Hi Nicole.

I am rhesus neg and was given anti d at 26 weeks, and the morning after I gave birth. There isnt a danger to baby and when I was given the injection I was told it prevents the baby, if it's  a girl, needing it when she gets pregnant.

Em x

Hi

It hyas no effect on the baby what so ever before or after birth.

It stops you from developing antibodies that could attack a future pregnancy. Your MW should have given you a leflet explaining what it means to be RH Neg.

There is a good article on this site that explains things quite well. Use the search box and put in 'rhesus negative' - it will bring up the pages you need.

 Px

This is a really complicated subject but I'll try and pass on what I've worked out...

1. You do not have to have the injection if you don't want to.

2.  It is given as a precaution to women who are rh negative who may have a rh positive baby.

3. The reason it is given is because an rh positive baby is incompatible with mum.  Mum MAY develop antibodies which attack baby's blood cells, causing it to be anaemic.

4.  Antibodies will only be triggered if mum has been exposed to a previously sensitising experience.  Potentially sensitising events include the following:

• Abortion
• Miscarriage
• Bleeding during delivery

5. So if this is your first ever pregnancy you are less in need of anti-d during pregnancy.  Baby's blood will be tested after birth and if baby is rh positive then it's recommended that you have anti-d to protect any future babies you choose to have.

6. The blood tests you have early on in pregnancy (when you find out your blood group etc) also includes a test to check for the presence of antibodies in your blood.

7. If you are sensitised during one of the above events and you do not receive anti-d, there is no retrospective treatment that will stop antibodies developing in future pregnancies where your baby is rh positive.  All medical professionals can do is monitor the pregnancy closely and in extreme cases, give blood transfusions to the baby while in utero.  Please note that it is very rare for a woman to be left unprotected after a potentially sensitising event (though studies I've read suggest that in some cases of missed miscarriages there's a small chance your blood group is not taken into account and therefore the anti-d may not be administered.)

I think the long and the short of it is that it's a complicated issue, but ultimately down to you.  I believe health professionals give anti-d because they feel there's good reason.  However, it is perhaps more important in subsequent pregnancies rather than your first.

I'm not a doctor or midwife and can only give you advice based on what I've researched.  I am rh neg and a chronic worrier.

Good luck! xxxxxx

Thanks everyone,

Well i had my Anti-d yesterday, and believe it or not, that was me just getting the leaflet to read yesterday and had to make a quick descision right there and then, but i did ask lots of questions, this is my second pregnancy nd having another girl, they told me if am not going to have any future pregnancies then i would not need it, but who knows what the future holds, of course am going to have 2 girls so who knows if i might want to try for that boy, anyways, i had it and it did cause some pain.  Not only did i have that, they took some blood from my other arm to check for anti bodies or something which also caused discomfort as she was a little bit dolly lol

Anyways thanks ladies x

Nicole x