Question about the RH Factor

Heritage Labor Support · 12-15-2009, 10:54 PM

This is my first time posting so hopefully I am posting in the right place.

I have a question about a mother who is Rh negative, to my understanding It is standard for the mom to have a Rhogam shot at 28wks and at delivery to prevent her body from making antibodies against Rh+ blood, which could result in miscarriage, or serious problems in future pregnancies.

Are there any alternatives to the Rhogam shot. To my understanding if the mother does not take the shot and her blood becomes mixed with a baby that is Rh+, her body will start making antibodies and this cannot be reversed with the Rhogam shot for future pregnancies????

Hope this makes sense and Thankyou in advance for any input.

doulajamie · 12-17-2009, 09:01 PM

Here is a great site that really explains RhoGram thoroughly. I hope this helps. I do not know of any alternatives, I am Rh- and had the shot with my pregnancies.

golden pregnancy · 12-17-2009, 09:17 PM

Jamie,
Where is the link?

doulajamie · 12-17-2009, 10:06 PM

Sorry...here's the link

http://www.rhogam.com/Patient/WhatRh...hNegative.aspx

1stimestar · 12-17-2009, 11:15 PM

Some women choose not to have it.

Heritage Labor Support · 12-17-2009, 11:47 PM

Thankyou for the information, I found that site helpful.

Comfy · 12-18-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stimestar

Some women choose not to have it.

I am wondering why people would choose not to have it, and how would this affect future pregnancies?

My SIL did not have the shot afer her first baby. I'm not sure why, I think it was an oversite in the hospital. When she got pregnant with her second , the baby went into distress and she ended up with a c-section at 30 weeks, and they could not save him. When she got pregnant with her 3rd baby, the baby had to have interuterine blood transfusions a couple of times ( this was very new technology 30 years ago). This baby was born healthy.

JennTheMomma · 12-18-2009, 05:36 PM

I'm RH- and you don't have to have any shots if your partner is also -. Some women don't get the 28 week shot, and you only need a shot after birth if the baby is a +.

Doula Janeya · 12-21-2009, 11:56 AM

According to an RH- client of mine, in my city they give you the shot even if your husband is - because they have found that women may have cheated on their RH- husband and created a baby with a RH+ man but not want to admit it.

Comfy · 12-21-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doula Janeya

According to an RH- client of mine, in my city they give you the shot even if your husband is - because they have found that women may have cheated on their RH- husband and created a baby with a RH+ man but not want to admit it.

I've heard that said before.

doulafava · 01-12-2010, 05:01 PM

In my area we have a few chiros who are strong advocates against Rhogam. It drives me a little crazy when clients decide against it because their chiropractor is against it, but there you go. I believe the reasoning is that with a gentle physiological birth with few interventions the chances of blood mixing are probably lower and that Rhogam is toxic. Both are likely true, but there isn't alot of research on it.

Plenty of women skip the 28 week shot for lots of reasons. I am RH- and personally was not interested in that shot. Some women don't get it because it is a blood product and they are opposed to all blood products. The stance of the Jehovah's witness church (traditionally opposed to blood products), though, is that its okay.

Some women want to wait for their baby's blood to be typed to make a decision. In homebirth practice where I am thats tricky because we have spotty access to labs, so some women will make a decision based on the readings from an Eldon card. I don't trust Eldon cards, and advise women that they are *not* diagnostic. I chose Rhogam after my 2nd child despite a negative Eldon card.

There are probably also financial considerations. Rhogam is about 200 bucks a pop if you are paying for it out of pocket.

There is a test to see if blood mixing has occurred but it is expensive and rarely offered. I think its a Rosetta test?

raeben · 01-14-2010, 07:23 PM

now i understand why you don't like chiros ;-)

thanks for the good info though linsey

ms_quoted · 03-31-2010, 10:07 AM

I always joke around that I should have required my husband do a blood test before we got married but alas, I didn't and married a man who is Rh+ (I am RH- and have had the shot with all six of my pregnancies).

EarthMother · 04-19-2010, 10:50 AM

I decided against the shot with my daughter and did not get blood mixture. I think that it is a personal choice that needs to be made after much research.