Giving blood and breastfeeding

[Wigeon]

Anyone given blood while breastfeeding?

The official policy is not to give blood until 9 months after the birth of your child, but my baby is 10 months, I'm still breastfeeding, still feeling generally quite tired (with a pre-schooler as well as the baby) and am a bit worried that giving blood will wipe me out. I've been a regular donor before.

How did you feel after if you gave blood while feeding? (Obviously not doing both at the same time though!)

the advice I got was not to give blood whilst breastfeeding. gave blood about 3 months after I stopped for that reason.

I've done it towards the end of BFing, when only once or twice a day, but not when doing it more often than that, because you're pretty tired at the best of times!

I did a thread about this the other day. I've done a fair bit of reading about it and it seems that it is up to the individual whether or not they want to do it.

I'm tandem-feeding my girls and I think I might give it a go. I'll be making sure I get loads of iron and fluid in the run up if I do, and afterwards too.

I've never given blood before so no idea how I'll feel (or if they will be able to get anything out of me at all, my veins are really crappy).

Thanks for the replies! .

Good luck EauRouge and good on you for signing up to give blood (why did you decide to start?). I generally used to do it in the evening so that all I had to do was go home, eat dinner and go to bed. But generally I have always felt fine after donating, and usually in life I'm quite prone to feeling faint. I did once cycle up a big hill straight away after donating - that was a mistake! I've always found the "worst" bit the hanging around (even with an appointment), rather than the actual donating, so take a book / magazine.

I gave blood on Monday for the first time and am breastfeeding my 12 mo approx 6 times a day. I felt fine during and afterwards. They check your iron levels first and won't take it if you are low on iron (she said to me they are pretty strict) Despite it being very tricky to get blood from me during pregnancy and at 6 weeks pp they found my viens easily and my blood flowed well (only took 6 minutes to donate my quota (1 pint? 500ml?!)- they will take it for up to 15 mins)

They checked it wasn't less than 6 mo I had a baby (now reduced from 9mo) but didn't bat an eyelid about me breastfeeding.

I decided to start as I had a pph during childbirth but didn't need a transfusion. My friend did however and after a blood drive feature on her in my local paper I realised that I (personally) had no reason to wait so seized the day!

YY to the waiting around. I was in there for over an hour. Next time i'll take a book.

Thanks for the tips! My mum has been a blood donor for years. I used to not be very keen on needles but got used to them during both pregnancies so thought I would give it a go now. I'm still a bit worried, the phlebotomist with DD1 had to use 3 different veins just to get out 5 of those little vials, my veins seem to run away at the sight of a needle even if I don't

Good luck. I am glad I did it. x

Thanks for sharing your story haloflo :)