Hi,
I am currently at 20 weeks and 4 days and have to make the same decision as I am A-.

The first thing you would want to know if possible is the falther's blood type. If it too is -ve then you have nothing more to worry about as your RH status is compatible.

The next thing that would concern me is if there is any mercury in the injection you would be given, (this could also be listed as thimersal), go for a mercury free option if this is the case. We are told to avoid certain fish b'cos of their high mercury content and then they go injecting medicines containing mercury in to pregnant mothers.....tsk tsk.

Another thing you can do is ask to read the insert of the injection that you are to be given, this will list any side effects.

For my part..I have opted to turn down any rh immune globulin injection during pregnancy (it became routine to give it at 28 and 34 weeks 18 months ago) as well as after birth. I will have it once the baby is born and it's RH status has been tested and then only if it is RH+ will I need the injection.

I think it may be possible to email me..., I have some other information that someone sent to me that I can pass on to you if you would email me with your email address. I don't want to just post it here without asking the original sender for permission but I'm sure they won't mind me passing it on individually.

Hope this helps....

I also am RH negative.... I found this out at the time of my miscarriage two years ago. I received a ROGAM shot, similar to the one you are describing.... I do not remember any awful symptoms, or side effects to the shot. A BRUISE on my behind, maybe... but that's about it. The Dr. informed me that normally, the shot is giving at birth of your child, when the mother is RH negative and the father is positive. The shot would need to be administered after each pregnancy or miscarriage to stop your body from producing antibodies......hope this helps.... any more questions, feel free to ask, as I did extensive research on the RH factor. pbsy

I don't take Rhogam any more, neither does my sister. She has 9 postitive children I have 4 out of 12 that are positive.

Most of my concern was on prenatal use since it compormises the immune system for at least6 months in anyone 12 years old or older. Younger children have had longer immune compromise. Fetal immune systems are very delicate and so I only would allow them to give it to me after the pregnancy... meaning I didn't need it at all for my negative children, I stopped all together because it is a blood product. My sister stopped because she does not think it works. The only woman she knows that developed sesitization had three shots and no complications and swears the shot gave her the condition. Interesting thought.

Usually it starts at birth because they did not use to clamp the cord in two places before cutting between them and did not wait till the cord stopped pulsing leaving much of the babies blood to mix with the mothers.

You may want to consider it if you don't get the cord clamped before cutting...like in an emergency when the baby has the cord too tight around the neck.

Stats I read said that there was only 3% risk of sensitisation if there is no precaustion taken by waiting till cord stops pulsating and clamping between mom and cord cut is done prior to delivery of placenta. Risk is nearly 0 if you take precausions as I understand it.

Prenatal use is for cases of trauma to the abdomen or bleeding. If you have not had these there is not medical evidence that it will benefit in any way.

JMO from what I have read.
bananna