Random question: do you know your child's blood type?

[starburst604]

Stemming from a conversation with H where it came up that we don't know DD's blood type. My own is B+ so I always remembered it like "Be Positive!!" and feel like I've always know that, but I don't know how. H thinks the hospital had to have run her blood type when she was born and that her pedi has to know it. I looked through any records of hers I can see and don't see it recorded anywhere. H staunchly feels we need to know her blood type. The kicker......

HE'S 47 AND DOESN'T KNOW HIS OWN BLOOD TYPE. 

Do you know your kid's blood type? Do you know yours? Do most people know all this info? I just never thought about it and assumed if there was ever a situation where someone needs blood urgently that they can test for type quickly or give O negative. 

[momin2013]

I do not.

I've always thought it would be good to know but figured some kind of poke would be involved for him to find out so I never bothered.

[waverly]

I do know, but I would want the hospital to double check before applicable medical procedures which they do.

[candreco]

I do, they're both O+ because DH and I are both O+. I think we both only know our own from donating blood, though I vaguely remember the kids maybe getting blood typed at the hospital when they were born?

[mccallister84]

Yes. But apparently they only type babies of O moms at both hospitals the girls were born in. So if I wasn’t an O we wouldn’t know because they would never have been typed.

[mccallister84]

Jul 25, 2023 13:32:42 GMT -5 candreco said:

I do, they're both O+ because DH and I are both O+. I think we both only know our own from donating blood, though I vaguely remember the kids maybe getting blood typed at the hospital when they were born?

Technically two O+ parents can have an O- baby. That was a surprise to us!

[mae0111]

I only know that they are both positive due to the painful Rhogam shots I received after their births.

ETA: I do know my blood type from donating blood. I’m B-. DH is O+.

[wanderingback]

No. It’s not a typical test run unless you need a blood transfusion (or are prepped for a possible blood transfusion if you’re having a large surgery). For kids/babies typically would only know it if you are born to a rh negative person or again have a medical problem where you need a blood transfusion.

I know my blood type from blood donations (first pregnancy just last year).
My partner isn’t allowed to donate blood in this country and has never had a blood transfusion so doesn’t know his blood type.

[mpm]

Yes, of course.

It’s also written on index cards that are taped to the back of their car seats and in a pocket in their backpacks that also have their pediatrician’s info and emergency contact numbers. If they ever need blood, I don’t want any delay in them getting it.

[archiethedragon]

No, but I don't know mine either.

[wanderingback]

Jul 25, 2023 13:37:03 GMT -5 mpm said:

Yes, of course.

It’s also written on index cards that are taped to the back of their car seats and in a pocket in their backpacks that also have their pediatrician’s info and emergency contact numbers. If they ever need blood, I don’t want any delay in them getting it.

Any hospital I’ve ever worked at always does a type and screen or gives O negative blood while simultaneously doing a type and screen so fyi for anyone if you’re dying from blood loss things won’t get delayed if you don’t know your blood type!

[rosiebear]

No idea. I’m not sure of mine, either, except I know I was told at one point it’s the most common type.

[starburst604]

Ok I guess it's not that unusual not to know! I know they ran mine while I was pregnant to check that I wasn't rh negative, so I could have found out then if I didn't know already. I wonder if H has never donated blood or he just didn't pay attention to what type he has....

[ssmjlm]

I think it's O+, but I know it was in the paperwork from the hospital. I'm too lazy to go look, LOL.


ETA: I do know I'm O+ from donating blood back in HS.

[rosiebear]

Jul 25, 2023 13:37:03 GMT -5 mpm said:

Yes, of course.

.

Smug much?

[momin2013]

I answered no but now I have a question - for those that do know, how did you find out? Was it automatically checked at birth, did you purposely have a blood test done later just to find out, or something else?

[brooke77]

DH and I are both O, so DS is O too. I’m O+, but not sure if DH and DS are - or +

[smock]

I didn't know mine until I got pregnant. Turns out I'm RH negative, so now I also know my kids' blood types (I also got the painful Rhogam shots, mae0111!).

[mandymay]

Jul 25, 2023 13:41:59 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

I answered no but now I have a question - for those that do know, how did you find out? Was it automatically checked at birth, did you purposely have a blood test done later just to find out, or something else?

They checked at birth for my kids. We also did an at home blood test as a science experiment a couple of years ago.

[cherry1111]

I know mine but I don’t know the kids off hand.

[momin2013]

Jul 25, 2023 13:45:21 GMT -5 mandymay said:

Jul 25, 2023 13:41:59 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

I answered no but now I have a question - for those that do know, how did you find out? Was it automatically checked at birth, did you purposely have a blood test done later just to find out, or something else?

They checked at birth for my kids. We also did an at home blood test as a science experiment a couple of years ago.

Oo, at home blood test - that's cool. Was it like a mail order kit?

I'd actually like to know DS' blood type but I didn't want to have him get poked for no reason...

[bex1973]

Jul 25, 2023 13:41:27 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

Jul 25, 2023 13:37:03 GMT -5 mpm said:

Yes, of course.

.

Smug much?

For. Real.

[devonpow]

I don’t know my kids. I don’t know mine! I just asked DH and he doesn’t know his. I’m 45.

[mpm]

Jul 25, 2023 13:41:27 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

Jul 25, 2023 13:37:03 GMT -5 mpm said:

Yes, of course.

.

Smug much?

Bitchy much?

We learned at birth. I thought that was standard. Guess not.

[dreamcrisp1]

Nope. No clue! I only found my own out because of pregnancy. They don’t do any type of testing like that here and though both of my kids have had blood work, this hasn’t come up. I’m also RH- but here they test the blood to see antibodies during pregnancy for if you need the shot. I haven’t yet so I presume all of my kids are RH-?

[bex1973]

I only know mine. I don't know what type my H or kid are.

[devonpow]

They don’t type blood in schools anymore do they? It used to be a standard science class thing - I’m guessing they figured middle schoolers free wheeling with all those bodily fluids was a bad idea?

[bex1973]

Jul 25, 2023 13:48:46 GMT -5 mpm said:

Jul 25, 2023 13:41:27 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

Smug much?

Bitchy much?

We learned at birth. I thought that was standard. Guess not.

Nope.  Also H has been a paramedic for over 30 years, he's never looked for or grabbed cards or signs or anything on car seats - we've actually talked about this multiple times when I see folks posting stuff like this. I also doubt (at least I hope) that if it's an emergency folks are going to go by what is handwritten on an index card.  Certainly this might make you feel better to have and that's totally fine it just probably isn't doing anything.

[eb777888]

No clue and I only learned mine because I gave blood, and only remember it because it's B+ (be positive! lol)

[Velar Fricative]

I didn't know mine until I was pregnant with DD1. So now I know mine, my husband's and hers. I never found out DD2's though...