Done at 2 kids...should I even bother with Rhogam?

[Amila]

I know ALL about Rhogam- researched it extensively. I chose not to get it at 28 weeks with DD, but DID get it after she was born and typed positive. I am now pregnant with #2- again refused at 28 weeks, but now am even questioning if I should get if after DS is born.

We are absolutely done with children at 2. I know I know I am only 25 and DH is only 30 and everyone thinks we are going to change our minds...but realistically we can't emotionally/financially handle more than 2 children. We have a small home, and to us one boy and one girl is plenty. Even if our financial situation changed, we would still be happy with two. Dh plans on waiting 2-3 years, and then getting a V so there wouldn't be a risk of an oops situation. I know it is possible one of us could remarry, but again, thats just a remote possibility.

I have pretty severe health anxiety, especially concerning HIV/Hepatitis, and being that Rhogam is a blood product, I would rather not risk it (although I do realize the risk is EXTREMELY insignificant).

I don't know! I think the risk of becoming sensitized with NO Rhogam is around 13%.

[~Megan~]

Dh plans on waiting 2-3 years, and then getting a V so there wouldn't be a risk of an oops situation.

If you are sure about no more kids then have him do it now. 2-3 years is a long time for an "oops" to happen.

[Amila]

That is a good point.

[JBaxter]

2, 3 or 10 yrs from now you may look at your life differently. I have a friend who got preganant 8 yrs after her husbands vascetomy. Im 41 and we are having a very suprise baby...

[bluebirdiemama]

If you are having doubts about the vaccine I would say trust your insticts. They tell you in this country you need shots at every stage in your life, and it's proven that people who opt out of shots are healthier. I advise you to do more research on the shot.
I am RHneg, and my midwife shoved the shot into my arm right after I'd said the words "I don't think I want it". They advise you get it just so they will have covered their a$$.
I am pregs again and DO NOT plan on having it this time, or ever again.
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/rhogam.htm
great site, lots of info and links

[apecaut]

Not that this is something anyone wants to think about, but you might want to consider how you would feel if something happened to one of your children. I usually try not to post anything about losing babies because it brings everyone down, but it is something to consider.

[Ruthla]

You never know what the future will bring. Just because you feel "done" right now doesn't necesarily mean you'll still feel that way in 5, 10, or 15 years. Or you might find yourself dealing with a surprise pg at some point in your life. Paretning toddlers and infants is intense- and you may find that you're able to handle another one when your kids are older.

I think you're wise to wait a few years before your DH has the vasectomy, just in case you change your minds. Feeling overwhelmed, completed, or "done" now, with a toddler and a fetus, isn't a guarantee that you'll still feel the same way later.

I'm NOT saying "oh, you're young, you'll definitely change your mind." I'm saying "life is unpredictable and you may want to keep your options open."

[abimommy]

I would get the shot.

There could be an "oops" and then you would spend that pregnancy worrying . :(

[Maisea]

I don't know a lot about the downsides of Rhogam, but I do know that a lot of the information in the above link is wrong.

For example, it is impossible for two Rh- people to produce an Rh+ child. The only time this every happens is when the real daddy is Rh+ and not the guy who everyone thought is the daddy.

Also, no one ever changes their Rh status (if you are positive, you will be positive, if you are negative you will be negative). People do develop antibodies to certain blood proteins, which is why you have to be typed everytime you get a blood transfusion, but you cannot change your Rh status.

If those things are wrong, then who is to say what else is wrong in the article?

I know this doesn't help answer your question, but I hope it keeps you away from misinformation.

[MeepyCat]

I'd get the baby typed before getting the shot. I'm Rh-, my husband is Rh+ and our son is Rh-, so no need for Rhogam for me this time around. There's a chance your baby will come out Rh-, and you can avoid the blood-product risk with no potential adverse affects no matter what happens.

But if your baby turns out Rh+, I would say get the shot. You don't know what will happen in your lives. You could get accidentally pregnant, or strike it rich, or get divorced, or anything at all.

[maybebaby]

Yes, if your dh is rh- then your baby will be as well and you don't have to worry at all.

Even if he's rh+, your baby could end up rh- and again, no worries.

I'd say type the cord blood at birth and make your decision from there.

I don't advocate the Rhogam shot during pg, but I'd probably get it if baby is rh+.

My experience? I'm rh- and dh is rh+...dc1 is rh+ and I got both shots, dc2 is rh- and I got only the prenatal, dc3 no Rhogam at all and we didn't type because we were done :wink, oops dc4 but I had not become sensitized, no Rhogam, she IS rh+ but I didn't get the Rhogam after her birth because, again, we're done..lol fast forward about 6 mos, I started thinking I'd like to have another so I had the Coombs test, NOT sensitized. So even after an rh+ birth where there was shoulder dystocia and my placenta came out in pieces (so likely blood mingling) I still didn't get sensitized.

Oh, if you don't want the post birth shot, you probably know to avoid cord traction and such.

Good luck!!

edited:
oops got messed up with the -'s and +'s lol fixed it

[Spark]

I choose not to get RhoGam. But, I think it's a very personal decision.

[mchalehm]

I would still get the shot. I'm rH neg too and I would get it even if I were sure we were done. I feel like, there are lots of ways for my plans to be "screwed up" in that department--and if I ended up with another baby, I would be sorry not to have gotten the shot, because of all of the unnecessary worry.

I think it's quite safe. If you disagree with that, I can see how it would be a bigger decision for you.

[BlessedOne]

I wouldn't....I was done at two .....I ended up having two more kids..........no issue even though I did not take it.
And yes I am negative and hubby is positive.
Rhogam is way over rated.
I just did some research on it and need to find it...

[BlessedOne]

I would still get the shot. I'm rH neg too and I would get it even if I were sure we were done. I feel like, there are lots of ways for my plans to be "screwed up" in that department--and if I ended up with another baby, I would be sorry not to have gotten the shot, because of all of the unnecessary worry.

I think it's quite safe. If you disagree with that, I can see how it would be a bigger decision for you.

www.rhogam.com

the first page you come to is the risks...and the risks stay at the bottom of the other pages

If the manufacturer is that plan about getting the risk factor out to the consumer, then you know it can not be the greatest.

Plus the chances of people actually needed the rhogam shot is relatively slim.

[nashvillemidwife]

Rhogam is way over rated.

It's easy to say that when you've not been affected by being sensitized. I've read your story and others from women who have been sensitized for whom it was "no big deal". On the other hand, I have a very dear friend who had one healthy baby followed by 6 dead ones. I know how many babies died before we understood the disease and Rhogam became available. Rhogam saves lives. I think every woman should do her research and make her own decision. I could never be so cavalier as to make blanket statements about women not needing it.

[mchalehm]

www.rhogam.com

the first page you come to is the risks...and the risks stay at the bottom of the other pages

If the manufacturer is that plan about getting the risk factor out to the consumer, then you know it can not be the greatest.

Plus the chances of people actually needed the rhogam shot is relatively slim.

I've read it. But I still think this is quite a safe procedure. I would definitely take those risks over the risk of sensitization.

By the way, I don't know of any care provider who would give you this shot pp without typing the baby's blood. I thought that was routine.

[BlessedOne]

I've read it. But I still think this is quite a safe procedure. I would definitely take those risks over the risk of sensitization.

By the way, I don't know of any care provider who would give you this shot pp without typing the baby's blood. I thought that was routine.

all the drs in our area do it out of routine.......not by typing. As a matter of fact, I could not even tell you what my kids blood types are...

[BlessedOne]

[QUOTE=nashvillemidwife;11175229] On the other hand, I have a very dear friend who had one healthy baby followed by 6 dead ones. I know how many babies died before we understood the disease and Rhogam became available. QUOTE]
But was it the lack of rhogam that was killing them? If so, then it must have been a long time ago that those tragedies happened because Rhogam has been mass produced since 1968....

http://www.rhogam.com/Professional/ProHistory/Pages/default.aspx


People can do their own thing, but if they ask for my opinion......then I will give it. She asked, I gave.