2006-09-26 11:57:19 · 3 answers · asked by candace m 1 in Health ➔ Women's Health
It is not too late to get the antenatal Rhogam dose. Just get it done this week ok? The antenatal (during pregnancy) dose helps protect the mother during the last few months of pregnancy. The Rhogam -also called Rh immune globulin- will be in your circulation after the injection and will destroy any Rh positive red blood cells from the baby that might accidentally get into you. If the Rhogam does not destroy any of these Rh positive red blood cells that might get into your circulation then your immune system will make an antibody to destroy the little red cell invaders. This antibody could cause major problems with future pregnancies. When the baby comes you should get a second dose within 72 hours of delivery if the baby is Rh positive.
If the baby's father is Rh negative, then the baby will be too and you may not need any Rhogam at all - but the doctor will want you to anyway just to be cautious.
2006-09-26 12:07:06 · answer #1 · answered by petlover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is your first pregnancy, then I believe that it should not be a problem, your body should accept an Rh+ baby. If it is a second or more than you run the risk of loosing the baby even as far as 6 or 7 months!
I am here to answer that only because I am the same Rh factor as my mother. She had my sister, and could not carry a single child full term for 16 years, until I came along with the same blood type as mom.
My Husband is also different than me, I am Rh- he is+, When I was conceived the Rhogam was not invented yet.
When my kids were born, I was injected before I was discharged from the hospital, each time.
Now, if blood products are in violation of your Religious principals, I will tell you in good conscience that Rhogam is a blood derivative product, so to take the shot is a moral decision for you to consider! That being said, check again with a nurse practitioner for the idea of being injected, they are always more patient than Doctors!
2006-09-26 19:08:02 · answer #2 · answered by bugsie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on if the foetal blood has crossed into your circulation AND if the foetal blood is Rh +
If you have had a vaginal bleed while pregnant then there is a possibility of foetal blood crossing over into your bloodstream. If Rh positive foetal blood enters your blood stream and you do not get the rhogam injection, it is possible your body can have a reaction against it. Usually it's not so bad for the first pregnancy, but in subsequent pregnancies it is usual to get a worse reaction. The reaction is of the type where you make antibodies against Rh +ve cells and these antibodies can cross the placenta and cause haemolysis of the foetal blood cells.
Read the Wikipedia page about this.
If you have a vaginal bleed while pregnant, see your doctor. Your OBGYN should arrange for rhogam at the time of delivery, but if you have any bleeding during the pregnancy you may need a shot of it within 72 hours.
2006-09-26 19:02:06 · answer #3 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋