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Original poster

Do you know the blood group for everyone in your family?

49 replies

atticusclaw2 · 27/10/2015 09:10

So I was watching Grey's Anatomy the other day and a character was being slated for not knowing their child's blood group. It struck me that I have no idea of the blood group of anyone in the family (myself included!). I called the GP surgery to get the information from our notes but apparently they don't have this recorded even though I know they tested mine when I was pregnant and DS1 had a hole in his heart so has a fairly large medical file I would imagine. Confused

So do you know your family's blood groups? (and does anyone know how to find out short of paying for private blood tests?)

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 27/10/2015 09:11

No, I only know my own because I'm a blood donor.

Whoknewitcouldbeso · 27/10/2015 09:14

I am 0 neg, my son is B+, we don't know DPs. He asked his GP as I was intrigued and they don't have the information to give to him apparently. I'm guessing he is B because of my sons group.

Minisoksmakehardwork · 27/10/2015 09:18

I know mine from donating blood. I know dh's because he donated blood to find out when I was pregnant. And I know the kids from birth because I'm rhesus neg and dh is positive. I'm A-, dh and kids are all A+.

I can honestly say though if it wasn't for knowing I was neg from blood donation, then I probably wouldn't know any of the others as we wouldn't have needed to know for anti d.

Rosa · 27/10/2015 09:19

I am O neg DH O ( I think) DD1 I have it written somewhere as was tested at birth I think she is Oneg but its highly likely that both DDs are O.....

Gunpowder · 27/10/2015 09:20

My parents are both O+ so have always supposed I would be too and was confirmed when donating blood/in pregnancy. DH doesn't know his so don't know which group the DC are either. I think you can buy a kit.

reallybadidea · 27/10/2015 09:24

There really is no need to know. Should any of you need a blood transfusion you'd be crossmatched or given emergency O negative units. A relative's, or even your own, word on your blood group would never ever be accepted as good enough to transfuse a unit.

I can't believe you phoned your gp and asked them to go through your notes based on a TV programme!

Original poster
atticusclaw2 · 27/10/2015 09:26

I didn't speak to a GP about it. I was calling the surgery anyway (ironically to get the results of five blood tests) and I asked whether the records showed my blood group.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 27/10/2015 09:31

No. Like you, I dont even know mine

Whoknewitcouldbeso · 27/10/2015 09:35

I find blood groups intriguing so I quite like knowing and did some research when DS was born as I was so shocked he didn't share my blood group. In fact do shocked the nurse thought she'd screwed up and unintentionally told my DP he couldn't be the father (it happens quite frequently apparently).

Original poster
atticusclaw2 · 27/10/2015 09:36

I thought the information would be in the DSs red books but it isn't.

OP posts:
Spidertracker · 27/10/2015 09:36

Yes, I am A-, DH is A+, DS is A- and DD is A+
I know mine and the children's because of rhesus compatibly or whatever you call it. And DH is a blood donor.

winchester1 · 27/10/2015 09:37

I'm o neg (blood donor) OH is a neg (ex Army) dd is a neg we think (she had a heart murmur and hospitalised for jaundice at birth but the blood tests weren't conclusive on if she is neg or positive). Ds there's no record with the doctor although he has been tested.

SmashleyHop · 27/10/2015 09:40

I know mine and my oldest son as they type blood when they take it from the heel during testing as an infant in the states. I'm A+ and he's AB+. They didn't type my younger two, and my DH has no idea what he may be.

GardeningWithDynamite · 27/10/2015 09:54

I'm O pos (blood donor). We bought a blood test kit from Amazon - one of these for DH and it says he's O neg, not that it should be relied upon. I believe it's also possible to be a positive donor but a negative receiver anyway.

Don't know DD or DS (they don't test babies apparently) but if our blood types are right then they're either O pos or O neg.

FunkyPeacock · 27/10/2015 09:56

No. I know mine because I'm a blood doner but no clue about DH or DC

My DC have never needed any blood tests so how would/could I know?

KathyBeale · 27/10/2015 09:58

I'm a donor, so I know I'm B- but that's all I know! I know my kids are both negative as well, because I didn't have anti-D after they were born, so I assume my husband is negative as well (though I have no real understanding of blood groups, so I could be wrong there!).

There's no reason to know. If you ever have to have an operation or have donated blood, they'll check anyway - they won't just take your word for it.

BondJayneBond · 27/10/2015 10:06

I know mine, because I've given blood before and because they typed it when I was pregnant and wrote the results in my maternity notes.

I know DH's because he's given blood before.

I don't know DC's, as they don't routinely test babies blood groups in the UK, but I know which groups they could be based on me and DH.

Grey's Anatomy is an American TV show - I would guess that they do routinely test babies blood type there or putting that bit in the TV show wouldn't make much sense.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 27/10/2015 10:08

I'm O+ no idea what dh or the dcs are

Onsera3 · 27/10/2015 10:09

I know mine and the children's because I'm rh neg. It's annoying they won't test your DH when your pregnant so you don't know if you are doing the anti d unnecessarily. (Apparently they can't trust you that he is really the father!)

Its not a routine thing in the UK like it is on the States.
Did you read this amazing story that came about because of blood group testing?
www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-chimera-man-fails-paternity-test-because-genes-in-his-saliva-are-different-to-those-in-sperm-a6707466.html

Roomba · 27/10/2015 10:10

I only know mine and my ex's as we both gave blood. I think it may have been noted on my maternity notes as well?

I have no idea what my children's blood groups are, or anyone else in my extended family. That may be something that is routinely checked in the US though, hence the surprise that someone didn't know.

Eminybob · 27/10/2015 10:10

I know mine from being pregnant, and the midwife commented that I should become a donor as my blood is relatively rare (AB+). I do donate now.
No idea what DP's or DS's are though.

morecoffeethanhuman · 27/10/2015 10:12

Not a clue, I've given blood but have never paid any attention to my blood group & have no idea about the DCs

SilveryMoon · 27/10/2015 10:15

I'm A+ but only know that from tests when I was pregnant. I have no idea about anyone else. We too bought the test kits from amazon and it said dp was also A= but both my dc's refused to take part.

Trufflethewuffle · 27/10/2015 11:18

I'm O+ and DH is A+. We both knew that from being blood donors. DS1, DS3 and DD are all A+ and DS2 is O+.
We know the children's blood groups as DS1 had a pretty bad case of ABO incompatibility when he was born. We were told this was unlikely to happen again but as each of them was severely jaundiced extremely quickly after birth they were tested to see if it might be the case.

Poppiesway · 27/10/2015 11:31

Eminybob, I'm ab+ too, I think we make up only 5% of the country. Most of my family are Ab+ ds2 is ab+ . I only know as he was quite poorly as a baby. No idea what ds1 is. I assume ab+ as the rest of us are (my dad, brother, uncle, aunt, grandad and cousins) (my mum and exdp are o+) it's the ancient eastern gypsies blood I was told by GP!

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