Anyone Rh negative?

[FoxInFiji]

Is anyone else Rh negative or have any experience with this? 

My first round of tests confirmed I'm Rh negative like my parents.  My mother had to have multiple rounds of shots with each pregnancy because of this even though my dad is Rh negative as well.  They gave me a full dose shot yesterday because I've had some minor spotting and they were concerned it could have been the baby's blood.  They have me scheduled for another 3 shots but said there may be more if I keep spotting.   

The research I've done says that as long as DH is negative (which he believes he is but we're going to have him test again to confirm) that we have nothing to worry about and I don't need to keep getting shots.  I mentioned this to my Dr because she was all gung ho to shoot me up with as many shots as possible "to be safe."  But when I challenged her on it she agreed if we just test DH that we may be able to avoid some of the shots.  Not sure what the "may" or "some" is about because it seems pretty cut and dry to me.  Am I missing something?  Is there still a chance the baby could be positive if we're both negative?

[jr009j]

I think there is a certain degree of the doctor protecting herself as she has no way to verify your DH is actually the father.

I'm RH negative and had to have 2 shots last pregnancy. Once DD was born, they tested her blood and she was also negative, so I didn't require a shot after birth.

[mrssandro]

I am.

I get shot for spotting in the first tri this time. Then again I think before and after I deliver. NBD

I got multiple shots last time as well because I had a SCH in the first tri.

DH is positive. DD came out positive.

[anaps28]

May 7, 2014 15:44:56 GMT -5 mrssandro said:

I am.

I get shot for spotting in the first tri this time. Then again I think before and after I deliver. NBD

I got multiple shots last time as well because I had a SCH in the first tri.

DH is positive. DD came out positive.

This is me too

[luv2rn4fun]

I am Rh negative as well but haven't had any shots yet. I am also only 8 1/2 weeks and haven't had any spotting (testing was done last week). I will be asking about this at tomorrow's appointment. Honestly, if the doctor recommends a couple shots just to be safe I would do it. But, shots and needles don't really bother me (I have to do PIO shots daily right now).

[lo]

I'm Rh neg, as is MH. I'm getting the first shot tomorrow. I don't have the energy to argue it with the doctor!

[Deleted]

I'm RH negative. I get one shot at 26 weeks (I think) and then another one after the baby arrives. This has been the norm for both of my previous pregnancies.

[FoxInFiji]

May 7, 2014 15:42:14 GMT -5 jr009j said:

I think there is a certain degree of the doctor protecting herself as she has no way to verify your DH is actually the father.

I'm RH negative and had to have 2 shots last pregnancy. Once DD was born, they tested her blood and she was also negative, so I didn't require a shot after birth.

I was thinking this might be what it was.  My doctor seems extra cautious and says that because I've been spotting she wants to do another one between now and my 28 week shot.  It just seems silly to have a bunch of extra shots and chemicals in my body if I don't need them. 

[starlily]

I am.

I had 3 shots last time, I think - one after some early bleeding, one during early 3rd tri, and one post delivery. Maybe I didn't have one post-delivery because DD arrived at 35 weeks; I don't remember for sure.

This time i've had one so far, after some spotting.

[mrssandro]

May 7, 2014 16:14:39 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

May 7, 2014 15:42:14 GMT -5 jr009j said:

I think there is a certain degree of the doctor protecting herself as she has no way to verify your DH is actually the father.

I'm RH negative and had to have 2 shots last pregnancy. Once DD was born, they tested her blood and she was also negative, so I didn't require a shot after birth.

I was thinking this might be what it was.  My doctor seems extra cautious and says that because I've been spotting she wants to do another one between now and my 28 week shot.  It just seems silly to have a bunch of extra shots and chemicals in my body if I don't need them. 

I think this shot is pretty important. I would rather have to much than too little. 

[D2M]

I'm RH negative and since my H didn't know his blood type and we were getting close to the too-late-to-get-shot-up stage, we just decided to get it to be safe.

PSA for those of you who have to go through an special pharmacy to get the shot, start the process as soon as you can. I thought since my doctor gave me a prescription, I could just casually pick it up at CVS. I was wrong. I was in an insurance paperwork logjam for two weeks before the specialty pharmacy finally sent the shot to my doctor's office.

[starlily]

May 7, 2014 15:42:14 GMT -5 jr009j said:

I think there is a certain degree of the doctor protecting herself as she has no way to verify your DH is actually the father.

This is exactly why, especially since the complications can be so serious if the mom is not truthful about the father. It happens.

[blushing]

I am. I have a shot at 28 weeks and one when baby is born. I had to have one last year after my miscarriage as well. I have no issues with them, had to have them when I was pregnant with DS.

My mom and dad are both A+ and I am A-. It turns out that my granny was A-.

[hokiegirl82]

I am. I had one shot at 28 weeks and I think another when I give birth. It was a pain to get the first shot. I had to go to the hospital for blood work then go the next day for the actual shot at a different location at the hospital.

[mrssandro]

May 7, 2014 16:19:59 GMT -5 D2M said:

I'm RH negative and since my H didn't know his blood type and we were getting close to the too-late-to-get-shot-up stage, we just decided to get it to be safe.

PSA for those of you who have to go through an special pharmacy to get the shot, start the process as soon as you can. I thought since my doctor gave me a prescription, I could just casually pick it up at CVS. I was wrong. I was in an insurance paperwork logjam for two weeks before the specialty pharmacy finally sent the shot to my doctor's office.

This happened last time. I am so glad that my doctor was able to administer it in her office. I hate having to go to the pharmacy and the only ones that carry is are in hospital. 

[bernergirl]

I'm A- (so is my mom). BF is O+, so I'm getting the shot at my next appt. this is the first I've heard about a shot after delivery too- is that standard practice?

[flgirl]

Yep. I am A-. My DH is O- but doesn't have an official test on file. So, I get a shot at about 26 weeks. Then, if any of the babies had been positive after birth I would need another one. All of then have been my blood type so no issues after.

[bluelikejazz]

I'm A-, DH is B+, so I'm getting the shot at 28(?) weeks, and then after birth if required.

They were going to try and get babies blood type at my 8 week appointment, but since I conceived twins, they couldn't guarantee they would get the right blood type. Had it been one sac from the beginning, they could have found babies blood type early, and then determined if it was required for me to get the shots.

[FoxInFiji]

Thanks for all of the advice ladies! I guess it's pretty rare to have two Rh negative parents and with people possibly lying about the father I understand where my doctor was coming from. Since we're hoping to have a second child someday I think I'll keep getting the shoots just in case. The possible side effects all seem pretty minor compared to hemolytoic disease.  I think half of it was just that I like to be prepared and getting informed about this and the shot in the same day was out of my comfort zone.

[smock]

It's kind of crazy to see so many Rh negative people--I think it's only around 15% of the population?

Anyway, I'm also Rh negative, and got a shot at 8 weeks because of spotting, 27 weeks, and will get another one after birth if baby is Rh positive.

[JayhawkGirl]

I am. DH swore he was O- but I have two B+ babies that say otherwise.

I had an early m/c and insisted on a rhogam shot even though they didn't think it was necessary.

I had a clear blood test at 28 wks but DD was born Coomb's positive- and they said the levels indicated I had been making antibodies against her blood for a while.

We ended up okay, but she was very jaundiced and they watched her super closely.

[JayhawkGirl]

May 7, 2014 16:51:22 GMT -5 bernergirl said:

I'm A- (so is my mom). BF is O+, so I'm getting the shot at my next appt. this is the first I've heard about a shot after delivery too- is that standard practice?

It is if your baby is born Rh+

[azurely]

I am.

I haven't had any shots with this pregnancy yet, but had the Rh shot with all three of my miscarriages.

[narockshard]

I'm Rh- also and got a shot around 6 weeks due to spotting, at 27 weeks, and it sounds like after the birth as well possibly.

I didn't think it hurt and I got it in my arm

[bluelikejazz]

May 7, 2014 18:34:52 GMT -5 smock said:

It's kind of crazy to see so many Rh negative people--I think it's only around 15% of the population?

Anyway, I'm also Rh negative, and got a shot at 8 weeks because of spotting, 27 weeks, and will get another one after birth if baby is Rh positive.

Something like that.  When my Dr. told me after my initial labs that I was A- I looked at DH's bonfils paperwork and realized I could donate to like 90% of the population .  It scares the crap out of me (I'd never had blood work until an 80 day cycle TTC because I was so scared), but I might have to start after the baby is born. 

[mrssandro]

I found the arm not to be so painful. When I got in the hip it hurt more.

[gretchenindisguise]

I am Rh-. H is Rh+.

I had a shot at 28ish weeks. And one after L was born, because she's Rh+ (damn H!).

Not that big of a deal to me.