To all rhesus negative women – A Must Rea

SophieD wrote: Jus thought I would update this post to let you know that Lower Hutt Hospital has now made the anti D injections at 28 and 32 weeks protocol. I think they did it last month, so still pretty recent. I have been offered them this time round but only because my mw's student had just been to a lecture on them at school, so was up to date with the news. I think she said Lower Hutt was still only the 2nd hospital to make it protocol in nz? But a good sign of things to come hopefully :-)

That's awesome! Hopefully the rest of the country follows suite soon!!

I hope they don't make giving anti-d during pregnancy routine, this is my 3rd pregnancy and I was given anti-d after the birth of my daughter.

First lot of bloods are negative for antibodies will get tested at 28 and 34 weeks as per last time. I prefer to take a wait and see approach rather than being given a blood product that I don't needs.

That was my approach too Caliandjack, I declined the 28 week one as my antibodies were all negative and I hadn't had any bleeding, but after the polyhydramnios was diagnosed the Maternal Fetal Medicine doc told me it's possible to have a 'silent bleed' with no external symptoms. So I decided to go ahead and have the 36-week one.

I think it's good that it's routine so people have the choice, but it does need to be an informed decision, so it's important that mums-to-be are given enough info to be able to decide for themselves.

The MFM doc was pretty unimpressed that I'd declined the 28-week one, but I stand by my decision - at that stage, for me the circumstances didn't warrant it.

hi ladies. im rh neg and found out wen i was preg wit ds1 who is nw 6. ive had to have the anti d after bth my kids. nw preggy wit number 3 and just seen this post. wat is the benefit of having anti d during the pregnacy rather than waiting til after?

I to an rh- had the anti-d in the UK after a bleed, and was supposed to have one at 32 weeks if i was still in the UK, i moved to nz when i was 22 weeks midwife here said they dont normally do the anti-d unless u have a bleed or after birth if baby is rh+, so after birth if baby ends up being rh+ and you need the anti-d do you have to pay for it? Im so used to health care being free in the UK

im RH- and have never been treated any diff with any of my pregnancies and now on #3

chonny wrote: im RH- and have never been treated any diff with any of my pregnancies and now on #3

Is your husband RH + though? because if not then it isn't a risk. Only if you are -ve and he is +ve.

I had anti-d in my last pregnancy, I had quite a few bleeds and I took a better to be safe than sorry approach. At birth, discovered DD is O+, just like her Daddy, so was given anti-d then too.

Yea Talz I think they have changed the process for this recently so now you are meant to get it during pregnancy too and especially if you have a bleed. I'm RH- too.

Hi talz, Sandra and lease. I'm RH- too and my partner is RH+. I'm 19 weeks pregnant and going by my due in group there are still only a couple of places offering standard antibody shots during preg in nz, in other countries theyes do offer these. Just need a shot if you have any spotting, I did have some at 7 week's but midwife said it's more of an issue after 8 weeks as placenta takes over. Also after birth if bubs RH+. I did have an antibody shot during my last miscarriage. I've found its good to remind medical professionals as sometimes they forget.

Edited by Pitter patter - 13 December 2013 at 2:56pm