Rh - Blood. Doctor Said I Didn't Need the Rhogam Shot?

Updated on February 10, 2011
T.Q. asks from Deer Park, NY
16 answers

Hey Ladies,

Just found out today that i have Rh - blood.

I was spotting last week and the doctor asked if i knew what blood type i was and i was un-sure. I had my blood drawn that day, and it came back as RH-.

The nurse at the doctors told me over the phone that i would not need the Rhogam shot. Does this make sense?

I think i may call them tomorrow for some clarification? I saw another doctor at the same practice today and he said that i will have to be more careful about being around fifths disease.

Oh the confusion!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Back again! The only thing i could think was that my pregnancy has shown growth through two syno's. My spotting has stopped and was most likely implantation bleeding. Maybe they thought the shot was unnecessary due to the spotting being light, and i will get the shot at 28 weeks.

Thanks ladies. I just cross my fingers that i don't have bleeding in the future. I am not 100% comfortable with the shot. I have heard connections to autism? That might be totally wrong.

We shall see.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I am RH negative and I had implantation bleeding with my 7th pregnancy and no rhogam shot until I was 28 weeks along and after delivery. I had rhogam shots after both of my miscarriages though.

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am also O-/RH- and yes I got the shots with each pregnancy...I think the other ladies are correct in the thinking that you will need the shots, just not at this time. You will get 2 shots...one at or around 28 weeks then one after delivery. HTH.

~My hubby is O+ and all 3 of my kids ended up with his blood type not mine...which ended a VERY long streak of females in my family who were O-...so weird!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I am A-. I had to have a rhogam shot at 28 weeks and then again after delivery. I had a miscarriage and I was also given one after my D & C. I didn't have one after the birth of my second daughter because she is also A-.

I think that you should definitely call your doctor and get clarification. My understanding is that it's absolutely necessary for you to have the rhogam shot if you are RH-

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Call them for clarification. If this is absolutely your first pregnancy, then I can *maybe* see them saying that, but usually they give it regardless because so many women don't even know when they've miscarried (basically think it's their period). It was my understanding when I was pregnant that if you were Rh-, you got the shot.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from New York on

I'm a little confused. Are you pregnant, or are you hoping to become pregnant and this is probably implantation bleeding? If you're pregnant and Rh negative, you typically get Rhogam. If it's implantation bleeding, I don't think you'd need it since the blood would be yours (from your uterus) and not the babies (from the placenta, for instance).

If the baby's father is also Rh -, you don't need the shot anyway, though. If the baby's father in Rh+, you should get the shot if you bleed during your pregnancy and at 28 weeks. Then, when the baby is born, its blood type will be tested. If it's Rh+, you'll get another shot. If it's Rh-, you won't need the last one.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm assuming (in fact we all are, it seems) that you are pregnant? You didn't mention that.

I believe the shot is to be taken at 28 weeks and after birth. (Double check if it is 28 or another number similar). But you DO need a shot IF your husband is positive. I don't know about fifths disease

I'm O- (Rh-). My husband is O+. We have four children. I had to take the shot with all of them. For my third, I missed the timing so I didn't get the 28 week shot, and we were VERY concerned about my fourth having problems at birth. My fourth is fine. And ALL my children ended up with O+ blood.

You take the shot to prevent any problems with any subsequent pregnancies you may have. (I know that fact may add to the confusion. LOL.) They should check the father's blood type... or I believe you should get the shot anyway as preventative measure.

To Rachel, were not saying that O- or Rh- is BAD, but just that it needs a rhogam shot:)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.B.

answers from Portland on

Rh- blood does require a rhogam shot. It is usually given when you give birth and I think a few months after as well.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

My understanding is that they only time you would need a rhogam shot is if you were Rh- and your husband is Rh+. Do you know what your husband's blood type is?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from New York on

I THINK it may depend on what your husband's blood type is? I'm Rh neg and had to have the shot with both pregnancies. I didn't thin it had anything to do with 5th disease; my understanding was that if my child's blood were Rh +, my body was starting "attacking" the child as a foreign substance, similar to organ transplant rejection. I'm assuming you're pregnant?!!!

I find it very bizarre that your doctor did not already know your blood type, since they do blood tests at a very early stage in pregnancy.

I'd definitely ask for more clarification from the doctors!

Updated

I THINK it may depend on what your husband's blood type is? I'm Rh neg and had to have the shot with both pregnancies. I didn't thin it had anything to do with 5th disease; my understanding was that if my child's blood were Rh +, my body was starting "attacking" the child as a foreign substance, similar to organ transplant rejection. I'm assuming you're pregnant?!!!

I find it very bizarre that your doctor did not already know your blood type, since they do blood tests at a very early stage in pregnancy.

I'd definitely ask for more clarification from the doctors!

Updated

I THINK it may depend on what your husband's blood type is? I'm Rh neg and had to have the shot with both pregnancies. I didn't thin it had anything to do with 5th disease; my understanding was that if my child's blood were Rh +, my body was starting "attacking" the child as a foreign substance, similar to organ transplant rejection. I'm assuming you're pregnant?!!!

I find it very bizarre that your doctor did not already know your blood type, since they do blood tests at a very early stage in pregnancy.

I'd definitely ask for more clarification from the doctors!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

Rh NEGATIVE blood is a POSITIVE thing! A hospital's most valuble blood type is O-Neg because O-Negative can be donated to ANY blood type. In a situation when someone is bleeding profusely and there is no time to find out what type they are, O-Neg is used. HTH!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.Y.

answers from New York on

Most of what is posted seems to be right. If the mother is Rh- the the Rhogam shot is to stop her from making antibodies to a baby's Rh+ blood. But during pregnancy the mother and baby don't normally have direct mixing of blood. Everything transfers through the placenta. Many times the mother's and baby's blood can come in contact during delivery (so the mom gets another shot then). The Rhogam shot especially protects the baby in later pregnancies.

I had Rhogam with both of my pregnancies and there were no problems with it for me or either of my kids. I never heard of a connection to Fifth's disease.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.T.

answers from New York on

You would only need the shot if your husband was positive, it's for couples where one parent is negative and one is positive. It is not typically given til around 28 weeks, not in early pregnancy.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I did not have to have the shot either my dh is A- and I am AB- so dd is A-. I think you have to get the shot when either you or your hubby is +. I had a mc years ago and was given the shot since the father at the time was a +.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.R.

answers from Dallas on

I don't think you get the shot until ~26 weeks with your first pregancy. I am RH- as well, and I've never gotten a shot until that far along, and then one again after the baby is delivered. I do think it also depends on what blood type your husband has, because if he is negative, then your child will also be negative.

K

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I am RH- and with my first two pregnancies I got the shot at 28 weeks. But with my last pregnancy I bleed (a lot) and when I was in the ER for it at 15 weeks they went ahead and gave me the shot. I never bleed again before that it had happened 5 times. And I got the shot again later in the pregnancy because the shot stays in your system for only so long. I am not sure the shot stopped the bleeding or it stopped on its own. They never could find a reason for the bleeding.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from New York on

I would definitely call the doctor back and get things clarified. Something to keep in mind, if your husband is also RH- then you don't need the shot. (pretty sure anyway).

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions