[Mamabear2010]

When I was pregnant with ds, I had anti d injections at 28 weeks & 34 weeks. I can't remember if I had it again after the birth, but I remember they tested the cord blood and my blood.

With this pregnancy, I've swapped obstetricians and my current ob gives you a blood test and will only give you the anti d if your blood is showing antibodies. He said that the Red Cross have changed their guidelines due to lack of supply of anti d. You now only get it if the blood tests say you need it.

I've looked it up online and found articles by Red Cross, which confirm what my ob says, although the articles I've found are from 2000 and 2003. It said that ideally, women should be given injections at 27 weeks and 34 weeks, but Australia's lack of supplies mean that the injections should be given if there is a need (eg bleeding, miscarriage, post birth etc).

I'm curious what experiences other people have had. So, if you are rhesus negative, when did you get anti d?

TIA

[blue4me]

I'm rhesus negative and had 2 anti D shots while pregnant with both kids and the 3rd after birth with DS2 . The last was a couple of years ago so I have not heard of the changes. Personally I would want to have them in case there was a problem with blood transfering between mother and baby and baby was positive but if there is a supply shortage then I guess there is not much you can do about it.

[Bluenomi]

When I had DD 3 years ago I had shots at 28, 34 weeks and after birth when DD came back as a positive blood type. I'd try and get them just in case of hidden bleeds.

[RealityBites]

I've never heard of there being a shortage. I just had my 28 weeks injection with another due around 34 weeks. I would insist on the injection, as a friend unfortunately had a miscarriage because of a missed injection after a previous birth.

[minimae]

I'm currently pregnant and this hasn't been mentioned to me... perhaps you need to get a second opinion?

The red cross is showing an update from 2011 which says 28 weeks and 34 weeks as standard.

[cheekymonkeysmum]

I had 2 at 28 and 34 wks as I was a negative blood group.

they would have given me another one after birth but turned out ds is the same blood group as me.

I would definitely ask for them.

[MZER]

I'm on my 3rd baby and ive always had them at by the book , Will be having one next week at 28 weeks

Have had them already due to bleeding earlier on

[deejie]

With this pregnancy, I've swapped obstetricians and my current ob gives you a blood test and will only give you the anti d if your blood is showing antibodies. He said that the Red Cross have changed their guidelines due to lack of supply of anti d. You now only get it if the blood tests say you need it.

I've looked it up online and found articles by Red Cross, which confirm what my ob says, although the articles I've found are from 2000 and 2003. It said that ideally, women should be given injections at 27 weeks and 34 weeks, but Australia's lack of supplies mean that the injections should be given if there is a need (eg bleeding, miscarriage, post birth etc).

I think there is a level of confusion from your post. Has there been a misunderstanding with your OB?

Anti-D is administered to Rh(D) negative women who do NOT show antibodies in their routine blood tests (first trimester, ~28 weeks, post delivery if baby is Rh(D) positive and any additional tests due to bleeding/abdominal trauma etc). There is no point in administering Anti-D to a woman whose immune system has already made an Anti-D. In this sense, Anti-D has always only been administered to those women who need it. After all, it is a blood product and with the administration of a blood product comes a risk (however small) and shouldn't be given in situations where it is not clinically warranted.

The clinical guidelines for the administration of Anti-D in Australia have been in place over the last decade. Australia has been self-sufficient in the production of Anti-D for some years now and while the blood service have to actively recruit and maintain a special donor base to manufacture sufficient levels of the product, there is currently no acute shortage of Anti-D.

As you found out from your reading, current guidelines are that women in all pregnancies with no pre-formed Anti-D receive the product at 28 & 34 weeks gestation, after delivery if the baby is Rh(D) positive and also for any possible sensitising events (clinical events that may cause leakage of baby's red cells in to the maternal circulation) throughout pregnancy.

Anyway, to me it seems you have things a bit muddled up. If you have any concerns, maybe give your care provider a call and have a chat?

[Cheekyrascal]

I had the anti D injections post birth with my three kids.

All 3 pregnancies were low risk so we declined the routine injections.

My GP (I did shared care) advised to avoid the unnecessary risks of blood products as long as I had no complications. Worked for us, but I think you need to do what makes you feel comfortable. All three kids were a different blood group to me.

This post has been edited by Cheekyrascal: 18/02/2013, 08:53 PM

[lsolaBella]

I also only had shots post birth or in first trimester with bleeding.

That was for three bubs 2005, 2007, 2009