DH has mild haemophilia, if we have a girl, she could be affected, would you find out sex of baby? I really don't want to.

[MinkyBorage]

OK, that sounds like a bit of a no-brainer. A bit more detail. DH has very mild haemophilia, which we only found out about quite recently, we already have two dds, both of whom could be affected, but we won't know until they have proper tests (when a bit older) and neither show signs now. If we find out that we are having a girl, then the haemophilia centre will write a letter to the midwife/consultant regarding the delivery stating that forceps should not be used because the baby may have mild haemophilia. However, with my last two deliveries, they came out so quickly, two pushes first time, one the next, I feel sure that it is extremely unlikely that forceps will even be a consideration, and in the event that they are, surely I could say no to them even if we don't know what we are having.
I just don't want to find out what sex the baby is, it's the best surprise ever when they're born.
What would you do?

[harpomarx]

would find out. definitely. But then I am a 'finder outer' anyway.

[bigcar]

Can you ask the haemophilia centre to write to your consultant stating that "should" you have a girl these precautions need to be taken. It should be on your hospital notes what they think you are having even if you don't want to know and it is not on your copy of your notes iyswim. I prefer the surprise tbh.

[MrsJamesMartin]

But isn't haemophilia sex linked to boys? I thought for a girl to be affected the father must have haemophillia and the mother be a carrier of the gene, otherwise girls are symptom free carriers or not carriers at all?.

[foxytocin]

Haemophilia primarily affects boys, not girls. For a girl to be affected both parents have to have the gene and therefore inherit that gene from both parents. If a girl inherits the gene from one parent, she is a symptomless carrier.

[Bubbaluv]

So it sounds like it's YOU who needs the test Minky!?

[MinkyBorage]

MrsJamesMartin and Foxytocin; female carriers of haemophilia are less likely to suffer with as severe symptoms as their male counterpart, but it is not true that they do not have haemophilia. In my daughters' cases, they are both definitely carriers of haemophilia as they have inherited the affected X chromosome from their father, but we are still unsure as to whether or not they will be classed as actual haemophiliacs. Fingers crossed they won't be, but it is possible they will, and even if they are it is likely to be veryu mild as my husbands is mild, and their gender is certainly in their favour.
If I am pregnant with a boy, then he will be unaffected as he will inherit the unaffected Y chromosome from his father.

[MinkyBorage]

bigcar, thatnks, that's a good idea, do they really have an idea what you are having? I suppose at that rate, I could ask them to find out, but not tell me?? Hmmmm, something think about. Cheers for your help anyway.

[runningmonkey]

Hi Minky,
The girls will only have haemophilia if you are also a carrier of the haemophilia gene.

The haemophilia gene is on the X chromosome and a recessive gene. If you are not a carrier there is no way that your daughters can have haemophilia as your non-haemophilia X chromosomes will always dominate the haemophilia x they will get from their Dad.
you could get yourself tested to see if you are a carrier if that would put your mind at rest.
Does that help? Have just been teaching my A level biology class about this so not sure if I'm making sense in written form or not!

[Bubbaluv]

I think you might be confused - found this on the BUPA website
"Boys only have one X chromosome, so if your child inherits the haemophilia gene, he will have haemophilia. Girls have two X chromosomes, so if only one of these has the haemophilia gene, the other one will usually make up for it and she will not have haemophilia. Although extremely rare, girls can be affected if both the mother and father carry the haemophilia gene and both pass it on to their daughter.

Girls who have the haemophilia gene on one of their X chromosomes are called carriers. The daughter of a man with haemophilia will automatically be a carrier because she will inherit the X chromosome from her father. Being a carrier means she is very unlikely to have the condition herself but could pass the gene onto her children. If the X chromosome carrying the haemophilia gene gets passed on to her child, he will have haemophilia. Their sons will have a 50 percent chance of having haemophilia and their daughters will have a 50 percent chance of being carriers.

Occasionally female carriers do have low levels of clotting factor VIII or IX and have symptoms of the condition."

[Bubbaluv]

So to summarise, your girls may be carriers, but unless you are a carrier too, then they can't be symptomatic. Boys on the other hand can get it whether you have it or not.

[MinkyBorage]

Thanks Bubbaluv, that's really interesting, I shall pass it on the the countries leading experts on the subject at the Haemophilia Centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London, who treat my husband. They obviously haven't got the same access to the most up to date information as you have. Also many thanks for your earlier helpful and informative post.

[Bubbaluv]

Piss off then!!

[pigleto]

What would you do if you did have the sex tested? Would it make any difference? I think forceps for a third child if the first two came out alright would be very rare.

I always thought that girls couldn't get haemophilia, only be carriers. And I always though that you either had it or you didn't; I have never heard of a "mild" case. You learn something new every day.

[bigcar]

Hi minky, an experienced sonographer can usually tell what you are having whether you want to know or not (at 20 week scan). Part of the scan is to check all anatomy is present and correct, if I understand correctly, so they sort of have to look iyswim.

[Bubbaluv]

BTW have checked other websites including the UK Heamophillia Society and they agree with the info I found earlier.
WHy pick on me!? Everyone else said the same thing!

[MinkyBorage]

Blimey, there are a lot of 'experts' about!

[Bubbaluv]

Why so agressive to me though!?

[Upwind]

everyone is right it is boys who are at risk of haemophilia

[DaisySteiner]

Buubaluv - I'm sorry, but you are wrong. These websites that you are looking at are simplyfying things by saying that females can't have haemophilia because it's a recessive gene.

Generally where there are two copies of a gene (as in females - XX) BOTH copies of the gene are used to make the relevant protein, in this case a clotting factor, and the 'normal' protein is produced in sufficient amounts that the 'faulty' protein has little effect. However, a person with a faulty gene may still have some mild symptoms of the disease because they aren't producing the full amount of 'normal' protein.

From your quote "Being a carrier means she is very unlikely to have the condition herself" - 'unlikely' is the key here, it doesn't say 'impossible'.

I do think Minky was rather rude to you, but hey, she's pregnant, so be gracious and accept that you're wrong.

[Bubbaluv]

Troll??
Pretty boring topic for a troll though?? Not exctly controversial is it?

[jangly]

I thought it was only boys could have haemophilia. Pretty sure Bubbalove was only trying to help you.

[DaisySteiner]

A boy is only going to have haemophilia in Minky's case because he would inherit a Y chromosome from Minky's husband, just in case anyone's wondering.

[DaisySteiner]

Sorry, meant to say a boy would only have it if Minky is an unkown carrier!

[Bubbaluv]

I understand that it rare cases females can be symptomatic if the "Y" chromosome is not strong enough to overpower the X. BUT it is essentially boys in the family that are at most risk NO?

[bundle]

other drs at the royal free used to (presumably still do) run a clinic jointly between obst/gynae and haematologists - and found that up to 40% of women with heavy, painful and long periods had a clotting disorder (factor 5 leiden??) - so clotting disorders are commoner than you'd think and are often not picked up.