I don’t know my blood group!

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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!

How do you find out though? I only know because of being pregnant. How do you find out what your DCs are?

I know mine as my mum told me when I was a child, I assume she was told or she asked. My DC's are written in their baby books. I'd have asked otherwise.

I think you only find out on NHS on a need to know basis, e.g. when pregnant.

I only know from giving blood - I've never been pregnant or had a medical procedure where it mattered.

I found out by donating as I was curious as to whether I had an in demand blood group- turns out I’m b+ so not really!

DH’s dad had an early stage cancer diagnosed from the pre-tests during a blood donation session. So there are health checks that can be useful to the donors too.

Definitely worth booking a donation if you can donate - although from memory you don’t find out on the day, they write to tell you your blood group at a later date. Then you receive a text telling you where your blood has gone. It’s a good thing to do.

I'd don't know my blood group. I'd love to have been able to be a blood donor, especially as I have zero fear of needles, but as I've always been on medication it hasn't been possible.

@midnightstar66

How do you find out though? I only know because of being pregnant. How do you find out what your DCs are?

I know mine as my mum told me when I was a child, I assume she was told or she asked. My DC's are written in their baby books. I'd have asked otherwise.

Oh I see. Do they have bloods taken as babies? The heel prick test? Do they find out via that? Or are you supposed to book your babies in for a blood sample to find out? My kids are still all quite young (under 8) I don't have their red books anymore so can't check those.

I've no idea if this example nor site are any good, they were literally first on Google. You can buy home test kits like this if you're insanely keen to know: homehealth-uk.com/all-products/bloodgroup/.

It wasn't put in my DS's red book, I checked.

All 4 of my boys had bloods as babies as I have a health issue that they needed to rule out very early on. However they weren’t sent for group and save etc so I don’t know any of their blood groups. I’m A- haven’t looked in my eldest 2 red book although don’t have them for 2 youngest. Unless needed bloods aren’t taken on antenatal wards & if they are they don’t tend to include blood group unless it’s needed.

So what would I need to know my kids blood groups for?....if they needed an operation that might require blood they will check pre op, if it’s an emergency they use o- if they don’t get a grouping fast enough?..I’m a nurse and can’t remember ever having a situation where parents were asked their kids blood group and I certainly wouldn’t be subjecting them to blood tests just to find out.

@midnightstar66

How do you find out though? I only know because of being pregnant. How do you find out what your DCs are?

I know mine as my mum told me when I was a child, I assume she was told or she asked. My DC's are written in their baby books. I'd have asked otherwise.

I found out my daughters because I was O negative and they said once I had her that I didn't need a follow up anti D injection because they tested the cord blood and she was O negative as well.

I’m assuming I was tested when pregnant, but I can’t remember what it was.

I don’t know the DCs either, as neither have ever been tested.

I’m assuming than if I ever needed a blood transfusion, they wouldn’t just take my word for it.

I know mine because I’m a blood donor. DH knows his because he gave blood once or twice when I was pregnant (he took my place). We know DD’s because she got really interested in blood types a few years back (can’t image where she got that from) and got a blood type test kit in her Xmas stocking When she went through that phase a GP friend told me babies in this country are not routinely blood typed so there was no documentation with her blood type anywhere.

Generally, your first blood test, when newly pregnant is , among other things, to determine your blood group.
I questioned this when I was newly pregnant with my first and told the midwife what my blood group was. She said it needed to be proven. I told her that I'd previously given blood and had my blood group written in my book.
She refused to accept this and said I still needed to give a blood sample to prove this. So you should already know.