Blood transfusions in the UK - safe or scary?

[Tinker]

?

Hello
I was chatting with a group of mums today here in Australia and we were swapping labour stories and I mentioned that I had had a 4 unit transfusion after I had ds2 in London.

They looked at me in horror and told me that in Australia you are not accepted as a blood donor if you have lived in the UK for more than 12 months.

Naturally I am now chewing my arm off with worry. I lost 1.5 litres with ds2 so I really didn't have much of a choice but to accept the transfusion. Should I have been more cautious? Is the blood stock in the UK unsafe? Have I got mad cow disease? (don't answer that)

What do you reckon?

The blood stock is not as unsafe as being dead!

good point, soupy

Does anyone work in the field? How thorough are the screenings?

Oh god I had litres of the stuff! I agree you are better off with a transfusion than dead (which I most defo would be!)

I do hate it though, am always waiting for the next mad cow disease...

you and me in the same ward then when the outbreak happens, CD

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I'll be there too ( and dd for that matter)!

On a sensible note, I do know you are not allowed to donate blood if you've had a transfusion in the UK since (?) 1986,

With me in the next bed, ladies. About three months after I had two units the story broke about NvCJD being spread by transfusions.
I did have a choice, it wasn't deemed essential . I felt much better the next day and have felt bad ever since. Can't be a donor any more either.

how much is a unit?

Roughly a pint

Oh right

I had 10 litres + 3 of clotting stuff whatever that is apparantly. So that would have come for 20+ different people right? Oh yuck.

Oh a lighter note dd's godfather did ask me when I was in HDU whether they had given me a transfusion from Keith Richards as I was so out of it on the morphine LOL!

i agree with soupy, better off than being dead

I had a blood product (the chickenpox antibodies injection) six months ago ish, and it worries me a bit too. Does anyone know if blood products are imported now?

I had a cup and a half as a newborn but I don't think that counts anymore

right so we are officially a club
CD you are president on account of your vast intake of lord knows what.

Bloody scary isn't it?

weirdly our australian friend also recoiled in horror when another friend had to have a transfusion after a MC recently

v worrying

What shall we call ourselves?

Ticking Timebomb Transfusionees?

Soup, ewww, that makes it sound like you were given it to drink! blergh.

How about 'the madnetters'?

LOL!!!

mad cow mums?

And I would like to head up the Rhesus B Neg wing of the club, that's a human product too I believe.

Gor blimey I think there is not much hope for that section

which section? What is Rhesus B (I vaguely remember something about it when pg but can't remember any specifics)

i think what is more worrying in when they dont give you one and send you home with an iron count of 4.5!