breastfeeding & giving blood

9 replies

StinkyPete · 06/04/2007 19:51

any one given blood when bf-ing? i know it's not technically recommended, but dd is 14 months, so it's by no means her main source of nutrition- so i'm tempted to go to a local session this weekend.
what do we think?

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alex8 · 06/04/2007 19:53

I never knew it wasn't recommended. I gave blood when my son was 9 months olds as that is the earliest you can do it after giving birth.

Original poster

StinkyPete · 06/04/2007 19:57

and i didn't know you were meant to wait ofter giving birth at all!!

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CorrieDale · 06/04/2007 19:57

I did it at 9 months. Just don't plan on doing anything too strenuous afterwards - you get a bit more tired afterwards than you would do normally.

alex8 · 06/04/2007 19:59

I always find out at least 6 things I never knew I should or shouldn't do after reading mumsnet!

ELF1981 · 06/04/2007 20:07

we have regular blood donation drives at work and we are not allowed to sign up if

TTC
pregnant
1 year after the baby is born
breastfeeding

I'm tempted to give blood at the next one, 'cause otherwise I'll probably be back to TTC and will have years of not giving blood!

NotQuiteCockney · 06/04/2007 20:08

According to kellymom, basically, you shouldn't do it if your supply is delicate, or you're tiny. The LLL say it's ok after six months. So unless you're tiny or anaemic, you should be fine.

Original poster

StinkyPete · 06/04/2007 22:39

mmm, 'delicate'. now i'm wondering because, as dd drinks less from me i am worried about it drying up. we're at the stage where really she'd be happy with cow's milk, but i want to keep going as long as she'll let me.

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NotQuiteCockney · 07/04/2007 08:31

How often in a day does she feed from you? I'd think your supply would be pretty solidly established by now, particularly if you did a good stint of exclusive bf at the start.

Original poster

StinkyPete · 07/04/2007 12:48

we did 7 months exclusive on demand (never even expressed), then four drinks a day on routine when i went back to work; she has 2 drinks of cows milk when she's at nursery (3 days) and 4 drinks from me when at home. Saying that she's got chicken pox this week and we've been pretty much on demand for extra comfort.
i'm very much in 2 minds about the giving blood thing. I haven't given for ages cos of being pg / bfing so would like to ; but don't want to lessen milk for dd...

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