ljmorgan
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,037
Awww Steph congratulations! So excited about the safe delivery of your little guy! Cannot wait for pics
For the ladies not familiar with Rh disease: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh_disease Background for the ladies who were unaware I had my daughter last April and she was stillborn due to Rh disease. I was exposed to O+ blood during a blood transfusion for a surgery I had years ago (I am O-.) My body created antibodies to this blood, and attacks the blood of any O+ children that I carry(my husband is O+... we have a 50/50 shot each time of having a O+ or O- baby... but both children have been O+!) Most women never develop antibodies thanks to the Rhogam injections (which you should never turn down if you have a negative blood type!)
For Meresal who asked for my "way ahead:"
Weekly ultrasounds to measure the velocity of the blood flow in an artery in the baby''s brain. When the velocity reaches 1.5 times the average velocity for his gestational age, I''ll undergo an intrauterine transfusion. Also I''m spending one night a week in the hospital to receive IViG therapy to hopefully slow my antibodies crossing the placenta.
The procedure takes place in a hospital operating room and I will be lightly sedated for relaxation which also is supposed to slow the baby''s movements. They use a needle to obtain a sample of the baby''s blood by placing the needle through my abdomen into the baby''s umbilical vein near where it connects to the placenta. They draw the blood, and give it to a "runner" who runs it down to the lab where the blood is tested immediately -- they determine exactly how anemic the baby is (they check the hemoglobin or hemocrit, can''t remember the lingo.) That determines how much blood they will transfuse the baby with. They''ll transfuse him with O- blood like mine so that my antibodies will not destroy the blood. Transfusions typically last 7-15 days until the baby needs another one. That will happen until 36-37 weeks hopefully (they try to get you to 36-37 weeks but the average delivery for these babies is 34 weeks.)
Anyway, today the baby was measuring at 1.3... so already showing signs of mild anemia. Blah. The nurse today told me that I will definitely need transfusions this time, it''s just a matter of when. It could be next week or it could be at 30 weeks... impossible to tell. Except for the fact that he''s already showing signs of anemia. When his level hits 1.5 we''ll transfuse.
Yes it is good we''re aware that he''s Rh+ but it doesn''t change very much. We suspected that my first child was Rh+ and I was being monitored with the ultrasounds just like I am now -- things can just go wrong, she still died from it. Her numbers always came back perfect... and then she died of severe anemia two days before my next ultrasound was supposed to happen. She hadn''t shown signs of needing a transfusion yet. Each subsequent pregnancy the anemia sets in sooner, which is why the nurse is certain (besides my already elevated reading of the baby''s MCA) we''ll have transfusions this time. Transfusions can be very hard on their little bodes... it can send them into shock, cardiac arrest, etc. Also, the transfusions are more irritating to the uterus due to the often sideways placement off the needle, and usually cause contractions. They usually give an injection to stop this. Each time I will have a transfusion, I have to be prepped for a C-section.
I sincerely appreciate all of the kind words and thoughts. We knew what we were getting into this time around, and we remain supremely hopeful. It is all worth it!
For the ladies not familiar with Rh disease: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh_disease Background for the ladies who were unaware I had my daughter last April and she was stillborn due to Rh disease. I was exposed to O+ blood during a blood transfusion for a surgery I had years ago (I am O-.) My body created antibodies to this blood, and attacks the blood of any O+ children that I carry(my husband is O+... we have a 50/50 shot each time of having a O+ or O- baby... but both children have been O+!) Most women never develop antibodies thanks to the Rhogam injections (which you should never turn down if you have a negative blood type!)
For Meresal who asked for my "way ahead:"
Weekly ultrasounds to measure the velocity of the blood flow in an artery in the baby''s brain. When the velocity reaches 1.5 times the average velocity for his gestational age, I''ll undergo an intrauterine transfusion. Also I''m spending one night a week in the hospital to receive IViG therapy to hopefully slow my antibodies crossing the placenta.
The procedure takes place in a hospital operating room and I will be lightly sedated for relaxation which also is supposed to slow the baby''s movements. They use a needle to obtain a sample of the baby''s blood by placing the needle through my abdomen into the baby''s umbilical vein near where it connects to the placenta. They draw the blood, and give it to a "runner" who runs it down to the lab where the blood is tested immediately -- they determine exactly how anemic the baby is (they check the hemoglobin or hemocrit, can''t remember the lingo.) That determines how much blood they will transfuse the baby with. They''ll transfuse him with O- blood like mine so that my antibodies will not destroy the blood. Transfusions typically last 7-15 days until the baby needs another one. That will happen until 36-37 weeks hopefully (they try to get you to 36-37 weeks but the average delivery for these babies is 34 weeks.)
Anyway, today the baby was measuring at 1.3... so already showing signs of mild anemia. Blah. The nurse today told me that I will definitely need transfusions this time, it''s just a matter of when. It could be next week or it could be at 30 weeks... impossible to tell. Except for the fact that he''s already showing signs of anemia. When his level hits 1.5 we''ll transfuse.
Yes it is good we''re aware that he''s Rh+ but it doesn''t change very much. We suspected that my first child was Rh+ and I was being monitored with the ultrasounds just like I am now -- things can just go wrong, she still died from it. Her numbers always came back perfect... and then she died of severe anemia two days before my next ultrasound was supposed to happen. She hadn''t shown signs of needing a transfusion yet. Each subsequent pregnancy the anemia sets in sooner, which is why the nurse is certain (besides my already elevated reading of the baby''s MCA) we''ll have transfusions this time. Transfusions can be very hard on their little bodes... it can send them into shock, cardiac arrest, etc. Also, the transfusions are more irritating to the uterus due to the often sideways placement off the needle, and usually cause contractions. They usually give an injection to stop this. Each time I will have a transfusion, I have to be prepped for a C-section.
I sincerely appreciate all of the kind words and thoughts. We knew what we were getting into this time around, and we remain supremely hopeful. It is all worth it!
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