Terrified of blood being taken

[Sleepyhoglet]

I know at the booking session the midwife will have to take blood from me. The appointment isn't for another month but I feel sick and panicky just thinking about it. Does anyone know if they can take blood from my thigh instead as I'm extra squeamish about arms and hands.

It really doesn't hurt, I think it's a case of mind over matter. I always make sure I don't look at the needle and think about something else and before I know it, it's done. Not sure if they would get blood from your thigh as its obviously very muscular and veins not very easy to get at I'd imagine.

Seriously, stop thinking about it! It's a month away and panicking and worrying won't change anything.

Think of it from a rational point of view, it's just a little prick and is over in sec

Over in seconds, helps check if everything is ok with you and baby and labour will be much more painful!

I find it OK if I don't look. Stop thinking about it beforehand and then just look the other way. I tell them I can't look.

I'm squeamish too and a bit of a fainter when it comes to blood tests so I can sympathise! For me it's not fear as it doesn't hurt much at all, it's the sight/thought of it that does it. As long as I don't watch and they do it quickly I'm absolutely fine. Had 3 blood tests last year with no problem at all. My veins do retreat at the mention of a needle however so the midwife really struggled at my booking in appointment. I didn't watch but that didn't help as she gave me a running commentary as she tried both arms! I nearly fainted and ended up getting my bloods done at the hospital after all that. It was so quick and I was fine - they do it all the time so they have the knack! I'm going to have all of mine done at hospital instead - that might be an option for you?

Ask the midwife for the "magic" cream that nurses use on children. I would also ask for the butterfly type needle - they are very thin. This may make the experience more bearable. Failing that, ask to see a more experienced phlebotomist.

If you are finding the whole experience so stressful and it is making you too anxious, consider refusing to give blood at that time. If you go into the appointment knowing that the midwife cannot take any blood without your consent, this may allow you to feel more comfortable.

Good luck.

I really feel for you on this as I was the same I'd only ever had one blood test before I was preg. My sis and mum have a massive phobia on blood tests And passed it on to me lol.

On my booking appt my mum came with me when the midwife got the needle out my mum ran out the room lol (way to make me feel comfortable lol)

Any ways it's not that bad. My advise would be to tell midwife your scared and she will tell u to lay down and chat to you while she does it. Please don't let it fill u with dread I think I've cracked my phobia now :) good luck you will be fine

You definitely can't have blood taken from your thigh, the most painless place is the elbow. My advice would be to make sure blood taking will be as easy as possible for the midwife (therefore the most pain free) - make sure you have drunk loads of water and that you are nice and warm, this will help your veins be nice and plump, making it much easier. I echo what the others say as well - try not to dwell on it to much, you'll end up making it a much bigger deal than it is. Good luck x

Bless yas. Ive had that much intravenous stuff that my veins are so naffed. Midwife was very lucky to get 6 biles out of me at my appointment although they wernt all full, she just took enough in each syringe. It dont bother me now i never feel it. Unless my vein collapses...then its agony! Im sure if you tell her you have a phobia of needles she will help you relax :) they dont take from anywhere else on the body unless its a real emergency or you have no veins left\cant find any in Your arms and hands. My brothers the same, my dad has to pin him down when he has bloods done lol but hes fine with a butterfly :s wich dunt make sense to me but o well. Try not to think about it as others have said as your going to get urself i to such a state that when its time you will probably be worse than if you hadent thought about it lol x

Hi. I TOTALLY understand. I can't bear it.

The things that helped me were:

Telling them I was nervous and really spelling it out. Like, I am properly anxious about it.

Getting them to tell me at what appts I would need blood drawn so I knew in advance and it wouldn't be a shock.

Taking my Mum with me. She used to drive me, I was extremely sick in pregnancy.

Taking an ice cold bottle of water to sip on.

Ask to lie down if you feel too faint sitting up even if looking away. I used to lie on the couch and count as high as I could and do relaxing breaths.

Playing headphones with relaxing music into your ears as they do it.

Don't let others tell you you are being silly. I have felt your pain just reading then typing this I feel a bit sick too.

I am usually a pretty strong person I have travelled the world on my own, been self sufficient for many years it is just this one thing that I find so hard to deal with. Injections are not so bad though.

Good luck, it will be over quickly. ps treat afterwards

Thank you to all the supportive messages. It isn't fear of pain. When I last cut myself (whilst trying to eat a croissant) I vomited and fainted. It was only a small cut in my finger! I know it is irrational. Maybe I will ask not to have the bloods taken this time as need to go into work after.

I don't have a problem with having blood taken, but my blood is exceptionally hard to take (they really struggle putting IV lines in too), I got told to go away by the blood service when trying to give blood as they just couldn't take it, and even the hospital struggle hugely with it.

If I were you I'd make a separate appointment with either the phlebotomist at your GP surgery (if you have one) or at your hospital for a few days after you booking appointment. If you phone and explain they should make you an appointment without any issue. They are absolute experts at taking blood and will be able to do it much more quickly and with far less fuss than a midwife. DH has a phobia of needles and they always manage to get the blood before he's even noticed, it's over in seconds and it's the only way he can have blood taken without collapsing.
If you tell your midwife that you're getting the phlebotomist to do it instead of her, and she'll give you the vials and the labels/packets for them to fill - that's what mine did anyway. I really can't state enough just how brilliant phlebotomists are, whether you have a phobia or just difficult veins, having them take the blood really does make all the difference.

You can have blood taken from elsewhere, I've had to have it taken from my feet before when they failed to get it from my arms/hands. It is down to the skill of the person doing it though, one of the hospital midwives told me that taking it from anywhere other than the arms is something they're not trained in, so it's down to the confidence/experience of the particular person.

Hope that helps

I sympathise, I absolutely hate it too. I have a needle phobia just aaaargh. Makes me want to vomit. I have to have blood tests every week now and even before pg once a month to check my medication levels.

My dh used to come with me to hold my hand and give me support. What I have found with having them done so regularly now is that it has improved things to the point where I can go on my own to have my blood testing done. I know the arm and area they need to go to and get the quickest result and I cannot look at anything whilst they are preparing and doing. I stare at the wall. Currently sitting out my glucose test at hospital with one more blood test to go!

Is there anyone who can go with you for support and literally hand holding? I used to crush dh's hand but it gave me something else to think about. It may be worth using this as an opportunity to get as used to blood tests as much as possible. Good luck

I didn't find it as bad as I feared.

I'd never had blood taken before and just didn't know what to expect.

The midwife was very aware of my anxiety; I was shaking visibly too. I got the impression she was pretty used to doing it so was perhaps better than other people too. I do think she did make an extra effort to be careful and mindful about how worried I was. She got me to lie down in case I did feel faint about it.

However, I took the attitude in the end, that this wasn't something that I could avoid and if I wanted to put my mind to rest about other things in the pregnancy. It was better to just deal with it then rather than let it fester longer as I'd worry about whether they might miss something important that I needed to know sooner rather than later. (Especially since I am planning an ELCS).

In the end it was a case of turn away and get it over with as quickly as possible. Not looking made a HUGE difference to me. As did crushing DH's hand.

It wasn't anywhere near as bad as I feared. I've had to have a second test since and again I got very worked up about it. It was more painful than the first time (it was an in/out appointment and person doing it didn't seem as experienced) but it was OK. The thought of it was far worse than the reality.

Word of warning... it hurts MORE from the thigh!

I had 6 months of blood tests for various things last year, arm/hands were scabby so they did the thigh UGH never again!

Explain you are frightened: they may be able to hide it so you don't have to look. I feels like a pinch! :) Just be clear, I am sure it is quite a common thing: for healthy folk it must be the first blood test often.

I always say I am nervous, look away and count to 20! Not nice but worth it for baby! I hate needles and have whooping cough jab and bloods taken next midwife appointment. ..might as well get it over with!

I was also terrified of having a blood test, (it being my first one ever) but my best friend gave me some excellent advice, drink plenty of water beforehand and make sure you're warm.
I also thought some sort of distraction would be good and settled for what I will call "predictive pain"...I got my husband to pinch the inside of my other arm whilst the nurse took my blood! That way, I could watch him and knew when the pain was coming, with no blood/needles/fear of the unknown. TBH, I barely felt the needle, it really was a case of "is that it?!"
The nurses probably thought I was a freak, but it worked for me so I don't care.
Can I just add, my husband WAS reluctant, he didn't throw himself into it joyfully. much.

I have a blood phobia (even reading this thread has my hands & feet go numb) so a family member who is also a midwife told me the bloods that were ABSOLUTELY necessary. I don't think I had any bloods the second pregnancy at all (I might be wrong, I might have had once) but I did do the diabetes test (after an hour of deep breathing & false starts) because I'm a bit overweight.

Incidentally, I went private for some surgery & they took the bloods when I was asleep. Brilliant :)

I react badly to having blood taken - it makes me nauseous and I have fainted before. But I can honestly say that the bloods taken in pregnancy have been fine. My hospital has a proper blood taking department - they're so quick and efficient, and it doesn't hurt any more than a pinch. I make sure they know I'm a fainter and I need to lie back, and I usually lay still for a bit once they've finished before getting up. It's fine.

Get your Gp to give you a prescription for Ametop (numbing cream, better than emla) put it on an hour before.
Lie down when you have blood drawn and breathe slowly. I am needlephobic and have downgraded myself to needle very very anxious, after practicing and having a routine that helps me cope.

Concentrate on pumping your fist (open and closed) will probably be asked to do it anyway, to encourage blood flow, and it is a distraction.

I used to be very, very needle phobic, I found that telling them you're nervous really helps. I also found that for me a lot of the fear was waiting for it to happen, I'd look away then get really anxious waiting for the needle. Now I ask them to tell me just before they actually put the needle in and I find that really helps my anxiety. I had to have bloods done every two weeks through a good part of my pregnancy and I'm much better with needles now and found that the midwives were absolutely fine at taking bloods.

I was exactly the same - had never had a blood test before getting pregnant and was quite beside myself the first time. I explained I was terrified and they always lay or sat me on the daybed thingy in case I fainted (I never even came close). I had quite a few tests over the 9 months (extra issues eg suspected chicken pox etc) and by the time baby arrived I was much calmer resigned. I think the thought of them is worse than reality.... And you know it's for a good cause! Good luck

Don't fret! The only pain you'll feel is a little scratch as the needle goes in.

My own personal technique involves turning away completely and scrunching my eyes shut!

Make sure you have something to eat beforehand and maybe bring along a banana or fruit juice or something for afterwards, just in case you feel a tad light-headed.