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 have amazing veins apparently. No one ever had problems getting blood until I was pregnant. Then for some reason it ended up being really difficult in several occasions

Make sure you drink lots in the run up to your next appointment. I had the same issue and they said it could be because I was a bit dehydrated.

Yes, unfortunately sometimes the veins collapse, more so if using a vacutainer.
I don't take bloods any more but I often used to use a butterfly and syringe. In most places it's quite frowned upon though because of higher risk of needle stick injury as you then have to transfer it into the vacutainer. I got away with it as I was only really called when the usual methods hadn't worked for other people and my patients tended to be pretty unwell so it really needed doing however we could manage! But quite a few phlebs/nurses/midwives wouldn't have done that technique where I used to work which is absolutely fair enough.

No problem to have the bloods a little bit late either, don't worry :)

Yeah, hands eventually! 😟

I went through a spell where I was having regular blood tests for a few years. At my surgery, there was one nurse who just couldn't get blood out of me. She'd end up trying both arms several times and I'd go home covered in bruises and needle pricks. She used to get so stressed that eventually she was practically having a panic attack if she saw me in the waiting room.

Thankfully, there was another nurse who really had the knack and got it done so quickly and painlessly I barely noticed. I made all my appointments with her once I realised how brilliant she was. She used to use a blood pressure cuff on me rather than a tourniquet, which may have been part of the difference.

I've never had any problems when having blood taken by a phlebotomist, oddly, only by nurses and doctors. I guess maybe they get more practice!