How to Get RhoGAM After Birth

Red blood cells contain markers that the immune system recognizes. One of those markets is the Rh factor. Any person with Rh is his blood is Rh positive (as in the blood type B+). If a person does not have Rh in her blood, she is Rh negative (as in blood type A-). Women who are Rh negative, but have Rh positive partners, must take Rh immune globulin (brand name RhoGAM) during and after birth.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get your blood tested in the early stages of pregnancy to determine if you are Rh negative. If you are, your partner must be tested. If he is Rh positive, your unborn fetus might be Rh positive as well. If a Rh negative woman has a Rh positive fetus, their blood can intermingle during childbirth. If this happens, the mother's immune system may produce antibodies that can destroy the fetus' red blood cells because of the Rh incompatibility. This may lead to jaundice, anemia or heart failure in the fetus.

2. Receive an initial RhoGAM shot around the 28th week of your pregnancy. Should your blood intermingle with your fetus' blood before delivery, this shot prevents an Rh sensitization problem. You should get a RhoGAM shot before the 28th week if you have an amniocentesis, a chorionic villus sampling, an external cephalic version (the turning of a breech baby by a doctor) or any vaginal bleeding.

3. Deliver your baby. If it turns out that your baby is indeed Rh positive, you will receive another shot of RhoGAM. This protects any future Rh positive fetuses from Rh sensitization. You should also receive a second shot of RhoGAM after an abortion, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

4. Deal with complications that may arise from Rh sensitization should it happen before delivery. Your newborn may need a blood transfusion immediately after birth, or even while still in the womb, for compromised red blood cells. You may need to deliver your baby via Cesarean section to avoid further blood mingling.