My son and his girlfriend are expecting a baby, supposedly in June, but her last doctor visit showed up some Rh troubles, so it’ll probably be sooner. She’s at 30 weeks now, so they’re pretty close to “safe” range. They went in today for a consult and an ultrasound and so far things look okay, but they have to go in for another US every week from now on. The doctor wants to get the baby to at least 34 weeks, but no farther than 38. I know things have improved a lot in recent years, but I can’t help being concerned. So any prayers or good thoughts, or success stories would be appreciated. A little encouragement, please?
It helps to know that my mother was Rh- and all four of her children were fine, without any intervention at all, but I do know what can happen.
The GF had Rho-Gam with her other two children, but it’s too late to do that with this one. I don’t understand why they didn’t do it sooner.
My sister was an Rh baby. This was 37 years ago, from what I was told she was premature and my mother almost died.
Things have come a long way since then. Let the doctor worry about it, and I’ll send 34-38 week thoughts your way. Even then, there’s a guy at my work whose daughter was born 11 weeks premature. She’s had some medical struggles, but is doing just fine now.
My uncle and aunt were going to have a baby in June, they were all excited about it, and it was supposed to come in the middle of June. However, my Aunt went to visit Houston a few weeks ago, and started to bleed out. So the baby ended up coming out in March. The kid was born about 10 weeks early. But that sucker came out via C-section, and she was so tiny. Looking at the pictures of her in the machine incubators and everything was so scary. But she started crying, which was amazing, and wiggling around like crazy! So she’s now in the preemie ward, and she’s growing bigger and bigger each day. They say she’s gonna be okay, which is really amazing for a kid coming out that early.
It really amazes me the way babies are. They can be fighters, overcoming some crazy stuff sometimes…
So hang in there, sir. I wish you and your son and your families the BEST of luck.
Thanks, all, for the prayers, good vibes, etc. Mostly we’re just taking it as it comes, and with the weekly ultrasound we’ll be able to keep pretty good track, so I’m trying to keep from looking too far ahead. It’s nice to have people around to share this with.
The Miracle WhyBaby and I will light a candle for y’all tomorrow. (She’s asleep at the moment.) As a former micropreemie (23 weeks), she loves to say a prayer and send out healthy growing energy to other babies who need it.
That’s pretty much all you can do. Worrying about it won’t do any good, so just be confident that things are most likely going to work out. (My wishing you the best outcome won’t do anything either, but I’ll do it anyway. Just try to stop me.)
A distant relative (my sister’s husband’s brother’s daughter) was literally the poster child for premies. When she was born, I was told, she could fit in the palm of your hand. When I met her, she was a lively and vivacious teen who simply wouldn’t shut the fuck up about boys.
Good thoughts coming your way for the baby and mom.
About the Rho-gam. It’s something you’re given after giving birth to an Rh-positive baby. It was explained to me that it tricks your body into thinking that you already know how to make those antibodies, so your body doesn’t bother to learn. It’s not something that you can take during or before pregnancy.
If there are problems with this pregnancy, it’s because the dose given after the last pregnancy wasn’t completely successful, and her body learned to make the antibodies on its own. (Or that there was some other exposure that triggered antibody production.) There is no way, now, for her body to unlearn making the antibodies and any future Rh-positive pregnancy will be risky.
I had Rho-gam after my first pregnancy, then I went on to have two Rh-negative children. So I have no idea if my shot was effective.
Again, thanks for the encouragement. I guess I have a weekly babysitting gig while they go in for the ultrasounds, so at least I’ll have the early report on progress every time. I’ll holler hear if anything happens. Guess I should get busy and finish that little sweater. It seems I don’t have as much time as I thought.
No it is generally given *during *pregnancy, as well, right around 28 weeks. (I just missed it with WhyBaby’s early appearance, but I had the prescription ordered for administration on my next scheduled visit.) But my speculation, not fully understanding the syndrome, is that it wouldn’t do any good now, when her body’s already started producing “anti-baby” antibodies. Rhogam prevents that, but doesn’t treat it.
ETA: to mention **irishlass **by name and hope she comes in to explain it to us.
Thirty-one weeks and things still look okay. Ultrasound today and no new news, so still hanging in there. No significant anemia, either. Thanks to one and all for good thoughts and prayers and such.
Oh, and Beta-chan, I’ve been praying and thinking good thoughts for you, too. Somehow one little one makes me think of the other one.
Maybe things with Rho-gam have changed over the years, but I’m Rh neg and was given the shot after my pregancies, and it was never discussed during, and my Rh status was discussed up front. Had one child negative and one positive…but that was 26 years ago…
I just gave birth last December. This was my second baby, I am Rh neg. and my first baby was positive. With both pregnancies, I was given one RhoGam shot around 28 weeks, and a second shot right after the birth. You also need a shot if there is a risk of contact with the baby’s blood, such as after an amnio or if there has been an injury or bleeding.
The RhoGam prevents the mother from making the antibodies. I would question why your son’s girlfriend was not given RhoGam already? Do they know if one was missed or if there was an opportunity for contact with any of her babies’ blood without a RhoGam shot?
It was my impression that with RhoGam treatment, this problem rarely occurs. I would be curious about why this is happening. Obviously her Dr.'s seem on top of things now though, and chances are baby will be fine. I am sure they will monitor things carefully.
My thoughts go out to you and her and baby!
She had a Rho-Gam shot after each of the other two babies. I don’t know why she didn’t get one at 28 weeks with this one. I wonder if it got put off a little bit and by then antibodies were already building up?
I’m getting most of this second-hand through my son who knows nothing about babies. I mean, this guy makes Butterfly McQueen look like an OB.
I had to explain to him that, yes, the baby’s head is supposed to be that big in the early ultrasound. “But, Mom, you don’t understand, it’s huge!” “Yes, I do understand. That’s the way babies grow.”
I think I’ll call the GF this week and see what she tells me. Sometimes I wonder if these two are really paying attention, but sometimes I wonder if it’s just that medical things fascinate me more than the average.
