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In excitement I did 6 tests |
If you are a regular reader of this blog you will know that we have had a tough few weeks. After finding out that I was pregnant on the 5th April, I went on to have a miscarriage on the 23rd. This was such a shocking and upsetting time, as you’d imagine but doubly worse for my family.
You see, the day I found out I was expecting another baby, my oldest sister had a miscarriage. So in 2 weeks, 2 babies had turned to angels which was a hard time for our whole family.
Not only that, but my sister found something out that actually explained why she had been loosing so many babies. Something, that shocked not only her but also the nurses who treated her.
I’ll start at the beginning.
My sister has 4 children. She was married to her first husband for 10 years but then they went their separate ways. After remarrying and deciding that they would like a baby together, they got to trying to conceive. Straight away she fell pregnant but after a month, she lost the baby.
Not one for giving up, my sister tried again but again, miscarried the baby. So 2 month ago she purchased ovulation tests, pregnancy supplements, all sorts to give her body a helping hand but then again, the baby just wasn’t sticky enough to stay and she lost the baby.
Whilst in hospital being scanned to confirm the loss, a nurse just happened to mention that she needed to have an Anti D injection before leaving. My sister was stumped, what was an Anti D injection? She said the nurse looked stunned and ran off to check the notes to realise that my sister is Rhesus negative and should have had the Anti D injection during every pregnancy.
For anyone who doesn’t know what and Anti D injection is, it is and injection that women with Rhesus Negative (known as RhD Negative) blood are given after giving birth to a baby. If you are RhD negative but your baby has inherited a Rhesus positive status from their dad, then your blood and your baby’s blood could be incompatible. If your blood then comes into contact with your baby’s, you will develop antibodies that fight against your baby’s blood.
Once these antibodies are created, they never leave your blood system so if you have a second pregnancy where your baby is rhesus positive, these antibodies can cross the placenta and attack and destroy the baby’s blood cells causing rhesus disease. Rhesus disease can cause anaemia, but also in serious cases can cause miscarriage.
The Anti D injection stops your body from producing the antibodies which fight against the baby’s blood therefore stopping any reaction.
At the moment, my sister is waiting for tests to see if this is the reason why she has been having the miscarriages. If this is the case then she has a good chance of bringing a Leo Claims medical negligence claim against the hospital which for the 7 pregnancies she has had, have never once offered her, or explained that she needs this injection even though they knew that she was Rhesus Negative.
I know this is a really sad time for her because if she finds out that her body has, in fact, developed these antibodies, there is likely to be no chance that she could have a successful pregnancy again unless the baby was to have Rhesus Negative blood too.
-This is a sponsored post although everything wrote about in this post is my own writing and family experiences
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7 Comments
Cutie Candy Pop
wow, this is such an important post. I have a couple of friends who have had concurrent miscarriages with no explanation. I have never heard of this before and I thank you for making people aware, this post could make a huge difference to someones life. I am so sorry for the loss you have both suffered, miscarriage it tough no matter how early and the pain of miscarriage should never be underestimated. xxxx
Unknown
Sorry to hear you are going through this, I was found to have these antibodies in my last pregnancy i was very closely monitored and luckily for me my son was born healthy, As he was our 4th child we decided we didn't want any more and i have been sterilised but i was told i probably wouldn't carry another child to term if at all due to the anti d antibodies.
I really hope your sister get's her explanation and is able to have another baby.
xxxx
Unknown
Oh that is so sad, Its unbelievable the medical profession did not think about this as most women with Rhesus blood type are super monitored during pregnancy as sometimes there can be problems. Hope your sister is now able to go full term and have a beautiful baby. And I hope you are okay with your loss too, lots of love xxxx
gothlass88
so sad. this is a very importnat post. sorry to your family for your losses its so sad. it just really annoys me that medical people just take no notice of medical records any more. thinking of you xxx
Emma Lou
i never knew this, it is good to see u have posted it as it will raise awareness , and i hope u are ok hun, i know what u have been through, i feel your pain xxx
Steph
I am RH- and thankfully I have been given the injection with my pregnanies but thank you for this post as like your sister not everyone knows about it and I just cannot believe that the hospital have not ever given one to her, that is just horrible for all involved. I am so sorry for your losses
Nic L
Thanks for sharing this post, I'd not heard of this before. I sadly lost a baby at 20 weeks (due to low blood supply to the placenta – we think) and know first hand just how terribly heartbreaking it is. Anything that may help stop families going through this is important to share.