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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Scared - looking for words of encouragement

25 replies

Ladypug · 08/03/2015 12:22

I know I sound ridiculous but I'm terrified of having my blood taken. Tomorrow is my first midwife appointment and I'm honestly getting palpitations and losing sleep over it.

I know it has to be done but just want someone to say it will be ok and over with quickly!!! I've only ever had blood taken twice in my life, I'm the Queen of avoidance!

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IceLemonGin · 08/03/2015 12:31

Please don't worry, I'd never given a blood sample until my booking in appt...I was petrified and shaking in the waiting area. It was all fine though and over with very quickly. Try and drink plenty beforehand, I have difficult veins and when I am well hydrated it seems to be much easier.

Oh and congratulations on your pregnancy!

PotteringAlong · 08/03/2015 12:35

Lie down and don't look - it'll be fine!

avocadotoast · 08/03/2015 12:35

It will be over very, very quickly. They really don't have to take much.

Maybe buy yourself a little something to have straight after to bring your energy back up if you're worried about feeling faint? It might help if you know you have a snack or drink in your bag for afterwards.

Snowflake15 · 08/03/2015 12:38

Ladypug I felt the same I was petrified but it honestly wasn't bad at all, I warned the midwife how I felt but she was really good, I looked the other way, we kept talking about other stuff and dp squeezed my hand so hard that was all I could feel! I know me saying this really won't help, but honestly I can't believe I was so worried about it! It was fine!

Original poster

Ladypug · 08/03/2015 12:38

Thank you everyone, I know it's a long appointment so I thought I might ask if they can do it first to get it over and done with. Then I will take a lolly or Haribo or something to help blood sugar levels. I can't believe how much sleep I'm losing over this! Thanks IceLemonGin x

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CBo79 · 08/03/2015 13:53

I was really scared too, having never had a blood test before and having chickened out of giving blood! But it really honestly was fine. Tell your midwife how are you feeling and take someone along whose hand you can squeeze. My midwife was lovely; she was very gentle and told me funny stories to take my mind off it. After it, I was like 'was that it??' Only a slight scratch and it was done. Then you can feel v v proud of yourself and know that now you've done it once, you can totally do it again! Good luck xx

Original poster

Ladypug · 08/03/2015 16:41

Thanks CB079 xx

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Notamumyet81 · 08/03/2015 19:01

Oh no! I used to be really afraid of needles and having blood taken too (I.e. the doctor once gave me a kid's 'where's Wally' puzzle while doing it to distract me) but I've had it done so often recently that it doesn't bother me any more. Honestly, if you just look the other way it'll be over before you know it. Ask to lie down while having it done if you like, it used to help me. Occasionally you feel the tiniest pin prick - like a really light scratch - but you won't feel anything else after that. The last couple of times I've had it done I've not even felt the pin prick. Hope you get on ok and it helps you get over your fear!

Original poster

Ladypug · 08/03/2015 19:26

Thank you, it's really upsetting me now I'm so close to getting it done! It's not the pain, it's just the thought of it, I feel faint just thinking about tomorrow! xx

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happygojo · 08/03/2015 19:28

If you struggle too much with your midwife then you might be better going to the blood clinic at the hospital. The blood nurses take blood all day everyday and they are in and out before you have a chance to say 'I don't like blood tests'. I have deep veins and my MW or an inexperienced nurse struggle. The blood nurses are brilliant though. Whatever happens you will be fine. Even if (like my boyfriend) you need a little lie down afterwards

happygojo · 08/03/2015 19:29

Oh and don't look!

Snowberry86 · 08/03/2015 19:32

I used to be the same. I was terrified of any doctors, dentist, hospitals or medical thing. It wasn't the pain I was scared of, it was a loss of control and a fear (irrational one) of being forced into something.

I had a course of CBT on the NHS and am now much better. I still don't like it, but I can go to a dentist and have something simple like a filling done.

I have had 4 blood tests in the past 2 months and am fine with them now. I have one tomorrow and whilst I wouldn't say I am looking forward to it I don't have any of the anxiety feelings I used to have.

I was so bad that the thought of a blood test, or a smear test, would make me want seriously consider killing myself as a sensible option to get out of it!

Talk to your midwife and your GP. Ask for some CBT if you phobia/anxiety is that bad.

NickyEds · 08/03/2015 19:33

Ask to have it done first,ask to have a window open, lay down (and stay laying down until you feel ok), don't look, take a bottle of water that's been in your freezer for a bit so it's cold and hold it on your forehead, make sure you've eaten and drunk plenty. You'll be fine. Mws are really, really used to this!

PassTheCremeEggs · 08/03/2015 19:35

Don't look (I turn my head as far away as possible) take deep, slow and even breaths as it's being done and if they're good it'll be done a lot quicker than you're expecting. Tell them if you think you might faint and they'll lie you down. I still hate blood tests after two babies but you just have to try and deal with it during pregnancy, unfortunately they're pretty unavoidable.

Original poster

Ladypug · 08/03/2015 19:38

Thank you everyone, some really good advice, I will definitely take the water bottle from the freezer and ask for the window to be open. I'm also planning on wearing ballet flats so I have bare feet and don't get too hot! This time tomorrow it will all be over! xx

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NickyEds · 08/03/2015 21:17

For what it's worth op I was very nervous about my first booking in appointment with ds. No specific reason but i was practically shaking in the waiting room. I found deep breaths and sipping very cold water helpful but really, telling the mw how nervous I was made them take pity on me! They were really nice. I actually had a student mw there too and she admitted to being a bit nervous too

Original poster

Ladypug · 09/03/2015 10:46

Aw thanks NickyEds I feel so embarrassed to be like this at my age!

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RhiannonElward · 09/03/2015 11:19

I always go to the phlebotomy clinic at the hospital, after almost passing out when my midwife failed 3 times to take blood from me. I find it less painful because they do it all day and I usually don't feel anything.

HoldenCaulfield80 · 09/03/2015 11:27

Pre-pregnancy I was terrified of needles to the point where someone even mentioning them made me squirm. I remember telling a friend years ago that I wouldn't get blood taken when I was pregnant (!) it was that bad a phobia.

In the end I just told my midwife my fears and she wrote it on all my notes so everyone would be sensitive to it. I suppose I got over it - to an extent - by telling myself it HAD to be done and that was that - the baby was more important that my phobia. Didn't stop me flinching away and making the midwives stop for a moment every time they took blood but it did help a little.

I know how you feel though OP, it's the the thought of it rather than the thing itself!

geekymommy · 09/03/2015 13:28

Don't look. It doesn't matter if you look away or cry when they do it. They've seen that before (you're probably not even the only needle-phobe they will deal with that day). I've never found any medical professionals who were nasty about this kind of thing, but if you do, find a different one.

Needle phobia is very common. There are estimates that around 10% of the population have it. In at least some cases, it's genetic- I'm needle phobic, and so are my dad and my sister. It's likely that it has a basis in evolution- before the discovery in the 19th century that cleanliness in surgery was important, avoiding needles and surgery probably increased your chances of survival. It's not true now, but evolution doesn't turn on a dime.

Original poster

Ladypug · 09/03/2015 14:27

Thanks everyone - I did it! It was much better than I thought although it was my idea of hell - small room, bed against the wall, no windows - argh! But I did it - 3 vials worth! And I didn't pass out (although I did gabble on about rubbish to keep my brain occupied) I feel really proud - thank you for all your support! Xx

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Choccyhobnob · 09/03/2015 15:31

I'm the same! Absolutely hate it! Used to 'dislike' it before I decided to be all virtuous and donate blood. After shaking uncontrollably on the bed t and passing out the nurses told me not to bother again basically!

So I hadn't had another blood test until my first midwife appointment and was dreading it. I asked to lay down and they were so obviously trying to distract me asking me all sorts of rubbish (didn't help I had a student mw who kept asking the other one if she was doing it right!) and it was ok but I still got the horrible sick feeling I usually do.

Had my second one at 12 week scan the other week and for the first time ever I didn't feel a thing! Have to have another one for harmony test next week and I'm not even nervous now!

IceLemonGin · 09/03/2015 15:36

Well done LadyPug glad it all went well.

geekymommy · 09/03/2015 16:41

You did it! Yay!

Original poster

Ladypug · 09/03/2015 18:16

:-)

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