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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Needle phobia, what can I do?

25 replies

catsofa · 03/10/2014 19:40

I'm 10 weeks pregnant, and people are soon going to need to start injecting me with things and taking my blood. Also my DP has just been diagnosed with flu, so I need to get my flu jab ASAP.

I hate needles, but I'm now going to have to deal with them very very soon. Does anyone have any tips?

I reckon it would help to distract myself, but I can't think of anything that'd be distracting enough, any suggestions? I may be able to get the flu jab on Monday, so I have a couple of days to practice any thinking/visualisation/CBT techniques etc that anyone can throw at me.

I've been doing so well at keeping my anxiety levels under control lately but it just feels impossible waiting for appointments where I know I'm going to be jabbed, and it's going to ruin my scan experience because I'm booked for bloods straight after so I'll just be shaking and sweating the whole morning

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Sorehead · 03/10/2014 20:00

I've always had a needle phobia but as my appointments have gone on I'm a lot better and can even go on my own to appointments where blood is taken/ injections given- think it's due to having more exposure to them than normal.

When I had blood taken after my dating scan, I was still on an excited high at having just seen my baby and so didn't really think about it too much- just asked if I could lie down for them to take it and looked away when the needle was there.

More recently, I've been telling myself that a needle is the least of my worries compared to what's going to happen at the end of pregnancy! And for things like whooping cough telling myself it's for the baby.

If you're considering CBT it sounds like you're a lot worse than me though so feel free to disregard what I've said :)

Good luck- injections/ having blood taken aren't ever as bad as you build them up to be :)

DrBlondie · 03/10/2014 20:31

With anything unpleasant like needles/dentist/etc I spend it wiggling my toes- so I'm focusing on the furthest point on my body away from the scary thing and it gives me something to do and think about. Good luck!

Original poster

catsofa · 03/10/2014 20:43

Yeah that's exactly it, there's no way it's actually as bad as the build up, I clearly just need to deal with the anxiety better. They better not try to take my blood pressure at the same appointment, it will be sky high!

I have an underlying anxiety disorder so it's really all about just keeping a lid on it for as long as possible so that it doesn't have a chance to build before the bit where they actually stick a needle in me.

Focusing on something else is definitely good, I'll try the toes and see how that goes, thanks. Ooh actually maybe Kegel exercises would be good too...

OP posts:

OooOooTheMonkey · 03/10/2014 20:43

I was the worlds biggest needle phone. I was terrified when u got pregnant because of the needles if have to endure. I cried at my 12 week blood test. Then panicked a but at the next blood test. Then my GTT I was a bit better. Flu jab and whooping cough vaccines - no problem. By the time I'd had 2 epidurals and a spinal after the birth I had no phobia of needles anymore.
It's not that it hurts is it, it's just the thought of it I promise it will get easier. Promise! Un-mumsnet hugs to you I know how you're feeling.

OooOooTheMonkey · 03/10/2014 20:44

Phobe not phone. Stupid autocorrect!

OooOooTheMonkey · 03/10/2014 20:45

Ugh numerous typos. Sorry. You get the gist!

hairymonkey · 03/10/2014 21:06

Try breathing in for 3 and out for 5, or 7/11. This stops you fainting, and helps calm you down, practice before you go.
You can also try and remember times when you've been really excited/nervous, like first date nerve and how similar that feels to the feeling of anxiety, they're actually really similar feelings but you think one's good and one's bad.
Also, tell them you have a phobia and perhaps do bloods at the beginning of the appt so you get it out of the way. Hope that makes sense!

Original poster

catsofa · 03/10/2014 22:54

I always ask them to do the blood first at sexual health checkups and it helps a lot, but I've got two official appointment letters for two different people timed one after the other for the scan then bloods, so not sure I'll be able to switch them round. Plus I'll be bursting for a pee if I have to wait for the scan, it says to drink one and a half pints one hour before the appointment ha ha ha ha ha. So I'll be nervous and not allowed to pee.

I can see how being in labour might just be distracting enough for me to not mind all the possible labour-related needles, I'll add to my birth plan that they are not to let me see the needles, just stick 'em in me while I'm not looking! Sure would rather have the needles than do without the drugs.

I know that sometimes I find it much easier than others and it does seem to be distraction that helps the most, not just at the time of the injection but all day before the appointment. Maybe I could play Bubble Wars on my phone from the minute I wake up, look up briefly so see the scan of the baby, then keep going for the high score until the last needle is out.

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OooOooTheMonkey · 03/10/2014 23:06

YY to telling them you have a phobia. When I cried at my booking in appt and bloods the young foreign doctor didn't know what to do with me, and a lovely older woman came over and took me for my blood test, two nurses came along and started asking me loads of questions about the baby to distract me and I barely felt a scratch. The woman was brilliant and I told her so.
If you tell them you're scared they will use butterfly needles if they have them available. They're smaller, and where they interchange vials is down a tube so not right next to your arm and therefore less uncomfortable.
Don't look. Think of something else, wiggle toes, count. You'll be fine

Original poster

catsofa · 03/10/2014 23:33

BTW why on earth do they say "This will just scratch a bit..." ???? Does anyone actually find this helpful? All it does is prime me that a) it's going to hurt and b) it's coming right now. I will definitely tell them I have a phobia and not to do this.

Hopefully I'll have DP with me - do they give you a print out of the scan picture straight away? If so then maybe we can look at that just when I need distracting. Guess the sex maybe!

OP posts:

Imnotsurehowtogetthisout · 04/10/2014 00:30

My phobia is hospitals/medical environments so not sure if this will help but I used the hypnobirthing cd in the waiting room for each of my appts and it really helped me control my anxiety.

OooOooTheMonkey · 04/10/2014 06:04

Yes you will have a pic of your scan hopefully that will distract you

Stripylikeatiger · 04/10/2014 06:35

I told my midwife I was afraid (I wasn't afraid with my first pregnancy but became very anxious about needles after my first birth so my 2nd pregnancy has been challenging!) my midwife sent me to a lab where they just take blood all day rather than the midwife doing it as she said it's only a small part of her job do she isn't going to be as good at it as someone who does it all day.

I always ask for a room with a window and look out whilst they take the blood, also if I'm feeling at all sick I ask for a sick bag as I threw up when they took my blood (in my first pregnancy so I wasn't even that anxious but it was no fun and is hate to puke on the poor phlebotomist'a shoes!)

Trunkisareshite · 04/10/2014 10:49

I'm needle phobic. It's not a pain thing, it's illogical and irrational, if I was offered for someone to punch me in the face vs anything needle wise id take the punch every time!

Ime, a decent hcp really makes all the difference. A twat that asks you diasbelivingly if you have tattoos to catch you out really doesn't help (funnily enough, no I don't have tats because I'm terrified of needles)!

My advice- don't look, have someone's hand to hold and remember to breath. I find loudly humming helps- I must seem odd but no one minds or has taken the piss so maybe try that?

Original poster

catsofa · 04/10/2014 12:38

OMG yes I'd much rather be punched in the face! If only they let me choose that instead.

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TwiggyHeart · 04/10/2014 12:45

Blondie, that's exactly what I do (or toe tap if I'm sitting down). I gave just had my second DC and had quite a few needles as a result (cannula/additional blood tests) I'm never going to be a fan but I think you just get on with it because you know you have to and ultimately you can't let your fear affect your baby. Saying that I know people who have had CBT for a variety of things and rave about it. Good luck!

Original poster

catsofa · 04/10/2014 13:18

I really am not sure I could bear a cannula, having to hold it together for so long I'm sure I would eventually panic and rip it out. I had issues with sitting next to my mum when she was in hospital and they left the cannula in her hand for a while - I had to cover it up and try very hard not to think about it.

OP posts:

iliketea · 04/10/2014 13:28

Definitely ask for a butterfly needle - they are smaller and if your distracted, you probably won't feel it. Ask the whoever is doing the blood not to warn you, tell them your scared but you'll have it done and don't look. Chatter about anything to whoever is doing it - last holiday, what you watched on telly, anything that will distract you for the 30 seconds it takes.

(And to the person who mentioned tattoos - you may be surprised how many people have a needle phobia who have at least 1 tattoo!)

OooOooTheMonkey · 04/10/2014 14:33

Catsofa I had a cannula and it was awful when they were putting it in (couldn't find a vein, 5 attempts!) but I promise you I did not care one jot with the pain of the contractions. Honestly, the contractions trump anything else. And I was a massive needle phobe honestly. I hadn't had a needle in about 15 years when I got pregnant. Good luck

pocketsized · 04/10/2014 17:25

I used to be absolutely petrified of needles, but have ended up having to have quite a lot recently for various things and have some things that work. I always ask if I can go to phlebotomy (sp?) to have it done rather than have any old nurse/midwife do it because, as PP said they do it all day every day and I find they are more efficient at it. I also tell them at the beginning that I consent to whatever it is that they need to do, but they are, under no circumstances, to tell me what is going on (eg. no "sharp scratch" no "only 2 more vials to go etc") and then I get them to let me lie down, if at all possible not have a tourniquet on (although this is not always possible) and then I look the other way.

If there is someone around that you don't know (another nurse etc) getting them to talk to you always seems to work better for me than getting my DH to - he is rubbish at making small talk when put on the spot! Maybe get them to ask you all about your scan, the more detailed/complex the questions you have to answer the more you have to concentrate on the answers and not what is going on!

I also take a sugary snack for afterwards, to reward myself and help if I am feeling a little lightheaded.

I found that once I had managed to have a couple of experiences where I didn't pass out, and they got the vein first time my anxiety levels dropped hugely - just explain to them how nervous you are, and they are usually really nice. This is just what works for me.....

toriaplum · 04/10/2014 18:29

I've always been terrified of needles. Never passing out but coming close a few times. However since being pregnant I keep telling myself that the bloods and injections are for the baby. By focusing on it not being about me I'm much calmer.

This has helped especially as I've had to inject myself with a blood thinner everyday. I still can't watch someone else take blood but at least I don't feel faint anymore.

figgieroll · 04/10/2014 18:36

The more children I had, the more desensitised I became.

Original poster

catsofa · 04/10/2014 21:37

If I do manage to desensitise during pregnancy then as soon as I can afterwards I'm going to give blood. I always wanted to, but the first and only time I tried I very nearly passed out and they couldn't get a full pint from me.

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kimmers13 · 04/10/2014 21:47

I used to faint whenever I had blood taken so had a few hypnotherapy sessions when I got pregnant. Although I still get nervous about the thought of having blood taken, I was heaps better than usual and even coped with transfusions!! Three kids later, it worked for me. Good luck!

diddlediddledumpling · 04/10/2014 21:57

I used to faint every single time. but with three dcs now, ive got used to it and developed a range of strategies. always distraction, not looking at the needle and chatting to the nurse gas helped. but by far the best thing that helped me when pregnant was stroking my belly! It made me calmer instantly.

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