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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to refuse bloodtests when pregnant?

31 replies

estar · 23/04/2007 11:29

I am fourteen weeks into my third pregnancy and am already dreading them. I've not had the conversation with my doctor yet but thought I'd find out whether people think it's worth pushing or not.

Last pregnancy, they seemed to take them for fun - I'd go and they'd say 'ooo, you've not had a bloodtest in a while' and I'd say 'yes, I did one two weeks ago'. They'd look at their forms and say 'well, it's not on here, it must have got lost' and send me for another one! This seemed to happen regularly and, maybe I'm a wimp, but they distress me so much. I go really dizzy and feel faint after having them and feel sick (and I'm already being sick enough thanx) Quite often as they're doing it my veins collapse and so they get other people in and keep trying for ages and ages, tapping me and prodding me and squeezing my arm more and more - I'm shuddering just thinking about it.

Obviously, if I was showing any ominous symptoms of illness, then I would consent to one, but I am taking extra iron at the moment and don't feel anaemic. Does anybody know what else they check for on regular blood tests?

OP posts:
kslatts · 23/04/2007 11:55

I have always had problems with blood tests, and when pregnant with dd2 had to have blood taken from my hand as they were really struggling to get it from my arm. Having said that, i never thought about refusing them as didn't want to take the risk.

kslatts · 23/04/2007 11:54

I have always had problems with blood tests, and when pregnant with dd2 had to have blood taken from my hand as they were really struggling to get it from my arm. Having said that, i never thought about refusing them as didn't want to take the risk.

JodieG1 · 23/04/2007 11:34

Oh and I have small veins and they always had to try 2 or 3 times to get blood out, it just wouldn't flow. Always bruised as well.

WigWamBam · 23/04/2007 11:34

They're a pretty important way of making sure that you, and therefore the baby, are well. They check for anaemia, thyroid problems, diabetes, and your blood count is important to establish that your blood is clotting properly.

You don't need to be showing symptoms for there to be a problem, and most things are easier to treat the sooner you catch them.

It's not only for your sake that they do blood tests; many of the things they check for can affect the baby too.

So not unreasonable to hate blood tests ... but maybe you need to think a bit more before you decide not to have them.

Hillls · 23/04/2007 11:32

I was the same, I had no blood tests in my first pregnancy at all, turned out I was being very silly indeed as I lost alot of blood could have needed a transfusion, they could not confirm my blood group even though it was listed on my notes. I was needle phobic, its just not worth the risks.

JodieG1 · 23/04/2007 11:32

I'm the same as you, hate blood test with a passion and refused the ones that I'd had before such as hiv, blood group etc as I'd been tested in previous pregnancies. I was preparing to refuse any more when I had pregnancy problems (waters broke at 22 weeks) and from then on I had at least weekly blood tests I never got used to them though. Also had to have steroid injecions for the baby's lungs.

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