Questions about miscarriage and RH factor

HopefulCyster · 08-11-2006, 03:18 AM

Maybe you ladies can help me with this question I have... Iv' e been doing some research, and talked to a couple people tonight... and the way it looks, it seems that RH- mothers tend to miscarry their male children....

Do any of you know this to be true, either in your case, or if you have heard of this to be true in other cases?

I've been needing some closure lately about what my child would have been, I want so bad to give him/her a name... I've been calling him/her Angel, as it can go for either... but all my research makes me think I was in fact, carrying a boy.

Thoughts, opinions and info would be so greatly appreciated!

spiritswhisper · 08-13-2006, 05:10 PM

Kimberly ... Honestly I am not sure but I am rh neg and miscarried a baby boy .However I don't know if the rh caused the m/c as a had a tear in the placenta also.

HopefulCyster · 08-13-2006, 06:15 PM

Thanks so much for your reply! I was thinking that no one was going to answer my post. I have done yet more research, and it just continues to point to the male child.

So, I am wondering if I should believe my baby was a boy, and then that way I can find a little closure on some of this.... I really feel the need to give my child a proper name, though I can't explain why.

Sorry for your loss ***HUGS***. Did you receive the Rho-Gam shot as well? My mother is RH-. She had me just fine, but my brother was born 3 months early and almost died. He had to receive lots of blood, medications and treatments. My husband's aunt had 5 children - 2 healthy girls, 1 boy that was miscarried, and then 2 more healthy girls. She was RH- too. So it just looks like males can't handle the RH- blood. Its so sad.

*~SugarPlums~* · 08-13-2006, 09:22 PM

I am rh negative and for 3 of my miscarriages I didn't know the sex (2 were blighted ovums) but my 4th loss I had a boy and a girl. I just refer to all my lossess as my angel babies as many other women do. Sorry about your loss.

HopefulCyster · 08-13-2006, 10:25 PM

Thanks Sandra, sorry for your losses.

I guess honestly I will never truly know my answer, no matter how much I want, search or think. So I'll continue to call my baby Angel. ***HUGS*** to you both, and your angel babies.

*~SugarPlums~* · 08-14-2006, 01:39 AM

I know how you feel. for a long time I wondered too. Then I thought to myself regardless of what it was it was still my child. That's why I think many of us refer to them in the same way. Baby Angel is a beatiful name and carries with it such a beautiful meaning. You will one day have a beautiful baby in your arms, trust in God and never lose hope. (((((HUGS)))))

HopefulCyster · 08-14-2006, 03:57 AM

Thank you, ***HUGS*** back.

ChocFish · 08-14-2006, 04:16 AM

Kimberley, I'm RH- too, as is my sister and many of the women in my family. My sister has had four pregnancies and two losses. One of her losses was a little girl, the other we don't know. But the important thing I would like you to know is that her two successful pregnancies were both boys - my darling nephews! So RH- mothers CAN carry boys.

As far as your Mom's experience goes, being RH- is not necessarily a problem with the first pregnancy, but it is for subsequent pregnancies, as it is after the first pregnancy that the mother's body starts making antibodies. That's why the "rho-gam" or "anti-d" shot is given - to stop that happening. So its probably the fact that your brother was the second child that caused the difficulties, not that he was a boy.

Anyway, I'm not a doctor and I don't have any medical training so I may be incorrect about the boy thing. These are just my thoughts from the reading I've done on the subject.

Oh, and for what its worth, I think Angel is a beautiful and appropriate name. I hope you find the closure you are seeking.

HTH

HopefulCyster · 08-15-2006, 03:43 PM

Thanks Choc, you helped me to understand RH a little better. Its just one of those things I suppose.

***HUGS***

RunnerDuck · 08-15-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChocFish

As far as your Mom's experience goes, being RH- is not necessarily a problem with the first pregnancy, but it is for subsequent pregnancies, as it is after the first pregnancy that the mother's body starts making antibodies. That's why the "rho-gam" or "anti-d" shot is given - to stop that happening. So its probably the fact that your brother was the second child that caused the difficulties, not that he was a boy.

I was going to say that same thing. It usually isn't a problem until mom has been exposed to the rH and develops antibodies.

With regard to something else you said "So it just looks like males can't handle the RH- blood." - this is not quite accurate. It is not a problem of the baby rejecting the mom, it is a problem of the mom rejecting the baby. A host with rH - blood will view the presence of rH as a threat and attack accordingly, and this is what happens when rH factor is an issue in pregnancy. It also happens in blood transfusions; someone who is + can recieve - blood but someone who is - cannot recieve + blood. The rhogham prevents this rejection from occurring.

The only way I can see that women who are rH - would be more likely to miscarry males is if males are more likely to be rH + and I have no idea whether or not that is the case.

Not a medical doctor, though... largely speculating here, could be wrong.

Hopefully being aware of this problem and treating accordingly next time is all you need to worry about, not what gender your next child is. Regardless of the rH, male loss, etc, mommy intuition is often right. I knew my first child was a boy fron very early on... and for some reason I "know" my miscarried pregnancy would have been a girl, if that is possible. I don't know if blighted ovums can even have genders, but that's what I felt, and I figure if I was right the first time, I could have been right again. So if your heart tells you boy, go with it... but don't worry about that being a factor in the loss.

Good luck next time.

Kristina921 · 08-15-2006, 06:41 PM

I am RH- also, I've had the rho-gam shots after each loss. It's good that you are aware of it so you'll know to ask for the shot in your next pregnancy. They will probably give you one at the beginning and right after labor.

Good Luck

HopefulCyster · 08-15-2006, 06:49 PM

Thanks ladies! The more informed I am, the better I can watch out for these things.

I appreciate all your advice and caring words. Sorry for all of your losses and I hope that we all get our precious miracle babies soon!

My intuition says I was having a boy, so I am going to go with that. I am still going to leave his name Angel though. Thanks again everyone! ***HUGS***

lmcavoy · 08-20-2006, 07:39 PM

Just wanted to add one thing about Rh. I test Rh and blood types for a living, well atleast I did before I decided to stay home for awhile. If your husband is Rh - also, you have no worries. A - and a - will never ever have issues. Most doctors don't even test hubbies though because in the words of mine - we can't be sure he's the father of your baby. Rh will never affect a first child, only subsequent as others have indicated. If you have any questions that I can answer, please feel free to PM me.

HopefulCyster · 08-20-2006, 07:47 PM

Hi, thanks for the info. DH's blood is something positive. I can't remember the exact type right now.

I was hoping the RH was the reason behind my loss... at least then I had some kind of "answer" to hold on to. Now that its likely not the RH.... that scares me even more. I am in my 2ww at the moment... I thought I had an idea of what caused my loss, but now I am even more worried.

lmcavoy · 08-20-2006, 08:16 PM

Best of luck Kimberly! My prayers are with you!