Needle Phobic

[katotonic]

hi

not sure if I am posting this in the right place so sorry in advance if its not.
I would really like to try and get pregnant but have an absolute paralysing fear of needles. I know it sounds stupid to say I really want a baby but that thought of a needle is stopping me but that is how awful my fear is. Ive tried so many things to get over the fear - even spent £££ in Harley Street- but even when Ive been sedated Ive ran out of the GPs (would be funny if not so sad!)
Is it possible to go through pregnancy without having a needle without putting the baby in danger?

Any advice etc would really be welcome

K

have you tried rescue remedy to settle your nerves? I find it gets me through many anxious moments?

yes, my cousin gave me some and it didnt work I just feel now that its totally running my life - hence wanting to have a baby but so scared of needles Ive put it off. Have done such a good job of pretending Im not maternal just because I am so worried about the needles that my partner was like "but you've always said you didnt want to be a mum" when I told him I thought I was ready, and weve been together 10 years. (he is very supportive and understands my fear but agrees we need to work out if its essential b4 we try). I know it sounds awful but I dont think I could be pregnant if it meant having to have needles

I think if its causing you that much stress then its beyond the help of rescue remedy

have you tried hypnotherapy?

I have a very very big fear of needles, I cry with evry blood test as early as a week before it's due to happen.
I would suggest you try hypnotherapy or seek some sort of councilling to overcome this fear if you want to start a family. There are so many things they need to check that don't think it's a good idea to think of going through a pregnancy without blood tests, results of not having standard chcks can be fatal.

I think that if you have a normal, uneventful pregnancy it might be possible to go through the whole thing without blood tests. I doubt it would be advisable though and it might put you and the baby in danger.
What if you are rhesus negative and need anti-D? What if you start exhibiting signs of pre-eclamspia and the doctors need to check whether you are ok? What if you want pain relief during labour or if you need a c-section? What if you had an ectopic pregnancy and needed repeat blood tests? You would need one needle or another for all of those things.

I used to be very frightened of needles, so much so that I would keel over when I saw them, but since I became prg a couple of yeatr ago have become altogether more relaxed about the whole thing. I still can't look, but it has got a whole lot better. Somehow pregnancy can provide some perspective.