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Original poster

to be a bit hmm that no one can get any blood from me.

26 replies

DeathMetalMum · 06/08/2012 16:53

Went for my booking appointment with mw on friday. Was supposed to have bloods done but both times the needle went in nothing came out. I am genrally poor at giving blood but it alwats came eventually if slowly. I have also had people try both arms having more luck the second arm.

Fast forward to this morning and I go to the blood room at the hospital as advised by the midwife. (Ive had my blood taken here before with not a problem) The nurse here even had problems and had to siringe some out so there was enough this was more paifull than the normal way. I'm slightly conerned at my lack of blood to give. Anybody else experienced this?

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InchyInchy · 06/08/2012 16:57

Me too! It took them nine attempts (various midwives and nurses) to get bloods at my booking in appointment and then four attempts for the nuchal scan bloods.

I've always been difficult too get blood from but at the moment I blame it one my body wanting to keep all the blood for baby:)

Apparently as we get further along it should be easier as your blood volume increases.

Nothing to worry about, but it can be bloody frustrating - pun intended :)

JennerOSity · 06/08/2012 17:01

I have this - even the true pro's at the blood doning centre struggle with me! It is even written in my pregnancy notes I have rubbish veins for getting blood! tcha. I don't struggle with my veins though so not my problem

ShowOfHands · 06/08/2012 17:05

They can't get blood from me either. Each time I had blood tests in pregnancy they sent me to the phlebotomists at the hospital and they'd struggle for ages. Before I had my 2nd emcs, 6 different consultants tried and when siting the cannula, they took about 5 goes, eventually going through my vein and out the other side (I had a black arm with all the bruising). They put it in the side of my wrist in the end in a really weird position.

DS is the same apparently. At 5mo he was hospitalised with pneumonia and they tried for 45 minutes to get an iv in him. Gave up in the end. Was awful.

5madthings · 06/08/2012 17:06

I always have this problem and they oftrn ended up getting it from the back of my hand rather than my arm, the bruises i have had! Tbh after 5 children i git used to the numerous attempts and wiggling of the needle! It does help to make sure you are well hydrated, that makes it easier apparently.

NellyBluth · 06/08/2012 17:08

I had this. Well, they either struggled to get any at all and left me covered with bruises, or I would do horror movie spurts everywhere! I actually did a spectacular 'gush' over the anesthetist as he put my canula in, we were all a bit Hmm (him included) over the thought of him then trying to do the epidural...

Moominsarescary · 06/08/2012 17:08

Me too, I've got to go to the Phlebotomist. 3 mw tried to day and not a drop! I always have this problem

JennerOSity · 06/08/2012 17:11

%Madthings Agree - the problem is reduced by being really well hydrated. I drink like a thirsty camel prior ot any blood appointments now. It helps.

nosleepwithworry · 06/08/2012 17:13

Deathmetal are you concerned that you dont have enough blood or is your concern with the fact that they struggle to find your veins?

It is likely that you have plenty of blood, but that they just cant locate the "well" as it were Smile

Its very very common this as your veins may just be deep set thats all.

It does blinking hurt when they dig around, so sympathies hun Sad

fiverabbits · 06/08/2012 17:17

I am diabetic and I went for a routine check with the nurse at my GP surgery.After two nurses and two doctor's tried to get blood out of me, the last doctor tried in the back of my hand, I had bruises but the worse bit was the waiting room that was full of people that looked at me with hate as it had taken one hour ! I now go to the hospital and always have had the same nurse who always manages to get it the first time, I hope she never retires.

Original poster
DeathMetalMum · 06/08/2012 18:56

Thanks very reassuring to hear it isn't just me. It wasnt that I was worried I didnt have enough blood was more concerned that it was possibly the sign of something else. Feel much better now about it now though.

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Original poster
DeathMetalMum · 06/08/2012 18:58

And I am suffering from a terrible cold at the moment so it is quite likely I am slightly dehydrated, the nurse this morning did ask if I had drank much prior to them attempting to get some blood.

OP posts:
Splinters · 06/08/2012 19:03

Nope, happened to me too. Was surprised because a) my veins had never refused to give before, and b) this whole pregnancy so far I've been v thirsty, drinking loads and not obviously weeing more than usual. Midwife said I had ruined her record..

However, I drank copious quantities before next appointment, and the practice nurse got it out no problem. I could hear it flowing into the vial.

PacificDogwood · 06/08/2012 19:06

You have enough blood, DeathMetalMum, you are just good at hiding your veins by the sounds of it. Common, not at all pleasant when you are pregnant and people will want to get blood or even iv access during labour sometimes.

Being dehydrated or cold does not help.

I am very good at taking blood and would stipulate it does not so much matter who takes your blood (ie dr, nurse, midwife, phlebotomist), but how much practice they have. It is a manual skill, the more you do it, the better you get.

The needle/syringe combo avoids the vacuum from 'normal' blood taking kit which can be too strong for the walls of some people's veins and simply 'sucks' them together and nought comes out. With the syringe the blood taker has more control over how much suction they use.

I have terrible veins and on one memorable occasion had somebody dig around my feet trying to find access, so huge sympathies.
I find having my arms up to my forearms in warm water before giving blood helps as does generally being warm. I also know exactly where my best vein is and insist that it gets used. Yes, I am a bolshy moo, but I also do not like pain...

Good luck and an experienced blood taker next time Smile.

CharlieUniformNovemberTango · 06/08/2012 19:13

In both of my pregnancies not once was a midwife able to take blood. I was always sent to the lab for my blood tests.

In the end the put a sticker on my file so I didn't end up with bruises after a few attempts.

It's funny because I give. Blood easily enough.

twizzlestix · 06/08/2012 20:41

Another one here who reccommends your very well hydrated before bl

twizzlestix · 06/08/2012 20:43

Oops stupid phone Blush

..blood tests. I also have had problems in the past but making sure I've drunk plenty (not just in 10mins before Grin) helps.

phoenixrose314 · 07/08/2012 06:44

That is SO weird, I had this exact problem yesterday! Went to see MW for booking appointment, she tried to take my bloods but nothing came out. She tried both arms TWICE (they both look disgustingly bruised this morning) and nothing came out. Need to go have it done on Thursday apparently. She said to me I need to be drinking a lot more, I don't appear to be hydrating myself enough, and also to have eaten enough too.

Hope it works this time, I'm horrid at having my bloods done anyway, I nearly always feel faint and dizzy afterwards!

HaitchJay · 07/08/2012 08:34

Me too!

mrsbugsywugsy · 07/08/2012 15:28

I have the same problem Sad

I've been sent home from the blood donor place before because they couldn't get anything out of me.

Lifeonthecanal · 07/08/2012 16:29

I am another one who was asked (very nicely) to not to try and give blood again as they struggled so much to get blood out of me. When they finally got the needle in, my blood came out so slowly that they eventually gave up!

When I had my bloods for the NT scan recently the nurse tried twice in each arm and ended up taking it out of the back of my hand. She told me to always ask for the kind of needle they use on a baby in the future as that might work better.

crazynanna · 07/08/2012 16:42

Little and deep veins are a challenge for us Phlebs...but we allow 2 goes and pass on to the manager.

Years ago I was a Paediatric Phlebotomist and did a ward round on SCBU. Little tiny 30 weekers full of bruises Sad

I used to snap a blue needle in half,literally bend the hand back with 2 fingers...and just put the snapped needle in and drip the blood into the bottle.

Butterflies and a small syring is usually my choice for kids' and adults with threadlike veins.

AmandaLF · 07/08/2012 18:45

I'm another one. Had to go to the hospital and they struggled. It helps to drunk plenty of water before.

nannyl · 07/08/2012 20:17

midwives always had issues getting blood from me

to the point where i dont even let them try (I let them look and establish that it doesnt "look good") and then i go to the hospital and have them done there (MUCH less painful than midwife trying (and failing))

Katienana · 07/08/2012 20:32

I am the same seems it's quite.common! It works ok if they get the blood from the back of my.hand instead. At my booking appointment I was under the weather anyway and they had tried both arms, eventually went for my hand and the blood was coming out really slowly. I suddenly went green and they had to quickly pull it out and I vomited spectacularly into the sink! Have managed to survive other blood tests, not normally squeamish but cannot near to look when they do it!

WeAllHaveWings · 07/08/2012 20:51

doctors have tried to take blood from me when I needed to see if I matched my brothers blood type and it took 5/6 goes over two arms to get some out.

throughout my pregancy mw, doctors and consultants strugged to get blood out too. they also tried the back of my hand.

funny thing is, every time I go to donate blood the nurses there get it first time everytime.

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