhogam shot. It was after I hung up the phone that I started to worry!

Nothing I've found on the internets is very helpful about this. It's all quite general and vague that you need these shots in the rare instances of blood mixing (they mention things like like placental abruption), and that spotting may not be a problem, and that treatment is available if you're already sensitized. But I have so many other questions! Like is the treatment still the Rhogam shot, or is it something else? Should I be on prophylactic treatment given my history of losses and the pattern of spotting? At what point would the Rh factor appear in a fetus such that my body could start attacking it? And where the heck could this brown blood be coming from, meaning what are the chances that it's from me versus something fetal? And are there more questions about this that I don't know enough to ask? AND, why did no one mention this to me before???

I'll obviously contact my doctor with these questions, but that won't happen until tomorrow, so I was hoping someone could compare notes in the meantime.

Lalalady54 · September 2014

I am also Rh-, I have had rhogam during pregnancy and loss.

With my loss I had a SCH that I received a rhogam shot for at 6 weeks (it was a rhogam mini dose, only good for 4 weeks vs 12). I subsequently had a MMC and received a second rhogam shot at ~10 weeks, again a mini dose.

What I understand is if there is any chance of blood mixing, it's better safe than sorry. My good friend is an OB and when I discussed it with her she said in 1st tri there isn't really enough blood sharing that it is a huge concern but during second and third tri is becomes more concerning.

FX everything is ok with you and baby. And like PP said rhogam only protects your next baby not your current one.

mommy0411 · September 2014

I am also Rh- and both of my boys are positive. I got the shot with my losses as well just in case. I also got the shot during DS2's pregnancy because I was spotting at 24 weeks and they don't normally give the shot until 28 weeks to protect you during the 3rd trimester. I know my doctor checks for antibodies at the beginning of every pregnancy and both the baby and I are tested when I deliver. My blood actually did mix with DS2's blood but it only caused him to have jaundice and nothing else. I wasn't sensitized in the process. The rhogam shot is wonderful because it has no risk and it protects you and the baby so I wouldn't worry about getting it!

haleyusf · September 2014

Ditto the others; got rhogam with my son and my later m/c, although my OB didn't think it was necessary for my m/c at 4wks since there's no mixing of blood at that point. Getting my script for this pregnancy on Thursday (yay) and then another dose at delivery. Honestly, they should have made you aware of it with your first OB visit. My medical chart has a huge orange sticker on the front of the folder that has my Rh- status, so it's kind of a big deal that they didn't make you aware of the protocol. Your OB will be able to test for antibodies and then if they are present, will be able to do the monitoring necessary to prevent complications.

nohalo21 · September 2014

I am RH- and have had the shot each time with spotting (3 pregnancies). I also received it after delivering my angel. Each time I received it they have tested my blood for antibodies first. I think at this point it is more precaution.

smcniff · September 2014

Rh- here too. I got the shot with my first trimester loss, but not with my first tri spotting this time around. I did specifically ask my doctor and was told that it wasn't necessary.

Rhogam is actually the antibody against Rh factor. These antibodies attack and eliminate any fetal blood from your system before your own immune system has a chance to respond and generate its own antibodies.

I would do whatever your doctor recommends. I do however hate it when people say there is no risk. The risk is incredibly minimal, but Rhogam crosses the placenta and will reach your baby.

Also, not sure about the accuracy of this one, but they say that 50% of spotting in pregnancy is normal. Many many many of us have has some amount of spotting, especially in the first trimester. Most of it goes unexplained. My understanding is that some of it can be cervical (from you) and some may be from the placenta growing into your ute (also from you). The first question my doctor always asks about stopping is if we recently had sex. Sex can irritate the cervix and cause spotting. I actually got to the point where I stopped worrying about a bit of spotting. I was always worried that it would turn into bleeding, but when that didn't happen I was able to relax.

Good luck to you. Hope you can get some sleep tonight!

pblge · September 2014

This is very helpful, ladies, thanks! Apparently there really isn't a "treatment" for Rh- pregnancies once you're sensitized, so I just have to keep my fingers crossed about that blood test. The spotting has been very light, so I am trying not to worry. It helps a lot that I used the doppler for the first time tonight and found a good strong heartbeat almost immediately! Not sure how well I'd be sleeping without that! :x

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