Has anyone had a sensitized homebirth?

[ceklink]

Wanting to hear from any HB mama who found out they were sensitized and decided to have a HB with a midwife and not deliver in a hospital, but then take the baby to the hosptial after the birth to receive the appropriate treatment.

[CookAMH]

Can you clarify what you mean by 1) sensitized and 2) appropriate treatment?

[Viola]

I think that is an Rh thing.

[ceklink]

Sensitized meaning the anti-d RH factor. I found out that I had become sensitized with my first pregnancy, despite receiving the rhogam shot, when I became pregnant with my 2nd. I am wanting to know if any other Mom's gave birth at home despite the RH factor and then took the baby to the hospital to be seen? It is my understanding that the risk to the baby is not immediate after birth so we're still considering delivery at home - has anyone else done this, if so can you tell me about your experience?

[heymama1plus1]

(warning, speaking from a NICU nurse point of view!)

If it's only your 2nd baby and you're sure there weren't any miscarriages, etc, that would make you more sensitized you'd probably be OK. But get follow up right away, especially is things seem a little off.

If it was baby #4 or 5, I'd make sure I had an ultrasound close to my due date to assure that everything is OK with the baby. The 1st babies after sensitization may just have jaundice, but as the pregnanies progress later babies may have severe anemia or hydrops (a very serious condition where the baby has overwhelming edema and would die without immediate resuscitation and hospitalization). It can be somewhat treated with intrauterine blood transfusions. The babies are still sick as snot, though.

I've seen babies with hydrops with hemoglobins of 1.5; normal is 13-20. Scary! (and pale!)

Good luck with your HB! Hope everything goes well!

[ginapueblo]

I just have to chime in and say that I am so sorry you're in this situation. My thoughts are with you. However, this can be a very, very dangerous situation. The risk to the baby can, indeed, be immediate, and I would highly suggest seeing a maternal-fetal medicine specialist during your pregnancy. I couldn't presume to speak for other midwives, but this would be way outside my comfort zone (and our regulations). I would encourage you to consider a hospital birth with a doula.

[Paige, CPM]

I have to disagree w/ the tone of some of the previous posts...yes it can be dangerous IF the baby is of a pos blood type and your antibodies are attacking in great numbers the baby's blood supply. However, serious cases of babies being effected by sensitization of the mother are quite infrequent. Have a look at a couple of OB textbooks at your local ob hospital or from you midwife.

It can be fine to give birth at home if you are getting ultrasounds throughout pregnancy to determine if your child is being effected. THis concurant care should be done by a perinatologist or a maternal fetal specialist. If all is well prenatally then home delivery is an appropriate option.

We have a lovely midwife here, who, like you, doesn't really know why she became sensitized, but she has had 2 or 3 homebirths since she became sensitized. All of her prenatal ultrasounds and concurant care were uneventful. Like other posters said Jaundice can also be an issue but that is something you can treat post partum.

[Belle]

One thing to mention also is that Rh- moms have Rh- babies 40% of the time also. So this baby that you're pregnant with could be Rh- also and there would be no problem. In addition to ultrasounds you could have your titres checked periodically throught your pregnancy to see if they increase. If you have an Rh- baby they should not.

[phathui5]

I have had a homebirth after which I received Rhogam because baby was pos and I was neg. I don't know if I was sensitized or not.

[Paige, CPM]

Too right Belle, it is standard of care even if you are not sensitized to have regular antibody screens, perhaps they do them more frequently when you have been sensitized, I would have to look that up.

phathui5, it is standard to get a rhogam shot after birth with a pos baby, so you should not be sensitized. They say that the placenta detaching is a time when maternal and fetal blood could possibly mix, so that is why you get a shot.

[HappyMommy2]

I don't know if I was "sensitized" or not. I am rh neg.

With #1, I had a c/s. (did the recommended rhogam during & after pg) The hospital probably just gave me the shot w/o checking baby's blood type ... but I think he is positive, so it was necessary)

With #2 I had a homebirth. (did NOT do the recommended rhogam during pg) The mw typed her blood, and I had to go get a rhogam shot within 3 days.

I needed the shot in order to protect FUTURE babies, or my antibodies could have attacked it. The baby I already had did not need treatment.