My blood group did not affect my baby
Esther Kimotho, a rhesus negative mum, was anxious about her condition as a rhesus negative pregnant mum. She was particularly worried about her baby’s safety and survival. She shares her experience with BabyLove Network.
During my pregnancy, I had to do an indirect Coombs test (a prenatal test done to detect antibodies in the blood) because I am Rhesus negative. This is a blood test that I did once every month to monitor if I was developing antibodies against my baby. For one reason or the other, the results always turned out positive unlike during pregnancy with my first child, now six years old, when all the Coombs test results were negative.
When I was 28 weeks, the doctor detected that my blood contained high levels of antibodies. However, she ruled that it was too early to do anything intrusive because the foetus was too small. She suggested more tests at 30 and 32 weeks respectively. I was also advised to go for obstetrics scans to check the condition of the foetus. Fortunately, the results were normal.
What helped me most was: I think when one is pregnant she has to see a good, patient and understanding doctor who will allay any fears and be open with her about any real risks she faces. For instance, my doctor told me frankly that my situation was a bit worrying but it was too early for her to intervene. The radiologist I was seeing was also good and would explain to me the images during the scan.
When I went for another Coombs test at 32 weeks, the level of the antibodies had gone down so the test was negative. That was a relief because all along the tests were positive. The doctor explained that there might have been something in my system that had triggered the change. She further explained that at 28 to 30 weeks the placenta begins to age. During this period, there is a higher chance of the mother’s blood mixing with that of the foetus, and that could have played a role. She reassured me that there was no need to worry because at the time of delivery she would test the baby’s blood and if incompatible with mine, I would be given an anti-D injection. This is a protective injection given to a mother whose blood group is’ negative but her unborn baby’s is positive.
When the blood test was done, my doctor told me that my son had the same blood group as mine: 0 negative.
Apart from blood group issues, my pregnancy was generally normal. My due date was 28th November but my doctor advised me that I might deliver earlier as I had with my first baby who came two days before my EDD.
On the morning of 20th November, I prepared to report for an assignment that was to end on Friday 23rd November. As I was taking breakfast I began feeling some mild pains. I dismissed the feeling, assuming it was the baby turning. The pains persisted and I decided to observe the rate at which they occurred. I noted an interval of 5 minutes. I knew then that I was in labour!
My husband, who had just dropped off our daughter Nyambura at school, took me to hospital where we arrived at about 1 o’clock.
On arrival I had already dilated 6cm, which I was happy about because in a matter of hours-at least by 6pm-1 would be having my baby. My doctor came to check on me at 3 o’clock but I was still at 6 cm! She told me she was going to hasten the process by breaking my amniotic fluid. She also instructed the nurses to augment my labour if the baby did not progress within an hour.
At 6.30 p.m. I felt an urge to push the baby and called in a nurse. But I was only 8cm dilated. My contractions were not strong enough to push the baby, so I was induced at 7 pm. I knew then that I had missed my target hour of delivery. The nurse noted that the baby’s head was still a little bit high and asked me to walk to the delivery room as well as try to pass some urine so as to assist the baby’s progress, but I had no urine!
She then asked me to sit on a birthing stool. The low stool seemed so far down that I wondered whether I would be able to stand up once I sat on it. I therefore opted for the nurse to first check the baby’s progress and climbed back on the bed. She said she could see the baby’s head. At exactly 8p.m I delivered a baby boy. I then called in my husband who was very excited to find out it was a boy. Our son weighed 3.2 kilograms and we named him Gachina Kimotho. My husband and sister-in-law were the first to see the baby even before the umbilical cord was cut off.
END: PG 11/ 38