So my midwife has me scheduled to get Rhogam on the 16th. I just called the pharmacy where they're calling the prescription in to, and they said that they do have a preservative/Thimerosal-free dose of it. According to the Mothering site, "Mothers who hemorrhage early in pregnancy generally receive multiple doses of RhoGAM," and I'm guessing this would apply to me as I had spotting at 9 weeks. I'm a lot less nervous knowing that what I am getting is Thimerosal-free. And yes, I'm going to be double checking the package inserts and labeling. Does this make the Rhogam safe to get?
Update
I went to my midwive's to pick up my records, as we're moving in a few days. The first thing I was questioned about was that I refused the Rhogam. I gave my reasons, mentioning side effects, and was told by two people that they didn't know there were side effects (??). Then one of the midwives took me into a room by myself, and told me that she couldn't force me to get it, and that she thinks I'm making a huge mistake and endangering my child, and that he could need a transfusion after birth. I told her about how at my last regular appointment, the other midwife in the practice couldn't/wouldn't answer all of my questions about the Rhogam, and that I did not feel comfortable getting it, nor did I feel comfortable that they're so strongly pushing it if they can't answer basic questions about it. I mentioned what I read, that "Any amount of antibodies is dangerous because it decreases the baby's red blood cells and hence the oxygen that the baby's brain receives" and everyone in the office that I was talking to said that they've never heard of that happening. When I was talking with the midwife privately (rather, when she was talking at me and not letting me get a word in), I asked "If the whole point is to prevent these antibodies from circulating in the mother during pregnancy, why on Earth would you inject them into the mother exactly when she is pregnant?" (I cut and pasted that, but asked in my own words). She cut me off and actually said -- and this is what made me really angry -- "I don't know, I don't know what's in it, I've never looked at the papers, I just know it works like other vaccines, like the chicken pox vaccine." That boggled my mind. How could she in good conscience be so pushy about a drug she doesn't know about?! Everytime I tried to ask a question, she cut me off. She brought up that we're moving, and said that I won't be protected if we get into a car accident. I told her that I know that in an accident, I would have 72 hours to get the Rhogam...which she admitted is true, but that I should still get it now. She also said that I should get it now because it wears off after 12 weeks, so I need it to be constantly protected. Well, it says in my records that I got it last at 9 weeks, which would make 12 weeks after that 21 weeks. I asked her if it was as vital as she says, that I must have it so there's no interruption of "protection," why wasn't it brought up at 21 weeks? She didn't have an answer for that. Nor did she have an answer as to why some doctors say it has to be given at 28 weeks, and some say 34. Then she got upset when seeing that I refused the GTT test (even though that was approved by the other midwife) and decided she was done with me, said she just had to explain to me what her "views" are to protect herself, and then I was on my way.
I want to know if I'm right to be outraged at how this was handled. I was really made to feel stupid, that my concerns aren't valid, etc...
I'm sorry this is so long, but I am so upset...I'm still fine with the decision I made, but the way I was talked down to, interrupted, not able to ask my questions, let alone get an answer from someone I've hired to give professional advice...I am not happy.
Update
I went to my midwive's to pick up my records, as we're moving in a few days. The first thing I was questioned about was that I refused the Rhogam. I gave my reasons, mentioning side effects, and was told by two people that they didn't know there were side effects (??). Then one of the midwives took me into a room by myself, and told me that she couldn't force me to get it, and that she thinks I'm making a huge mistake and endangering my child, and that he could need a transfusion after birth. I told her about how at my last regular appointment, the other midwife in the practice couldn't/wouldn't answer all of my questions about the Rhogam, and that I did not feel comfortable getting it, nor did I feel comfortable that they're so strongly pushing it if they can't answer basic questions about it. I mentioned what I read, that "Any amount of antibodies is dangerous because it decreases the baby's red blood cells and hence the oxygen that the baby's brain receives" and everyone in the office that I was talking to said that they've never heard of that happening. When I was talking with the midwife privately (rather, when she was talking at me and not letting me get a word in), I asked "If the whole point is to prevent these antibodies from circulating in the mother during pregnancy, why on Earth would you inject them into the mother exactly when she is pregnant?" (I cut and pasted that, but asked in my own words). She cut me off and actually said -- and this is what made me really angry -- "I don't know, I don't know what's in it, I've never looked at the papers, I just know it works like other vaccines, like the chicken pox vaccine." That boggled my mind. How could she in good conscience be so pushy about a drug she doesn't know about?! Everytime I tried to ask a question, she cut me off. She brought up that we're moving, and said that I won't be protected if we get into a car accident. I told her that I know that in an accident, I would have 72 hours to get the Rhogam...which she admitted is true, but that I should still get it now. She also said that I should get it now because it wears off after 12 weeks, so I need it to be constantly protected. Well, it says in my records that I got it last at 9 weeks, which would make 12 weeks after that 21 weeks. I asked her if it was as vital as she says, that I must have it so there's no interruption of "protection," why wasn't it brought up at 21 weeks? She didn't have an answer for that. Nor did she have an answer as to why some doctors say it has to be given at 28 weeks, and some say 34. Then she got upset when seeing that I refused the GTT test (even though that was approved by the other midwife) and decided she was done with me, said she just had to explain to me what her "views" are to protect herself, and then I was on my way.
I want to know if I'm right to be outraged at how this was handled. I was really made to feel stupid, that my concerns aren't valid, etc...
I'm sorry this is so long, but I am so upset...I'm still fine with the decision I made, but the way I was talked down to, interrupted, not able to ask my questions, let alone get an answer from someone I've hired to give professional advice...I am not happy.
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