Rhesus status negative and second babies

[daftscotslass]

Anyone have experience of this? I can't believe I'm even thinking about this already but since the thought has crossed my mind a few times though it'll be a few years yet before another!

Rebecca was Coombs positive at birth (she is Rh +), meaning there was a crossover of our blood at some point, despite me having anti-D. She has been monitored for haemolytic anaemia/jaundice because of this though thankfully she never showed any symptoms. She was given phototherapy on the first day but that was withdrawn as when her full blood results came back she was well below the treatment line. We're off to hospital next week for her final blood test when hopefully she'll be discharged from hospital care.

I'm just a bit worried now because the anti-d is given to prevent such problems occurring and I was told this happening in first pregnancies/with first is rare (though I was told it could have been due to my long labour). Does it now make it more likely I/future babies would have this problem worse in a subsequent pregnancy?

Hope this is the right place to post this!

 

[BeckyJ]

as you know i had the same situation, summer was coombes positive, my labour was only 6 hrs so im not sure why it happened with me, i didnt know it was rare with your first

we are talking about a second baby already so id be interested in this as well

 

[andreag]

You can ask for a count of rhesus antibodies to be taken to check the levels in your blood so it can be managed before you have another baby. I was worried after having my first, and then a m/c. I had 1 shot of anti d after delivery, nothing after the m/c so I was worried when I got pregnant again.

The count came back really low though so I didn't need any treatment. Now in my health authority the procedure is that you have anti d at 34 weeks, as well as after delivery once the cord has been tested. Presumably this then avoids the issue of any cross over on delivery. I would ask for a count to be done, and I would assume with your history you will get at least a shot at 34 weeks regardless.

 

[daftscotslass]

Thanks Andrea. I had the shot at 28 weeks and 34 as well as post-birth. Just going to have to be reeallly careful in planning the sequel methinks!