Freaking out

[Lamia25]

I suffer with major health anxiety, especially in pregnancy. I had my booking appointment yesterday and had some blood taken. The midwife tried to take blood from the right arm but said the vein bounced out of the way. She then touched the clinical waste bin with her bare hands to open it and also put something in the sharps box, I think, and then took blood from the left arm (successfully), after feeling for the vein. I am panicking that she could have put me at risk of some infection/diseases from contact with the bin, and I wish I had asked her to wash her hands at the beginning or in-between the attempts because it did occur to me at the time. What do you think the risks are, are there any?

Whilst she should have washed her hands, the risk of catching something in these circumstances is very low.

Does the site where she took blood look infected? Signs would start to show pretty quickly.

Personally I think there is no risk. However if you are anxious that probably won't make much of a difference.

She should have been wearing gloves. Maybe that's what she put in the bin and got a clean pair?
They never touch the point of the needle (their fingers only touch the cap they remove and the pushing part. Only the needle will have gone into your body. So even if she had something on her fingers/gloves it wouldn't get under your skin.

If you were to be infected you would have a red patch around the area and slight swelling.

For future perhaps it would be good to ask to have it on your record that you are anxious about health situations and for anyone treating/testing you to ensure they VISIBLY wash their hands and talk you through what they are doing. And for them not to be offended if you ask/remind them to wash their hands.
(Personally I am very much of the shut my eyes and want them to get on with it without telling me camp. No I don't need to know that you're putting the needle in!)

Thanks for your replies. When I had a shower last night, the one she drew blood from had a small amount of pus from it but not much. Seems fine now. It bled quite a lot, so probably would've flushed out anything superficial on the skin. She definitely wasn't wearing gloves and didn't wash her hands the entire time (about an hour or so I was there). I think in future I will have to just ask!
Just worry about the 'what ifs'!
X

I don't think you need to worry.

If it was infected you'd have symptoms by now.

Like Jenny said above, the needle itself would have touched anything because it's kept in sterile casing until immediately before sticking it in the vein.

I also agree that you should tell your midwife so she can a) make it obvious she's washing her hands and b) potentially organise a specialist mental health midwife for you if you feel you'd benefit from that.

*wouldnt