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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I don’t know my blood group!

212 replies

C231009 · 23/02/2021 18:09

Dp knows his by heart and I don’t. I have no idea! Which he thinks is pretty bad of me, I mean it probably is. But he’s panicking me saying I need to find out just in case I need to know. Aibu to think this is a bit ott?

is it normal not to know it?

How do I find it out? Are they in the red books given out when babies! I’m sure dm probably still has mine!

OP posts:
squeekums · 23/02/2021 22:15

@midnightstar66

I saw a post elsewhere today about this. I'm shocked how many people don't have a clue about their or their DC's blood group. Surely this is standard info that you should know?
Why would i get a blood test for dd if one isnt needed? Unnecessary trauma really I dont know mine, was deemed unsafe to try take it in pregnancy due to my needle phobia, no need to push the issue to find out now
covetingthepreciousthings · 23/02/2021 22:15

For all those saying to ask GP, will they tell you if they know?

I only ask because one of my friends was interested to know hers (not been pregnant or donated blood so never been told) & the GP refused to tell her, as far as she was aware it wasn't a case of the GP not knowing, they just didn't want to tell her as they said it was unnecessary for her to know Confused which I found a bit bizarre since it's her own body she wished to know about!

I wouldn't be able to tell you mine, or my children's. I think I remember seeing it my my pregnancy notes, but couldn't tell you what it is now.

Runkle · 23/02/2021 22:25

The off by heart made me laugh too Grin

AnitaB888 · 23/02/2021 22:32

Go and give blood and you'll find out.

If you are Ro subtype (used to treat people with sickle cell) they won't let you out of the building unless they can have a couple more pints Grin

Bouledeneige · 23/02/2021 22:35

I don't know mine. I've had 2 kids and an operation. Funnily the professionals seemed to know. If I get hit by a bus I won't necessarily be any position to advise the ambulance crew. I can't say I've ever seen anyone in major trauma advising the doctors of their blood group.

You don't need to know. He's being a know it all.

DontCallMeBaby · 23/02/2021 22:39

@Mumoftwoinprimary
“ We don’t know dh’s either - his parents are O and A I think which means we can narrow the kiddos down to either A, B, O or AB.”

Where did the Bs come from? You can narrow it down to A or O.

I like blood types 😁

I’m A+ and happen to know on of my parents is A and one O (can’t remember which is which). So I have to have an A allele and an O.

DH is B+, we don’t know his parents’ blood types, though one of them must be either B or AB.

So DD had to get A or O from me, but we don’t know the choices from DH - B definitely an option, but could be O as well.

If she’d turned out to be O or A we’d know he had a B and an O and had passed on the O. As it is, she’s AB so we’re none the wiser.

AB+ is universal plasma donor (someone helpfully ‘corrected’ this above) but I believe they don’t use women’s blood because of the chance of having been pregnant, even unknowingly. AB whole blood isn’t needed much so DD is safe from me nagging her to donate when she’s old enough, which she’s very glad about!

SoundWithoutAName · 23/02/2021 22:47

I'm A+ and only found out after donating blood. I have 3 children and numerous operations and have never been told from a health care provider. If you are unfortunate enough to need to know for a medical reason then a nurser/doctor will do a simple blood test to find out. You really don't need to know and it's highly unlikely you'll come to any harm not knowing.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 23/02/2021 22:57

I only know mine because I used to donate blood - I can’t now due to the medication I take.

Knowing so many people who don’t know theirs, I insisted on being told my children’s before leaving the hospital with them after birth. I think people have a right to know, and it’s crazy that it’s recorded by the hospital but not told to people. It helps that I’m Rhesus neg, so I kind of had a reason to at least need to know their rhesus status.

On the little label thing they give you when a baby is in hospital (not the wrist tag, a paper thing) in my case (from the 80s) there is a space for blood group, but it’s left blank. The same for at least one of my brothers. So not surprising a pp said hers was recorded from birth. For my dc that wasn’t on the label thing.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 23/02/2021 22:58

70s not 80s!

Mammyloveswine · 23/02/2021 23:02

I thought I was "o" until I had my babies.. I'm b+... my mam swears I'm "o"... I've had it confirmed several times I'm b+ as are my babies...

StoneofDestiny · 23/02/2021 23:03

Don't have a clue and I e had blood transfusions

StoneofDestiny · 23/02/2021 23:04

and I've had

GreenSlide · 23/02/2021 23:05

This drove me mad when I wanted to try the blood group diet Grin had a look through my green folder when pregnant and discovered a page with blood results taped in that revealed I'm A+.

therocinante · 23/02/2021 23:10

I only know because I donate - if you can, go and do it. Free biscuits and a good deed done 😊

lilmoopoo · 23/02/2021 23:16

I'm still not sure what blood type I am and I've had to have blood transfusions in the past. My other half is a super rare blood type

Mammyloveswine · 23/02/2021 23:16

Just had a read and anyone who has had a blood transfusion since 1980 isn't allowed to give blood due to the risk of CJD (aka mad cow disease to be crude).

This seems crazy! I had a blood transfusion when I was born in 1987 and so can never give blood despite my blood type being in demand as it's rare?

This law was imposed in 2004 as surprised there hasn't been more research!

Yubaba · 23/02/2021 23:17

I am O+ and so is DH so I assume our dc are probably the same, but MIL is O- and developed haemolytic disease and her second baby died as a result. She gave birth abroad and they didn’t routinely test for antibodies in the 1970s.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 23/02/2021 23:25

I'm A+ as was my dad (assuming his dogtags were correct). Dh is O+ with an O+ parent and an O- one. No idea what our kids are (presume has it has to be A or O) although I did ask when I got the results of dc1's heelprick test but apparently it didn't give blood group.

earthyfire · 23/02/2021 23:30

I have been told, think it was when I was pregnant but I can't remember mine. Must be on some of my pregnancy notes perhaps.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 23/02/2021 23:36

My DS is O- so I’ll definitely be encouraging him to give blood!

LindaEllen · 23/02/2021 23:38

@C231009

Dp knows his by heart and I don’t. I have no idea! Which he thinks is pretty bad of me, I mean it probably is. But he’s panicking me saying I need to find out just in case I need to know. Aibu to think this is a bit ott?

is it normal not to know it?

How do I find it out? Are they in the red books given out when babies! I’m sure dm probably still has mine!

He knows it by heart? It's not exactly pi is it. If you give blood or you've had a blood test it'll be on your record. If you're concerned, phone the GP and ask. If anyone needs to know in an emergency it's easy to test.
MrsClatterbuck · 23/02/2021 23:47

I am B+ which I know from donating blood. I stopped as I was always felt really faint when I finished. One time it was embarrassing as they carried me over to the bed where you rested after donatingBlush My mum is AB neg which I have always thought interesting. She had to have the Anti D treatment when I was born. A long time ago I may add.

FredaFlintstone · 23/02/2021 23:53

I've no idea what mine or the dc's are.

Babyfg · 23/02/2021 23:55

I only know mine from pregnancy. I was resus negative so I know my children were negative (as the midwife told me after birth that they didn't need an injection) but not what type. I haven't come across it in their red books or anything.

lotusbell · 24/02/2021 00:04

I've always wanted to know but don't unless I saw it in my pregnancy notes and have since forgotten. Not sure why Op is getting grief, why would you not want to know this about yourself?
I can't give blood so can't find out that way, I would've thought most people would like to know but I guess not!