WHAT IS IT
Let me start by saying that Anti-D is made from certain antibodies found in human blood and is therefore blood product so those there may be some women who do not wish to have this injection due to ethical or religious reasons.

WHO NEEDS IT
It is recommended that all women who are rhesus negative should have this injection. The exception to this is if you are in a stable relationship and your partner has a rhesus negative blood group.

WHEN IS IT GIVEN
Usually this injection will be offered at about 28 weeks and again at about 36 weeks. You will also be offered the injection after the birth of your baby. Often, but not always your baby will have a blood test to check if he/she has a rhesus positive blood group. If your baby?s blood group is negative then there is no need for the injection. In most cases you will also be offered the Anti-D injection if you have a bleed during your pregnancy.

WHY IS IT NEEDED
Why it is needed is quite complex but I will try to explain it so that anyone can understand. To make this easier to understand we will first talk about the flu. Let?s imagine that you have just been infected with the flu. For the next few days you will not even know that you have been infected but your body will. Very soon after the flu bugs have entered your body it will be detected as something foreign and your body will start to make antibodies to attack and kill this bug. Unfortunately it takes some time to make enough antibodies to kill the flu bug and thus the bug multiplies and you become sick. Now let?s say that you have had the flu injection at the beginning of winter, your body has already made many millions of the antibodies that are needed to overwhelm and kill the flu bug in a very short time.
Now back to the Anti-D. Let?s say that you are pregnant and have a rhesus negative blood group and your unborn baby has a rhesus positive blood group. The problem occurs if the baby?s blood comes into contact with yours. (Not a common occurrence). But should this happen then your body recognises your baby?s blood as something alien and starts to make antibodies against it. Usually this is not a problem for your current pregnancy. Although it can be; however it is usually devastating should you get pregnant again.