Antibodies: Anti-c

I have been blessed to be a Mom of 4 kids and 1 angel baby. When I got pregnant with my 2nd child blood tests were done and I was made aware that I then had the anti-c antibody in my system and that I got it from mine and my first baby’s blood mixing during my pregnancy/delivery with him. Additional blood tests of mine and my husband’s showed us that my husband has the dominant c antigen (homozygous) which would now cause the rest of my pregnancies to be affected by this anti-c antibody issue. I was scared but I had titer level checks with baby #2 and #3 and they never got to the point of anemia and besides them needing to be under lights for jaundice they were healthy. Since the anti-c antibody issue gets worse with every pregnancy, I saw MFM regularly with baby #3 and that helped so much put my mind at ease. When I pregnant with baby #4 I was excited but also nervous that something bad would happen. I had an appointment with MFM at 13 weeks but the baby was too small to check for anemia so I was scheduled to go back at 20 weeks. Unfortunately at 19 weeks at a regular OB appoint, I was told my baby no longer had a heartbeat. I had to deliver my little girl 2 days later and it was the hardest thing I ever had to go through. Later on we learned that she most likely passed away due to anemia but that it just wasn’t caught in time. It took a lot of faith and prayer but my husband and I decided to try for another baby. When I was pregnant with baby #5 I was terrified the entire pregnancy. I saw my MFM specialist at 16 weeks and they were shocked to see that my baby was already anemic. The anti-c antibodies were working in full force. I immediately started to live at the MFM office and on the labor and delivery floor where the 1st transfusion occurred at 16 weeks. My baby had to receive 10 blood transfusions in utero. The first 5 were done via intraperitoneal because of the cord being too small and then the last 5 were done via intravascular. With all of the risks, it was a terrifying situation to be in. My MFM specialist Dr. Donna Dizon Townson who performed all 10 of the intrauterine fetal transfusions was amazing! There was not a day that went by that she wasn’t making sure that myself and my baby were okay. My little boy whom we named Jett was born at 35 weeks due to having had so many blood transfusions. He was in the NICU for 2 1/2 weeks and was Coombs positive. His hemoglobin, hematocrit, and bone marrow were constantly checked. No transfusions occurred during his NICU stay but he did have to go home on oxygen. At this time we were hoping his bone marrow would kick in before his hemoglobin dropped to a low number but that wasn’t the case due to him needing so many uterine transfusions. When he was exactly 1 month old, his hemoglobin dropped to a 7 so he needed an immediate blood transfusion. Unfortunately this 11th transfusion ended up being a botched transfusion and Jett received 10x the amount of blood he should have due to a doctor writing the order wrong. It was a horrible mistake and it required my tiny 6 lb boy to receive 2 reverse transfusions along with us watching for potential blood clots and seizures. I immediately called and cried to my MFM doctor who by chance was hiking but still took my call because of how much she loved me and Jett. The advocate team and hospital administration were involved and an investigation occurred. Changes had to be made to their system so that this mistake would never happen again. For the next year Jett had to be monitored closely and had to get labs done a couple of times every month. He survived all 10 intrauterine transfusions and that 11th botched transfusion. He’s a healthy 4 year old now and I am so blessed to have him as my miracle little boy and to have had a doctor like Dr. Dizon Townson that cares so deeply for her patients and that we will forever have a close friendship with her because of my story!

How Can Health Providers Help?

Make yourself aware of alloimmunization disease and have your patients see an MFM team asap! Listen to your patients! If they are even slightly concerned about something, listen to them and take action. A parent’s especially a mother’s intuition is very real. I spoke up about the amount of blood my baby was going to receive before his botched transfusion but I wasn’t listened to and if I would have been then the mistake that occurred could have been prevented. Warn parents of the risks and processes of reproducing with alloimmunization.

How Can Scientists Help?

I have been asked so many times if there is a way to control antibodies from attacking my babies…some sort of pill or procedure and of course there’s nothing like that. I would ask the scientific community to do research to find some sort of antigen blocker to not cross the placenta.

What Would You Tell Other Patients?

Have faith and be prayerful! You are not alone! SPEAK UP! Tell your MFM team any and all concerns you have. Do your research to help you understand about HDFN. It will be mentally, emotionally, and physically draining but the end result of having a healthy baby will make your journey all worth it