I went to the dr. 2 weeks ago to find out my test results from my blood work. She told me that I my blood type is O- witch means I have to do a shot if my husband isn't the same. Last week we did the blood work for my husband and found out he is A+ so this means I have to do a shot of Rhogam. Has anyone had to do this? I already have a child and did not have to do this with her. The Dr said that with the first pregancy it isn't as important as the second because the mother can become sensitized and my body will make antibodies. These antibodies will then attack an Rh positive baby's blood, causing it to breaking down the red blood cells of the baby and anemia will develop. In severe cases this hemolytic disease can cause illness, brain damage and even death. I am very curious to the side affects of the shot and if anyone had any complications with a previous birth.

Thanks.............

I am Rh negative also.  I did have the shots with my first pregnancy, 11 years ago.  My husband was also Rh positive.  Your blood and the babies blood do not mix until delivery, so your body doesn't make antibodies until after your first baby is born.  When you are pregnant the second time, the antibodies will pass through the cord and attack the baby's blood.  Shots during the first pregnancy will prevent your body from producing the antibodies.  I believe that shots during the second pregnancy will prevent the antibodies from affecting the baby.  It is a pretty common thing now.  

My family has a history of Rh negative mothers.  We had a lot of only children followed by blue babies that didn't survive back during my grandmother's and great-grandmother's generations.  We are lucky that we live in an era where they are looking for these things that are easily treated, and we don't have to worry about it.

I am RH negative and had the shot with my first son. I just found out that Im pregnant again, and I expect to have the shot this time as well. I dont remember the shot having any side effects that bothered me, although it was sore for a day or two.

Thanks for the imput ladies, I am just curious, I hate getting shots. I never had any with my first so it was new to me. I had heard about it through Discovery channel but had no idea I was going to have to go through it. Glad to hear that the side affects are not that bad.

I am also RH neg.  I had to do the shots with both of my children.  With my first I had to have a second shot after he was born because he was t blood type, with my second son I only had to do the one during pregnancy as he has - blood type.  I didn't have any problems or side effects of the shot. 

I'm RH- and i had the shots all 3 times i was prego( 2 babies 1 angel) They do the 1st shot around 28wks, and after birth you'll only get the shot if the baby's RH positive. My only advice for the shot is to have it in the rear. With your thigh they stab you and IT HURTS! They also do the arm but my dr's stab there too lol. No real side effects except for a lil pain.

I am RH- as well. This is my first baby and I just had my shot about a week and a half ago. I HATE shots and I was really scared. I had been counting down the weeks through my whole pregnancy until my shot, dreading that day. She gave it to me in my upper right butt cheek and it was over in about half a second. Just a tiny pinch that I barely felt. I didn't have any soreness at all at the injection site in the hours or days following, and no side effects whatsoever. I felt like a huge wimp for dreading it for so long when it wasn't even a big deal at all. hehehe.