Negtaive blood group and miscarriage - Open forum

You are all welcomed to use this as an open forum, but I just had one question.

I have a negative blood group and in January I miscarried while I was in London. The healthcare there was not very informative and never called me back for a check up.

Since then I have moved to Italy and I am now pregnant. My OB asked me weather I had been given a shot after my miscarriage because of my blood group. When I said No, she seemed a bit shocked and said that this is a must. She says everything is progressing well with my baby so not to worry.

But what I want to know is what is this shot for? I read on the internet that this has to be done after given birth as otherwise it can cause complications with future pregnancies. Does anyone know more about this?

I am sorry to have to go on, but you are all so helpful and seem to know so much. Thank you all in advance.

[jgirl34]

I am guessing you are talking about the RH factor? If so, the shot needs to be given after birth, miscarriage, abortion ect. It dosen't how the pregnancy ends, it does need to be given. I'm glad the new Docs are on top of things!! :)

[Elicam]

Thanks. Do you know if this can affect my baby or pregnancy?

I feel totally let down by the NHS which is always going on about being one of the best in the world.

[nanis]

what is this rh factor shot I just had a m/c & am not aware?Does every one get or need to get it?

[Elicam]

Only those which are RH negative. Do you know your blood group?

[Olo]

its a injection to ensure your body does not produce antibodies against future eggs and stop them from attaching so i would think it should be ok as you have concieved how far along are you?

i had this following my miscarrage (miscarriage) last year as my blood group is a-

[Elicam]

I'm somewhere between 10-11weeks.

Thank you for your reply. That makes me feel better

[who_dis]

If you are negative, and the fetus of the previous unsucessful pregnancy was positive, AND this one is also positive, then yes there can be significant ramifications for this pregnancy.

You can develop certain problems later in pregnancy, which are fairly identifiable.  Unfortunately, there is nothing really to do now but watch and wait.  There is nothing much you (by yourself) can look for in the way of problems, but no doubt you will have some ultrasounds as the pregnancy progresses.  Your doctor may even do some bloodwork looking for unusual antibodies that can develop if you have been sensititized previously.

No sense worrying yourself sick right now.  You may not have been sensitized previously, and all may go smoothly.

I would think you could google "RH sensitization in pregnancy" and get some more info.  Discuss with your doctor on your next visit, what kinds of fetal surveillance will be done in the coming months.  

And I'm also shocked you weren't given Rhogam at the time of the miscarriage.  Are you sure you weren't?  Did you have a D&C for the m/c in London?  If so, they may have given it to you while in surgery, or in recovery and you may not even be aware that you were given it (although they should have told you).  It is usually given right away after a m/c.  If you got other shots for pain, or antibiotics for infection, you may not realize you were given rhogam.

[who_dis]

Contact the hospital or doctors office in London and ask for your records.

[Elicam]

I had a natural miscarriage and am sure that I wasn't given a shot. they never ever mentioned this and never asked for my blood group, but I assumed they knew as they had taken loads of blood samples.

Thanks for all that info. I have just gone on to google to have a look for RH sensitization in pregnancy" and loads of things have come up. I will have a read of those.

Again thank you, to all of you.

[myproblem]

Rh-factor is a problem only if the mom is negative and the baby is positive. Because they usually don't check babies blood type if it was a miscarriage, you should have had the Rhogam shot if you are Rh-. If the current baby is also negative you have nothing to worry about. However, you currently have no way of knowing the blood type of the new baby. In the US, moms are usually given a Rhogam shot at 28 weeks, and one within a day after giving birth. At this point there is nothing you can do either way. Before you worry too much though, early miscarriages don't usually cause antibodies to form, because it is the mixing of mom and baby's blood that creates antibodies in the mother. It is unlikely that there was much mixing of blood in an early m/c, and your baby will probably be fine. Good luck.

[Flikwerks]

I was told you need the shot only if you have a negative blood type. I had a miscarriage at 5+ weeks in May and immediately my doctor looked at my records and said I was o positive and did not need the shot. I hope that helps.

[who_dis]

You may not have been sensitized previously even if the blood type was positive.  Sometimes it just doesn't happen for whatever reason.

Welcome to the group.  Keep us informed!

[2songbirds]

I agree with the above poster. I also am O + and RH -, but somehow the 2 opposites cancel each other out. I'm on my 7th pg, had 4 m/c and I've never needed the shot.

[who_dis]

You never need the Rhogam shot if your blood type is positive.  Only if you are negative.

[was to be a grandma]

I had a problem with the RH factor incompatibility. My blood type was O negative and my son's was O positive. My daughter in law just had a miscarriage and was given a shot called Rhogam. I am pasting a explanation of why it is necessary for the mentioned shot! The doctor doesn't know for sure why the miscarriage occurred in her. They will never know! Hope this article will explain!

If you just found out you're pregnant, one of the first - and most important - tests you should expect is a blood-type test. This basic test determines your blood type and Rh factor. Your Rh factor may play a role in your baby's health, so it's important to know this information early in your pregnancy.

What Is the Rh Factor?
People with different blood types have proteins specific to that blood type on the surfaces of their red blood cells. There are four blood types - A, B, AB, and O.

Each of the four blood types is additionally classified according to the presence of another protein on the surface of red blood cells that indicates the Rh factor. If you carry this protein, you are Rh positive. If you don't carry the protein, you are Rh negative.

Most people - about 85% - are Rh positive. But if a woman who is Rh negative and a man who is Rh positive conceive a baby, there is the potential for a baby to have a health problem. The baby growing inside the Rh-negative mother may have Rh-positive blood, inherited from the father. Approximately half of the children born to an Rh-negative mother and Rh-positive father will be Rh positive.

Rh incompatibility usually isn't a problem if it's the mother's first pregnancy because, unless there's some sort of abnormality, the fetus's blood does not normally enter the mother's circulatory system during the course of the pregnancy.

However, during delivery, the mother's and baby's blood can intermingle. If this happens, the mother's body recognizes the Rh protein as a foreign substance and can begin producing antibodies (protein molecules in the immune system that recognize, and later work to destroy, foreign substances) against the Rh proteins introduced into her blood.

Other ways Rh-negative pregnant women can be exposed to the Rh protein that might cause antibody production include blood transfusions with Rh-positive blood, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy.

Rh antibodies are harmless until the mother's second or later pregnancies. If she is ever carrying another Rh-positive child, her Rh antibodies will recognize the Rh proteins on the surface of the baby's blood cells as foreign, and pass into the baby's bloodstream and attack those cells. This can lead to swelling and rupture of the baby's red blood cells. A baby's blood count can get dangerously low when this condition, known as hemolytic or Rh disease of the newborn, occurs.

How Is Rh Disease of the Newborn Prevented and Treated?
In generations past, Rh incompatibility was a very serious problem. Fortunately, significant medical advances have been made to help prevent complications from Rh incompatibility and to treat any newborn affected by Rh disease.

Today, when a woman with the potential to develop Rh incompatibility is pregnant, doctors administer a series of two Rh immune-globulin shots during her first pregnancy. The first shot is given around the 28th week of pregnancy and the second within 72 hours after giving birth. Rh immune-globulin acts like a vaccine, preventing the mother's body from producing any potentially dangerous Rh antibodies that can cause serious complications in the newborn or complicate any future pregnancies.

A dose of Rh immune-globulin may also be given if a woman has a miscarriage, an amniocentesis, or any bleeding during pregnancy.

If a doctor determines that a woman has already developed Rh antibodies, then the pregnancy will be closely monitored to make sure that those levels are not too high. In rare cases, if the incompatibility is severe and the baby is in danger, a series of special blood transfusions (called exchange transfusions) can be performed either while the baby is still in the uterus or after delivery.

Exchange transfusions replace the baby's blood with red blood cells that have the Rh-negative factor. This procedure stabilizes the baby's level of red blood cells and minimizes further damage caused by circulating Rh antibodies already present in the baby's bloodstream.

Because of the success rate of the Rh immune-globulin shots, exchange transfusions are needed in fewer than 1% of Rh-incompatible pregnancies in the United States today.

What Can Happen if Rh Disease Is Not Prevented?
Rh incompatibility rarely causes complications in a first pregnancy and does not affect the health of the mother. But Rh antibodies that develop during subsequent pregnancies can be potentially dangerous to mother and child. Rh disease can result in severe anemia, jaundice, brain damage, and heart failure in a newborn. In extreme cases, it can cause the death of the fetus because too many red blood cells have been depleted.

If you're not sure what your Rh factor is and think you're pregnant, it's important to start regular prenatal care as soon as possible - including blood-type testing. With early detection and treatment of Rh incompatibility, you can focus on more important things - like welcoming a new, healthy baby into your household.

Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: November 2005

[neederbee]

I just transfered to a new doctors office. I had my full panel blood work done at my old doctors office. They never told me anything about this, but my new office told me that I'm going to need a shot right after giving birth (not before though).  I am AB+ though. Could this be the rogam shot? She said something about antibodies..they didn't really discuss it with me much, she said its really common and doesn't need to be done until the baby is born.

[deb76]

Respected Madam/Sir,
       I am O +ve and that of my prospective bride is O -ve. Do you think there is ant risk? Since this is an arranged marraige, so things could be altered in favour of our happy future...

regards,
Debojit

[natalie23]

hello, I'm just writing to get  medical advice, i have recently had my 3/mc within ten months. None of my pregnancies have gone past twelve weeks. I have been to the doctor and i am waiting to be referred to a specialist. The doctor mentioned about the different blood types but i didn't really understand so i have been looking up what he could mean. However whilst doing so i have found out i am o- and my partner is a+ so this could likely be the problem. I have read that the first pregnancy is normally fine but mine was not resulting in losing it at 11wk and i have lost 2 more since. I do not recall having any shot? is it to late for me to have a shot? its been 9days since the last missarriage.

natalie 23

[Poppyroch]

I am AB negative and had a natural miscarriage at 6-7 weeks in the UK - no one mentioned my blood type at the time or any injection. I found out by looking on the internet aswell. Scary. However I have since been back to the GP who said if you have an early miscarriage then you dont necessarily need one. But they have taken a blood test to check for anti bodies anyway, then if there are they will give me an injection. They have also requested my husband have a blood test to find out what blood type he is. Hope this helps.