Love Island’s Jess and Dom Lever took TEN pregnancy tests and feared baby was at risk because of rare blood condition
LOVE Island’s Jess and Dom Lever took TEN pregnancy tests and have revealed that their baby is at risk due to a rare blood condition.
The couple found out in January that Jess was pregnant – within two weeks of having conceived – but they only announced their happy news earlier this month.
Jess, 25, is now five months pregnant and told new! magazine: “We found out at on to two weeks. We did ten tests just to make sure!”
The married stars were soon made aware that their baby could experience compilations due to a rare blood type – RH Negative.
They were told that it means their child could develop rhesus disease, where the mother’s blood cells attempt to destroy the baby’s blood cells leading to anaemia and jaundice.
The risks involved meant that the couple decided to wait to tell their family and friends their baby news, out of fear that something could go wrong.
Jess explained: “I have found it a bit daunting. Even up until i started to feel a kick more regularly. I was like, ‘Is everything OK?!”
“Even after you’ve had your scans and you can see everything’s fine you always worry until you can feel the baby moving.
“We’ve been sat there of an evening with a stethoscope on!”
She continued: “We left it really late, past 12 weeks, before we told anyone, not even my parents. So in the space of three days we told everyone we’re close to and they were over the moon. There’s no scare factor for them.”
Jess admitted that she’s adjusting her new shape and bump, but Dom, 28, couldn’t help pointing out his favourite change in her body.
What is Rhesus disease?
- Rhesus disease is a condition where antibodies in a pregnant woman’s blood destroy her baby’s blood cells
- It’s also known as haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN)
- Rhesus disease doesn’t harm the mother, but it can cause the baby to become anaemic and develop jaundice
- If you are Rh negative blood type, you might need to have a blood test — an antibody screen — during your first trimester, during week 28 of pregnancy and at delivery
- Rhesus disease can largely be prevented by having an injection of a medication called anti-D immunoglobulin
He told the magazine: “Her boobs are massive! I’m not allowed to touch them though because they’re too sore.”
Jess and Dom got married on Good Morning Britain by Richard Arnold, who was ordained especially for the occasion.
However, the reality TV stars had a proper wedding months later in October at a stunning ceremony on the Greek Island of Mykonos.
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After the wedding, the couple returned to their new home in Devon which they moved to earlier in 2018 to focus on their relationship.
On May 15, 2019 the couple announced they are expecting their first child together.
They each posted the same picture of their child’s ultrasound scan flanked by Polaroids of them cradling their ‘bumps’ with Dom writing: “Living the dream ” while Jess told fans: “The best is yet to come.”