Just had a letter about abnormality in blood test.Worried

[BeauticianNotMagician]

Hi i just wanted some advice. I am 7+5 weeks pregnant. I have just come home to a letter stating i need to see a Sickle Cell and Thalassamia Nurse Specialist.

It reads as follows:
An appointment has been made for you to see the Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Nurse.
A recent bllod test during your pregnancy shows you have a red blood cell abnormality called Unidentified Haemoglobin Variant
The appointment is to offer you more information about your results.

Please attend with the babys father so that we can offer him a blood test.It is important to screen the babys father as soon as possible to establish the risk for the baby having a major haemoglobinopathy.
End of letter

Has anyone else had a letter like this.What does it mean.I am in a major panic

I dont know myself but BUMP for someone that might, i will say that id imagine and hope if it were very serious that someone would of called you?!

Sorry you're going through this stress. You can carry abnormalities in how your red cells are structured without ever knowing it, the most common is sickle cell trait. These abnormalities tend to be more common in people descended from outside northern Europe. In normal day to day life it causes no torouble at all. Provided your DP doesn't carry the same its unlikely to be any issue at all for your pregnancy. It is a really good thing though that it's been picked up so early. I know it's stressful but the specialist nurse will explain everything in detail to you.
Very best of luck.

Thank You Secretceremonials i did think that this is maybe just a standard letter they send out to everyone with any kind of blood abnormality. I had severe anaemia in my last pregnancy(different father) so im hoping its just that.

They could have worded it better! God! It reads like you say, a standard letter for any abnormality. Just try to remain calm until Monday when you can find out a bit more. Like others have said, if it was serious they would have called and you'd be in a lot sooner than Monday. Take care of yourself until then Beaut x

Thanks PickleP i know its the baby having a major haemoglobinopathy that got me.Not that i even understand what that means but major is not good.

beautician - my sister had this letter. She is of white anglo saxon origin so very unlikely to have either condition mentioned. She freaked out too but in the end it was nothing (we both have slightly small blood cells and they picked up on that in her - it was nothing to be alarmed about). I don't know if you are the same ethnicity, obviously, but thought you might like to know that sometimes people get these letters when there is absolutely nothing to worry about and they just need to check. Hope that's the case for you.

Marmiteisyummy has got it exactly. Since these are recessive genetic conditions your partner also has to be a carrier for your baby to be at any risk.
The chances of this are very small, especially if he comes from a Northern European Background.

Having one copy of the abnormal gene is thought to give babies protection against malaria (at an age when it is often fatal) and thus it has remained in southern populations, despite having two copies causing serious illness.

Please do not worry the odds of you both being carriers are very small and even if you both are 3 out of 4 of your children wouldn't be affected.

Oh good grief, fancy sending it as a letter. Can you talk to your midwife? She may not know much about the subject but may be able to get someone else to speak to you straight away.

From what others have said, it sounds like the probability of you both being a carrier is very small.
What a horrid letter to receive though.

Good lord - their wording isn't great! The people who work in laboratories at the hospital are often more used to talking to cells, and germs, than real life people.

Please don't panic. I hope everything is fine.

Thank You i do feel a little better having read all that.My DP and i are both white anglo saxon.Im hoping that DP is clear of anything and its just my anaemia that has flagged up a slight abnormality.

I think i will try to ring the midwife for further reassurance though.

Anyone else had a similar letter.I can't get hold of my midwife.

Bump