Rh Sensitization and Blood Transfusions

[ejmagdaleno]

If an O negative mother becomes sensitized by exposure to her positive blood type fetus' blood during pregnancy, how does that affect the mother in the future if she needs a blood transfusion?

My OB GYN said that if I became sensitized that it would be very difficult for me to get blood if I ever needed a blood transfusion in the future. However, my understanding is that as someone who has O Negative blood that I could only receive O negative blood to begin with. Does being sensitized mean that even receiving a transfusion of O negative blood would not work?

I have issues with having the RhoGam shot during pregnancy (would prefer to do it right after delivery) and this is what my doctor told me.

[Darby]

Are you sure that's what they said?

Maybe it was because O- is pretty rare, but that's what they would give you regardless.

It doesn't really make sense that they would say that, but I've heard doctors say dumber things...