RH BLOOD - Concerned

[m3lanie]

I am 9 weeks pregnancy and concerned about having a miscarriage because my blood type is 0 negative. I had blood work done when i was 5 weeks pregnant and my doctor is aware that I am o negative I guess since he didn't call me about anything to do with my blood work being that nothing was wrong. I am aware of needing a shot at 28 weeks from what I have read... but what if the anti-bodies start forming before then 'will i lose the baby' or do I need to get a shot right away if I start bleeding to stop from losing my baby? I am scared. I have't had any bleeding as of yet. Only thing I had was very small amount of paleish pink/whitish discharge at 6 weeks after wiping and it came and went lasting only 2 days and nothing since then.

Do i need to know anything, perhaps be watching out for something? Do I need to contact my doctor now?? Am I a sitting duck waiting to lose my baby?

Thanks

[coloagurl]

I am 9 weeks pregnant with my third child and my OB just called me a few days ago with the news about my blood work. My doctor told me that I built up an antigen D and C ( confused about that) but mainly I have built up antibodies against the babies blood. I am A- and my husband id 0+ so my hubby must have planted another + baby. My last two children are + blood types as well. However I did receive the Rh shots after each pregnancy so I don't know how I became sensitized. My OB has educated me on the possible risk of my condition where the baby can have a disease called hemolytic disease. She is referring me to a high risk doctor later this week to be closely monitored. I am extremely worried. Has anyone had this happen to them and their baby came out fine?

[wanting4#1]

Blood type and RH type are two different things.  Almost all women are RH positive, but it's the RH factor that can cause the incompatibility thing.  I just had the blood work done for my first OB visit!

[Heather5]

OK, I'm a dork! I'm not O negative, but O positive. I have no idea why I had it written down as negative, but the nurse at my obgyn's office double and triple checked yesterday, and it's definitely O positive. So I guess I don't have to worry about my previous miscarriages affecting this pregnancy after all. Phew!

[mandalynn1983]

If you are Rh-negative, most doctors will advise that you get a RhoGAM ® shot after a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other pregnancy loss. Getting a RhoGAM or other Rh immune globulin shot is a precaution against a situation called Rh incompatibility, which could affect future pregnancies and cause hemolytic disease in the newborn.

Rh factor is a protein that the majority of people carry in their blood. Roughly 85% of the population is Rh-positive, and Rh status is genetically determined.

In women who are Rh-negative who have Rh-positive partners, the baby has at least a 50% chance of being Rh-positive (Rh-positive status is a dominant genetic trait). Women who are Rh-positive and women who are Rh-negative with Rh-negative partners do not need to worry about RhoGAM shots because Rh incompatibility is impossible. In first pregnancies, Rh sensitization is rarely a problem because the mother’s blood and the baby’s blood typically do not interact directly until delivery -- but if Rh-positive blood (such as from the baby) enters the Rh-negative mother’s blood, her immune system may develop antibodies against Rh factor. If these antibodies then enter an Rh-positive baby’s bloodstream, the antibodies can begin to attack the baby’s blood, causing jaundice or more severe symptoms if left untreated.

RhoGAM pre-stocks the woman’s blood with the antibodies to the Rh factor protein, and this prevents the woman’s immune system from needing to create antibodies to Rh factor in the event of encountering Rh-positive blood.

Injecting the antibodies is safer than risking sensitization, because RhoGAM antibodies eventually clear the mother’s bloodstream, meaning that if the mother’s blood mixed with the baby’s in the future, her immune system would not have learned to create antibodies against Rh factor and the baby would not get anti-Rh antibodies. If a mother’s blood is sensitized to Rh factor, the sensitization may be permanent and she risks delivering anti-Rh antibodies to her future babies.

As a part of the blood testing in standard prenatal care, most doctors check the woman’s blood type in order to identify women for whom Rh incompatibility is a concern. Originally, recommendations were to give the injections to women who had given birth. The recommendations then changed to include a RhoGAM shot around 28 weeks of pregnancy. Although few studies exist on using Rh immune globulin for first-trimester miscarriages, many doctors do recommend them because of a theoretical risk of sensitization after miscarriages with the idea that the potential benefits outweigh the minimal risk. The shot needs to be given within about 72 hours of the onset of the miscarriage in order to be effective.

If you did not get a RhoGAM shot, do not panic -- remember that the risk of sensitization after a miscarriage is relatively small. However, you should inform your doctor of your concern. Your doctor can order a blood test to check your Rh sensitization status. In the event that you did develop anti-Rh antibodies, treatments for Rh incompatibility do exist and your doctor will know to observe your future pregnancies closely for signs of problems so as to intervene early if needed.

[Heather5]

OK, I'm starting to get a bit nervous now...I've had two miscarriages in the past and never got this shot. Guess I need to call my doctor on monday and see if I need an RH antibody test.

Ugh, more stuff to worry about...

[melimeli]

I am B- if you start beeding you do need a shot.. but even if you didn´t it does not affect this baby.. it would however affect subsequent babies...  the dr´s will only give a shot after birth if the baby is a  positive blood type.  

[blessedmomof3]

I am also 0- and there is nothing to worry about. If yo ustart bleeding ask for your Rogham shot and then again at 28 weeks you should get one and soem Drs do it again after you give birth. But I have 2 healthy kids and their father is A+. It won't cause MC but you want to make sure you get those shots. I'm sure your Dr will do so.

[40smama]

I'm 0 negative - w/every one of my pregnancies, live or miscarriages which totals 7, I've had the RhoGam shot at 28 weeks (approximation).  I've never had a problem - Rhogam is to protect your future pregnancies from what I understand.  The Rhogam shot has been around for a long time - my first one was in 1983.  Every one of my children were born healthy - the ones who died did so from other causes.  

The other thing is that a couple of my children have different blood types than me so I wouldn't worry.

[adgal]

My mother is also 0- and I am 0+.  As far as I know she didn't receive a shot....40 years ago, so not sure if they had it.  I am hear to tell the story.  Like some of the others said, I have heard of the shot being given a bit earlier if there are any unusual symptoms such as bleeding, etc.  Other then that, this is a fairly common situation and not usually an issue until later in pregnancy.  If you are worried, check with your Dr.  I probably drive mine crazy with questions, but it's worth it for the peace of mind.  Best of luck to you.

[1st]

My Mother-in-law is O- and had 5 healthy babies (and this was back when the RhoGam shot was brand new!).  Don't know if that provides any comfort.....Also, when I was preganant with my daughter I had some spotting in the first trimester.  It terrified me, but everything was fine, and she went on to be a perfectly healthy baby (now toddler).  My spotting was dark blood, but that early on, when you got the pinkish discharge, could be implantation bleeding.  I have heard that what you should be worried about is heavy, red clots of blood and cramping.  But, as with anything ask your doctor.  Good luck!
-1st

[blueeyedtabbycat]

Well im O- also and I have never had a misscarrage or any bleeding in early pregnancy. My hubby is A+(I think) And I have never had any problems. Although if you should start bleeding in the first trimester (or any trimester)you should definitly report it to your doctor. Now days the loss of a fetus because of having a negitive blood type is rare. Make sure you get your RhoGam shot at 28 weeks. If there is something wrong like unexplained bleeding you may get the shot sooner:)

[Heather5]

I think it depends on what your husband's blood type is. If you're RH negative and he's RH positive (like A+, B+, AB+ or O+), then there's a risk the baby might also be positive and I guess that could cause problems...although, usually not in first pregnancies unless you already have antibodies (I read this online). To avoid this a shot can be given at 26 weeks and at birth called RhoGAM.

I guess it's not really a problem until later i pregnancy, because your blood and the baby's blood is separate.

I might have to look into this too, actually, because I'm pretty sure I'm RH negative too (also O-), and my DH doesn't know what he is. Hmmm!

[SoCalTricia]

If your doctor is aware that you are O-, I'm sure he/she will take all the necessary precautions. My mother is O- also, and she had my sister and I just fine...and that was 41 an 44 years ago! Medical care has improved so much, that I don't thing you have anything to worry about! Like my mama says...don't ask for trouble or go looking for some where there isn't any. ;-)

Tricia