haemoglobin and antibody testing at 28w; how important?

[EarnestDullard]

And how important is the timing? I'm 28+5 and just had blood taken by the midwife at my GP surgery. But it turned out they can't use it because the hospital I'm booked into is in a different borough. So I need to phone the hospital and go there to have more blood taken. It's not a major deal but a) I'm needlephobic, b) I have a 2yo DD who is getting over a bad cold and I don't really want to have to lug her around town, c) I have plans tomorrow so I probably couldn't make it until Monday anyway (which might be too late, hence my question about the importance of the timing).

Do I really need it? It just seems like a lot of effort [tired pregnant lady emoticon]

Are you rhesus negative then? If you re, then IMO (having had dc with rhesus disease) the antibody screen is important. But a few days here and there would not matter.

No, I'm pretty sure I'm Rhesus positive (although can't find it in my notes for some reason). I think it's just a standard blood test.

I just phoned the hospital and apparently Monday won't be too late, so I guess I'll just get it done.

I hate needles, I have crappy veins and the one time that getting my blood was easy they couldn't use it

(Not really angry btw. Just.. meh.)

It really is important. My 28 week bloods showed that I had developed anti-E antibodies which could have attacked my baby. They also showed elevated potassium (something to do with my kidneys). Several more blood tests and scans later, I'm fine but I was glad that they took the precautions that they did and picked it up so early.

I developed antibodies (some unusual ones) mid way through my third pregnancy. I then had to have extra monitoring to check that the baby wasn't affected by this.

I think it's rare for anything to show up, but they do the tests for a reason, so you are doing the best thing for you and your baby.

In terms of the timing, late is fine, but early isn't (if that makes sense - antibodies quite often don't show up until 28 weeks). So you should still be ok

Thanks for the replies. I'll get it done on Monday. At least this should, technically, be my last blood test for now.

It's ridiculous really; in 11 weeks or so I'll be pushing a baby out of my vagina. You'd think a little needle at this point wouldn't faze me!

I think the blood tests at this stage are really important as it is not too late catch stuff and deal with them. Apart from more serious stuff, which I hope you do not have, there are more annoying but treatable issues like anaemia. If you catch it quick enough you can alter your diet and take low doses of iron and up it in time for birth. If you leave the tests for later and are anaemic you will have to go for high doses of iron and be stressed etc...