Medical Blood antigens -- pregnant mothers' blood types and infants' blood types

  • Thread starter Thread starter mktsgm
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Blood
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the concerns surrounding blood type compatibility between pregnant mothers and their infants, particularly focusing on Rh factor and ABO blood group incompatibility. It highlights that while Rh incompatibility can lead to the mother developing antibodies that may affect subsequent pregnancies, ABO incompatibility is often overlooked despite its potential risks. The conversation questions why ABO compatibility is not given the same level of attention as Rh compatibility, suggesting that this may be due to a lack of awareness or the desire to avoid alarming expectant parents. The importance of understanding both Rh and ABO blood types in pregnancy is emphasized, with a call for greater awareness and education on the potential implications of ABO incompatibility.
mktsgm
Messages
151
Reaction score
22
I have a small question regarding pregnant mother's blood types and infant's blood types.

We all know the if an Rh-ve mother carries an Rh+ve child, there is a possibility that their blood may mix during the delivery.

This may induce some (Rh D) antibodies in maternal blood. In case the same mother happens to carry another Rh+ve child for the second pregnancy, the antibodies of the mother will create a lot of problems to both.

My doubt here is, say if the mother is B+ve and the child is A+ve, the same situation arises with respect to A,B,O antigens. Why this antigen/antibody axis does not create problem in pregnancy?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Biology news on Phys.org
Oh. Thank you very much.

But if so why we aren't much bothered about ABO compatibility of the parents? Even if screened, the parents are not generally told about this fact. Perhaps not to scare them...

We seem to insist only on the Rh type excessively...

Anyway thanks.
 
Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S. According to articles in the Los Angeles Times, "Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S.", and "Kissing bugs bring deadly disease to California". LA Times requires a subscription. Related article -...
I am reading Nicholas Wade's book A Troublesome Inheritance. Please let's not make this thread a critique about the merits or demerits of the book. This thread is my attempt to understanding the evidence that Natural Selection in the human genome was recent and regional. On Page 103 of A Troublesome Inheritance, Wade writes the following: "The regional nature of selection was first made evident in a genomewide scan undertaken by Jonathan Pritchard, a population geneticist at the...
Deadly cattle screwworm parasite found in US patient. What to know. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/08/25/new-world-screwworm-human-case/85813010007/ Exclusive: U.S. confirms nation's first travel-associated human screwworm case connected to Central American outbreak https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-confirms-nations-first-travel-associated-human-screwworm-case-connected-2025-08-25/...
Back
Top