I just went to give blood but

[misdee]

i cant donate yet as am still breastfeeding. dont think dd3 will be giving up by the 19th july.......

maybe soon eh.

I have given blood twice. It only occurred to me that I should do it after I had the kids. It is so easy and everyone is very friendly. I do find the iron test a bit weird though - watching to see how long it takes for your blood to drop to the bottom of the blue liquid!

I think giving blood should have more publicity - probably costs too much money though

Yes, it's definitely worth donating blood if you're allowed to. It doesn't really hurt and if you're squeamish just take something to read (to distract you) and make sure you look the other way when they stick the needle in.

I've given blood fairly frequently starting when I was 18, but haven't been able to do it since 2002 because I've been either pg or bfing since then.

I'm also on the bone marrow register. I was wondering the other day whether it's possible to donate bone marrow if bfing - probably not.

I can't give blood because I had a transfusion when DS1 was born and there is no way of screening for things like CJD etc. Shame that cos I always forget and go to donate and get turned away.

i can't give b/c i had hepatitis A - i liked to live dangerously in my youth and ate off a street vendor in Venezuela. bad idea!

I'm another ex-donor who can't because of transfusions post dd. Very about it tbh.

I have never got round to donating and i really must make the effort.
Which reasons will they not let you donate?

How do you find out about the bone marrow register?

I have never given blood because I am terrified of needles. When pregnant, I was given valium just to have a blood test. I also refused several blood tests as I just couldn't face having them.
I know they don't hurt, its weird but I just can't cope with needles at all.

There are lists of places you've lived, illnesses you've had and other circumstances (pg or b/f, previously transfused) - best check with them pelvicfloor. It is such a worthwhile thing to do if you can.

Pelvic floor - its run by the anthony nolan trust -

here

thanks

I donated blood when breastfeeding Misdee. You are not allowed to donate until baby is over 1 year. Your DD3 isn't that old yet is she?

she is 16months. i gave her age, and they went to check for me.

'I know they don't hurt, its weird but I just can't cope with needles at all. '

Yeah, they do. They do hurt, kid. You're not imagining it at all.

Between massive amounts of dental work, 4 knee surgeries, various illnesses, travel abroad and injuries and two children, I've had loads of needles.

And not one has been entirely painless.

needles do hurt. even after over ayear of daily jabs dh still winches when they jab him for blood.

i always found the worst part was when they prick your thumb to see what group you are.
I really must do it again

Okay so they do hurt. Its just that I have had people tell me for years 'don't be stupid its only a needle, they don't hurt' so I figured I was just being a wimp!

I donated when I was breastfeeding! The nurse who screened me told me I had to wait however long the pregnancy was, in my case 9 months, after giving birth. No problems whatsoever, apart from a big bruise.

In Belgium they won't take blood from Brits because of mad cow. Even from me, and I have been out of UK for almost 20 years. They just won't believe me.

So stuff them, I say, and I'll donate when I am back in UK.