I just found out I am Rh- and will need Rhogam shots...anyone else?

Melanie - posted on 11/23/2012

I was supposed to have the shot, but due to the fact that i already had antibodies, my dr never gave me the shot. i am pregnant with my second and still dont know if i can have the shot. hopefully everything works out for both of us.

Jessica - posted on 11/20/2012

I am sure you have already figured this question out by now. I am too rh-. Ur blood and the babies blood is not compatiable if baby is +. If this is the case, your baby can become born as a still birth. Also, your blood and his blood doesnt match, so if the baby bleeds inside your blood you can die too. The shot helps protect you and the baby. No need to worry. You and baby will be fine after taking the shot.

Christine - posted on 04/09/2012

YEPPERS!! I have went through that with my daughter and will have to do it again with this pregnancy.. its no big deal.. they just give ya a shot in the butt or arm and then after the baby is born they will give ya another shot... Nothing to worry about...

Kelly - posted on 04/03/2012

I'm rh- as well I am pregnant with my third child and have so I have dealt with the shot a couple times. With my first child I got the shot at 28 weeks and since my daughter is + I got another one after she was born. My son on the other hand I got it at 28 weeks, but he was - so another one was not necessary. So we shall see on this one if he will be - or +.

Barb - posted on 03/19/2012

I am AB- I will have to get it again for my second baby once the father on baby 2 is posititve. My 1st child has the same blood type as me so I didn't have get the second. We will see what happens with the next one.

Synthia - posted on 03/18/2012

yea im A- and my SO is O+ i believe (o- is the universal not o+) i have gotten the shots. and you will more then likely need one after delivery if baby is +. it isnt a big deal. and i didnt found it hurt.

Mary - posted on 03/18/2012

Hi there yeah I'm O Rh- and my partner is + and I've had to get the injections with all 4 of my pregnancies and with my next one also you get it if you bleed during your pregnancy and after the birth if the baby isn't Rh- it's to protect you from infection and to protect any further babies who may have your blood from being hurt while in your womb in future nothIng really to worry about

Holly - posted on 11/20/2011

I am doing my test after thanksgiving. I heard its just a shot to protect both you and the baby. I heard different things from different people. Both my husband and i are A- and my doctor decided I should still do it. does that make sense?

Jemma - posted on 11/19/2011

Yep me too,found out when i was pregnant with my son, now currently 20 weeks pregnant and will have the same shots this time round,nothing to worry about!!

Erika - posted on 11/17/2011

I do NOT understand why American doctors insist on giving this controversial injection at 28 weeks, as there is no risk the two bloods have been mixed until delivery or with a belly injury or vaginal bleed. I would suggest researching this controversial shot before allowing ANYONE to jab me more than once at delivery unless there is a very VERY compelling reason. I am having #2 and the only reason for my first two shots DURING pregnancy (34 and 36 weeks) was due to vaginal bleeding. The delivery shot is to protect you when bloods can mix, but otherwise read up- this practice is VERY archaic and unneeded. But so is a pelvic exam during pregnancy...so American OB's have a lot of explaining to do really...

Katie - posted on 03/29/2010

Im getting it too. Im 26 weeks now. Im B-, hubby is O+. I looked it up and thought it was rather strange. I came home and told my husband that I had some sort of mutant alien attack blood and we had a good chuckle out of it. I like to over research EVERYTHING. My Dr filled me in, (and I still researched it at home til I was satisfied), and told me that its not a worry during your FIRST pregnancy. She said that your blood doesnt usually mix with the babies blood UNTIL birth, UNLESS you have some sort of injury or internal bleeding. My Dr said the mixing of your blood at the time of delivery is why you get the shot at birth too. She said RHOgam essentially makes your blood type forget about what the babies was, so it doesnt start to produce antibodies to fight off the + blood types. Its not an infection, like someone else had already pointed out. She said if you DO develop the antibodies, by not getting the shot, during any additional pregnancy your body will want to immediately attack your babies blood supply if its + and can lead to miscarriage and all sorts of issues, even though babies born to RH- moms who have the antibodies can still live, and they have ways of making it work out and the babies are ok in the long run. It really sounds scarier than it actually is. The shot takes care of everything. Im actually part of a clinical test where they are trying to develop a method of testing for your babies blood type, by getting a blood sample from you. IF they can learn to figure it out that way us RH- moms wont have to get the shot unless our specific baby turns out to be a + blood type. We wont have to get it "just in case" like we do now.

Either way, its not a big deal. I like to joke with my husband that Im special cause only a small percentage of us actually have this blood type, but while its a small percentage, obviously its still a lot of us!

Amy - posted on 03/29/2010

I'm O- and needed the shot too. If you have ANY spotting during pregnancy you need to get a Rhogam shot with in 48 hours, and you only need one after birth if the baby has positive blood. If your baby is also negative you won't need the second one.

Also, if there going to give it to you in the arm, make sure you ask if they can give it to you in the butt instead. I got my first one in the arm and it was HORRIBLE!

Kathryn - posted on 03/29/2010

i'm A- and had to have the shot with my daughter...its really no big deal...i got mine in my hip/butt area as well...i will say at first i was alittle freaked out because i didn't know about it..i had never heard about rhogam or what could happen if i didn't get it...once i did some research and talked to my doctor i realised i was worried for nothing...my doctor told me that all it does is helps hide the antibodies that your body will create if your baby is a different bloodtype than you..my doctors told me that not having the shot wouldn't effect that pregnacy and probably wouldn't even effect the the next one but if i wanted to have more than that my body would most likely see the pregnacy as a virus and attack it...i am pregnant with my second child and will have to have the shot again..hope this helps...

Jackie - posted on 03/28/2010

I am RH- and had my shot.. not bad at all just a little pinch in the butt! lol and you get another one after you deliver!

Corrin - posted on 03/28/2010

Hey. I am 10 weeks and found out i had to get the rhogam shot im b- and my husband is 0+. basically all it means is that your antibodies fight blood types that dont match your your body attacks it. so if the baby has posotive blood you antibodies attack the baby. the rhogam basically tells your body its ok to have something that doesnt belong. hope that helps

Natalie - posted on 03/28/2010

My hubby is A+ and i'm A- and this is my 3rd pregnancy so i had to have the shot with each pregnancy and then again after birth b/c they both turned out to be A+ just like their Daddy :-)
I'm sure this one will be no different.

You have nothing to worry about. Yes, the shot is uncomfortable but inevitable if you want a healthy pregnancy and a chance for future babies.

Cheryl - posted on 03/28/2010

Yes it's very common for women who are neg and husband or partner is pos blood type. My shots are in my hip/butt area, I'm not sure who said arm?!?!?
And it's not to prevent infection, it helps if and when you ever have a next pregnancy for your body not to make antibodies against the baby's blood type if it is pos like Dad. Your blood intermingles with baby's so there is a risk of your immune system registering baby as "foreign" and attacking!
It's not a huge deal but it has been the one thing that has hindered us from doing any home deliveries- doulas cannot get it :-(

Tracey - posted on 03/24/2010

i am A- and my husband is A+. with my daughter i freaked i had no idea what was going on, but all i got was a shot in my butt and then another at the hospital and that was it. i keep telling my daughter that i expect to get a shot in my butt again and she laughs at me. i tell her its good for me and the baby to get it.

Crystal - posted on 03/24/2010

Also I had my injection via iv in my hand, never hurt at all!

Crystal - posted on 03/24/2010

Hi I was in the same position as you when the doctor told me I was rh-, I was worried! But I researched it on the internet and it calmed me to know that the injection that you will receive will help me have a normal healthy pregnancy and baby. Without the injection if babys blood mixes with your blood baby may need a blood transfusion invitro or immediately after birth. I received my injection yesterday and am confident everything will be fine. Also if you do not get the injection chances of having another baby are very slim. So get the needle and be confident that everything will be ok. Take care and good luck!

Sarah - posted on 03/24/2010

I am A- and will have to get the shots as well! My mother was RH- and so was my cousin! None of them had any problems with their pregnancies! it could be harmful to you if you don't get the shot! but since you know there shouldn't be any problems! Don't worry about it!

Jesse - posted on 03/24/2010

I have had 10 rhogam shots throughout my life. I am on pregnancy # 7 and this will make child #4. They aren't all that bad but it does burn a bit. I just had my one for durning pregnancy a few weeks ago. They told me that they could no longer give it in the hip but if where you go will let you do it in the hip. It doesn't hurt as bad. You will also have to have one after the babies born. Most hosp don't even go through the trouble of typing the babies blood. If your rh- they just give you the shot. I know, fun right.

Marlana - posted on 03/24/2010

i am rh- as well, i got my shot i my lower back upper butt area though. but a little soreness is worth knowing that your baby is going to be ok :)

Kat - posted on 03/24/2010

As everyone has written it's very common & no big deal. I am O- & Hubby A+. Where I go they give the shot in the thigh, doesn't hurt a bit. Once bub is born they test their blood type from the chord & if bub is + then you will have another shot. This is to ensure for the next pregnancy if during the birth bub's blood gets into your blood stream that your body won't then try & reject the next fetus. I had some bleeding early in this 2nd pregnancy & had the shot then just in case. I will still have it at 28w & 36w + after the birth.

Heather - posted on 03/23/2010

its no biggie, you'll be a little tender around the injection sight. I am rh- as well and i got freaked out too. lol but all has been okay since then, not something to stress too much about.

Dawnyka - posted on 03/20/2010

Its really no big deal at all. I have had it with all 3 pregnancies.

They just take a little blood to test, and then they give you a shot to prevent your body from rejecting the baby. Doesn't hurt at all. Its nothing to worry about!

Jessica - posted on 03/20/2010

I am O - , not sure what my husband is, not that it matters, because its very important to get it, especially if you plan on having more babies after!

Basically if your baby ends up being a positive blood type and their blood is exposed to yours, your immune system will produce antibodies to attack the "foreign" blood cells. But usually these antibodies arent strong enough until the second, third pregnancy etc. to do any harm, which is why it is very important to get the shot now! They will give you another shot after you give birth, if your baby is a positive blood type.

It will be the same process with every pregnancy.

Jasmine - posted on 03/19/2010

Yes I have. I am B- and my husband is b+ so I have had the shot twice already because at 12 weeks we thought my body was rejecting the baby.And than I got it at 28 weeks.There is nothing to it, just a sore arm for a couple of days

Brandy - posted on 03/19/2010

Yes! Same thing here, I am O- and my husband is A+, its no big deal a lot of women have to do it. It just protects you against infection after the baby is born.