I Am O +ve & My Wife Is O -ve.

Posted on Sat, 18 Jul 2020

Question: I am O +ve & My wife is O -ve. We have one four & half yr daughter born through normal delivery. My wife underwent through second pregnancy and just completed 36th weeks under the same Doctor. Yesterday we visited Doctor for follow up inspection and to our XXXXXXX Doctor advised to get admitted for delivery on the very day. Although, my wife has not yet developed any significant symptoms like pain or discharge etc. except she got through a very small whitish discharge.
On our query, Doctor has replied that as the mother's O-ve B-grp, so she will prefer surgery to avoid not any undue risk. We could not understand the risk factors involved due to waiting for some more time for delivery. May please guide what kinds of risks are there and what shall we do now? Shall we proceed with Doctor's advise?

Follow up: Dr. Shanti Vennam (0 minute later)

I am O +ve & My wife is O -ve. We have one four & half yr daughter born through normal delivery. My wife underwent through second pregnancy and just completed 36th weeks under the same Doctor. Yesterday we visited Doctor for follow up inspection and to our XXXXXXX Doctor advised to get admitted for delivery on the very day. Although, my wife has not yet developed any significant symptoms like pain or discharge etc. except she got through a very small whitish discharge.
On our query, Doctor has replied that as the mother's O-ve B-grp, so she will prefer surgery to avoid not any undue risk. We could not understand the risk factors involved due to waiting for some more time for delivery. May please guide what kinds of risks are there and what shall we do now? Shall we proceed with Doctor's advise?

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.

I have gone through your query and would like to offer some information.

Firstly, RH-incompatibility can develop if the first born child is Rh positive as the antibodies develop. If immunization is done soon after delivery and preferably during the second trimester of the next pregnancy, course of pregnancy remains uneventful.

I would like to know what is the group of your first child and also if your wife received anti-D immune globulin injection.

Untreated cases can land in miscarriage, anemia, liver failure etc. in the baby. Severe cases can have brain damage.

In the current scenario, it is ideal to decide the mode of delivery and also the time of delivery depending on the immunity status, fetal condition, conditions favorable or not for vaginal delivery and the possibility of any complications developing if the pregnancy is not terminated.

I suggest that you discuss with your doctor about these issues and plan further management.

Wish your wife safe motherhood.

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (0 minute later)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Shanti Vennam (3 days later)

Thanks mam. My 1st child (baby girl) blood grp is O+ve. Sorry for replying so late as by grace of God, delivery occurred on 18th at 19:09 hrs through surgery. Though, at first doctor initiated n tried her level best effort for Normal but after 8-9 hours of struggle she finally operated. We are again blessed with baby girl and she is O+ve. The doctor revealed that the umbilical cord length was found less than half a meter that's why baby could not reached up to the bottom. Anyway, the mother is ok but after blood examination baby has developped jaundice, her Total Bilurubin count showed 11.0, and the OBGYN doctor advises to go for Phototherepy session at a nearby neonatal intensive care clinic. Today only we got our baby admitted for Phototherepy. Now, i am.bit bothered about how long it will take to achieve bilurubin of normal range? Is there any side effect out of phototherapy? What needs to taken care of to avoid such disease in future?

Follow up: Dr. Shanti Vennam (0 minute later)

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing back.

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby.

Serum bilirubin levels are raised at birth and usually come down in a couple of weeks.

Phototherapy is given for 48 hours usually. Eyes should be protected during the procedure. Some infants may develop rash and diarrhea. Bilirubin levels are checked again.

If you are contemplating another pregnancy, your wife should be immunized immediately and also during the second trimester of the next pregnancy.

Hope you find this information helpful. Please feel free to contact for further clarifications. I will be happy to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad