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mamawendz 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Auckland
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 Topic: Antibody Anti-M
Posted: 16 March 2010 at 2:10pm |
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Hey girls,
Just wondering if anyone has had, or even just heard of, Anti-M Antibody during pregnancy?
I have been told I am carrying this and that its low risk, but it still makes me nervous.
This is pregnancy #4 for me and the first issue I have run into in any of them.
Any info would be lovely!!
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mama_wendz
 My Girls: Maddisyn Tylr & Layla-Mei Virginia
My Baby Boy: Noah Aotearoa
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minik8e
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Taranaki
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Posted: 16 March 2010 at 4:48pm |
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I can't help with the antobodies, but just wanted to say congrats on #4!!! I remember you from NZWP and when you were pg with Layla-Mei!!
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mamawendz
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 11:24am |
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hahaha oh my minik8e, HI!!! :)
nice to "talk" to you again...
i see you've had twin girls, wow!! congrats, how amazing, what an experience that must be... well done. hehe
hope you are all very well and happy. :)
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mama_wendz
My Girls: Maddisyn Tylr & Layla-Mei Virginia
My Baby Boy: Noah Aotearoa
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 17 March 2010 at 4:40pm |
nevr heard of anti-m but wanted to say hi.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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BriAndOlisMum
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Location: Mamaku, Rotorua
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Posted: 18 March 2010 at 8:22am |
Wendy your partner will be tested to see if he carries the M antibody. if he carries the M antibody and you have the anti-M in your blood then the two can react and be potentially dangerous for the baby. But if your partner does not carry the antibody then there is nothing to worry about.
there is an article if you want to read it, it doesn't say much and it is properly unlikely you will understand much of it unless you have some immunology training, but is there if you want to take a look. but like with all things don't go looking at it if you don't want to know the worst case scenario. here
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Ems29
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Joined: 01 February 2010
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Posted: 18 March 2010 at 8:42pm |
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Hi there,
Anti-M is an antibody that can occasionally cause haemolytic disease of the newborn, this means that the antibodies in your blood would attack your baby's blood cells. This can only happen if your baby has the M antigen, and even then often it does not occur. (You may have acquired this antibody through a blood transfusion or through maternal-foetal blood transfer with a previous M+ baby).
As the antibody has been identified, you should be having monthly blood tests that are sent to your local blood bank/ laboratory for testing. There they will titre the antibody. If the levels of your antibody suddenly rise (indicating they are mounting an immune reponse) your midwife will be informed immediately and will then take the appropriate action.
If babies are affected they will often be jaundice (yellowish in appearance), with high levels of bilirubin.
Treatment may include UV lights or in extreme cases a blood transfusion. Once baby is no longer attached to you (via umbilical cord) and treatment is given, the disease does not continue as your body will no longer be providing the antibodies that are destroying the baby's red blood cells.
Sorry for the essay - this is just what I can remember from the top of my head. Let me know if you want some more info and I can try to look up more in my uni books :-)
Remember lot of pregnant women with antibodies have no trouble at all!
Congratulations on your pregnancy and think positive :-)
Em
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Antibody Anti-M
