Anti D vaccination, Anyone have any advice?

[4BushBabies]

Hi Everyone,

I am 4 months pregnant with my first child and my Dr has just told me that I will need to have Anti - D injections during and after my pregnancy as I am a Rhesus negative blood type. I am really stressing about this news as I have mixed oppinion about immunisation and vaccination for this baby. I would really love some advice or any oppinion anyone feels they can offer.

Sorry if this is the second time you are reding this but I accidently posted this question in the Births/ I'm pregnant section, then realised I should have written it in here.

Once again If anyone feels they have some information, please feel free to share.

[Marnica]

Your doc is referring to Rhogam shots. These are not vaccinations and posting about this in the birth forum may be a better idea. This will most likely get moved.

I don't have persoanl experience with Rhogam, but there are a few threads on here about alternatives and how it is a myth that rh negative women HAVE to get this shot.

http://www.mothering.com/community/search.php?advanced=1&search=rhogam+shots+any+alternatives&titleonly=1&byuser=&output=all&replycompare=gt&numupdates=0&sdate=0&newer=1&sort=relevance&order=descending&Search=SEARCH

this is just one thread. I did a search and there were dozens about rhogam. Good luck

[miriam]

Do your research and homework.

Most home birth midwives will give that shot at birth or within 72 hours of delivery, rather than the 26-29 week shot.  This would involve delayed clamping of the cord and sending a cord blood sample to the lab to test for mixing of the blood.  There is no evidence that the rHogam shot works better when given during pregnancy in addition to the postnatal shot.  

rHogam contains mercury and is a human blood product that is capable of carrying the HIV virus and causing AIDS, although there has not been one case of AIDS traced to the rHogam shot.  If your doctor says that there is no mercury in the shot he is giving you, ask to see the package insert, taken out of the sealed box.

[4BushBabies]

Thank you

[Pirogi]

Originally Posted by miriam 

There is no evidence that the rHogam shot works better when given during pregnancy in addition to the postnatal shot.  

I agree that you should search in Birth and Beyond.  Just wanted to clarify the above post though ... the risk of sensitization is 1-2% with the post-birth shot alone.  The risk of sensitization with both the post-birth shot and the prenatal shot is 0.1-0.2%.  The risk of sensitization without any anti-D shot after an RhD+ baby is around 13%.

[daisymommy]

Here are links I have on file:

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/rhogam.htm

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/2010/09/rhogam-vaccine-big-pharma-profit-ploy/

[amnesiac]

Since this isn't technically a vaccine, the other forum is really the best place to host the discussion. Please feel free to join in: http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1289388/any-advice-on-anti-d-vaccination