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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want blood for Christmas?

109 replies

lochnessmumster · 23/12/2010 19:16

This is my second AIBU of the night so maybe I am but...
My wee one was born with rhesus disease and needed a transfusion in utero then a further 2 transfusions once she was born.
To cut a long story short, if other people hadn't given blood, my baby girl wouldn't have survived.
I can't give blood myself now because of the antibodies left from the whole rhesus thing so i asked only the really close relatives not to buy me a prezzie this year but to give blood instead.
So far no one has done it, not even her Dad, and i don't think they will.
Am I asking too much?

OP posts:
Serendippy · 23/12/2010 19:18

YANBU to want it. I cannot understand people who do not give blood but would expect to receive it. Makes me very sad. However, nothing you can do, point made and maybe one of them wil in the future because of your little girl.

Maybe people will read this and decide to give blood too, even better!

Original poster
lochnessmumster · 23/12/2010 19:22

Serendippy- I hope you're right. x

OP posts:
TheFowlAndThePussycat · 23/12/2010 19:23

Wow, what a great idea! I had to have a life-saving transfusion when dd2 was born & I will be eternally grateful. Of course, I can't give blood now, and I'm completely ashamed that I never did before the transfusion. Perhaps, like me, your family just haven't got around to it? Perhaps if you check with them all whether they want to do it & if so arrange a time for everyone to go together? It's quite a personal thing though, so do make sure they are happy to.

FabbyChic · 23/12/2010 19:23

I think some people are scared to give blood, just a thought.

headfairy · 23/12/2010 19:24

I'm desperate to give blood, it was a pact I made to myself when I got pg after two mcs, it is top of my New Years resolutions. I will absolutely most definitely do it though, I've got lots of lovely O pos to give!

Original poster
lochnessmumster · 23/12/2010 19:25

I know, it is such a personal thing, that's why i wanted to know if maybe it was asking a bit much.

OP posts:
TotorosOcarnina · 23/12/2010 19:27

I keep meaning to give blood but keephaving having babies, lol.

I will as soon as I can though this time, I promise x

nurseblade · 23/12/2010 19:30

YANBU. I asked this of my family after I had 2 transfusions. My mum and my sister now give regularly. None of the men in my family will.

HelenLG · 23/12/2010 19:31

I'm waiting to be able to give blood again, it's after 9 months isnt it?

Serendippy · 23/12/2010 19:33

Fabby I agree that some people are so terrified of needles that they cannot bring themselves to give blood. These are also the type of people who would not accept blood unless they were knocked out, the fear is that bad. They are not the people I refer to, I cannot understand people who would want to receive blood, possibly through a giant needle, but not being prepared to give it.

I know loads of people who don't give blood, not because they are terrified, mostly because they are not keen on the idea or have never got round to it. None of them have ever known anyone who needed blood so it does not register as important.

Totoros how very selfish! Oooh, lots of lovely babies

EricNorthpolesChristmas · 23/12/2010 19:33

No it's 4 months Xmas Blush

Serendippy · 23/12/2010 19:34

Helen you have to wait 9 months after childbirth, then can donate every 4 months.

Eric while you're shuffling, shuffle along to the blood website and book an appt!

Original poster
lochnessmumster · 23/12/2010 19:35

Yep I think it is 9 months or maybe a year?
It's my wee ones 1st christmas after a pretty traumatic year so a huge and truly heart felt thanks to everyone who does give blood. x

OP posts:
stnikkilarse1978 · 23/12/2010 19:36

Well you have just reminded me that I wanted to go and do this (never have before) so just looked up where the next session is near me and I will be doing this next month :)

It is one of those things that people are either scared of, ignorant of or too busy/forgetful to do.

I wish they would do more mobile ones in shopping centres etc as if you have to go looking for it you would already be doing it IYSWIM?

Besom · 23/12/2010 19:36

Right, I'll go in the New Year, I promise.

PeeringIntoAFestiveVoid · 23/12/2010 19:38

Have you read the other thread about donating blood? It's not as easy as it sounds! Xmas Angry

PeeringIntoAFestiveVoid · 23/12/2010 19:38

But YANBU Xmas Smile

ChoudeBruxelles · 23/12/2010 19:39

I keep meaning to go but never get round to it. Promise I'll book an appointment in the new year when there is likely to be more blood and less alcohol in my blood.

Why did your baby have to have a transfusion could of rhesus neg?

stnikkilarse1978 · 23/12/2010 19:40

What's the other thread?

RockinRobinBird · 23/12/2010 19:40

I feel awful, I've just had to cancel my next appt as I'm pregnant. I really enjoy giving blood, if you can enjoy such a thing and I will miss it for the next 18 months. All I could think was how much blood they could have had in that time :(

MumNWLondon · 23/12/2010 19:41

DS2 is 8 months old. Will give next month, thanks for reminding me!

FWIW I don't think you are asking too much.

Several years ago I visited friends abroad, their son was in hospital after an operation and they have a system in that country that to receive blood the relations have to give. Their DS had something like 20 units of blood (sadly as result of accident was left in wheelchair) so when anyone came to visit they asked them to give blood as they owed the hospital 20 units of blood.

That was the first time I gave, (I was only 17 at the time).

Why not offer to book appointments for them, and go with....

RockinRobinBird · 23/12/2010 19:41

And you're not BU. I can accept people who would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the place but apathy sucks.

Gabity · 23/12/2010 19:42

Me and OH did it yesterday. DD wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the kind donations of blood. She was prem and the difference it makes to prem babies is huge.

(you only have to wait as long as you were pregnant, I was pregnant for nearly 7 months so only had to wait 7 months to give blood)

Its such an easy process, we were in and out in 40 min. 40 mins to save a life.

starkadder · 23/12/2010 19:43

I tried to give blood a few times and mostly I wasn't allowed because of having travelled too much too recently. Then the one and only time they would let me, the nurse jabbed the needle in several times, eventually got it right, but the blood stopped coming out when the little bag was only half full. And I had nearly passed out by that stage. So she stopped. I said, "will you at least be able to use that?" and she snapped back, "No, we'll need to throw it away". And I had bruises all the way up my arm (wrist to shoulder) for over a week.

BUT I think I had an unusually horrifying experience and am definitely planning to try again as it is so important to give blood. Also, it's one of the handful of things to be proud of the UK for - in most countries, people have to be paid to "give" blood.

Serendippy · 23/12/2010 19:43

Is the other thread the one with the O neg donar desperately trying to give blood and no appts available? It is indeed rubbish but come the 12th Jan the blood will be taken so it will do some good somewhere, let's hope it is in time!