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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not give blood?

37 replies

MurderBloodstabsandgore · 19/10/2011 14:15

I have registered to give blood.

I phoned them and they said I can take the baby with me. She is 11MO.

I just can't face going and taking her. She will cry and moan if I am not interacting with her and I presume I can't pick her up? I've never been before and I'm a bit scared TBH.

I am going to put it off until the new year when she is in nursery and I can go.

AIBU?

OP posts:

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 19/10/2011 14:45

Awww, bless her! Congrats, Murder

Original poster

MurderBloodstabsandgore · 19/10/2011 14:52

but that is ok, as I could baby jig for that time. It's the 'strapped down' time I was worrying about.

OP posts:

DrMunkenstein · 19/10/2011 14:55

Go in the New Year, you need to be relaxed to give blood and there is a fair bit of faff (well there is where I used to go) about pre testing, questions and haemoglobin tests BEFORE you even get to the giving blood bit.

So having the baby may be a bit tricky!

You are being brilliant by being willing to give, don't give yourself a hard time about it.

anonymousbird · 19/10/2011 15:02

You are doing a fantastic thing by registering to give blood.

Even though I am of the view we should all be frog marched to do it unless you have the very best of reasons not to, you would do the right thing to go without your baby and at a time when you can relax a bit and focus on what you are doing.

It is NOT scary, try not to worry, though if it is all new I understand your apprehension.

WELL DONE and thanks for supporting a brilliant cause.

Ghoulwithadragontattoo · 19/10/2011 15:11

Please don't be nervous about giving blood. It's not too bad really and the staff will look after you. I always try to give blood when my parents are visiting so I don't have to take the kids with me. It does normally take about an hour for the whole thing and the children would be fed up and you would be worrying about them instead of relaxing.

Andrewofgg · 19/10/2011 15:15

I did it for years - I now take medication which rules me out - and the environment was not what I could call child-friendly, still less baby-friendly. There is nobody who can or should take responsibility for a donor's LO.

I would not do it until she can be left with someone else for the duration.

skrumle · 19/10/2011 15:27

just wanted to say that i lost 6 pints of blood after DD's birth and 4 pints during DS's - so thank you for even thinking about it

YANBU to be anxious about it and i wouldn't want to take a young child with me the first time i went.

suburbandream · 19/10/2011 17:17

skrumle - my Dsis needed a transfusion after her caesarian, and my DF during his cancer treatment, which is why I make a point of donating regularly now. Before then, it was one of those things I kept on meaning to do but never got round to probably like lots of people.

Rowgtfc72 · 21/10/2011 18:07

Took dd for first time when about a year old. Always picked a quiet time of day and there was always someone to coo over her and I did have one hand free to reach in buggy. When she started toddling I just made sure she was strapped in buggy and had something to do. Shes 4 now and capable of sitting on the chair quietly next to me. From laying down to give blood to finishing and going in search of the choccie bikkies takes me about ten minutes,not too long. Try it, if it doesnt work for you pick a more suitable time !

PetiteRaleuse · 21/10/2011 18:22

YANBU. And well done for enrolling to donate blood. Just leave it until you can do it and accept thanks on behalf of everyone who has had their lives saved by blood transfusions. However if you give them a call someone may be able to keep her busy while you are strapped down.

I know it's not done to plug blogs on here but here is my story about why it is so important. If just one of you reads it and decides to go donate I will be a happy bunny.

Sorry to go - it's an issue so close to my own heart :)

PetiteRaleuse · 21/10/2011 18:24

Sorry to go on* is what I meant

Scholes34 · 21/10/2011 20:08

Don't feel bad about not going. I certainly wouldn't want to have a child with me. I gave blood lots before the DCs came along, and plasma too, but spent most of the recovery time on every occasion laid out on a bed after fainting! Always had DCs around, and then started work, so only free time was after school. Live in small city, so not easy to get well timed appointments. DS2 is now able to make his own way home from school, so I'm about to go back again and need to factor in plenty of recovery time. DH has more than made up for my lack of donating over the years, but know I should now make the effort to go back. Just do it when you can!

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