Does an obstetrician perform an Anti-D injection?

Anti-D, also called rhesus immunoglobulin, is used when a pregnant person's blood type may be RhD-negative and the baby's blood type may be RhD-positive. The obstetrician reviews your blood-group results, pregnancy history, and any event that could allow blood cells to mix, such as bleeding, abdominal injury, an invasive procedure, or birth. A maternity nurse or another trained clinician may give the injection under the obstetrician's plan. The timing depends on the reason for treatment and local maternity arrangements.

Tell your maternity team your blood group if it is known, and mention bleeding, a fall, abdominal trauma, or a pregnancy procedure promptly. Ask whether Anti-D is recommended, who will administer it, and when follow-up testing is needed. Bring your antenatal records so the team can check previous results and injections. More detail is available in the Anti-D Injection guide.

Contact your maternity unit urgently for vaginal bleeding, significant abdominal pain, fluid loss, contractions, reduced fetal movement, or an injury during pregnancy. These symptoms need assessment in their own right, whether or not Anti-D is indicated. Do not wait for a routine appointment after a potentially sensitising event; tell the team when it happened and how much bleeding or pain you have had.

Ask: Is my blood group RhD-negative? What event makes Anti-D relevant for me? How soon should it be given? Will another clinician administer it? Do I need a repeat blood test or a record of the dose?