Blood testing offers doctors a rich array of information relating to the health of both you and your unborn baby.
Blood Group and Rhesus Status
It is important to know your blood group in case you need a blood transfusion during birth. Your rhesus status will be tested to find out if you have 'rhesus incompatibility', meaning you are rhesus negative and your baby is rhesus positive.
If your blood mixes with that of your baby during delivery, your body will produce anti bodies (cells that fight infection) to destroy your baby's blood cells. This probably won’t have any effect on your baby, but babies carried in future pregnancies will have their blood cells attacked by your antibodies. Rhesus incompatibility is treated with injections of anti-D immunoglobulin from 28 to 34 weeks of pregnancy and immediately following birth.
Complete Blood Count
This checks the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in your blood. A low count of red blood cells is a sign of anaemia and high levels of white blood cells indicate infection.
Some women experience a drop in their platelet count later on in pregnancy. If the count is too low you will need close monitoring as you are at risk of dangerously heavy bleeding during delivery. It can also prevent you from having a spinal epidural.
Blood testing offers doctors a rich array of information relating to the health of both you and your unborn baby.