5 WEEKS – I discovered I am pregnant bit of a shock as I am on the pill (have to say I’m not a good recommendation for contraception my son was conceived through a condom!) I am very worried as I know I have rhesus antibodies C, D and E. I carry a blood card around with me. However I am with a different partner I hope that his blood type might be Negative but I know there is not much hope as there isn’t many of us out there.
6 WEEKS – I am referred to a consultant obstarision I don’t feel he knows very much as he tells me have nothing to really worry about its easily managed and my last doctors painted a very worst case scenario. He sends me for blood tests the normal ones and the antibody ones. He has seen my notes for about 5 minutes before seeing me. I am told I will have to have blood taken every 4 weeks to measure my antibody levels.
7 – WEEKS – I discover my blood has had to be sent to ST Georges hospital in Tooting as my hospital cannot check the antibody levels they can only detect that they are there it has taken a week to get my results. I hope it isn’t going to take a week every time I get them checked. I am very upset to discover that my anti D antibody level has risen from five years ago being 13.8 to now being 18.2. The midwife tells me not to worry and asks me to come in for a maternal peripheral blood test. (A blood test taken from me to discover the baby’s blood type) I go in and have this done and told results should be back within 48 hours. I telephone that antenatal clinic 3 days later and I am told that the maternal peripheral test cannot be done until I am 12 weeks pregnant. It is not a normal test to be done and they have never done it before I do wish they had checked first or at least let me know instead of me waiting for days thinking I’d get a few results.