So apparently I'm an intravenous drug user...

[wawabear]

This because in the course of my GTT 5 medical professionals tried 10 times to get blood out of me. Then this snotty midwife said "usually when we have this problem it is because the lady in question is an intravenous drug user?".

I was furious, I don't even smoke ffs. To be compared to a drug addict (and no offence to drug addicts, I'm just now one) was really offensive.

After fasting from the night before, come 1:30 when they had finally stopped trying, I felt really faint and quite emotional and said I didn't want to come back for the next appointment (more bloods), at which point the doctor accused me of not doing what is best for my baby! What!

One of the nurses had to wait for her nails to dry before she started one of the attempts to get blood.

Now I am terrified of giving birth in case they can't get medication into me or blood out of me.

I've always had small/iffy veins but it's never been as bad as today and they've never just given up before.

Complain about that MW. Incompetence AND rudeness They need to sort something out for you for the future - as you say in labour just giving up might not be an option. A lot of peope don't have a "good" vein but professionals try their best until the find a good enough one. And painting nails? Honestly....

I also have veins that only some phlebotomists can get blood from- midwives, drs, nurses never manage. Its funny though because before pregnancy with DC1 no one had a problem getting blood from me.

Don't worry about them not being able to get a cannular in, in an emergency. I was worried about this and got told that they can use a vein at the base of your neck/front of shoulder area - apparently its pretty much guaranteed to be possible there - its just the least comfortable and least practical place to leave one in.

Also in necessary but not immediate life and death situations they can use hands, feet, etc and normally get it in somewhere.

I have the same issue when giving blood. At both my booking in appointments with DC1 and again this time I have fainted after giving four vials of blood. I always warn the mid wife it might happen because I have low blood pressure and a history of fainting. Last pregnancy they always used the same phlebotomist because she was brilliant and could get blood from me without me even realising it! I've got my GTT next week and bloods at my 28 week check and I'm really not looking forward to it as the phlebotomist from last time doesn't work at the hospital anymore. Last pregnancy I too was really worried that I would faint during labour if I was losing blood but in the end everything was absolutely fine, so please try not to worry. Your body sort of takes over and you are to busy pushing to worry about anything else! Good luck

Tbh sometimes you get blood, sometimes you can't. I have 9 years experience of taking blood and still sometimes miss obvious ones. Don't worry about labour we have ways and means of giving fluids / drugs in emergencies even when people are completely shut down and have no veins. Next time they will prob get it first try.
And at nail painting though.

I have notoriously shit veins and before my second emcs it took the hospitals's senior anaesthetist 7 attempts to insert a cannula. They ended up putting in the side of my wrist, right on the bone. At one point they went through a vein and you could see the bleeding under my skin. My arm was black from knuckles to elbow the following day. They said they always find a way!

I have deep veins apparently and it took the consultant anaesthetist to get a line in, i had so many bruises from where about 3 different nurses tried. I had a similar prob at mid wife apps, drinking loads of water is supposed to help.

I do warn everyone now if i ever need blood taking and they often see it as it as personal challenge to get it first time. Sounds like you had a rude nurse and coupled with pregnancy hormones it cant have been very nice, my sympathies.

Don't worry about getting a canula in when you give birth. Mine fell out because I was trying to hold DD. I then needed a blood transfusion and the team looking after me couldn't get one back in. They just grabbed an anaethestist who did it first time.

Thanks everyone. I am back there on 30th for Anti D jab which involves taking more blood. I have written to PALS and asked if they can arrange for an anesthetist to be around when the blood needs taking, to save the fuss.

I am not nervous of needles but the digging around they do is far from pleasant and I was at the very limit of my patience threshold even before the drug user comment!

I have phenomenally bad veins due a past medical condition. They just automatically bleep the anaesthetist to come down and get bloods if they need them when I'm in clinic. I had a specific pre-birth appointment with an anaesthetist before my first section to decide if they would need to put a central line in or whether they could get a big enough cannula in. Being hydrated and warm really help, I've sat with both arms and feet in buckets of hot water in the past!

Really don't worry about the birth, anaesthetists are the very best at getting access and in obstetrics they are great at doing it v quickly!!

Phlebotomists leave the difficult or unsuccessful ones on the wards. The person you want is the junior doctor!! They put in thousands in that first year and are fab!

Or an anesthetist. In labour they will always get a vein somewhere!