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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to encourage you all to go and give blood.

100 replies

AtYourCervix · 17/02/2011 17:48

Go on. Unless you have a very good reason why not.

Quick - in and out in half an hour.

Painless - really. I am an utter wuss and it doesn't hurt.

Easy way to save a life.

Makes you feel really good and noble.

And you get tea and snacks. And an hours peace.

So go on. Off you go.

OP posts:

MrsTumbles · 18/02/2011 08:49

Atomant you can donate after a section, I think you have to wait 6 months after any surgery, but you have to wait 9 months after you have a baby anyway!

Atomant · 18/02/2011 09:05

Brilliant thanks.

moonbells · 18/02/2011 09:19

Atomant you can donate after a section - I did!
I was quite shocked to find that with one thing and another (mostly colds), I missed 5 years of donating , so last time I went they treated me like a new donor!

When I first donated at 19 I was desperate to know my blood group, and the region I was in (Bristol) routinely gave a local anaesthetic so after the first sting, you don't feel a thing. When I moved to London, they didn't and that's when I found out that you can have a local if you request it in any region.

It does go a lot faster if you have drunk loads beforehand - simple biology - water goes into bloodstream when you're properly hydrated, and so veins are larger and easier to find, and they bleed faster!

I think I'm now at about 28 donations. Since they stopped the paper donor cards and the stick-on certificates, I find it hard to keep track!

Don't know what is going to happen next time - the hall where they held sessions has closed and they are moving to the local village. So folk at my workplace (where the NBS would come) now can't donate easily. :(

Wamster · 18/02/2011 09:26

I found out I was A - which is apparently 6% of population through giving blood.
I feel so anxious as I hate needles and stuff like that, but when I do give it, I can't bear to look, but the satisfaction after it is great. It's worth going through it if you physically are able.
You sleep well and apparently as long as you can safely give it- and to this end a lot of questions are asked by staff beforehand- losing a pint can actually be beneficial.

Why would anybody think you were being YABU? Surely if a person CAN, they should?

meandmybub · 18/02/2011 09:33

Having a nice lie down for half an hour, getting a free cuppa and a biscuit and very occasionally even a free keyring with my blood type on it ... I used to really enjoy giving blood!

Unfortunately I am one of the many who are indepted but unable to donate any more having had a transfusion - keep up the good work everyone :)

MackerelOfFact · 18/02/2011 09:40

Thanks for the reminder - I've just booked an appointment for Tuesday. :)

TiggyD · 18/02/2011 09:43

I'm never allowed to give blood. Had rumpy-pumpy with another man.

I would like to give blood though. If anybody wants some spare parts when I die, that would be fine. (Not before! I lock ALL the doors at night so don't bother trying)

chelstonmum · 18/02/2011 10:58

I gave blood all of my adult life until I became very ill after the birth of my DS and required three transfusions myself. I beg anyone who can to give it a try, I would not have seen DS grow up without a complete strangers kindness.

Carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2011 12:24

I have found a drop in donation night just 15 mins from here. Do most of you take your dcs with you or should I wait until dh is home? It runs from 4.30 onwards so I can't go while they are at school.

madonnawhore · 18/02/2011 12:43

Would love to but just having read this thread has made me feel all wibbly and queasy. I really don't think I could do it.

I'm on the bone marrow register though - something you should all do too when you have a sec. You can order a sample kit from www.anthonynolan.org, you have to spit into this test tube thingy and post it back to them and then they'll put you on the register.

Any bits that are worth having after I die are welcome to anyone who needs them as well.

But for some reason I just can't bear seeing my blood being sucked out of me into a bag.

I feel like I wanna puke.

Cambridgeferret · 18/02/2011 14:44

Quick....not necessarily, even with an appointment you can still wait ages

Painless...not in my experience. I have to have a local anaesthetic before donating because of the digging for veins, think that mey be just me though.

But I agree, there's no greater gift than getting off your bum and saving a life. And you can still get those little packs of Tuc biscuits and chocolate bourbons (yummy!)

I've got my 33rd donation on Tuesday..if they can't get any B negative this time I'm off the list, so wish me luck.

eden263 · 18/02/2011 15:20

Carrots, I've always taken my DC, I have no choice as a lone parent! If they want my blood, they have to suffer welcome my children too! My boys used to love it as the old ladies would ply them with squash & biscuits all evening!! Though they seem to have dispensed with the old ladies now, last time it was a rather loud middle-aged man instead...

5ofus · 18/02/2011 15:45

I would like to say thanks to all the blood donors. I had 8 units (plus some platelets and some plasma) after my c section/hysterectomy and without you all I would have died.

I only wish now I had donated blood before as I now can't. I've been urging people ever since to donate blood to redress my blood overdraft.

Carrotsandcelery · 18/02/2011 16:00

Thanks eden - it might be a good education for them.

bristolcities · 18/02/2011 16:25

I'v just booked my first appointment ever with a little push from this thread and feel terrible i hadn't done it before.

Toffeefudgecake · 18/02/2011 16:32

AtYourCervix - your post has finally prompted me to find out if I can give blood in spite of my medication (I assumed I couldn't). I emailed the NHS website and they have emailed me back to say that I can. I have found out when the next blood-donor session is here and will go. The children will have to come too (wish they did the sessions during school hours, but they don't seem to here), but that doesn't seem to be a problem and I'm sure the DC will be intrigued to see what happens.

I used to give blood regularly, so this might get me back into the routine again.

Thanks for the useful kick up the backside .

eden263 · 19/02/2011 01:04

Well done, OP!

Would you like to start a thread asking the government to stop screwing us all, in the hoes it might have similar success?!

eden263 · 19/02/2011 01:04

*hopes

anonymosity · 19/02/2011 01:05

I'd love to give blood but I'm a little anemic and they don't want that at all (and it doesn't help me much either)

SueWhite · 19/02/2011 01:15

I am not over 50kg so apparently 'may' not be able to give blood

I have only recently got over my needle/blood test phobia and am determined to exploit this by giving blood and -feeling holy--

femalevictormeldrew · 19/02/2011 09:28

I would also like to encourage anyone reading this who is thinking of donating. I received transfusion some years ago after a very bad car accident, and if I hadn't I wouldn't be typing here now. I had my spleen (along with quite a bit more!)removed in operations that followed, so can't donate blood, as much as I would love to.

It will take not much more than a half hour. But you could save a babies life, a mothers life, a father, friend. Half hour out of your time is nothing, but it could mean the whole world to someone somewhere.

RayneStorm · 19/02/2011 19:07

I have ab excellent reason. I'm pregnant. But after the baby is born I will of-course start to give blood again :)

anythingwithagiraffeonit · 19/02/2011 19:21

What a great thread!

I too will look over the guidelines to see if I can do it and I'll book an appointment too!

TeaOneSugar · 19/02/2011 19:31

Its a win win situation, I get a lie down in the middle of the day and a guilt free Orange club biscuit and a cup of tea, someone else gets some much needed blood.

I have taken my dd in the past, she was a bit anxious that it was hurting me and was a bit clingy but otherwise facinated.

FluffyMuff · 19/02/2011 19:34

I wish I could give blood. As with others here I have also been a recipient of a lot of blood. When I was 16 I was seriously ill and without donations I wouldn't be here today.

I thought it was that you couldn't give blood if you had a transfusion up to and including the 1990's, but it's any person who's had a transfusion since 1980!

I'll be encouraging DD to give blood when she's old enough.

So, if you're able - get out there and donate so that you can give somebody like me a very warm, fuzzy feeling when you think that one person's moment of generosity helped to save my life. :)

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