Do I have to have Rhogam if I don't plan on any more pregnancies?

Question

I had a Rhogam shot 4 years ago with my first child. He has developmental delays and I'm afraid that Rhogam could have caused it because I read where it contains high levels of mercury. I am pregnant now, have Rh- blood, and I don't plan to have any more children. Is it necessary to get the shot again?

Answer 1

It's really necessary to protect YOU. It doesn't harm the baby at all. When you are exposed to your babys blood (typically in the last trimester and at birth) and your baby is RH+, your body produces antibodies that can cause serious illness in you and lead to problems with future pregnancies. There is usually no danger whatsoever to the first baby, but subsequent babies can have problems. If your baby is exposed to your blood, it can have the same antibody reaction you're in danger of. The antibodies formed to protect you against Rh-positive red blood cells can pass to the baby you are carrying. They attack and destroy the baby’s Rh-positive red blood cells, causing anemia, jaundice, and in severe cases, heart failure.

Answer 2

I'd say yes, you could change your mind later or have an unplanned pregnancy.

I've looked on the FDA website. It says that Rhogam containing the mercury preservative has been completely phased out:

RhoGAM, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Inc [licensed 1968]

On April 16, 2001, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics was approved by FDA to produce RhoGAM without thimerosal, and at that time, Ortho agreed to distribute only thimerosal-free product to the US market. The product has a 2-year dating period, so there is no longer any RhoGAM that contains thimerosal that is still in-date.

If you had your son in 2003, he might or might not have been exposed to the mercury containing preservative thimerosal. Ask your doctor about receiving the shot after birth as opposed to during pregnancy. I believe that still offers some protection from Rh+ sensitivity, though not as much. But, given that you don't think you are going to get pregnant again that could be a good option for you.

The amount of mercury in thimerosal is miniscule and I do not believe that mercury poisoning in vaccinations and shots are responsible for autism or developmental delays.

Answer 3

No! This topic was recently addressed in my group, Holistic Moms. Here's someone's great response to your question:

"I'm RH Negative, husband is RH positive. Typical situation where Rhogam is offered. With my first pregnancy, I didn't do much research on the topic (otherwise I would have likely AT THE VERY LEAST skipped the 26 week shot). As it was, I did research before to find a thimerisol-free shot. Bayer puts one out called Bayrho-D. I purchased it myself and brought it to my OBGYN for administration. When the baby was born and tested RH positive, I was also given the shot in the hospital - again BayRho-D.

However, with my second one, I was planning a home birth. I discussed the topic with my midwife, and she recommended this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Anti-D-Midwifery-Panacea-Sara-Wickham/dp/0750652322/ref=sr\
_1_2/002-4112783-0408804?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190887128&sr=1-2

Basically, the blood of baby and mother, in a normal pregnancy, should not mix. Our bodies were created to make babies! There are various complications that can occur that might have caused mixing, in which case the rhogam would be necessary - so I made the choice not to have rhogam at all - not at 26 weeks and not post-partem.

My second did test rh positive, but I opted not to get the shot
(remember, rhogam is a blood-derived product - meaning it has the same/similar risks to a blood transfusion). I did ask the midwife to allow me to get a post-partem blood test to determine if I had built up antibodies because of the birth, and I did not. So I have not become sensitized and am basically starting from scratch should I get pregnant again.

Remember that rhogam is taken not for the benefit of the baby you are carrying or for you - it is to benefit any future babies you may have - to prevent you from becoming sensitized and in that instance prevent your body from "attacking" the fetus (a foreign substance). Read the
book - it is good at giving all the reasoning behind the shot, why it might be best to take it (i.e. if you have amniocentisis, or get in a car accident during pregnancy), and when it is likely not necessary to take it.

Answer 4

Firstly if the father is Rh- then you don't need the shot -it says so right in the patient information and the physician prescribing information.

#2 the shot that you get DURING pregnancy only slightly reduces the risks that you will be sensitized (from about 1% when the shot is only given after delivery to about .02% if the shot is given at 28 weeks). Only you can weigh that risk vs the risk of the shot, particularly since you don't plan to have more children. If your baby is then born Rh+ you can get the shot with less risks to the baby, however this is still a human blood product and there are still risks to mom and potentially illness being passed from mom to baby.

#3 Rhogam no longer contains mercury -it does contain other nasty preservatives. In the US you can import WinRho (a different brand of Rh immunoglobulin that is made in Canada) that is freeze dried and therefore does NOT contain preservatives.

This is directly from the rhoGam prescribing information, and the only bias you can accuse them of having is making the drug appear more effective and safer than it is -not the other way around.

http://www.orthoclinical.com/Docs/USSearchPage.aspx?Languages=EN-English&ProductGroup=RhoGAM+and+MICRhoGAM+Ultra-Filtered
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Pregnancy and Other Obstetrical Conditions in Rh-Negative Women, Unless the Father or Baby are Conclusively Rh Negative


Clinical studies have proven that the incidence of Rh immunization as a result of pregnancy was reduced to 1-2% from 12-13% when RhoGAM was given within 72 hours
following delivery.10,11 Antepartum administration of Rh immune globulin at 28 weeks, as well as within 72 hours of delivery, has been shown to reduce the Rh immunization rate to about 0.1-0.2%.12,13

[...]

RhoGAM® and MICRhoGAM® are made from human plasma. Because these products are made from human blood, they may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent. The risk that such products will transmit an infectious agent has been reduced by screening plasma
donors for prior exposure to certain viruses, by testing for the presence of certain current virus infections and by removing certain viruses during the manufacturing process. [...] Despite these measures, such products can still potentially transmit disease. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products.

[...]
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with
MICRhoGAM. The available evidence suggests that Rho(D)
Globulin (Human) does not harm the fetus or affect future pregnancies the reproduction capacity of the maternal recipient.18,19

Answer 5

I'm rh- also, and yes you still have to have it. The rh antibodies will attack the fetus and could put you and the baby in danger. I had the shot with my children also, I really don't think what you've read is accurate, it is mostly highly condensed human blood, don't worry it is put through so many processes there is no chance of any viruses to thrive, which was my big worry.
The shot will save you and your child.

Answer 6

Yes, it is very important. If not your baby may need blood transfusions and have a few other problems. If afterwards you don't have anymore that is fine, but if you don't get these shots before, during and right after you can find yourself having many problems. My sister had 3 miscarriages because of not having the shot. I'm not trying to scare you, but you need the shot for a reason, mainly if your hubby is a positive blood type. Don't risk it. I just want you to be aware, you wouldn't be asking if you knew so I just want you to know that it could endanger your baby. I know you wouldn't stop it if you knew there were dangers.

Answer 7

I had Rhogam for all three of my pregnancies, I don't notice any problems with any of my children. The Rhogam that you took with your first baby was to protect this baby. I would ask the Dr. but I am pretty sure that you should have it. Good Luck with you new baby and your first child.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

yes, to protect the baby you are pregnant with now. if you get your tubes tied after this baby is born, you dont need the shot that is given after delivery but you still need the one that is given during pregnancy

Answer 10

Yes you must. Your body will attack the fetus if it is Rh+. This GREATLY increases your chances of having a spontaneous abortion.