Blood and antibodies, does anyone know the answer to this ??

[nutcracker]

I have type C or c (can't remember which) anti bodies in my blood and although I was given a card to carry around in my purse, I was never told why it was important.

If I was admitted to hospital for anything, why would they need to know about this ? Does it effect what blood I can be given ??

When watching Casualty last week a boy was admitted who needed blood and they said he had anti bodies and so had to have blood with the anti bodies in, is that right ??

Tbh I don't carry the card with me, not even sure where it is, and my mum was not impressed with that.

I have never heard of type C, but I know that type A, B, AND O exost because A has specific antigen on it's surface whilst B has another. So if someone with type A blood recieved type B, they would become ill, as due to the anitgens in the blood cells, they would be trying to kill eachother off!
Type O can give to anyone as they have no anitgens.

Yeah, the C isn't my blood type, it's the type of anti bodies that I have in my blood.

The whole thing confuses me LOL

Are you pregnant? If so the card could be for Rhesus status? About 75% of people are Rhesus positive and the other 25% are Rhesus negative. Rhesus negative mothers who have a Rhesus positive baby can develop antibodies to the baby's bood which could cause complications in future pregnancies called Rhesus incompatability.

If you are preganant and Rhesus negative then you are given a card because if you have any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy you may need to have an injection which helps prevent antibodies from forming.

Had a card when pg but don't remember it saying C on it though?

Next time you are at the Doc's ask them to explain better what the card is for!

There are C-type Rhesus antibodies. If you are Rh-, I don't think you should be given Rh+ blood. And if you are pg by a Rh+ partner, you can have bad reactions to the blood of the baby, so miscarriages, deliveries, etc etc are a big deal.

I don't know what difference C-type Rhesus makes. And maybe this isn't about Rhesus at all?

No i'm not pregnant now, but i did develop the anti bodies when pregnant with ds nearly five years ago.

They caused some problems during my pregnancy with ds as the anti bodies fought him like he was an infection and he became jaundiced and then anemiac.

Coming back now - I had Anti D injections - maybe you would need a different variety ie Anti C! Think it is relevant if you need a blood transfusion or are pregnant.

Some stuff on web about Rhesus C - but looked v tecchie!

Is this helpful see here?

That link is fab Sam, thanks ever so much, have never found any site that explains it as clearly and simply as that.

Hi..I think I have the same as you nutcracker but like you I do not know what they are, even though i have asked every health professional I know..no once can tell me why i have them or what they are. I carry a card and it was picked up in my 2nd pregnancy and all subsequent pregnancies I get checked for anibody levels quite frequently. Mine are call anti c. Can any body tell us what these are????

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