How to identify fetal blood type?

As we all know, the blood type of the fetus is determined by the blood types of the parents. For example, if both parents have type O blood, then the fetus's blood type can only be type O. In the actual pregnancy process, in most cases there is no need to test the fetal blood type, but some parents may have special needs, such as doing a paternity test, then the fetus's blood type can be known through certain channels.

How to identify fetal blood type?

From the ten months of pregnancy to the final delivery, there are many issues to worry about, and hemolysis is one of them. So how do we identify the fetus' blood type during pregnancy to detect as early as possible whether the fetus has hemolytic disease?

How to identify the fetal blood type

Generally speaking, during the 16th to 20th week of pregnancy, expectant mothers can test the fetus's blood type through amniocentesis or umbilical cord blood puncture. However, examinations such as amniocentesis carry certain risks to the fetus and should be considered carefully. The best time for amniocentesis is between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Amniocentesis only requires the extraction of 5 to 8 ml of amniotic fluid, which will not cause a sudden shrinkage of the uterus and lead to miscarriage. In addition, the proportion of active cells in the amniotic fluid is the largest during this period, and the survival rate of cell culture is high.

Knowing the fetus' blood type early on can help detect whether the fetus has hemolytic disease. Hemolytic disease is a hemolytic disease caused by blood type antigen immunity due to incompatibility of blood types between mother and fetus. In China, the most common blood type incompatibility between mother and fetus is ABO blood type incompatibility, followed by RH blood type incompatibility between mother and fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to do fetal blood type testing during pregnancy so that appropriate measures can be taken in the early stages to prevent the occurrence of hemolytic disease.

What to do if the mother and baby have incompatible blood types

Not all babies whose mothers’ blood types are incompatible will have conflicts with their mothers. In fact, after many babies are born, the blood containing antibodies from their mothers will be metabolized and exhausted within a certain period of time, and the blood circulation will soon return to normal, so parents don’t need to worry too much. Generally speaking, the hemolytic symptoms caused by ABO blood type incompatibility between mother and baby are very mild, and most children do not require special treatment after birth. As long as blue light exposure and drug treatment are carried out in time, the condition can be alleviated. Even with severe kernicterus, most babies can recover if blood transfusion treatment is performed in time.

In order to prevent hemolytic disease caused by blood type incompatibility between mother and baby, expectant mothers must strengthen their health care during pregnancy and take active measures to prevent and treat the disease.