Baby blood transfusion

[Belle82]

My baby has just had to have a blood transfusion due to him having anemia.

I already have bad anxiety but now my mind is in full swing about the chances of HIV and other deadly viruses I may have allowed for my 4 week old son.

Has anyone or their children ever had a blood transfusion?

Every single blood donation is rigorously screened for blood born viruses. This isn't the 80s.

Hi @Belle82 This must be very worrying for you but all donors and donated blood is screened really carefully so there is such a teeny weeny risk it's almost negligible.

I used to donate blood but I'm not allowed to anymore as I received donated blood myself as a child at a time when it wasn't tested as well as it is now. I'm absolutely fine but they won't take the risk that I may have caught vCJD and could pass it on. They're super-cautious.

You’re anxious and that’s understandable but blood is super screened and very safe. My baby had several blood transfusions and he’s a bonkers 7 year old now. You did the right thing to treat your poorly baby xx

It is so well tested these days, please don't worry. They would not give your baby a transfusion if they didn't know it to be safe.

Like one of the other posters above, I'm not allowed to give blood. I might have had a transfusion when I had preemie surgery in 1985, and because screening wasn't so rigorous then, and they didn't know about vCJD and other blood-borne illnesses, that's it - I'm just not allowed. They take absolutely no chances.

Sending love to you and your little one xxx

Thank you so much.
I try to stay away from Dr Google as much as possible so I had my other half look into the steps of the screening and like you have all said it’s almost impossible for anything like that to happen now.

OP apart from all the usual screenings, blood donations given to babies go through extra checks - it really is safe.
If you're interested then see here