I would say that UK medicine is about as pared-down, postnatally, as it can get in terms of "frivolous" extras versus necessary procedures (i.e., they don't do internal cervical checks before labor, don't do ultrasounds except for the 20-week anatomy check, etc.) and they opt for the 28-week Rhogam injection. To my mind, that means it really does improve maternal/fetal safety.
The 7-week jab, by the way, doesn't cover later in pregnancy. I had the flipping Rhogam a total of five times when I was pregnant with my son. Once after spotting around 7 weeks. Again after spotting around 14 weeks (I think it lasts ~ 6 weeks). Again at 28 weeks, 34(?) weeks and postpartum. Wahey, SO much fun.
That doesn't count the one they gave me after I miscarried my first pregnancy. Insult to injury.
Yeah, I've had it a bunch of times... it's not the actual injection I am opposed to. We've been trying to go as low-intervention as possible, so I was genuinely curious if this is something we could avoid or not. Seems a lot of people think there's too much risk to avoid it.
We have the option of ordering it through her, or going to another care provider that can write prescriptions. Either way, my insurance doesn't cover it.
You need to get it at 28 weeks because you are going to be exposed to the baby's blood in the next 12 weeks or so. The RhoGHAM shot protects your immune system from making antibodies to your baby's blood which could cause hemolytic disease of the newborn. The first pregnancy is not affected because it takes time for the mother's immune system to become sensitized to Rh+ factor. But the body recognizes it the second time around and can quickly make antibodies to destroy the baby's Rh+ red blood cells. The initial shot prevents the mom's body from making sensitizing the antibodies in anticipation of the mixing of blood that will occur during delivery. The shot after baby is born is like a booster shot to make sure that any antibodies that the mom may have started to make, don't become active
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this. I just finished a memoir of a woman who was denied qualified medical care during her pregnancies for religious reasons, and she had multiple miscarriages and a stillbirth. it isn't something I would even mess with.
if you wanna read the book (because it's amazing and she broke away from what amounts to a cult and helped get the leader prosecuted for horrible crimes) it's by Elissa Wall, and it's called Stolen Innocence.
Set up a paypal account for donations if you have to, but you really need that injection.
I am Rh- and so is my daughter. A little over a week ago (at 30 weeks), I fell in our kitchen. A blood test showed that some of my blood mixed with the baby's. It can happen to anyone.
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That's obviously just anecdata on my part but this post includes a bit more data (although without links to the actual scientific studies) on why it's important at 28 weeks: http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=230147
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That doesn't count the one they gave me after I miscarried my first pregnancy. Insult to injury.
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if you wanna read the book (because it's amazing and she broke away from what amounts to a cult and helped get the leader prosecuted for horrible crimes) it's by Elissa Wall, and it's called Stolen Innocence.
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Awesome book though!
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I am Rh- and so is my daughter. A little over a week ago (at 30 weeks), I fell in our kitchen. A blood test showed that some of my blood mixed with the baby's. It can happen to anyone.
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