Do you know your blood group?

Here are the blood group combinations a child can have from their parents.

Yes. I'm O negative. I carry a card with me saying so.

Think I, too, am O positive. I was given a wee card after giving blood. Can't find that card to confirm, but did try to find out to confirm last year - even the hospital were I had recently been treated wouldn't tell me!!

dragonfly46

It can be useful to know your blood group as there are certain diseases prevalent in the different blood groups.

Which ones?

I know there are more blood groups than the ABO and Rhesus ones, such as Ro, which is a subtype of the Rhesus group and can cause sickle cell anaemia.

However, are there are particular illness which have been scientifically proven to be associated with certain blood types using ABO categories?

People are highly unlikely to know they have a rare blood group, unless it affects them in some way.

Chestnut

Growstuff I would never change my diet on the basis of a book like that.
But if the book told you that your group should avoid dairy or wheat, and you were in fact allergic or intolerant to that thing then you might think of checking it out a bit more.
I don't follow it absolutely, but I don't mind trying horseradish instead of pickle because it's probably better for me. Or eating berries instead of oranges which I prefer anyway.

But I don't see how antigens on blood cells can affect what one should eat. It just doesn't make sense to me, unless the science is explained. Sorry, but it just seems a good wheeze to write a book and make money, as isn't uncommon in the field of nutrition.

I was told after my first child was born that he was the same blood group as me, Group O Rsur Neg. and that I could go on to have a 2nd child as I would not have any antibodies against Positive blood. My daughter also has the same blood group and RN is known as the universal giver.

I think it’s tested when you’re born isn’t it? I always knew mine.

I found out mine when I was studying Biology I still have the test card somewhere. I'm AB+ & so was my DB.
My DDs - found out when they were born - 1 : A+ & 1 : B+
It's a fascinating subject. Native Americans have a unique blood group RzRz.
In the Basque region many are rhesus negative.
In some countries their military Do have their blood group tattooed on them.

I’ve always known that I’m B neg - my mother was told when I was born. I asked each time after the birth what our DC were and was told straightaway. With my third the doctor asked me what the first two were - when I said A neg and B neg he quipped that this one must be C then. He was O pos.

All women are tested for blood group when they attend ante natal clinics.
I am A+

Yes, I've known since my first pregnancy. I'm O positive, so was my husband, therefore all the children are. It's a good one to be, health wise, too.

Hetty58

Yes, I've known since my first pregnancy. I'm O positive, so was my husband, therefore all the children are. It's a good one to be, health wise, too.

Hetty, according to the chart I just posted you could have an O Neg child, so unless they've been tested you wouldn't know.

I'm AB positive but never had any problems giving blood. I found out during A Level biology - finger prick tests and thought I had done something wrong because I was the only one!

I am A positive. My husband is AB negative. Our two daughters are A negative and had to have an injection after most of their pregnancies.

I am AB+ and know as I was a blood donor but stopped when I was 71. There is less demand for blood now as many surgeries are performed in a less invasive way so fewer transfusions.

Yes I do. Rho positive.
I found out aged 18 when I went to be a blood donor for the first & last time.
I had no idea I was needle phobic & passed out cold as soon as I saw the needle. They did not take the blood & suggested I wasn't really up to it & I should not bother again I never did!
Still cannot look at needles but know to look away now

I'm RH + A. I've known since I was a teenager. I think we should be tested at birth or very soon after. It's one of those things that I feel is important to know in case of accident, or if someone needs blood in an emergency and you know your blood group then you could maybe help!
I also think our fingerprints, footprints and ear prints should be kept on file along with DNA for future help if a child goes missing etc.

Yes I know my blood group from my maternity records.
If someone is having a haemorrhage they can give group O Rh negative to all other groups as its the universal donor

O yes, I know mine is O

Elegran

Checking takes time. If you need an emergency transfusion, speed could be vital. It is something worth knowing - if you have an allergy you probably carry a card to say so, and being Rhesus negative is similar as having an allergy to Rhesus positive blood.

As for Redhead not being told the blood groups of her children - why ever not? She would have been told if they had allergies.

In a real emergency you get plasma. There is far more to blood groups to be known before you get an actual transfusion so knowing you are o+ or whatever doesn't actually speed things up, especially if you have recently had a transfusion.

I always assumed that information on one's blood group would save time in emergencies. Mine is O rhesus negative. This mattered when my second child was born with jaundice and had to stay in hospital for a week.

I was told my blood group, which is O Negative, when I was pregnant (51 years ago). Because of this, my husband's blood group had to be researched, and he was O Positive, which was very relevant at the time. Fortunately, I had 2 healthy daughters without them being compromised by the Negative/Positive issue. However, sadly, I had a problem with my third pregnancy (a boy) who was still born when I was 7 months pregnant. I still don't know if the Negative/Positive issue was the problem.

I know mine because I donate: O+. Partner doesn't know and can't donate - Type 1 diabetic. My kids were typed at birth, both O+ too - as was their father. Does seem a bit odd that we aren't routinely typed.

I am A negative with Anti C + D. I carry a card. I got my anti bodies when pregnant as my sons are A positive. If I have a transfusion that blood must be irradiated, which means my white blood cells wont attack it. I carry a card for this too. It is all very interesting. I do think there should be a system whereby these details can be reached quickly if needed.

The only reason I know my blood group is that I happen to be a regular blood donor. I'm B+ which doesn't always match my personality. It seems that way back I had ancestors from Asia. My blood goes to help patients with Sickle Cell problems among many others.