Quick Question: Donating Blood While TTC

[ChairOfTheBored]

Hi. DH and I are currently TTC DC#1. I am a blood donor, and there's a session in our village hall tomorrow. I've scoured the form, and can't see any mention of whether you can/can't donate while pregnant.

As I could technically be (week 2 of 2WW), I assume I'm OK to donate?

Grateful for any advice

You can't donate while pregnant or for 9 months after having a baby. You may or may not be pregnant, so I would go ahead. I am planning to give blood tomorrow too, not been for years

hi, they wouldnt let me when i went because i told them i was on folic acid, they said just in case i did fall pregnant. was a few years sgo thogh so maybe different now.

Thanks DSTW As it's only a faint chance I'm pregnant I'll go ahead - after all, even if I am the thing is still so tiny, it can't need that much blood and I'll soon replace it eat a lots of biscuits and any sugars and nutrients etc.

I'll get the form filled in.

Enjoy your donation session (if that's the right term!)

Oh, really justhavintheone? Darn it. I had hoped I'd be OK. I'll mention the folic acid, and hope for the best.

Hi, I gave blood last week. I'm trying to conceive but just had af and not ovulated yet so no way i am pegnant yet. The nurse asked me if "there was any chance I was pregnant" so I answered no but didn't think to mention the foils acid and went ahead with the donation. You could go ahead to the session but my betting is if you tell the you could be pregnant then they would not let you donate.

ps Sorry for all the typos, posting this from my phone.

They told me last time as I'm ttc that you can now donate if you are pg in the early stages. I'd double check though just o be sure.

Thanks for all your comments. I thought I'd provide an update for anyone else considering this.

I went last night, and during the initial screening thing, told them about my folic acid habit. There was no problem with that, but had a serious chat with a nurse, about the fact that they just don't know either way whether it has an effect or not, but that I should think seriously, particularly with regard to my iron levels - iron being important for the growing baby, and something that takes a dip when you donate.

Unrelated to this, they had to test my iron levels, as the drop test didn't sink (sign of low iron). Turns out that in fact it didn't sink because it was so high, so even losing a whole gram through donation, I'd still be above the minimum level for donation. As it's very unlikely I am pregnant, or even if I am I'd only be 1 week (middle of 2WW here), coupled with exceedingly overachieving iron levels, I thought I'd give it a go.

So, sore arms, healthy glow of having donated, and nagging doubt that what if I am? Such is the paranoia of TTC I guess.

OP, I hope you get a BFP :)

Just wanted to suggest that you might want to get your high iron levels checked out: you say you're a regular blood donor, so you probably wouldn't expect them to be high.

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with haemochromatosis - which is genetic condition where your body doesn't get rid of excess iron, so you end up with high iron levels. I believe it's easily treatable, but it has some nasty effects if left untreated long-term, since the excess iron affects various organs.

It's actually the most common genetic abnormality in northern europeans. Fun fact - the reason it's so common is that it makes you immune to the bubonic plague(!) so having the condition increased our ancestors' chances of survival in the 1300s.

I'm not a doctor - so I'm just pointing you towards your gp :)

Thanks fizzwhirl I'll perhaps ask the GP to check them out. I think it might be because I am taking iron tablets, on top of a TTC regime of healthier eating, but better safe than sorry.