roxyu member
Like I said before, I couldn't find a lot of information on it written in simple terms, so here's my easier to understand version.: My biggest confusion was why it didn't happen with my first daughter. Your red blood cells are too large to pass through the placenta to the baby, but vitamins, minerals, antibodies, etc... can break down small enough to pass through to your baby in the womb. If your antibody levels rise (aka titers) that means you are attacking something in your system such as a virus. They will likely do additional u/s to check the main arteries in the baby's brain to see the viscosity of the blood. If it is moving too fast, it means that the baby's blood is thin and your antibodies are killing off the H or anti-Wra red blood cells. (I would ask them to clarify if you have both antigens or just one, because you can have more than one antigen.) The Wra is actually anti-Wright which is considered a 'private' antigen. This could mean that your husband is a descendent of the Wright family which this was named after-it's not a universal antigen. There is honestly nothing you can do but wait and see. If the blood does thin, they may have to deliver early or give a transfusion to the baby while still in the womb. There is also a risk of hemolytic anemia in the baby. I have a close friend who was born with it and so was her son. Since she is older they didn't have the advancements necessary to treat it and removed her spleen when she was younger. Her son is just fine. They had a bili bed in their home (like the suntan bed for babies at the hospital) and they had to put him under it for a certain period of time throughout the day for his first couple of months. He is just fine, and has to have blood draws twice a year until he's six to measure his red blood cell count. My daughter was born with just a touch of jaundice, not even enough to put her under a bili bed. The best thing you can do is try to stay calm and positive since you can't control the antigen(s) and anxiety and stress will effect your baby. It is great that your doctor caught it and you're educating yourself. It is really not as risky as it sounds as long as it's monitored and treated quickly if need be. Try to look at the positive side, you get a ton of extra u/s so you get to see your baby often. I got some awesome 3D images throughout so I could see what she really looked like. It was amazing! Your doctor will probably put you on iron supplements to help boost your baby's iron level. Definitely ask if they haven't prescribed them, but don't take them unless they ok it. I am pretty sure it's used for all antigen types, but I am not in the medical field so get an expert to answer that for you. I'm sure you and your baby will be just fine. (((Hugs)))