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Original poster

Does every pregnant woman out there know their blood group?

70 replies

mears · 04/06/2006 12:35

And if not, why not?

At booking your blood is taken to find out what group you are and if you have any antibodies. It surprises me to find out that women don't often know the result unless they are Rhesus negative. And surprisingly they don't ask for test results either? That is why I am asking the question.

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Original poster
mears · 04/06/2006 17:12

Pinktulips - you could be O neg even with O Pos parents

OP posts:
rosebea · 04/06/2006 17:12

I had a big peice of paper at the back of my notes from a bloody test that said in big letters "O Positive" I thought it was standard practice to put it in the notes.

Original poster
mears · 04/06/2006 17:13

Lmccrean - anti-D injection is offered with all pregnancies. Problems can occur from 2nd pregnancy onwards - that will be what you have remembered

OP posts:
Original poster
mears · 04/06/2006 17:14

Does anyone realise you are tested fopr antibodies regardless of your blood group?

OP posts:
fuzzywuzzy · 04/06/2006 17:15

Yes but only because I read through my notes. All the blood test results were stuck in a folder which I carried around for the duration of my pg.....

Miaou · 04/06/2006 18:38

Sorry - real life intervened! \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1365&threadid=177754&stamp=060529002025\here} is the thread where I was looking for your input mears.

Stargazer · 04/06/2006 18:40

Hi Mears - I'm O neg - but also a blood donor, so knew my group long before I ever got pregnant. Which reminds me, must go and find the next donor session.

eenywifemum · 04/06/2006 19:46

Hi Mears - I didnt know my blood group until my midwife told me I would need the anti-d (she told me around 22 weeks) Am now 27 weeks pregnant and we have since been trying to find out my husbands blood type because he remembers being told when he was a child that he was RH neg too - in which case I wouldnt need the anti-d.

Our GP refused to test him as it 'wasnt necessary' as I could just have the anti-d either way. So he tried to donate blood to find out. Unfortunately due to a medical condition they would not allow him to for his own safety. So we are left without the right to know his blood type, and I think that is totally wrong. He should have the right to know and I should have the choice on taking the anti-d if it is clearly not needed. So we are going back to the GP wednesday to try to get them to relent.

Original poster
mears · 04/06/2006 20:57

eenywifemum - that is ridiculous. It will mean that you will not be exposed to an unecessary blood product if you know your DH's blood group. If GP refuses again then ask your midwife/consultant if they will organise it.

OP posts:
eenywifemum · 04/06/2006 23:56

Thanks Mears for seeing the sense in it - sometimes I feel like 'Either I am going mad or the GP is going mad because this is absurd' I would much rather avoid a blood product injection if I can, and it isnt as if it is a lot of trouble for them to find out my DH's blood type. I will keep you posted when I get an answer on Wednesday!

hunkermunker · 05/06/2006 00:02

Yes, mine's O+ - I give blood when I can (and when they can get it out of my stubborn veins!). I wasn't told by my midwife with either DS.

threebob · 05/06/2006 00:05

I am B+ and read it in my notes.

LeahE · 05/06/2006 00:06

I knew mine (A+) anyway through blood donation but also it was written on the cover of my pg notes and stuck into them with the blood test results so it would have been hard to miss. I don't think I knew specifically that I was tested for antibodies even though rhesus positive -- although I did read through all my blood test results so presumably it registered at the time albeit not well enough to stick with me.

eenywifemum -- I think sometimes they want to avoid the awkward "what if your DH is not the father of the child" issue and so want to avoid relying on DH's blood group to decide whether or not to give anti-D (although through being tactful they don't like to mention that). Obviously not an issue in your case but the GP doesn't know that IYSWIM.

eenywifemum · 05/06/2006 00:13

LeahE - I have heard that before, which is fair enough, I understand they have to be careful about it. But most mums (if they knew there was a chance DH wasnt the father) would just be quiet about it and accept the injection, or even privately talk to the Dr about it if necessary (I guess) But they really should take your word for it if you say DH is the father, then he probably is!

jabberwocky · 05/06/2006 01:43

O+ - did my own blood typing in micro lab in college!

GeorginaA · 05/06/2006 07:55

eenywifemum: that's ridiculous! Surely the anti-D injections must cost them much more than a simple blood test!!

coppertop · 05/06/2006 09:57

I knew my blood group before I became pregnant as I used to give blood. As I'm Rh-Neg I had a sticker put on the front cover of my maternity notes.

I think the problem with test results is that we are often told "You'll only hear from us if there's a problem". If we don't hear anything back then we just presume that everything's fine rather than wondering if mistakes have been made or if something hasn't been tested in the first place. I know that in my 3rd pregnancy I only discovered I was anaemic because I specifically asked if the results had been okay. The MW was furious that no-one from the hospital had told me earlier.

eenywifemum · 07/06/2006 22:20

Hi Mears and All! Just an update - my DH and I went to the GP tonight to request a blood test be given to him to find out his Rhesus status - the GP was not happy about it at all and pretty miserable in his attitude but agreed to test DH so DH has a blood test tomorrow morning.

The GP mentioned the issue about the husband not actually being the father and also said there was no reason for me NOT to have the anti-D so he really made his feelings clear that we were being a bit silly. But I think, if I can avoid the injections, why not? It doesnt hurt anybody and surely one blood test must be cheaper for the NHS than possibly 3 anti-D injections??

Original poster
mears · 09/06/2006 13:10

Absolutely eenywifemum. The attitude of your GP makes me mad. Let us know the result.

OP posts:
MrsRecycle · 09/06/2006 13:17

Yes - absolutely O+ and dh's as well - O+. This is my 3rd pg - will I need another blood test for the antibodies?

bossykate · 09/06/2006 13:18

i knew i was o neg before both my pgs.

SKYTVADICT · 09/06/2006 13:21

Does anyone know the answer to the following?

DP and I are both A+. I recently found out that his mum and neice are AB-. Could any babies we conceive be AB-. I had mc recently and he says I am clutching at straws to find a reason but I think it is a valid question.

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 09/06/2006 13:21

didnt know prior to pregnancy, but it was on front page of both sets of notes. A+

eenywifemum · 09/06/2006 13:32

SKYTV - sorry I dont know the answer to your question. Hope someone on here does.

Mears, we are supposed to find out DH's status early next week so I will let you all know here! Crossing our fingers he is neg!

LeahE · 09/06/2006 13:48

SKYTVADICT - Yes, depending on your and your DH's actual genes there may be a possibility you could have a rhesus negative baby, but there's no problem with a rhesus positive mother and a rhesus negative baby, only the other way round (i.e. rhesus negative mother and a rhesus positive baby). I'm glad you don't have to beat yourself up over that possibility, but sorry you don't have any answers about what caused your miscarriage.

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