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NikkiB View Drop Down
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    Posted: 21 September 2009 at 7:14pm
It certainly isn’t my intention to scare you, but I want to inform you about your rights.

It has been passed by the Ministry of Health that as a prophylactic treatment, all rhesus negative women are eligible for Anti-D vaccinations at 28 weeks gestation and 32 weeks gestation in addition to having Anti-D after birth and after any obvious bleeds. Some DHB’s may offer this for free, while others may require you to pay (I’ve been told that each injection costs approximately $120 each). I know this may sound a lot, but this may help you decide.

My story….

During my first pregnancy I had a silent bleed (this is where there is no obvious bleeding) sometime after 28 weeks gestation. Through a routine blood test at 37 weeks pregnant, it was discovered that I had already built up antibodies. It was too late for me to have Anti-D to reverse the antibodies – it doesn’t work like that. My antibodies were then passing the placenta and attacking my son’s red blood cells. Thankfully, I was late into my pregnancy, so did not cause too much concern for my son.

My husband and I decided to have another baby. Pretty much through the whole pregnancy my antibodies, that were doubling at an amazing rate, were attacking our son’s red blood cells. We went through a high-risk obstetrician having at least 2 scans a week from 18 weeks gestation (at a cost to the Health System of about $120 a scan). I also had full day IV treatments to help stop my antibodies attacking our son (at a cost of about $6,000 – I had about 7 treatments - once again at the Health System’s expense). Our son also had two blood transfusion whilst in utero – lord knows how much that cost!). After much heartbreak and tears, none of this worked and our son was born at 26 weeks gestation. Because of his extreme prematurity, he has a list of problems. He spent the first 5 months of his life in hospital. Imagine the huge cost to the Health System, not to mention the emotional cost to our immediate and extended family (including friends).

When I was pregnant back in 2007, it was not policy to offer Anti-D to Rhesus negative women at 28 & 32 weeks gestation, apparently the cost was too great. If we were given the option, we would certainly have funded it ourselves. The kicker is, that we were not made aware about the anti-D vaccine.

No messages of sympathy please, we are very very lucky to have our little boy with us, my DH and I just want to stop this happening to other people.
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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Emmi_ View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Emmi_ Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 September 2009 at 8:28pm
Wow, Im so glad you got your little boy! Thanks for sharing your story It really is good to hear about these things.. I am a rhesus negative woman, when I miscarried at 7 weeks I made them give me the anti D, I didnt want to be taking any chances. For some random reason I remember learning about it in 4th form science! (weirdo!!)


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mummy_becks View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mummy_becks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 September 2009 at 8:48pm

Wow the things you learn, I am an rhesus negative and am thankful DH is as well.

I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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shanstace View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shanstace Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 October 2009 at 3:55pm
Thanks heaps for your story. I'm 30 weeks pregnant and have just had my second injection. Me and my DP had decided not to get it then my OB explained things to me properly and we went ahead with it. Great to hear we made the right decision. My daughter was also born at 26 weeks. She is just about 11 now. Time goes so fast.
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NovemberMum View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NovemberMum Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 October 2009 at 4:02pm
Originally posted by mummy_becks mummy_becks wrote:

Wow the things you learn, I am an rhesus negative and am thankful DH is as well.



us too

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Aithne View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Aithne Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 October 2009 at 11:53am
Im rhesus neg but only got the anti D after i gave birth and it was confirmed R had diff blood type to me. My MW never mentioned i could get any injections during pregnancy. I was just told to let them know if i fell over or hurt my tummy in any way. When i did fall over in 2nd trimester i only got a scan and that was it.

Good to know though so thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DzinerGirl Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 November 2009 at 9:38pm
Wow, thanks for sharing your story!

I found out I was R Neg with my first lot of bloods and freaked out a little bit to start with. My MW hasn't mentioned the injections to me but maybe she will later on...anyway thank you for getting the information out there

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NikkiB View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 November 2009 at 7:01am
Dzinergirl, if your mw doesn't bring it up, I would bring it up with her - its if you want the injections.

Good luck with your pregnancy
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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NikkiB View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 November 2009 at 7:06am
Originally posted by shanstace shanstace wrote:

My daughter was also born at 26 weeks. She is just about 11 now. Time goes so fast.


Wow, thats pretty impressive that a 26 weeker survived 11 years ago Hope your DD is doing well.
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mum2ET Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 November 2009 at 11:14am

Dziner Girl- I asked my MW about it at my last visit and she said that they would only give the injections to me if I had any kind of bleed. but definitely worth talking to your MW about it.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shanstace Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 November 2009 at 12:30pm
Dziner Girl - My specialist told me that you can have an internal bleed and this is why they give it to during your pregancy.
It is a personal choice whether you get the injection throughout pregnancy, just make sure you have all the facts.

Nikki B- She is very impressive. You wouldn't even know she had a rough start to life. I am now 35 weeks pregnant with my little boy. What a different experience!
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NikkiB View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 November 2009 at 12:39pm
Mum2Ella, if you want the injections, then I would certainly push for them (regardless of what your MW said). Its your right to have the injections if you want them.

Shanstace, so pleased to hear that
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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mummyofprinces View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mummyofprinces Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 November 2009 at 9:15pm
Bump for mumoftwins


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RachFizz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:43pm
I'm a little obsessed with this as I just finished a transfusion science paper that taught us all about the causes and effects of haemolytic disease of the newborn, and I'm O neg and my DH is A pos haven't yet had any children but will definitely be making sure i get those injections when i am preg!

thanx 4 the info
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On hold for study!

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NikkiB View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 November 2009 at 7:01am
RachFizz, if we can help just one person not get RH diesease, then we'd be extremely happy
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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mumoftwins View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mumoftwins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 November 2009 at 12:29pm
Thanks for sharing your story Nikki (and for the bump melnel!)
Nikki, is what happen to you and your son the norm for haemolytic disease, or at the extreme end of things?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 November 2009 at 1:23pm
Mumoftwins, there are a few major issues here, firstly, my body is extremely good at building up antibodies to anything - great for me, but not for any babies I carry . Secondly, my son has also got a complex heart defect (which made the blood transfusion in utero even more tricky as he could have gone into heart failure very easily - this was not caused by RH disease, it was just bad luck).

It is my understanding with RH disease, the chances of you having a prem baby are great - how prem all depends on how anemic your baby becomes and how quickly he/she becomes anemic. Also how he/she copes with blood transfusions if you have to go down that track.

You will need to go through a high risk OB and have regular scans.

To be completely honest, when my DH and I decided to try for our second son, knowing we had RH disease, we were completely naive to what it meant having a prem baby. What effect it would have on us (including our extended family) and, most importantly, what a prem baby has to go through to survive. Sorry, I don't mean to be all dome and gloom, but if we had known what we were to face, I'm not sure we would have gone there - don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my son to pieces, and wouldn't have it any other way now, but it hasn't been easy.

I don't believe I'm an expert on RH disease, as I only really know how it effected my son and I.

I don't mind answering any specific questions you may have, so feel free to pm me and I'll be happy to help.

Edited by NikkiB
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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mumoftwins View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mumoftwins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 November 2009 at 1:45pm
Thanks so much for answering, I was just coming back to say I had decided to brave google and read that your experience was at the extreme end.
I'm beginning to wonder now if we should have number 4. I have 3 boys under 3 (twins turn 3 in January, #3 has just turned one) and if I'm honest, I don't "do" pregnancy very well! I seem to have picked up a complication with each pregnancy (PE in 1st, then PE & cholestasis in the 2nd....not to mention developing anti-D!!) and the thought of risking my babies health....well it's not a good thought!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 November 2009 at 2:15pm
Good luck with whatever you decide
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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NikkiB View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NikkiB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 November 2009 at 7:22am
I've been thinking about this, and would like to hear other people's stories with pregnancy and RH disease. I don't think our situation was at the extreme end, the reason I say this is because when not much was known about RH disease and pregnancies were not closely monitored, there were many pregnancies that ended in still births. In fact, in some families, going back through the generations, where the females have negative blood types, there were many 1 child families (which was pretty uncommon in that day and age).

Edited by NikkiB
A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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