QuestionThank you for answering my question but I wonder if you could give more information regarding the "special cleansing procedures" that I would need in order to get rid of the antibodies. I tried to find this information on the Internet and couldn't find one single web site that talks about it. Are you sure this procedure exist? Could you tell me what are those procedures?
The doctor gave me an appointment for August 17th and I have to wait until that day to have any tests done.
Cristina Atoche
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Followup To
Question -
I am a 32 year old mother of a two year old. My blood type is A Rh negative and my daughter's is A Rh positive. When I was pregnant with her I was told that I should receive a Rhogam shot right after delivery. I didn't receive it because everybody forgot about it. Now I am pregnant with my second child. My first day of my last menstrual period was June 19th. I am really worried about this pregnancy and would like to know what are the steps to follow if I indeed have antibodies against Rh positive blood type.
Answer -
Usually for the first pregnancy, there is no problem if you are Rh negative and the baby is Rh positive. However, after you delivered the baby, it is certainly possible that you may have developed antibodies against Rh positive blood, especially if you did not receive RhoGam within 72 hours of the delivery. Now that you are pregnant again, you have to be tested to see if you do, indeed, have antibodies to Rh positive blood. If you are "sensitized" in that way, you may need special procedures done to cleanse your blood of the antibodies and to prevent passage of your antibodies accross the placenta. If you are not sensitized, you will get an injection of RhoGam at 28 weeks and again after delivery of the baby, and all will be fine. Your doctor knows exactly what to do at this point. Don't worry.
AnswerIf you are "sensitized" to the Rh factor, you may need an intrauterine transfusion to make sure that the baby is not affected by the Rh antibodies. The preliminary tests will show you what is going on when your blood is analized. Until then, try not to worry. Most often, there is no sensitization. You are now 5-6 weeks pregnant (from the first day of your last period). We normally do not start testing the blood until you are 8 weeks pregnant (August 14). Please be patient and try not to worry.
