Anti C is pretty rare! Its most often seen in surrogates or mothers who have donated eggs due to baby having a completely different blood type.
It is just like Anti D in its effects, in that it may cause haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), but this is EXTREMELY rare. However the best news here is that unlike Anti-D it is usually benign and doesnt cause problems (at a complex level, the gene expression and inheritance concerned is different to Anti-D). The closer monitoring will, most likely, be all that your friend needs during this pregnancy and future ones Chances are that even if her levels do rise.... they need to quadruple (but this varies from hospital to hospital) before fetal evaluation is needed, and the critical threshold for the disease is much higher (about 1:32 i think?).
The important thing to remember here, is that the baby is only at risk if its blood type is different to your friends, this will also be influenced by whether she has the same partner as the last pregnancy, and if he carries the "C" gene. If the baby doesnt have the gene, the antibodies should not rise, and wont cause a problem.
I know that this doesnt calm fears anymore, but a better understanding of the condition can help with the uncertainty. I really urge your friend to return to the doctor, book an extended appointment and sit down with them and make sure that they explain everything in minute detail, in language that she can understand, as to the implications, testing, risk, treatment for this pregnancy and future ones. If that doctor fobs her off, find another one that doesnt. Knowledge is really helpful when it comes to things like this.
I hope your friend has a happy and healthy pregnancy, hopefully without too much stress
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Chances are that even if her levels do rise.... they need to quadruple (but this varies from hospital to hospital) before fetal evaluation is needed, and the critical threshold for the disease is much higher (about 1:32 i think?
).
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