Another week another drama in Bump world. Good news my glucose levels are fine after the disgusting Lucozade test so no gestational diabetes for me. Bad news, whilst testing the glucose tolerance my bloods revealed a nasty shock - my negative blood group has developed antibodies.
Ironically I found out this information at the appointment to have the Anti-D injection to stop my body from triggering these pesky antibodies. So it is now too late and I am stuck with them forever. They don't seem to know how this has happened as i haven't suffered any trauma to the bump which could cause baby and my blood to mix but what it means to the baby is that my blood has been 'sensitised' so if the bump is a positive blood group (which statistically it is likely as Husband and Little E are) my blood can start to attack the baby's red blood cells thinking they are foreign bodies. The level at which this happens depends on the concentration of the antibodies in my blood and how the baby then copes with this attack.
As this has happened past 12 weeks (my bloods were fine when they checked at my booking appointment) hopefully this baby will be lucky and only have a weak attack but any future babies I have will be attacked right from the start because the antibodies will always be present now. Even though we only planned on having two this makes me sad.
So what happens now? Not entirely sure as the midwife was somewhat vague. I have an appointment with my consultant next week (luckily) who can give me more information and I assume test the concentration of the antibodies in my blood so we know how bad the problem is. But for now I am left freaking out and feeling rather upset that my body is fighting Bump and potentially causing damage rather than nurturing it.
Ironically I found out this information at the appointment to have the Anti-D injection to stop my body from triggering these pesky antibodies. So it is now too late and I am stuck with them forever. They don't seem to know how this has happened as i haven't suffered any trauma to the bump which could cause baby and my blood to mix but what it means to the baby is that my blood has been 'sensitised' so if the bump is a positive blood group (which statistically it is likely as Husband and Little E are) my blood can start to attack the baby's red blood cells thinking they are foreign bodies. The level at which this happens depends on the concentration of the antibodies in my blood and how the baby then copes with this attack.
As this has happened past 12 weeks (my bloods were fine when they checked at my booking appointment) hopefully this baby will be lucky and only have a weak attack but any future babies I have will be attacked right from the start because the antibodies will always be present now. Even though we only planned on having two this makes me sad.
So what happens now? Not entirely sure as the midwife was somewhat vague. I have an appointment with my consultant next week (luckily) who can give me more information and I assume test the concentration of the antibodies in my blood so we know how bad the problem is. But for now I am left freaking out and feeling rather upset that my body is fighting Bump and potentially causing damage rather than nurturing it.
