How your blood group type can affect your pregnancy

The ABO typing is a diverse blood grouping system that consist of blood types A, B, and O. The blood type A has A-antigen on the red cells, B blood type has B-antigen and blood type O has no antigen A or B on the red cells. In blood type O has antibodies to A and B in plasma there are none in blood types A and B. Incompatibility mostly affects babies with A or B blood type and mother with O blood type.

Premature babies are more likely to suffer a worse reaction than the full term babies, who have a mild version of it. Unlike rhesus incompatibility the ABO incompatibility can affect firstborns. However, B- means that the blood group does not have a rhesus factor.

According to Dr Jennifer Wangari, “the ABO incompatibility is usually mild and common. The anti-A and anti-B antibodies are Immunoglobulin M (Ig M) which cannot cross the placenta but the mother can also generate Ig G anti-A and anti-B that can cross.” Dr Jennifer is from a well-known and respectable medical institution in Nairobi.

She further explains that these antibodies cause hemolysis. Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells more rapidly than they can be made. During pregnancy blood from both mother and baby do not mix but in cases like trauma, miscarriage and or birth this can happen.

This issue is well known to Jane Maina who has the blood type B-. Interestingly, Jane did not know about her blood group and the impact it would have on her first pregnancy. “I was unwell and so I sought medical attention. It was amazing to learn that I was already five months pregnant,” Jane explains. Jane is a proud mother of at least four children.

Although the doctors told her to buy anti D injections, she did not know what it was all about. Sadly, she lost too much blood during delivery. Consequently, she got into a coma and worst still lacked a donor. Eventually, she received blood from AgaKhan Hospital.

“It is during my second pregnancy that I got a full understanding of the implications of my blood group, on my pregnancies. Just like her first pregnancy, she was perplexed to know that she was already one and a half months pregnant. This is after she went to Nazareth Hospital and then was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital. “This time, I got to learn about the implication of my blood group and the importance of the three anti D injections,” states Jane.

The anti D injection has to be administered during the first and second trimester, as well as after the delivery. During the first two trimesters, the injection tries to keep the pregnancy in place in order to avoid miscarrying. Moreover, the anti D fights the anti-combs, that a woman produces, not to get to the child. However, being injected does not necessarily guarantee the fact that one could deliver at full term.

There is also more to these problem other than miscarry, if a person does not get the anti D injection. Dr. Jennifer explains, “Bilirubin, a metabolite released from red cells breakdown, rises in blood and overwhelms the elimination processes by the liver. Jaundice results within the first 24 hours anemia can also ensue shortly since breakdown of red cells is occurring faster than they are being made. If the bilirubin crosses the under-developed brain barrier they cause kernicterus.” This means that ignoring the importance of the injection places the child at jeopardy. Moreover, the woman could also be at risk because the womb could rapture. These women also should not wait their pregnancy to get to term or labor for too long.

“I am now an ambassador that encourages women to know their blood group,” says Jane. “Moreover, a woman should also encourage the daughter to know her blood group. If the girl is negative, let her learn what it would lead to during her pregnancy,” Jane adds.

As her face depicts, Jane shows seriousness in the need to let this known to women. She is also quick to add that it is not a curse or sickness. They are women like any other. The only difference is that women with blood type B- need extra attention during pregnancy. Evidently, she is an example that one can have as many children as she pleases as long as they receive the anti D injections. Moreover, the children born are normal.

Just like Jane, Dr. Jennifer advices that children should be taken for a follow up after birth. “Babies should be tested for any incompatibilities. It also helps establish that the child did not receive the anti combs from the mother,” states Dr. Jennifer. There is need to know your blood group as a woman.