Blood tests - has this ever happened to anybody?

[Dribblesnot]

So today I went for my 28wk blood test and the phlebotomist found the vein, stuck the needle in but then couldn’t get any blood! It was rather painful and I’m not great with needles at the best of times so after a while I thought I was going to pass out and she stopped.
I asked if it was my veins causing the issue as I’d never had any problems having bloods done before and she said no, it was that the vacuum was too strong for my vein?
As I said, I’m really not good with needles and decided to book another appointment rather than try again today (I also didn’t really trust the phlebotomist - she seemed just as nervous as me and didn’t even attempt to reassure me.) but I now can’t get an appointment for over a week.

I’ve never had any experience like this before and I’m now really afraid I can’t have the blood test until I’m 30+2, should I be worrying about that or am I just being precious? And has anybody else ever heard of a vacuum being too strong to get blood?

I haven't heard of that one, but phlebotomists and nurses frequently have trouble getting blood out of me 😭.

No experience of this OP but I'd be secretly glad, when they've struggled to get blood out of me, they'll try try try again. From trying another vein, getting a smaller needle and then eventually trying my hands. It's traumatic and after the 5th time of trying they eventually give up.
I've never had bloods taken at exactly 28w so wouldn't worry about it being two week late

I suspect she just messed up and made an excuse. I had the same problem. She couldn't get any blood out and whatever she was doing really hurt. After she'd left when I was talking to the midwife I noticed blood spurting from my arm. When I looked there were two holes. She'd put the needle in, then pushed it out again further along the vein .

The midwife took the blood from my other arm without any trouble.

I haven’t heard that one, my veins are shallow & close to the skin so nurses always go to deep. One incident saw two GP’s and 3 nurses all in the one appointment make attempts to get it from me.

In the end they sent me to the hospital where I was told they’d have to try getting it from my NECK or foot .

I feel your pain.

I had similar troubles in my last pregnancy. The blood would start coming out ok but stop after the vial was a quarter full. Sometimes they'd give the needle a wiggle (dig around) and it'd restart but sometimes they'd have to try a different vein.

Never had problems before in any of my pregnancies so not sure what the problem was really.

I had a blood test at my 16 week appointment or something and they couldn't get me to bleed. I usually bleed really well from that vein and seem to bleed much more freely from wounds since pregnancy so it was very baffling! I was even pumping my fist for her to try and get it flowing but nothing came!

Some times the veins collapse when you put the needle in, just one of those things.

Drink plenty pre next test, a warm compress help to bring veins up, although not needed in this sweltering heat!

Thanks for all your replies!
I am now just dreading the next one, I’m bad enough with getting it from my arm so really hope they don’t say they need to try somewhere else! But I keep telling myself it’s not for me it’s for baby so I need to grow a pair!

I have terrible trouble giving blood, so happens to me a lot. Usually end up very bruised & once they had to get blood out of my groin! That was fun.

My dad was horrendous for getting blood. I started making him drink a pint of water an hour before and he's had no issues since.

Only time I had a problem was when I had pre-eclampsia and a student was struggling. The midwife made her swap arms and talked her through it with no issues. I think she was just very nervous.

I had this around 16weeks pregnant for a thrombophila (sp?) test. She said the vacuum on the tubes weren't working properly so they were only 1/2 filling. I had the needle in for about 15mins with her trying, in the end they got a fresh set of bottles and 10 vials later they eventually had 4 full ones. Hasn't happened again for any blood tests since.

I've never heard that before and they always have trouble getting blood from my veins.

By the time the hospital was finished with me after I was induced, I had needle marks on both hands, both inner arms, and one wrist. I looked like a bloody heroin addict.

MKe sure you drink plenty of water beforehand. That always helps.

I've taken thousands of blood samples over the last 32 years. Recently I had 3 goes and couldn't get blood. My colleague got it in one. Sometimes it just goes that way. I'm sure next time you'll be fine.

Oh god I had similar when I had my third. The MW was wiggling the needle about and everything. I got face sweats and everything went very far away but from somewhere I found the strength to tell her to stop. I got the tests done at the hospital instead.

However, it took me quite a while to get over the physiological reaction from needles and had a few more near faints before I got back to "pfft, it's just a blood test".

Those vacutainers are very powerful.
Next time a butterfly needle and a syringe would be gentler.
An experienced phlebotomist will know how to use alternative equipment.

I'm like a stone, nothing and no one can get blood out of me!

See picture of the last time a nurse tried to take bloods..... from the vein in my wrist after taking one look at my arms and saying "hell no!!"

Apparently I have very fine veins that collapse as soon as a needle is pushed in. Low blood pressure doesn't help either

This is a real thing. My dh is a doctor and always complains about how shit the vacuum vials are and how it was better when they used to do the syringing at their own pace. If the vacuum is too strong it collapses the vein. Unfortunately it's all the NHS buys now.

I've had this too a few times although they never said anything about a vaccum. And horrible bruises always follow the tests that have caused trouble.

It happens! It's fine for the blood tests to be delayed- I'm sure it's only set at 28w so that if, for example, you were anaemic there is time for you to take iron supplements long enough for them to be effective. The blood results themselves don't take long to come back (at my local hospital they can be resulted in an hour as an inpatient).

Can I third/fourth/fifth drinking lots of water beforehand. Since I’ve known this I’ve become much easier to get blood from and no longer seem to require multiple attempts.

I wonder if it’s to do with blood pressure being lower in pregnancy?

I have a medical condition which means iv needed regular blood tests since I was a child and never had a problem. With dc2 I went for routine bloods when pregnant and the same thing that happened to you happened to me! Midwife tried again to get blood in the same spot but it wouldn't work. She gave up and went to fill in some notes and the next thing I know, I look down and blood is pouting out of my arm, it made me feel faint (never had a problem with blood before, I put it down to being pregnant and having a queasy stomach anyway!) I had to lie on the floor with my feet up with midwife fanning me until I got some colour back, was not my proudest moment! Blood was all over my blouse (and I had to go back to school and teach after the appointment!) I was so worried about my next blood test but it didn't happen again. You'll be fine next time I'm sure!

To be honest I do usually drink loads of water before and didn’t drink so much today so that probably didn’t help! I’ll make sure I do before the next one!
I’m glad it’s shouldn’t make too much difference with it being delayed, I think I worry way too much, but it is my soon to be pfb

Can I third/fourth/fifth drinking lots of water beforehand.
I sixth this, and if it's your pfb and plan to breast feed, I found the same for that too.