Giving blood - how not to faint?

[BadlyAgedMemes]

Some months ago, encouraged by a thread about blood donations, I finally booked an appointment, and the date is tomorrow, and I'm bricking it!

I used to give regularly for a while, so really shouldn't be scared to go back, right? I stopped because we were having fertility treatments, and there were other health issues, and then we moved to an area with no regular sessions. This is actually the first time in seven years that I think I'm okay medically to donate, and there's a session nearby for me to attend.

Problem is, I always used to get quite faint. Never actually fainted while donating blood, but I'm really scared that for some reason now I will! I dread that feeling when the room starts to tip over and I start to see swirling black dots. I've always done all the basic things they tell you to: eat, drink lots, do the muscle tension stuff. It doesn't seem to have made a difference. The almost-fainting feeling can last for hours afterwards, which is why I haven't wanted to go donate far from home. But I've never been told that I shouldn't actually keep donating blood, other health issues permitting, so it must be okay?

I'm not usually squemish, and blood tests and needles don't bother me, so I'm not sure what the thing with blood donation is (similarly I get apparently unusually lightheaded from sedation and sedatives).

Am I missing some trick I could try? Any extra thing I could do before, during or after the donation? (Assuming they'll let me donate.)

Just wanted to say thanks again, and report back that I managed to donate just fine, no fainting. :)

Ate and drank loads all morning, and did the exercises religiously during and after. I tried to read a frustrating news article while donating to keep the blood pressure up, too!

I had a mildly lightheaded, clammy feeling while sitting in the refreshment table, and "tea nurse" heard me mention that to DH, and insisted I lay down a bit extra, which I did, but I don't know if that was actually necessary. (The nurse who came to check up on me claimed to remember me from seven years ago, and that I was pretty unwell then!) Anyway. Soon passed and got home fine. Another quick moment of lightheadedness walking up a hill just by our house, but that passed quickly, too. I'm planning to sit on my arse the rest of the day, so I doubt there'll be any more opportunities to feel woozy.

I like the new chair things, by the way, and would quite like one like that in my living room! Easy swing from sitting up to napping and back.

I always dropped my BP when donating - it is low normally but dropped lower still. I donated with my legs raised which stopped me fainting. Maybe you could try that?

These were the kinds of chairs in use today. So when you're lying down your legs are automatically elevated, which is handy.

Sorry to hijack your thread but does anyone know if I would be allowed to take my 5 year old along with me when I donate? He obviously wouldn't be donating but was interested when I told him about it and thought it would be interesting for him to see what happens...before he's old enough to realise he might want to be a bit squeamish about these things.

OP, hope your donation goes well tomorrow!

@Givemestrengthorgin - no knowledge of the policy, but there were kids with some people donating today. All of the kind of age that they were sitting and talking and looking at a phone etc, so I'd assume as long as they're not so small they'll run around getting in the way, or disrupt the process?

Thanks @BadlyAgedMemes and glad to hear you got on well today!

Well done you!
Some more advice here.

Fab news, I'm overdue a donation, been nearly a year due to flu last time I was due to. So you've prompted me to pull my finger out and get rebooked