To all rhesus negative women – A Must Rea

Hey Nikki, you might be able to help me.... After having DD I tested positive for having anti bodies... my MW said this would have been because I had anti D at 34 or 36w (2 weeks later than what its ment to be). Is this true? I didnt know the antibodies hung around like that? Ive requested to have a blood test when DD is 6m to check I dont have them any more (MW apparently checked with someone how long it takes for them to go out of your system, apparently by 6m they should be all gone). Does that sound right? Before I had the first lot I tested negative for antibodies...

thanks just wanted to make sure the mw was right about it showing up in your blood, i want the test to make sure i dont have any for real. (i figure since they test for them in your prenatal bloods if it turns up positive i want to know before im pregnant!)

Emmi did you have a BT for antibodies before you had your anti-D shots at 34 weeks?

I'm coming up to 28 weeks and wondered if I need to have another BT to check for antibodies?

BT was negative for antibodies at the start of my pregnancy.

Moocow, anti-d injections should be offered at 28 & 32 weeks, just in case you have a silent bleed (like I did). If a silent bleed goes undetected and you build up antibodies, then its too late for the anti-d injections. Hope this makes sense.

Congratulations on your little boy

NikkiB, it was never even mentioned needing them then ... I live in Southland though, and we seem to be a bit behind with stuff like that here, sometimes it seems to take a while for care to filter down. Plus TBH SDHB is pretty sh!t!!!!

I wonder if that will affect having #2 at all?

Moocow, you don't have to have the anti-D when pregnant if you don't have any risk factors (eg, bumps, etc). I had a good discussion about this with my midwife who said that it was my choice, but to also remember that the anti-D injection is a blood product with risks that all blood products have.

I decided not to have the anti-D during my pregnancy, and my DS tested negative after birth, so I didn't have it at all.

For my next pregnancy, I think I'll do the same, just carefully monitor if I have any knocks, etc.

Sure Emmi -- that's true. I was happy with my choice, but was aware that there were risks. I just meant to reassure Moocow that just because she didn't have the anti-D during pregnancy doesn't mean that there will necessarily be anything wrong with #2.

its not a need thing, C&J, by the time you "need" it it can be too late... You need them within 48 hours of starting to form them (from what I understand) so if you dont know you need them then it doesnt work... Does that make sense?

I had my 28 weeks bloods this week, waiting for results. There is some sort of anti-d trial on atm, will need to talk to MW about this.

Emmi, a Rh- baby is fine, it is only the Rh+ antibodies that our body will attack.