Yes, two individuals with AB+ blood type can absolutely have a baby. There are no biological impediments preventing conception or a healthy pregnancy.
Understanding Blood Types and Inheritance
Your blood type is determined by genes inherited from both parents. The ABO system has three alleles: A, B, and O. A and B are dominant, while O is recessive. The Rh factor is a separate inheritance system; positive (Rh+) is dominant over negative (Rh-).
-
ABO Inheritance: Since both parents have AB blood type, they each carry both A and B alleles. Their child could inherit any combination of these alleles resulting in the following blood types:
- A: Inherits A from one parent and O from the other (or two A's).
- B: Inherits B from one parent and O from the other (or two B's).
- AB: Inherits an A from one parent and B from the other.
- O: This is only possible if both parents are carrying a recessive O allele (though rare with AB parents).
-
Rh Factor Inheritance: Both parents are Rh+, meaning they possess at least one Rh+ allele. Their child will almost certainly be Rh+, though there's a small possibility of Rh- if both parents are carrying a recessive Rh- allele.
References Confirming Fertility: Multiple sources confirm that AB+ parents can have children with various blood types (A, B, AB, and O). These include statements like: "When both parents are of blood type AB, they can have children with A, B, AB and O blood types." and "If you both have no fertility disorder she can conceive and give birth to children who may be with blood group A, B or AB..."
Potential Complications: Rh Incompatibility
While fertility isn't affected by blood type, Rh incompatibility can occur if the mother is Rh- and the baby is Rh+. This is because the mother's immune system may react to the baby's Rh+ blood cells. However, since both parents are Rh+, this isn't a concern in this specific scenario.
Conclusion
Two AB+ individuals can successfully conceive and have a baby. The baby's blood type will be A, B, AB, or (less likely) O, and almost certainly Rh+.
