O negative blood type?

Re: O negative blood type?

• laceymarie3 member

  March 2015

  What is it that you don't understand? Everyone has a blood type, A, B, AB and O. The "negative" refers to the antigen called the Rh factor, negative means you don't carry the antigen and positive means you do carry the antigen. When it comes to pregnancy it is important to know what your Rh factor is because the baby could be Rh+ and when some of their blood mixes with your blood your body can react to the antibody. They give a injection to the mother to prevent this reaction. When someone is Rh positive then they don't need to receive the injection. Here are two websites that might help you understand more.

  
  

  https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/rh-factor/
  

  
  

  https://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types
  

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• Katerina&Baby member

  March 2015

  Google is your friend here on blood types (congrats - you are a universal blood donor, though you can only accept blood transfusions from fellow O-negs).
  
  I'm not sure how you JUST found out about your blood type - your blood type should have been figured out during your very first blood panel at your OB's office during the first trimester. Further, as an Rh negative, your OB should have spoken to you about an antibody screen and rhogram shots to prevent you from being Rh-sensitized (not a big deal if this is your first pregnancy since it's highly unlikely that any of baby's blood will mix with yours until delivery) but you definitely don't want to become Rh-sensitized if you can avoid it because, in subsequent pregnancies with an Rh positive baby, your body's antibodies could/would attack baby's blood supply (causing anemia and potentially requiring early delivery).
  
  Call your OB and discuss this.

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• kimscarlett member

  March 2015

  I live in Ireland and the hospital I am attending is new to me as ive just move here. And this is my 1st baby. I had this blood test done when I was 16weeks and they only told me today when I was called back to see the midwife at the hospital. The hospital does not send my details to my GP, so therefore when I attend my GP appoiments she does not have any notes from my midwife.

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• Addelie member

  March 2015

  @kimscarlett what you've said above does not surprise me. I think the majority of the women in this group are from the States and the apparent level of care they get as opposed to the UK and Ireland is frankly quite shocking.
  
  At my first appointment (which was at 12 weeks) I mentioned a heart issue I have which was totally ignored and only picked up again when my grandfather (who's a GP) said I should reiterate the point to my GP and midwife. After i did, they jumped into action and I was referred to a cardiologist and have needed to have multiple heart scans (me and the baby). It's amazing what these people can miss.
  
  My colleague totally missed her 12 week scan as they forgot to book her in and she was just waiting for them to call. I had her call them herself and get booked in. One of my friends missed her whooping cough vaccine because noone even mentioned it to her. She didn't even know it existed!
  
  What I'm saying is, educate yourself on your blood group and take the lead with what you'll need. As previous posters have said, you'll need injections etc. Insist that your GP or midwife explains the issue to you in full. I *think* you may also need an injection once you deliver your baby. If so, make sure that you take the lead again and ask for it if it doesnt appear to be forthcoming. We need to take control sometimes

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