RH negative question...

[anaya]

I have a question regarding a RH negative mom and RH positive dad and how you would deal with someone with this situation, who would like to have a home birth. I know that a rohgam (SP?) shot has to be given, but when? Is it possible to have a home birth and then go to the hospital for the shot? does it have to be administered immediately? what are the effects of the shot? Also, if there is a question about who the Father is (and the possibilities are with one positive and one negative) is there any danger in getting the shot to be on the safe side?

[JessicaS]

Moving to homebirth

[kerikadi]

If the baby is tested and is positive you can get the shot within 48 hours after the birth I believe. My MW administered the shot after babies #3 and #4 (both positive) after baby #5 we kept the cord attached longer (a couple of hours) after the birth so there was not enough blood to type (we drew blood from the cord the first two times, I wasn't willing to stick my baby just to find out blood type). We just assumed baby #5 was positive and I got the shot. No need to go to the hospital. If you MW doesn't carry it check with another doctor where you could just pop in the office to get the shot (they could order if ahead of time if need be).

Make sure you get mercury free Rhogam.
You certainly don't want to inject yourself unnecessarily but there is no real harm in getting the shot after the baby is born if you don't know blood type.

I got the shot during pregnancy with babies #1 and #2 and they were both negative so I didn't need the shot. I was with an OB during that time and just didn't know better. After educating myself I would never consent to the shot during pregnancy.

[MsBlack]

What should happen first is to blood-type the baby soon after the birth. IF the baby is Rh neg, no RhoGAM is needed. IF the baby is Rh positive, then you have 72 hrs to get RhoGAM (not 48, a full 72 hrs). Some mws carry RhoGAM, some don't. You'd have to figure this out with your mw. If she does not, then you should look into making arrangements for getting it, BEFORE you give birth (make the arrangements before, don't get the shot before). Knowing in advance what you will do if the baby is Rh Positive, can make things easier for all concerned. Your mw should at least be able to help you blood-type the baby---blood typing kit utilizing just a few drops of baby's blood can be ordered from most birth supply companies, if your mw doesn't keep them onhand.

[hapersmion]

Here's an informative thread on Rhogam, and a few tests that most people don't know about:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...46#post9153046

[nashvillemidwife]

sigh... will word ever get around that there is no mercury in any forms of Rhogam, and hasn't been in many years?

http://www.fda.gov/CbER/blood/mercplasma.htm

[kerikadi]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

sigh... will word ever get around that there is no mercury in any forms of Rhogam, and hasn't been in many years?

http://www.fda.gov/CbER/blood/mercplasma.htm

Sorry I didn't realize this. I just remember being so sad/shocked when I found out the Rhogam I received in 1992 and 1995 had mercury. Define many because I know when my MW got my Rhogam in 2002 she had to specifically order the mercury free.

[kerikadi]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

sigh... will word ever get around that there is no mercury in any forms of Rhogam, and hasn't been in many years?

http://www.fda.gov/CbER/blood/mercplasma.htm

Sorry I didn't realize this. I just remember being so sad/shocked when I found out the Rhogam I received in 1992 and 1995 had mercury. Define many because I know when my MW got my Rhogam in 2002 she had to specifically order the mercury free.

[nashvillemidwife]

Originally Posted by kerikadi

Define many because I know when my MW got my Rhogam in 2002 she had to specifically order the mercury free.

It's all in the link I posted. RhoGAM was the last to remove it beginning in 2001. The batches that were already existing had a 2-year shelf life so theoretically could have been available from some providers until 2003 but new batches without thimerasol could have been ordered.

BayRho stopped selling it in 1996.

WinRho never had it.

[MamaVolpe]

My midwife does a follow up check with in 72 hrs of the birth, so she will type the babys cord blood and if needed give me the shot during the followup visit. I am not overly worried though, even if I don't get the shot the chances of becomming sensatized to the blood are slim unless you have a traumatic delivery.

[mhaddon]

Hmm... My MW did some research and said it isn't technically a perscription, she called it something else? and that b/c of that she had access to it. She would order it and be able to give it to me (around 20something weeks) and then after birth if needed. I didn't need it after birth w/ DS1, but did after DS2. I asked her about the need for it and she said it is always important to remember that even in a healthy pregnancy that sometimes a placenta rip can always occur...