RH Factor, please help

Question

My husband and I recently went though a very painful miscarriage two days before we reached the 12 week mark. The whole experience landed me in the ER a week later due to continued severe hemorrhaging. When I arrived there I found out that I am RH negative and that I should have had my shot already. I didn't even know that I was RH negative and I had been calling my doctor multiple times during the miscarriage to see if I needed to do anything and he said no. The ER doctor said that not having the shot may lead me to have trouble with future pregnancies. My question to all of you is: have you ever had a similar experience then then went on to have a healthy pregnancy? Am I infertile now? Thank you in advance for your help

Answer 1

Im sorry for your loss, but I really dont think the RH factor has anything to do with a miscarriage.  I have had 4 children, and I too am RH negative.  There are a couple of things you need to understand about the RH factor:  First off, there is only a problem when you and the father are different, ex: you are RH- and he is +, then there is the posibablity of the child being RH+, but if you are both RH- there is no problem.  BUT not everyone knows what the father is, so usually if you are RH-, then about 28 wks, you have a shot called a RHogam shot.  Then usually within 48 hrs after birth you have your second shot.  

When I was pregnant with my first child, my drs office had mixed up my blood work and thought I was A+, and really Im A- and RH-.  So I never recieved my first shot durring the pregnancy, but after I had her I got the shot- which protects your next child.  

here is some more info from the About.com website about RH factors:

A woman is at risk when she has a negative Rh factor and her partner has a positive Rh factor. This combination can produce a child who is Rh positive. While the mother's and baby's blood systems are separate there are times when the blood from the baby can enter into the mother's system. This can cause the mother to create antibodies against the Rh factor, thus treating an Rh positive baby like an intruder in her body. If this happens the mother is said to be sensitized.

A sensitized mother's body will make antibodies. These antibodies will then attack an Rh positive baby's blood, causing it to breaking down the red blood cells of the baby and anemia will develop. In severe cases this hemolytic disease can cause illness, brain damage and even death.

Sensitization can also occur during a blood transfusion, miscarriage, abortion, ectopic pregnancy and even during some procedures, like amniocentesis. Since the antibodies do not disappear and rarely cause a problem in first pregnancies, it is very important to be screened thoroughly and give an accurate medical history to your doctor or midwife.

Hemolytic disease can be prevented for many women, if they are not already sensitized. Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) is a blood product given via injection to help the Rh negative mother by suppressing her ability to react to the Rh positive red cells. Reactions to the medication are generally minor, including soreness at the injection sight and sometimes a slight fever.

Since a small number of unsensitized women may have problems with the end of pregnancy, many practitioners recommend that she be given an injection of RhIg (also known as Rhogam) at 28 weeks gestation, to prevent the few cases of sensitization that occur at the end of pregnancy. Each dose of RhIg lasts about 12 weeks. The mother will also be given RhIg within 72 hours of birth if the child is Rh positive. The baby's blood type can be determined easily after birth by cord blood samples.

RhIg may also be given after an amniocentesis, miscarriage, abortion or postpartum sterilization (tubal ligation)

Answer 2

You should have had a type and screen when you went in to ER!  At the hospital i work at, they blood type every woman coming in for pregnancy related complications.

Also it's good to know your blood type anyway, granted not a lot of people do!  Do you know your husbands RH factor?  If he's negative you have nothing to worry about, but if he's positive, you may have difficulties!

Make sure that when you get pregnant again you let your doc know ASAP you are RH negative!  Thats really really important!  You also might want to find a different doc!  No doc should have neglected to have you blood typed and go for your prenatal blood work!

I personally know I'm RH negative and was sure to tell my doc right away!  

It may have been too late when they give you the shot, but if your doc stays on top of it next time you get pregnant you should be alright!

Just be careful!

Good Luck!

Oh and for future reference you may want to get your husband blood typed!

Answer 3

you should not be infertile now. Back in the "olden days" there was no shot, my grandma had 4 children and was rH -, 2 children required blood transfusions but both ended up healthy. I dont think it gets to that point anymore (with the blood transfusions). It makes me angry that your doctor didnt know that you had the RH factor. It would persuade me to find a new doctor. So sorry for your loss and trouble afterwards, it must be very difficult. I think that you will be able to concieve and have a healthy pregnancy in the future, they give you shots for every pregnancy, I have the rh factor and have had 2 healthy pregnancies. good luck!