Name: catch_sb

1) What is anti-D?

Anti-D is a protein contained in the
plasma (fluid part) of human blood.
It is made from the blood given by
blood donors and is given by an
injection into a muscle.

2)Why is anti-D used?

You and your baby may have
different blood groups. This only
matters if your blood group is
Rhesus negative and your baby’s
blood group is Rhesus positive.
Then you will need anti-D
injections.

3)How can my baby be affected?
Blood cells from the baby may
sometimes pass into the mother’s
blood.
This can cause a protein (also
known as an antibody) to be
produced by the mother’s immune
system (part of the body’s defence
mechanism). If this happens there
can be harmful effects on the baby
before and after birth. It may also
affect future pregnancies as well.
Your baby may become anaemic
as the antibodies produced by the
mother break down the baby’s
blood cells. This is called
“Haemolytic Disease”.
It can be very severe and lead to
the baby developing heart failure
while still in the womb. Nowadays,
Haemolytic Disease is rare, but If it
does happen, and is untreated,
there is a chance of the baby dying.
If diagnosed, the baby will need
blood transfusions, sometimes
while it is the womb. This
procedure itself can cause further
risk to the baby. The baby may also
need to be delivered early.
In the past, Rhesus disease was
very dangerous for the baby.
However, since the introduction of
anti-D injections in 1969 it is now
far less of a problem.
Anti-D injections can prevent the
antibody being made before the
baby is harmed.

4)When is Anti-D given?
About 1 in 6 of all pregnant women
will have a Rhesus negative blood
group.
If you are Rhesus negative you are
advised to have an injection of anti-
D at times when there is a high risk
of your blood and that of the baby
becoming mixed.
For example:
. If there is any bleeding in the
pregnancy
· Unusual abdominal pain
· Following injury to the
abdomen, such as a fall or blow
· After a miscarriage or
termination of pregnancy
· After an amniocentesis
· After the birth of the baby (if the
baby proves to have a Rhesus
positive blood group).

An injection of Anti-D, given within
72 hours of such events, reduces
the production of the antibodies.
Tell your family doctor or midwife
as soon as possible if you have any
vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or
a fall or accident during pregnancy.
Anti-D can be given by your doctor
or your midwife at home or in
hospital.

5)Why do I need routine anti-D
injections?

As well as giving anti-D injections
on all the above occasions, the
Department of Health now
recommends that anti-D should be
given routinely to all women who
have a Rhesus negative blood
group.
This is done at between 28 and 32
weeks of pregnancy. This has been
shown to reduce the chance of
Haemolytic Disease occurring in
this and future pregnancies.

6)What are the benefits of Anti-D
Injections?
The main benefit of having Anti-D
injections is that the risk of this and
future pregnancies being affected
by Haemolytic Disease is greatly
reduced.

7)What are the risks of Anti-D?

There may be some localised
soreness following the injection.
There has been a lot of research in
recent years looking into whether
blood products such as Anti-D can
cause blood-borne infections such
as Hepatitis B, HIV (the AIDS) virus
or CJD (the human form of “madcow”
disease). There is no
evidence that Anti-D can cause any
of these infections.
All donated blood used in the
manufacture of Anti-D has been
tested for Hepatitis B and C and
HIV (the AIDS virus).
If you need further information
or advice about Anti-D injections
please speak to your midwife,
family doctor or hospital staff.


Hope the above info is helpful for any rh-ve mom.. coz i myself am rh-ve mom and hence i took my anti-d injections on my 28th week.

all the best everyone.. if u need any further info abt this u may search the google..
the above information is from the site
www.nnuh.nhs.uk/viewLeaflet.asp?ID=340 plus what my midwife told me.

cheers
catch_sb

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