Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Do I Need Rhogam Before I Can Get Pregnant Again?

by Jessica
(Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania)

I had a miscarriage on Oct. 26 2006. I am 23 years old and I am O negative and was told I needed to get the rhogam shot at 12 weeks.

I have seen a bunch of different web sites saying you get the shot at 28 weeks and am confussed why I was told I needed to get it at 12 weeks.

We were alomost 12 weeks when we lost the baby. Does that mean that I might have to get the shot before I am able to become pregnant we have been trying now for over two years after the miscarriage and nothing is happening.

Answer:

Hi Jessica,

I am not sure why you would be advised to have Rhogam at 12 weeks; you're correct that it's normally given at 28 weeks and some doctors also give it at 36 weeks.

However, normally women do get Rhogam after a miscarriage - this is because it's possible for the baby's blood and the mother's blood to mix during the miscarriage or a D&C needed after. They get it regardless of when the miscarriage occurs.

There's generally a 72-hour window for getting Rhogam after a miscarriage or birth, because this is about how long it takes the body to develop its own antibodies. Getting Rhogam after that may have no effect or reduced effect.

Getting Rhogam won't help you get pregnant.

If you're concerned about having become sensitized after your miscarriage, I would urge you to call your doctor or midwife and request a screening for antibodies. Usually they will do a test called in Indirect-Coombs, which will tell you if you've become sensitized or not.

If not, you can plan on researching Rhogam and choosing if you want to get it when you reach 28 weeks in your next pregnancy.