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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Blood type in pregnancy

25 replies

user1470147116 · 18/12/2017 11:56

My husband is 0 negative which apparently is rare?

Unsure of my blood type, maybe its A positive.

Someone mentioned to me that 0 negative is dangerous in pregnancy, baby or mother may need an injection?

Any advice?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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CrossFreelancer · 18/12/2017 12:03

I believe it's only if you, the mother are Onegative. This is because if you are Oneg, and the baby is not, your antibodies will attack the babies blood.

My DH is also Oneg and i am B+ but in both of my pregnancies I haven't needed the injection.

gryffen · 18/12/2017 12:10

I'm O negative and hubby is O positive so I needed the anti rhesus injections as a precaution.

It's not dangerous to have that blood type but it could cause problems if your baby doesn't match the mum's blood type. Our wee one is like me - O rhesus D Negative.

Your midwife should ask this and give you the injections I think around 20 weeks or so?

catmummy1 · 18/12/2017 12:11

You only need the Anit D injection is you carrying the baby has negative blood and the father has positive blood or if you’re unsure on his blood type.
I’m A negative and my partner is O positive so I have had the jab.

Scribblegirl · 18/12/2017 12:22

catmummy, not my experience (I'm O-neg but haven't been pregnant) but apparently some hospitals will give you the injection even if you tell them you're 10000% sure your rhesus negative partner is the father, because they can't be sure you're telling the truth...

pastabest · 18/12/2017 12:25

You only need the jab if it is you that is rhesus negative.

MrsMcW · 18/12/2017 12:31

I'm O-negative and due to have the jab in a couple of weeks. If you are positive, then there's no issue at all (even with a negative DH), and if you are both negative then again, no problem so don't worry.

Brief explanation - it's only a concern if the mother is negative and even then it's very routine. if both parents are negative then the jab is unnecessary, ditto if the mother is positive. There is a small risk only when the mother is negative but father is positive as the baby is then also likely to be positive which may result in the mother's body forming antibodies against the baby. This can cause miscarriage, or more frequently Rhesus disease. HOWEVER, the danger is only there if the blood types mingle, ie, if the mother has a bad fall and damages the placenta and during childbirth itself. So, in cases where the mother has a negative blood type she has to have an injection around 28 weeks as a precaution and then again right after the birth (to avoid any antibodies developing with a future child).

FellOutOfBed2wice · 18/12/2017 12:32

I’ve got Orh neg blood and had to have an injection at 20 weeks with both of my daughters and then one once they were born and it was established that they had Orh positive blood (my husband is AB pos).

Scribble I know a midwife and you’re correct about this- most trusts will administer an Anti D to any Rh neg mother even if she swears blind that the father of the child is Rh neg for two reasons: a) she might be mistaken about his blood type and b) all kinds of social reasons the mother might lie, even if her partner isn’t there to hear the conversation and rather than interrogate the mother and still get a lie, it’s just easier to be safe rather than sorry.

RosieCotton · 18/12/2017 12:38

You only need the anti D injections if you are negative. Positive blood has protein attached to it where negative blood does not, 9 negative is a universal doner, basically anyone can receive one negative void as a transfusion but of negative can only accept one negative blood.

Positive blood will accept one negative blood and attach the proteins needed to make it positive, but if positive blood passes to an O negative person the blood will see the protein as an infection and fight it. The Anti D suppresses the bloods ability to do this which is why rhesus negative women are given anti D, if baby carries positive blood it can cause problems if blood passes to mother.

In short if you are positive there is zero chance you'll need the Anti D injection and baby will be fine.

Original poster

user1470147116 · 18/12/2017 12:42

Thank you for all your replies. Will double check with midwife also today x

OP posts:

Scribblegirl · 18/12/2017 12:44

Good to know, Fell. Sorry, on a re-read it looks like I'm disapproving of that - I do agree better safe than sorry, after all it's the baby's welfare that's the important thing in this scenario. I'm just preemptively annoyed that when my rhesus neg fiance and I get a BFP I'll have extra injections to deal with!

gamerchick · 18/12/2017 12:49

It only affects you if you're negative.

I'm negative and so was my ex so refused the injections. The hospital got really stroppy with me about it but they can't force you to have it.

StylishDuck · 18/12/2017 13:09

I'm A+ and DH is O- Never needed the injections. In fact the midwife has never even asked me what DH's blood type is.

loveacupoftea18 · 18/12/2017 13:17

I'm pregnant. My husband is O- and I'm A+ so all fine for the baby and no injections needed.

laelti · 18/12/2017 13:32

As others have said, the concern is only if the mother is rhesus negative. If your positive your body will accept negative blood so no risks.

I'm rhesus negative and we don't know my partners blood type, but my trust does an extra blood test at 16 weeks to determine if baby is pos or neg, apparently ours is negative so I haven't had the anti-d injections.

BagelDog · 18/12/2017 13:41

Even if you know your partner is also O neg, they can still be a partial positive, as blood groups are always a bit more complex than they seem... if you are both confirmed donor and recipient negative (so your blood type in hospital when you are grouped as a possible recipient of blood AND when you are giving blood are both neg) do you know you are fully negative. The new test should make all a lot more straightforward...!

EarlGreyT · 18/12/2017 13:45

You only need the anti D injections if you’re the rhesus negative blood group. If you were negative you’d be given them irrespective of your partner’s blood group. As you’re rhesus positive you don’t need them in any situation even if your partner is negative.

BagelDog · 18/12/2017 13:45

I was allowed to not have anti d in previous pregnancies but only because husband and I are both patients at the same Trust I worked in and had both been cross matched on the system, and are both blood donors so could prove we were full negatives, and my boss who was a haematology professor wrote a letter to my midwife saying it was ok. And I still had to sign a massive form saying it was against medical advice.... 😂

BabyOrSanta · 18/12/2017 13:55

Out of interest, how do you all know your partners' blood groups? I only know mine as it's on my maternity notes and DP doesn't have a clue about his

Unless everyone on this thread is a blood donor?

laelti · 18/12/2017 14:20

I've always assumed people knew from previous medical procedures? Not sure though!

I only know mine from being a blood donor (though would have found out via midwife!) but my partner who doesn't know his has never had any medical problems or anything like that.
My dad found out his in the army.

Also OP you mentioned you weren't sure on your blood type. Assuming you've had your booking in appointment it'll be one of the things they check in the first blood tests. I got a call within the week to tell me I was negative (even though I'd told them at booking...) but if you're positive they probably won't mention it. If you've had your booking and an appointment since it'll be in your notes with the blood results.

MadameJosephine · 18/12/2017 16:35

Anti D injections are only required if mother is Rhesus negative and baby is positive but as we can’t currently test fetal blood group we assume that it is positive until proven otherwise.

Remember though that you don’t have to have any intervention in pregnancy. Personally if I was rhesus negative and my partner was too I would decline the offer of prophylactic anti D

DailyMaileatmyshit · 18/12/2017 19:29

Also to say, it isn't you or your current pregnancy that is at risk but your future pregnancies.

laelti · 18/12/2017 19:36

@MadameJosephine

There is a blood test (free fetal DNA or something similar) that can tell you whether the fetus is rhesus +/- though I think it is relatively new and a bit of a postcode lottery whether you will be offered it - I was and was told baby was also rhesus neg which is specifically why I am being given having anti-d.

I think the lab doing it may be in the same city as me which is possibly why my NHS trust is offering it?

laelti · 18/12/2017 19:47

*why I am not being given anti -d

gamerchick · 18/12/2017 20:02

I was and was told baby was also rhesus neg which is specifically why I am being given having anti-d

But if your baby is also negative you won’t need the anti d.

gamerchick · 18/12/2017 20:02

Ah I got you, should have read on

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