RhoGam Risks - Part 1

Jeannine Parvati Baker, author, herbalist, midwife, and mother of 3 passed away last week. She had been very ill with Hep C, contracted from a contaminated Rhogam shot that she was given 25 years ago during the birth of her first child. In her honor, let's talk about the pros and cons of RhoGam.

Part 1: The reasons behind RhoGam

Blood Type 101: There are two major blood types that are talked about. One is the letter (O, A, B, or AB). The other is called the "Rhesus factor," or the Rh factor. That is the - or + that comes after the letter. So, O- is type O, Rh -. There are also many other minor blood factors, but they are less common and therefore less often talked about. If you are Rh+ (O+, A+, B+, or AB+), no worries. If you are Rh- (O-, A-, B-, or AB-), occasionally a situation can arise where your body views the baby inside as an alien invader that must be attacked and destroyed.

Rh Sensitization: When your body views the baby inside as an alien invader that must be attacked and destroyed, the medical and far less interesting term is that you have become "Rh sensitized." In order to become sensitized, blood must mix from a Rh+ baby with a Rh- mom. The vast majority of the time, blood does NOT mix between mom and baby at any time. But occasionally, a small amount of blood will find its way from the fetal into the maternal blood stream. It is only if that occurs that there is any risk of sensitization.

The following events will increase the likelihood of blood mixing during pregnancy:

amniocentesis
partial placental abruption (part of the placenta separates from the uterus)
car accident
domestic abuse
other trauma

The following events will increase the likelihood of blood mixing at birth:

agressive removal of the placenta - agressive cord traction or manual removal
Cesaraen birth
clamping the cord before it is done pulsing
any "traumatic" birth - forceps, vacume extractor, shoulder dystocia

Occasionally, blood will mix even at a normal birth.

After the mixing: If the blood mixes prenatally, and the mother becomes sensitized, the baby can become very sick, sometimes even die. If the blood mixes at the birth, and the mother becomes sensitized, that baby is already out and safe. But if she becomes pregnant again, and the next baby is Rh+, that baby will be attacked and possibly destroyed by the mother's immune system.

Next: Part 2 - The Why To's and Why Not's of RhoGam