first blood tests?

[Sheepasaurus]

Can anyone tell me at how many weeks the first bloods are normally done?Or what the latest possible time to have them done is? I have just found out I am pregnant but the problem is I work in the labs and want to avoid collegues finding out just yet...

[ShowOfHands]

When you have your booking appointment usually. Although some places will do them at the same time as the 12 week scan (doing the nuchal stuff at the same time).

[Tangle]

I've just had mine done at 18 weeks...

Around here they normally do 3 tests at booking(ish):

• FBC & Group
  
• Antibody screen
  
• Antenatal screen (HIV, Hep B, etc).
  

They will also selectively test for conditions such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia in women considered high risk.

Have you talked to a MW yet? Are there any other labs in the area? Would the lab you work in do the analysis for the bloods drawn for the Combined Test for Downs Syndrome?

I know my MW wasn't too stressed about getting blood drawn early, but she was quite keen to have a baseline to compare changes in the FBC. We were pretty confident I was very low risk for HIV etc so weren't worried about getting those done in a hurry, and nothing I heard about the antibodies made me think that getting that information ASAP was going to have a profound impact on the pregnancy - although I'm not familiar enough with all the ins and outs of those to say whether that was advisable or not.

If your MW pushes you to have them done NOW then ask why. As a mentally competent adult you can decline having your blood drawn, or you can request delaying the tests until you're more comfortable with the situation - just make sure you understand and are happy with the reasons and any changes to treatment options/outcomes that may occur if you do that.

Oh - and Congratulations :o

[melliebobs]

Mine was at 9 weeks. I know what u mean about not wanting people to find out. My booking in appointment was at a health centre I work at a couple of days a week and one of my colleagues was actually working in the building the time of my appoinent. Lol spent my time in the waiting room trying to cover my face with a magazine

[KatyN]

do you mean you work in the labs that process the blood?? Could you request that the blood is processed in a different hospital?
Or maybe just explain to the MW why you want to wait a bit for the tests..

However from my experience all my colleagues knew before I tolf them at 12 weeks.. apparently looking sick as a dog for 4 weeks (when you got married 3 months ago) was a bit of a give away!

congrats!
katy

[Sheepasaurus]

I can't get them done elsewhere as my lab processes the bloods for all the local hospitals. Husband and I did talk about getting them done privately but decided we will have better things to spend the money on! I think I was just ask the midwife about leaving them til a bit later and just hope my colleagues won't say anything if they spot them!

[AlpinePony]

Had mine done at,just over 7 weeks.

These were just for blood group, iron, glucose, hiv, hep and syphilis... so not alarm-bell ringing pregnancy I'd have thought.