Ok, what the hell??

The OB who treated me last night just called here and told me that she'd talked to my OB and they decided that I'll get my first RhoGAM shot tomorrow. She didn't say anything bad or anything to make me believe that everything wasn't okay, so are they doing it just as a precaution since I have an infection?? I'm kind of worried now. I was told that the only reason you need a RhoGAM shot this early is because of prior babies or m/c's. Please tell me it's just a precaution!!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I thought you got Rhogam if you were RH + ???  I've never had it.

[MomNpain]

No, you get the shot if you're RH- because you lack the RH factor. We're not sure if my hubby is RH- or not because he won't have his test results back in time. I don't know. She would have told me if there was something wrong, right?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

http://www.vaccinetruth.org/rhogam.htm

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/rhogam.html

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/pregnancy/oneg.html

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/pcomplications/0,,midwife_3pmc,00.html

Go check out these sites.  I would most definately check into this further before receiving this shot.  How far along are you?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I knew it had to do with Rh something LOL.  Sometimes, in my experience, docs/nurses don't tell you things to keep you from getting worried.  I would DEFIANTELY pry more into their reasoning.  From what I've read the Rhogam shot can caused nuerological defects in the fetus.  I just skimmed over those links I posted but it sounds like it could be risky.  

[MomNpain]

I definitely agree. I have done a lot of research about it since finding out I would need them. My mom needed them with all 4 of her kids, which scares me because it says you're only supposed to have them once. I tried explaining to my Midwife how I felt about the shots, and she made me out to seem like some sort of drug abusing crack ***** when I said I didn't want them. She's no longer my midwife and I definitely feel the same about them. My husband is supposed to go get his blood checked today, but we're not sure if we'll have the results in time before my appt (which is at 10am.)

We shall see. I'll keep you updated.

[njeosys]

Rhogam is for the RH Factor but it doesn't matter what your husband's RH is. All that matters is the pregnant woman's RH Factor as it would be HER antibodies attacking the fetus. So if you are not RH- then why the heck would you be getting the shot?! I wouldn't take it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MomNpain]

I am Rh-, but my OB and 2 others have both told me that if my husband is RH- too that I wouldn't need the shot. I'm just going to have to get it, there's no possible way for us to get his results back that early. If I don't end up needing it, it won't hurt my baby, will it?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I don't know anything about the rhogam shot but in skimming over those links I posted, one of them said something about neurological problems in infants of mothers who had the shot.  Don't know how much credibility that website has though.

[crg098]

If you are RH-, you have to get the shot! If you don't, your first baby will probably be okay but your second, third, fourth will not be. During your first pregnancy, once the mother's and baby's bloods mix (during delivery or miscarriage), the mother will form antibodies that will attack any RH+ babies she has in the future!

[JoyRenee]

I've never heard of a woman with RH- blood not getting RhoGam because of her husband's RH being negative as well. But maybe this is a new development?! Oh... you are right. I just read a few sites on it. Well, if your husband is negative, then definitely don't take the shot!!!

The things you learn here!!! Invaluable... don't take the shot if he's negative. Good luck, sweetie!

[Leanna26]

Don't worry about it too much but yes ask questions when you go in. My mother is RH- and for anything she needed the shot. Whether pregnant or surgery. Its something that does need to be kept an eye on, but Im sure they will do that.

[lmrsoldier]

I have a girlfriend that is RH- and they didn't catch it with her first pregnancy, and she ended up losing her baby at 24 weeks, and delivering her after she died. She's since had 2 other pregnancies, both of which she had to get the RhoGam shots, and her babies are fine and healthy. I would definitely tell them you want to wait until your husband gets his results back, cuz I've heard that if he is also RH-, and you get the shot, that can hurt the baby. I believe you have until 20 something weeks before you get the shot, that's when my girlfriend had to get hers, and what her doctors said. That's the only person I've heard about it from, so it could be different, but that's how it was handled with her. Good luck!!!

[SoutheastKYGirl]

what is Rh- and rh +? I'm lost here.lol

[MomNpain]

Ok, I just got back from the doc's. The people down at the ER are such idiots. Well anyways, I don't need it until the 28th week. And just to clear things up, I never said I wasn't going to get the shot...all I said is that I was a little skeptical of it.

[lmrsoldier]

I don't know for sure, but it's something with the antibodies in your blood, where they will fight off a positive blood type in the baby??? That's kind of the way it was explained to me. All I know is that they give RhoGam to balance out the antibodies in the system, so the mother's doesn't harm the baby, because her body can kill off the fetus....that help at all??  lol

[lmrsoldier]

28th week!! That's it, I knew it was 20-something, just couldn't remember for sure!! Are they gonna look into your hubby's bloodtype before they go on with the shot??

[SoutheastKYGirl]

Thanks. My husband and I both are O+ blood types. we are ttc and hopefully I'll get a + on sat morning. If I am will there be a possibility of me having to take the shot also?  How does that work? I'm trying to get all my facts straight. lol =)

[MomNpain]

I knew what it was for and everything, I just wasn't sure why they wanted to give it to me so early. Turns out they said I told them that I had been bleeding - which I didn't and haven't been.

When a mother is RH-, they lack the RH factor. If the father is RH+. there is a chance that the baby is, too. If it is, the mother's body will produce anti bodies at birth to fight off the + factor that has come from the baby's blood. The shot is sort of like the peace maker between the 2, making sure the mother's body doesn't fight any future babies off.

[lmrsoldier]

If you both have negative bloodtypes, then I believe you don't need the shot, but don't quote me. I know if the woman has a negative, and the father has a positive, then the shot is needed. Definitely ask your doc if you're concerned at all, but if there is a RH issue, your doc will let you know.  Good luck TTC!!! Baby dust.....

[lmrsoldier]

I see, darn docs sometimes need to be slapped!!! Or maybe it's their nurses....hmmmm, you never know, but someone usually does need to be...lol   Good luck with your pg, I hope you and baby are healthy and happy for 9 months!!!!

[loismwallace]

I have had to get the shot with all three of mine and will be scheduling me for my RhoGAM shot at next weeks appt. Getting the shot rather your husband is neg. or pos. will NOT hurt you or the baby. With your second child, if the baby is Rh +, your body will build up a defense and attack the fetus. If you are Rh- and don't get it, it can be bad for both of you. Someone mentioned that you get it any time you have children OR SURGERY. This is not so, only when you are pregnant and usually around 24 wks is when I get mine. The Rh factor only effects you when you are pregnant. It's really not a big deal. When I got my shot in 2005, the expiration date of the vaccine was Aug 2006, so it stays in your system for a while.

[loismwallace]

Funny little tid bit........My Mom always told me that we had monkey's blood. All three of my sisters are Rh-, myself included. Turns out it somewhat a fact!  It seems we share this antigen with our relatives in the primate world, the rhesus monkeys. Just thought I'd share that humor with everyone.

[MOM23ANGELS25F]

I have had a RhoGam shot myself with all my pregnancies... It is just a precaution if you are RH-... If by some chance at anytime in pregnancy, or childbirth your blood mixes with the babies, and the baby is a diff blood type, it can cause problems.. But if you have the shot, it prevents that.... it's totally kewl... :-)

[JoyRenee]

You won't need it unless you are RH-. You are positive, so you don't need it.