Born by Blood

After months of talking about it, we finally got up the courage (and the cash) to have M take a blood test to determine his Rh factor.

Right before he returned to work, he went to the lab where, for one tiny little blood test, they drew an entire vial of blood.

He came home saying "I think I'm negative". Which would be good, because I'm A negative, and in the world of blood and babymaking multiplication, a negative and a negative can only equal a negative - unlike in mathematical multiplications. Plus, you know, I'd like to know whether this baby has any chance of having a positive blood type with an Rh negative mother (and whether I'll have to have any more Rhogam shots), even though Rh sensitization is usually not a problem with the first pregnancy, but can be for subsequent ones.

The day after the test, we visited with his parents. I knew from a conversation last August that his dad has a positive blood type. I was pretty sure his mom was positive, too, given that she'd successfully birthed 8 babies and none had any hemolytic problems to speak of. Sure enough, she's O positive.

So, finally, after a week's wait and 4 phone calls, M got the results: O positive. Just like his mom.

Which means the baby could have positive blood. Which means I'll have to have a Rhogam shot at around 27 weeks and again right after delivery. Which means the baby'll have to be screened for anemia and might have bilirubin problems (i.e. jaundice).

But, now, at least we know.

Oh, and M says that maybe his O positive blood is why he's "so positive". I didn't ask him what that means my A negative blood type makes me. . .

~Nichole