Blood Type O Negative

I am 21. I am 16 weeks pregnant, due May 25th. I found out at my last dr. appointment that my blood type is O Negative. Just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat?? She said I would have to get a shot to prevent antibodies from forming between baby and myself. But if they do form then the baby could have an allergic reaction to me or I could have one towards the baby. I am kinda nervous about this. I just want my baby to be healthy and well.
Looking to Talk
Keri

I had to get the same shot.

I'm A- and my husband is also type A, but we don't know his rh factor (if he was A- like me, then I wouldn't need the shot).
You only have to get the shot twice: Once somewhere near the end, and once before (or during, I don't remember) delivery.
It's no big deal.. it's administered in the hip/butt area, and if you're expecting it to be like any other shot, you'll be as surprised as I was.
Since it's supposed to hurt if they do it slowly and gently, like the typical shot, they kinda jab it into your flesh really fast. Doesn't hurt, but it's startling, if you're not expecting that.

Best thing is to not worry, though. All worrying does is raise your blood pressure.

Yeah i am too. u get the shot at 6 months and 9 months atleast i did with my first but that was 8 years ago lol but i do know its definately once, if u dont get the shot the baby can be born with the rh syndrome

DiscoveryHealth.com

What are the long-term effects of the disease?
The long-term effects of Rh incompatibility depend on whether the woman was given Rh immune globulin or any other treatment during the pregnancy. When severe Rh incompatibility goes untreated, many infants die at a very early age. The infants that do survive may suffer from severe nerve problems including cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Others may suffer from hydrops fetalis. Hydrops fetalis causes the destruction of large amounts of red blood cells. This leads to severe anemia, or low red blood cell count. Also, these infants may have swelling of tissues and organs in the body that can lead to death. Kernicterus is another condition in which high levels of bilirubin build up in the brain. This can lead to brain damage.

What are the treatments for the disease?
The main treatment for Rh incompatibility is the Rho D immune globulin. It is given by injection to the mother at 28 weeks and at 72 hours after delivering a baby. This injection may also be given after miscarriages, abortions or other terminated pregnancies. This gamma globulin, also known as RhoGam, prevents the formation of antibodies that may affect other pregnancies. Other procedures that may be necessary for treatment include:
• planned delivery, via Cesarean birth or induced labor
• phenobarbital given several weeks before delivery to lower the bilirubin level in the blood of the newborn
• exchange transfusion, which is a blood transfusion in which fresh group 0, RH negative blood is given to an unborn baby in exchange for his or her blood
• infusion of albumin, a protein, to decrease bilirubin levels
• phototherapy, a procedure in which the newborn is placed under special lights, to help decrease the level of bilirubin in the blood
Depending on the degree of Rh incompatibility, the child may need physical therapy and a ventilator, or artificial breathing machine, for breathing difficulties.
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
The long-term effects of Rh incompatibility depend on whether the woman was given Rh immune globulin or any other treatment during the pregnancy. When severe Rh incompatibility goes untreated, many infants die at a very early age. The infants that do survive may suffer from severe nerve problems including cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Others may suffer from hydrops fetalis. Hydrops fetalis causes the destruction of large amounts of red blood cells. This leads to severe anemia, or low red blood cell count. Also, these infants may have swelling of tissues and organs in the body that can lead to death. Kernicterus is another condition in which high levels of bilirubin build up in the brain. This can lead to brain damage.

Overview
Rh incompatibility is a condition that occurs when a woman has Rh-negative blood type and her unborn child or newborn has Rh-positive blood. This incompatible blood reaction may cause problems in a newborn as well as life-threatening problems for future pregnancies.

What is going on in the body?
The Rh factor, or Rhesus factor, is a marker that may or may not be present on the surface of a person's red blood cells. When a woman has the Rh component in her blood, she is considered Rh positive. When she does not have the Rh factor, she is considered Rh negative. When a person who has Rh-negative blood is exposed to Rh-positive blood, that person's body does not recognize the Rh factor and considers it something foreign. The body builds antibodies against it as it would for any foreign substance that is introduced into the blood. If the person who is Rh negative is ever exposed in the future to Rh-positive blood, his or her body is armed to attack the red blood cells that have the Rh factor. Therefore, problems may arise if a woman with Rh-negative blood conceives a baby who has Rh-positive blood. (This may occur if the father of the baby has Rh-positive blood.) The pregnant woman's body can become sensitive to the Rh factor and build up "antibodies" to attack the Rh factor. The build up of antibodies does not usually occur until after delivery of the newborn. However, not all women develop antibodies to the Rh factor after having one baby with Rh-positive blood. Generally, there is no effect on the first-born child. If problems occur, they generally happen in second and later pregnancies. For example, say a woman who is Rh negative becomes pregnant again and her unborn baby has Rh-positive blood. The Rh antibodies that the woman may have developed during or after her first pregnancy can pass through the blood to her second baby and attack the baby's red blood cells. This attack can cause hemolysis, which is the destruction of red blood cells. The baby may start to produce more red blood cells in an effort to replace the ones that were destroyed.

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?
Symptoms associated with Rh incompatibility in an unborn child include:
• a decrease in the baby's intrauterine growth
• a decrease in movement of the unborn baby
• small lungs, kidneys, and brain
• stillbirth
Symptoms of Rh incompatibility in a newborn include:
• jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes from high levels of bilirubin
• paleness of the baby's skin
• an enlarged liver and spleen
• petechiae, or a rash that looks like little bruises
• swelling of the tissues
• difficulty breathing, causing grunting and rubbing noises in the lungs
• neurological damage, such as a decreased ability to hear, see, and feel
• seizures
• poor muscle tone, decreased movement, and poor reflexes
• heart problems, including heart murmurs and swelling of the heart
• high-pitched cry
• poor sucking ability

I have o negative blood type too and i have to go get the shot this week...

I've had 6 miscarriages 1 was a twin of the baby that i'm carrying!! and i've had 2 shots this pregnancy so far!! I'm AB- . If you bleed for ANY reason you have to go get a shot.. (i mean if you bleed from down there lol) and if you ever decide to have a baby later on make sure you get a shot BEFORE you try to better your chances of having a full term baby, instead of a misscarriage.


I hope that I was of some kind of help to you!

**Kayla**

Yep I am B-. I was really worried about this! But i try not to think about it. I am not for sure what my hubby is...I think he is A+ So hopfuly the baby has my blood type.My mom has - too but its the really rare blood type(cant remember exact. what that is). Well good luck and try not to worrie!! (hard hua)?

lil_chrissy_04 wrote: Yep I am B-. I was really worried about this! But i try not to think about it. I am not for sure what my hubby is...I think he is A+ So hopfuly the baby has my blood type.My mom has - too but its the really rare blood type(cant remember exact. what that is). Well good luck and try not to worrie!! (hard hua)?

Everyone--Thanks for all the great advice! Everyone tells me not worry that everything will be ok. But I still think about it everyday. I keep telling myself that the doctors know what they are doing. Thanks again for the advice!
Keri

I'm also RH- and I had to have a shot at about 28 weeks and then after the birth of my first. This pregnancy I'm not too sure, I had to have one after my amniocentesis so I am not sure if they are going to give me one at 28 weeks but we will see. Good Luck to you. Its actually pretty common.

I had to get one of those shots right after I had a miscarriage, and now that I am pregnant again, I have to get another one when I am 28 weeks. It will do no harm to you and your baby, don't worry.

I have to get this too- I am A- and hubby is AB+

Doctor said I will get one shot at 28 weeks and then maybe another at delivery, depending on baby's blood type. If baby has my blood type, I won't need that one.

I've heard that they are a little painful but not a big deal.

I'm neg, my hubby is positive. I've had the shot twice with each of my four pregnancies so far, including my miscarriage, and all has been fine and dandy for us. :-)

I'm A Negative and have been poked and have a couple more to come...

Your baby will be fine  

Keri2006 wrote: I am 21. I am 16 weeks pregnant, due May 25th. I found out at my last dr. appointment that my blood type is O Negative. Just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat?? She said I would have to get a shot to prevent antibodies from forming between baby and myself. But if they do form then the baby could have an allergic reaction to me or I could have one towards the baby. I am kinda nervous about this. I just want my baby to be healthy and well.
Looking to Talk
Keri

im O- and my fiance doesnt know what he is and is very scared of needles and so i decided to just get the shot any ways, and i HATE needles but it wasnt that bad. i suggjest getting it and if you baby is the same as you it wont hurt your baby at all. it will all be ok, you baby will also get one when its born so that it can stay healthy, the shot last 12 weeks so thats why they do it at 28 weeks. the shot is from mothers who have lost there babies to this and such. i know a couple who didnt have this done and sadly lost there daughter at 2 so please please please get it done it doesnt hurt you or the baby and if most i was a little sick becuase i think mine was becuase i had to get my blood drawn and a shot and me and needles are no nos lol i hope this helps