RE: [ozmidwifery] Info on Rhesus negative births

[Ken Ward]

Title: Message

if your friend developed antibodies because of her blood group ie she's negative and partner positive, these antibodies cross the placenta and kill off the baby's red blood cells.  The baby can die, or become very sick. The jaundice can be explained by this and also the early birth. Labour and vaginal birth could easily stress these babies.  Sometimes caesareans are necessary.    Maureen. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Wayne and Caroline McCullough Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 11:10 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ozmidwifery] Info on Rhesus negative births A friend of mine had her baby by C-Section this week due to problems resulting from her being RH negative and her husband being RH positive. She was 37 weeks and the baby has been in NICU since late last night because of severe jaundice (my guess is that's from the operation). She has not been able to hold her baby or breastfeed yet and has had massive headaches, poor thing but I think she is expressing milk so that's a good sign. This is her second baby but I think she also had a C-Section with the first.   We did talk a lot about her birthing options before the baby was born but I am not educated enough on Rhesus factors to know whether or not her C-Section and the separation from her baby was indeed necessary. Does anyone know more about this? I am not going to go and tell her now that it was not necessary if that was the case but I would like to know for my own personal knowledge.   Am planning on calling her tomorrow to see how she is getting on (and how baby is getting on). She is at the Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane.   Cheers,   Cas McCullough