26 week update

[davidsmommy]

26 weeks today :)

Yesterday, I had my monthly OB checkup. Baby was quite active again, he kicked the doppler again--HARD. I mean, when he kicked it was almost like I was being pinched inbetween his foot and the doppler. HA! Anyway, doc said baby is still very healthy, and developing normally... although he said the baby is almost 3 pounds now, and the description on i_am_pregnant.com says a baby at this stage should be almost 2 pounds... hmm... Anyway, he reassured me that I wasn't going to have a giant for a baby. He still expects something in the range of my first child--who was 8 lb. 2oz. Big enough, as far as I'm concerned ;)

I was also supposed to get the Rhogam shot yesterday, but the doc looked at my charts and said he'd prefer me waiting two more weeks to get to 28 weeks before getting it. He reminded me what a long process it is anyway. I forgot that it can take 4 to 6 hours! :shock: Do any of the rest of you have to get this shot? I had to have it with David as well.

[EvaS]

Glad all went well with you appt!

I've never heard of that shot. What is it for?

[Cheeseburger]

Honestly i've never heard of that shot either?

What kind of shot can take 4-6 hours to get is what I am wondering? LOL.

Glad all is well with you and your LO :-)

[luvmy4sons]

I used to give Rhogam shots. Thy women came in at 28 weeks. We gave them the shot in the hip. There was a short waiting period but it never took more than 1/2 an hour! Hmmm...of course I haven 't been an L&D nurse since 1996! :?

[davidsmommy]

The shot is for mothers that have a negative Rh blood type, i.e. like mine O negative. The Rh factor originates from a protein that was actually found in Rhesus monkeys... If you have the protein you are Rh positive, and if you don't you are Rh negative.

If a mother is Rh negative, and the father is Rh positive, the mother must get two Rhogam shots. One at the beginning of the third trimester, and one right after the baby is born.

If she doesn't, if the mother's blood comes in contact with the baby's blood, (and it does naturally during pregnancy) the negative blood attacks the positive blood... :shock: If a mother does not get the shot, she risks basically poisoning her child's blood... It can be fatal for the baby.

The reason the shot takes so long is that it involves the following steps:

1. Go to the hospital to get blood drawn. Even if you've already been declared Rh negative, they check everytime.

2. Go home for 2 hours while they test the blood.

3. Come back. Get admitted to Labor & Delivery.

4. The nurses hook the mother up to monitor baby's heartbeat, etc...

5. The mother gets the shot while hooked up.

6. The mother hangs out in Labor & Delivery :lol: for at least 2 hours to be monitored. Basically, they want to make sure there is not an allergic reaction to the Rhogam.

I HATE needles, but I can't risk the life of the baby. While there are normally no problems with Rh with the first child, successive children are more prone to problems, as the mother's blood has built up antibodies against the Rh positive factor.

Lucky girls if you don't have to deal with this :wink:

[harmony5]

My doctor's must be some kind of slackers or something because with my last 2 children, I just got the shot in their office on my regular 28 week visit. :? Maybe they didn't mess me up too bad!

Lori :D

[MommaBear]

That's great that Baby is well and healthy! I don't have to get the shot. B postive lady here! Take care and hope all continues to go well! ~Kerri

[SupermansLady]

Glad things went well for you! Good luck with the shot...I don't have to get one, but remember one of my friends having one a few years ago...she had to do the same as you (draw blood, go home, hospital, shot)

Good luck and thanks for posting about the baby!