Rh Factor

marlene061990 · October 2014

Hey ladies just wondering are any of you blood type -0 if you are what steps is your obgyn taking?
Thank you!

cls78 · October 2014

I am A- and my hubby is O-, but they still want me to get a RH shot at 26 weeks.

Irishcurls · October 2014

cls78 said:

I am A- and my hubby is O-, but they still want me to get a RH shot at 26 weeks.

Even though they realize it's medically impossible for your babies to have a + blood type?? CYA anyone...

Irishcurls · October 2014

Ok Bump, you're pissing me off. Now I can't edit. I just had another thought though in @cls78's case. Since her husband isn't their patient, they wouldn't confirm his blood type and wouldn't risk just taking his (anyone's) word for it. Ok, snark retracted.

cls78 · October 2014

Irishcurls said:

cls78 said:

I am A- and my hubby is O-, but they still want me to get a RH shot at 26 weeks.

Even though they realize it's medically impossible for your babies to have a + blood type?? CYA anyone...

Yep! I mentioned that my husband is O - and the OB still wants me to get it.

cls78 · October 2014

@nomnomasaur0426‌ I believe you get it after or before birth too.

michelle142 · October 2014

Not to highjack here - but during both pregnancies, my DH's blood type wasn't even addressed when talking about this. I'm type B+. Is it weird that they never even asked about DH?

melmarie4 · October 2014

michelle142 said:
Not to highjack here - but during both pregnancies, my DH's blood type wasn't even addressed when talking about this. I'm type B+. Is it weird that they never even asked about DH?

If your blood is positive, then it doesn't matter what his blood type is. They are only concerned if you have a negative blood type and he has a positive because if the baby inherits his positive blood type, your body might create antibodies that can hurt the baby.

michelle142 · October 2014

melmarie4 said:

Not to highjack here - but during both pregnancies, my DH's blood type wasn't even addressed when talking about this. I'm type B+. Is it weird that they never even asked about DH?
If your blood is positive, then it doesn't matter what his blood type is. They are only concerned if you have a negative blood type and he has a positive because if the baby inherits his positive blood type, your body might creat antibodies that can hurt the baby.

Got it. That makes sense.

winterbabe2015 · October 2014

I am RH negative. Will have rhogham shot at 28 weeks and another after delivery and another if there is any severe bleeding. The shot after delivery will protect future pregnancies.

mrs&mrsk · October 2014

yeah i need to ask the dr about this again today.

melmarie4 · October 2014

cls78 said:
I am A- and my hubby is O-, but they still want me to get a RH shot at 26 weeks.

I did hear that there's a slight possibility that you even though your husband has a negative blood type, he could still make proteins for positive blood that don't show up on all blood tests, and the baby could end up with a positive blood type. It's extremely rare though so I don't think doctors should insist everyone with a partner with a negative blood type should get.This article explains it: https://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask114 Chances are though you should be fine not getting the shot. I've actually heard some doctors make you get it in case you're lying about who the father is.

Amee12 · October 2014

willvilljill said:
Let me add - I had mine a couple months ago because I had a bad previa/bleeding episode around week 9. Per my OB, I will not need to get it again before full term, even though usually it's administered around 28-30 weeks.

I also got mine early at 13weeks because of bleeding and trip to the ER. The nurse told me the shot is good for 3 months then if I have bleeding after that I will get it again and then right after birth and something about future pregnancies, I figure I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Joys of being O-

Alygohome · October 2014

Even though I am positive A+ they are making me get the blood work done to see if I need the RH shot, they told me 99.9% of the time you don't but somehow one time they had a paitent who did and they didn't give them the test and it caused problems..or something like that.

I have had friends who had to get the shot, I think they got it around 28 weeks and again after birth.

PeanettyGoodness · October 2014

For years I wondered what my blood type was and my mother couldn't remember. It turns out I am A- and my fiance, which we already knew, is A+. Due to some spotting, I ended up getting the shot at the ER when I was seven weeks(I was there because of totally different reasons). My doctor has told me that I will get another shot at twenty eight weeks and another after birth. My doctor said that normally you only get two. This is totally different than what my friend was told. She got one at ten weeks, despite not having any spotting, one at twenty eight weeks, and one after birth.

kdhuling · October 2014

I'm A - and we have no clue what my husband is, my doctor hasn't mentioned me getting the shot but I'm only 24 weeks so maybe at my next appointment. I had it with my last pregnancy( miscarraige/ectopic at 7 weeks). So I assumed I would be getting it when I went into labor with this one. I had no idea they do it so early as a precaution. Good to know, thanks ladies!

usmcwife89 · October 2014

I'm RH negative( I'm O-negative and my husband is A-positive) I have gotten the rhogam shot twice. They generally give it at 28 weeks. I'll still get one at 28 weeks and if I understood my doctor correctly I'll also get one when I'm in labor. If you're RH negative anytime you have bleeding the doctor, at least in my experience, gives you a dosage of the rhogam shot. Twice I had bleeding in this pregnancy, it wasn't heavy but they still gave me a smaller dosage of the shot. I'm not worried about it.

selly08 · October 2014

I took a shot for my RH- immediately after I had a miscarriage in Nov. My doc hasn't mentioned anything about the 28week shot. My U/S tech mentioned it last time that my RH- factor hasn't interfered with this pregnancy so far.

Kayla*Marie · October 2014

I'm O- and had the shot at 28 weeks with DD and then after delivery as well. We haven't talked about it yet this time around, but I am assuming it'll be the same. Hubby is positive as well as DD.

[Deleted User] · October 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

agm04 · October 2014

Oh do I have a story about this. I'm O-, and my OB wouldn't take MH's word that he was also a negative blood type (understandable). So he had a blood type test done (which cost $400 after insurance told him it would be $10...whole other story), which confirmed that he's A-.

My OB was still a little uneasy about me skipping the shot. I think the idea is 1. like a PP said, we could be lying about the father, and 2. the concern isn't for a first baby, but for any future babies (something about if this baby's blood type is positive gets into your bloodstream, your body will produce antibodies that can attack future fetuses). So even if your partner has a negative blood type, any future children you have with any other father could be at risk.

Totally not claiming to be an expert and may have screwed that up somehow, but that's how I understand it. So I get it, but we're skipping it.

sakura12 · October 2014

I am A- and I am getting a blood test done at 28 weeks to see if my body is ok to receive the shot. Then after birth if either of my daughters come up with a positive blood type. My friend with negative blood type had this shot with all 3 of her pregnancies. Talk to your ob at your next appointment to get all the details so you and your baby are safe

chicagojackie · October 2014

melmarie4 said:

Not to highjack here - but during both pregnancies, my DH's blood type wasn't even addressed when talking about this. I'm type B+. Is it weird that they never even asked about DH?
If your blood is positive, then it doesn't matter what his blood type is. They are only concerned if you have a negative blood type and he has a positive because if the baby inherits his positive blood type, your body might create antibodies that can hurt the baby.

Actually it doesn't matter what the father's blood type is. The reason is that the Rhesus (Rh) system is not as simple as you think. @agm04 your doctor is right to still recommend it. Let me explain.

Rh blood system consists of numerous other antigens besides capital D ("big D" which is either Rh negative or Rh positive), most commonly C, c, E, e, and G. There is no 'small d' antigen, fwiw. This nomenclature is a simplification for non-medical providers so that the alphabet soup doesn't have to be explained every time to patients.

So a woman can be "Rh-negative" and her husband can be "Rh-negative" but their Rh-negatives are technically genetically different. Let's say daddy is Rh (D-negative) but C+. So, mom can develop anti-C antibodies. You do NOT want the fetus exposed to these antibodies.

The RhoGAM antibody is then administered to the mother prophylactically around 28 weeks to protect against fetomaternal hemorrhage which can occur from pretty much anything that causes even a little disruption of the placenta, amniotic fluid, etc (think amniocentesis, trauma to the abdomen, contractions, delivery, external cephalic version...).

Tiny (less than 1/100 of an mL) quantities of fetal RBCs gain access to the maternal circulation in nearly all pregnancies in the third trimester. Mom gets exposed to her baby's blood, no doubt about it. If you make antibodies versus your fetus, they cross the placenta. What's a little anti-C or anti-D antibody to the CURRENT (not future) fetus?

Severe anemia (the antibodies from mom destroy baby's red blood cells which are trying to carry oxygen); high risk for hyperbilirubinemia after birth due to the breakdown of all the red blood cells (jaundice, staining of the brain if severe which can cause permanent neurologic damage)...etc, etc.

This is why in the united states the standard of care is that all women are screened at the first prenatal visit for ABO type and Rh type and recommended RhoGAM at 28 weeks and at delivery to prevent alloimmunization. Also if the woman undergoes a miscarriage or needs amniocentesis or CVS she receives the RhoGAM as well.

This is not about whether or not your partner is the baby's father. This is not about your doctor wanting to give you a shot you don't need. This is about your baby being born safe and healthy and not having terrible complications.

Many of you who have older OB's--the OB has seen babies that have died in utero from fetal hydrops or severe anemia; or survive to birth only to require exchange transfusion/plasmacentesis. If you refuse the RhoGAM and go AMA that is your right--however, if your baby is severely injured or dies, that is on you as the baby's mother. Not fear, just facts.

michelle142 · October 2014

I feel like I just watched a Discovery Health special @chicagojackie

Very informative, thank you!

chicagojackie · October 2014

@michelle142 you're welcome. I'm a science nerd.

agm04 · October 2014

wow @chicagojackie that's new info to me, thanks. my ob seemed uneasy bc he didn't "know enough about it", not bc he had a specific explanation, but i think now i'll just get it. (and not tell my husband since he is still livid about the $400 he spent on the blood type test...)

kerrycharpe · October 2014

I think they gave me 4 with DD, 3 while pregnant and one after - for no particular reason. I didn't have any bleeding. This time around I'll be 27 weeks @ my next appt, when it's scheduled.

chicagojackie · October 2014

kerrycharpe said:

I think they gave me 4 with DD, 3 while pregnant and one after - for no particular reason. I didn't have any bleeding. This time around I'll be 27 weeks @ my next appt, when it's scheduled.

The bleeding is not external. You wouldn't know that you've had a fetomaternal hemorrhage. There is like a 17-item list of indications for RhoGAM besides the two prophylactic doses at 28 weeks and delivery.

aggiebug · October 2014

Sweet @chicagojackie‌ that is some interesting information. One question why if you are Rh+ are you safe even with all the variables in the other factors?

chicagojackie · October 2014

@aggiebug Rh+ moms by definition do not make anti-Rh antibodies (of any kind) because they have the Rh factor. (Another way, they aren't set up to attack).

So everyone Rh+ doesn't even need to think about any of this.

aggiebug · November 2014

chicagojackie said:
@aggiebug Rh+ moms by definition do not make anti-Rh antibodies (of any kind) because they have the Rh factor. (Another way, they aren't set up to attack).
So everyone Rh+ doesn't even need to think about any of this.

@chicagojackie‌ but I thought RH+/- was just the D not the other factors that you mentioned if you first post. Or did I read that wrong?

My question wasn't really about the D factor but about C and E. If you are D (or Rh+) and c, e but the dad is +/- D, C, E why doesn't mom make C, and E antibodies when Rh+ but can if both parents are Rh-?

Eta I am guessing this is partially a nomenclature thing?

marlene061990 · November 2014

What is the latest you can get this shot if for some reason you can't get at 28 weeks??@chicagojackie?

wintersong139 · November 2014

marlene061990 said:

What is the latest you can get this shot if for some reason you can't get at 28 weeks??@chicagojackie?

@chicagojackie

FTFY since the question mark made you unable to tag her.

aggiebug · November 2014

marlene061990 said:

What is the latest you can get this shot if for some reason you can't get at 28 weeks??@chicagojackie?

I am quite certain you can get it the day you go into labor. but hopefully cj would come in and share her knowledge.

chicagojackie · November 2014

@aggiebug The Rh neg nomenclature is confusing. There are multiple alleles not just D. I am not a medical geneticist so only have a rudimentary understanding but know the multiple alleles is the issue. The naming is an oversimplification.

@marlene061990‌ you need two doses. Sometimes more. Each dose can cover roughly 15cc of the baby's blood mixing with yours. Talk to your doctor. The delivery dose is given within 72 hours, preferably ASAP.

chicagojackie · November 2014

If you are Rh positive you don't have to worry about any of the alleles either. It is a moot point then

Mommalawyer · November 2014

I'm Rh-..... I got the shot during the pregnancy last time, but DD ended up Rh- anyway...

jbilbro31 · November 2014

Two negative blood types can make a positive blood type!

wintersong139 · November 2014

jbilbro31 said:

Two negative blood types can make a positive blood type!

I gotta research this, it is boggling my brain.

marlene061990 · November 2014

What are the consequences of not getting the shot I don't think I'm going to be able to get since my employers health insurance won't let me use it until January 1. 2015 I'm currently 24 weeks and I'm trying to get medicaid for pregnant but I don't think I'll meet the deadline for the vaccine . Does any one have suggestions as to what to do do you think I can qualify for obamacare PLS any comments you leave me will be of great help.
Thank!

elephantsonpatrol · November 2014

I have no idea if you qualify for Obamacare- try the website or contact one of the local helpers.

The shot is not terribly expensive, I paid $135 out of pocket for it a few months ago.

The consequences if you don't get it can be severe. Not as much for this pregnancy, but it can be dreadful for you in future pregnancies.

Want a personalized experience?

Rh Factor

Re: Rh Factor

Choose Another Board

Search Boards