Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Rh Negative and Water Birth

I had an ectopic pregnancy 4 months ago and am trying to get pregnant again. I have O- blood type and my husband has A+ so before my surgery to remove the ruptured ectopic pregnancy I was given Rhogam.

I really want to have a water birth, but am not sure if that is ideal since I do not have the Rh factor. Do you have any information on this?! Thanks.

Answer:

I don't have any information specifically on water birth for the Rh- mother.

However, the best kind of birth for an Rh- mother to have is a gentle birth, because that carries the least chance of mother and baby's blood mixing, which means she has less chance of becoming sensitized.

Water birth is probably the most gentle birth simply because the water gives so much support to both the mother's tissues and the baby. There's less chance of the mother tearing, too.

I also recommend you do the Internal Work from the Pink Kit to minimize or eliminate tearing - it really works. You start it around 30-31wks pregnancy.

I have personally had two water births. My third baby was a big baby (8lbs, 10oz) and he was born in water. He is 0+. I chose to have Rhogam after his birth. His water birth caused me no complications, in fact, his birth was wonderful and I felt great after. My fourth baby was also a water birth and I had no problems with that (8lbs, 3oz) - in fact, his birth was amazing and very straightforward. He is 0- so I did not have Rhogam after his birth.

Here are their birth stories, if you'd like to read:

Brennan's Birth
Galen's Birth

Personally after having two water births and two "land births" I will pick a waterbirth any day!

I have never heard of waterbirth being recommended against because a mother is Rh-. You can still have Rhogam after a waterbirth if you choose to get it postpartum (if your baby is Rh+).

Please let me know if you have any further questions. Lots of baby dust to you as you TTC :)