Anti-D Explained

Anti-D has been given to childbearing women with rhesus negative blood since the 1970s. It's was and is given to help protect any future babies a woman has from disease. But the story is much more complex than this, as Sara beautifully conveys. Surprisingly perhaps, relatively little has been written about it. In this complete rewrite of a book she wrote 20 years ago on the subject, Sara has shown us that there is in fact a lot to write and think about. As ever, she has been able to very skillfully make a complex topic fascinating and understandable. She thoughtfully weaves together research evidence and critical comment, spelling out what we know, what we don't know and what questions still need to be researched. This is such an important book on a topic that impacts on many pregnant women and their babies. Crucial reading for midwives, other birth workers and pregnant women. I'm so delighted that its available and will be pointing women and others towards it regularly.

Sara Wickham's book does exactly what it promises. In it she explains a technical subject in a way that is remarkably clear and accessible to the lay person. The reader is guided through the complexities of the way in which research is commissioned, funded and carried out. I thought I would struggle with an area I have no previous knowledge of but I was gently led through so that I finished the book with an understanding of why and how anti-D is offered to women. I also felt a much greater understanding of how our collective knowledge advances and the difficulties faced by those who need to treat problems with incomplete knowledge. A brilliant book.