Hit me with your Rhogam resources/thoughts

[Marilyn82]

Hi Ladies,

I'm currently 8 weeks pregnant with my second child, and I am Rh-. My first pregnancy, I did receive the Rhogam shot at 28 weeks and did not receive the postpartum shot, as my son is Rh- as well (turns out my ex husband was Rh- anyway so I could have gone without it, but I digress).

I am currently trying to decide whether or not to get Rhogam with this baby. I have some hesitations, but also understand the severity of potential problems. At the same time, I think I would be "ok" with letting this become my last baby if I were to become sensitized. I'd like to know more about the actual statistical prevalence of complications. I'm also interested in finding out if there are any alternatives. I prefer to do my research before bringing the matter up with my care provider.

Soooo, I'd love to pick your brains for thoughts, experiences and possibly any resources you may have!

Thanks!

[laughymama]

[Xiaohua]

I highly recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Anti-D-Midwife...5176743&sr=8-1

Since you have already had one rh- baby, you basically (if you stay with the same partner) have a 50% chance of any future babies being rh- as well. I am in the same situation, and of my 5 children 3 are rh+ and 2 are rh-.

I got the Rhogam prenatally for the first few babies, and only the postpartum Rhogam if the baby's blood tested rh+. But for my last two (and this current #6 pregnancy) I am choosing to skip the prenatal Rhogam and only get the postpartum one IF baby is rh+. If there were a potentially sensitizing event during my pregnancy (abdominal trauma of any type, any kind of bleeding etc) then I would get the Rhogam immediately. If not, I am willing to take the (very, very small risk) that I am carrying a rh+ baby and could have a "silent" bleed and could become sensitized without realizing it.

I do not believe that Rhogam is as without risks as most OBs (and midwives) have been taught. It is true that mercury has been removed from this shot (several years ago). However, Rhogam is a blood product, and while it is currently screened for all known contagious diseases, it is not a perfect system. Batches of Rhogam in the past have contained contagious diseases that were unknown or not yet screened for. As with any vaccine the potential does exist for immediate reactions and long term consequences for both the mother, and possibly the unborn baby (if injected prenatally).

Even if you do choose to get all available doses of Rhogam, it is not 100% guaranteed to work. Just like any vaccine, it has a very high rate of effectiveness, but it's not perfect. That said, women who are sensitized CAN go on to have healthy babies (thanks to modern medicine) but the risks are certainly higher and the pregnancy would certainly have a high level of monitoring and likely interventions. So don't assume that becoming sensitized rules out another baby. In your case, (if you are with the same heterozygous partner) there is still a 50% chance your future baby would be rh-, and then it wouldn't matter if you were sensitized or not.

Once you are informed it is NOT an easy decision. I am comfortable with my own decisions and hope you find what works for you, too!


Serena

editing to say that I just re-read your original post and saw that it was your ex-husband and he was rh-. It is possible for your current partner to be rh+ but heterozygous, as my dh is. I won't edit the rest of my post above, because it is still possible in your case.

[organicpapayamama]

Im also rh-. stbx was rh+ but since ds was - too I didnt get the postpartum shot either. This time around Im still getting the shot because there is a chance this next babe is +.

But its my understanding if you AND your partner are - there is no need to get the shot... am I wrong? How could you end up with a + child if neither one of you is +?

[sanguine_speed]

I had to re-read too but the OP said it was her ex-husband that was -. I presume her current partner is +.

Mama, it's a tough call. I've had to make the decision before and oh crap honestly just remembered I'm 29 weeks now and this didn't come up with the midwife.

But, my last 2 babies have been rh- with an rh+ partner. I know it's still 50% but I'm pretty sure it's our last natural child. But, I said that last time.

Sorry mama, not much help!

[craftmuffin]

It's such a tough decision. With my previous two pregnancies, I declined the prenatal shots (uneasy about it being a blood product, and uneasy about injecting anything that may not be necessary during pregnancy). However, I knew that I would get a shot within 72 hrs. of any bleeding or belly trauma. Both girls ended up being rh+, so I did get a rhogam shot after each birth.

Fast forward to this pregnancy and I just got a call about antibodies in my blood. Turns out that I have anti-C which isn't prevented by rhogam, but I went through a couple of weeks of serious second-guessing before we got all of the details.

Fortunately, I have good chances of getting through this pregnancy with little to no problems for baby (anti-C is usually mild). But even though it is a relief to know that antibody issues can be treated, I'm a little heartbroken even to think that our first days with LO may likely be spent under billi lights.

So... I don't know, but I feel your frustration. I think I'd do it the same if I had it to do over, but it's a very tough call.

[is it puppies?]

This is one of those things I was terrified of when I first learned that it even existed (of course I was pregnant by then!) and found a ton of varying opinions.
Since I just linked to this on another thread on this page, I'll link to it incase you aren't reading that other thread!
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...562&highlight=
there are just so many opinions, and when I consider the potential of the sensitization happening vs. the potential risk of the shot during pregnancy especially I choose to get the shot only if absolutely needed. Even then, I may not choose to get the shot and instead wait and see if I will become sensitized before I choose to have another baby (or not if I have antibodies).

[jeminijad]

DH is A+ and likely homozygous for + as both parents and every other known person in his family is +. I am O-, but heterozygous for it, so I essentially know that all of my babies w/DH will be RH+.

Recently, I have had a shot following a miscarriage, then the 28 week and postpartum shot with DD.

That said, I am going to go to postpartum shots only, barring crazy abdominal trauma. What I have read indicates that the 28 week number is basically an arbitrary time, and that it isn't the standard of care elsewhere.

[japonica]

Just like any vaccine, it has a very high rate of effectiveness, but it's not perfect. That said, women who are sensitized CAN go on to have healthy babies (thanks to modern medicine) but the risks are certainly higher and the pregnancy would certainly have a high level of monitoring and likely interventions. So don't assume that becoming sensitized rules out another baby.

Yeah that! I won't bother going through the whole story again (since most of you know it already and are probably tired of it) but I am a case of winrho (rhogam) failure who became sensitized and went on to have two healthy babies. So, yes, it is possible.