Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

bloods being taken during pregnancy

54 replies

HarrysMummy17 · 02/02/2016 16:04

Quick question.

My cousins is currently pregnant with 1st child.

She's petrified of needles and having bloods taken. She's fretting about bloods bring taken at her 28 week midwife appointment and wants to know if she can refuse.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MrsWooster · 02/02/2016 16:13

They take them because they need to take them. Tbh, needles are going to be the least of her problems when she gives birth and then there are multiple immunisations etc for the dc... If she's being precious then she needs to woman up and if it's a proper phobia then now would be a good time for a bit of CBT in preparation.

SecretSpy · 02/02/2016 16:15

She can refuse.

But it would be unwise, they are for important useful things. Can she talk to her mw, perhaps arrange to have them done at the phlebotomy clinic by someone brilliant or get some of the numbing cream?

mellysam · 02/02/2016 16:19

I can sympathise as I react terribly with needles, I always faint without fail when I have to have a jab. I couldn't even handle the finger prick test I needed for work and avoided it. I am 8 weeks preggie and terrified about the needle aspect but it's for the health of my child so I will not refuse blood tests. I will most likely cry and faint but I will have them done anyway :)

NerrSnerr · 02/02/2016 16:20

My blood tests when pregnant showed I was very anaemic. It was lucky it was picked up and treated as I had a bleed after childbirth (lost. 1.8 litres) so would have been really unwell if already anaemic.

She needs to talk this through with her midwife, not just refuse.

TheCatsMeow · 02/02/2016 16:22

You can refuse anything.

I'm afraid of needles and planned to, however I ended up having to have lots of blood taken. I used EMLA cream and a children's sized butterfly

icklekid · 02/02/2016 16:25

I have to ask to lie down every time as also feel faint and hate needles. This is my second pregnancy and when only 6 weeks I had some bleeding so had to have 2 blood tests in 4 days. I'm not easy to get blood out of and was dreading it however at no point would I consider not having them. I just shut my eyes and count to 20 normally done by then even if left with a bruise! (Oh and then treated myself to a chocolate treat as a reward!)

TheCatsMeow · 02/02/2016 16:27

Wait do most people not lie down for bloods?! I've never had mine done any other way

KittyandTeal · 02/02/2016 16:28

Did she not have bloods done at her booking? How did she cope with that?

Tbh I've always been squeamish about having blood taken but this being my third pregnant and having an amnio etc for my last one I've kind of got used to it. I let the student MW have 3 goes at taking blood last week.

It maybe she has to grit her teeth and get on with it and the more she does it the better it is.

If she's actually needle phobic then she needs to get some cbt. I had to have a cannular in at the end of my labour as my contractions stopped. If I'd been so phobic I'd refused then I'd have needed an emcs and possibly lost dd1 (she was stuck)

I'm not trying to frighten anyone but if her phobia is that bad she needs to think about the consequences for further life esp labour

Original poster

HarrysMummy17 · 02/02/2016 16:34

Thanks very much ladies. That's pretty much what I've told her! I have to have bloods taken at every appointment due to thyroid levels so I wasn't really sure!

She said the bloods they took at the first appointment was very traumatic and the worst day of her life...

She's 20 and has pretty much been wrapped in cotton wool for the entire pregnancy. She also won't take vitamins because they make her feel sick.

She says because the bloods were taken at booking in she doesn't see why they need to be done again. I've told her obviously her body had changed since then and baby is taking more from her.

I'll suggest the numbing cream and laying down. She doesn't get on with her midwife so I doubt she speak to her!

OP posts:

KittyandTeal · 02/02/2016 16:44

Yeah if she's had them done before her phobia can't be that bad. She needs to suck it up and stop being a baby about it.

(She lost my sympathy at not taking vitamins that prevent a potentially fatal condition)

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 02/02/2016 16:47

She really needs to talk to her midwife because to be honest the 28 week bloods are the least of her worries. Id be asking more what she's planning to do in labour if she can't get on with just gas and air? What if she needs an emergency section? What if she needs a drip?

The bloods at 28 weeks are to see if she's anemic and if she is they need to know as it can put her at risk for a post partum hammorhage, it also checks for antibodies which can develop in pregnancy. Both of which are important to know.

cheekstime · 02/02/2016 16:53

It's up to her to make the decsions for her and her baby. Yes she can refuse any of the treatment options offered to her.

You can change your midwife, by contacting the supervisor of midwives, obviously there's a chance it could be her midwife as I think they do practice, worth checking. Even still you can change midwife. Its such a shame but sometimes they are not all great, just like any prof or walk of life.

I think therapy would be a good idea for her adn needles if she's that adverse & eating a good meal at the same time as the vitamins helps. You can obviously get separate vit d (tiny tabs) and folate tabs, if the combo ones are too much. Vit D drops also, under tonque, does taste of olive oil though.

Must be worrying and frustrating for you but whatever she decides is her choice, so try not to put in on yourself with worry. Good luck to her and her baby x

Original poster

HarrysMummy17 · 02/02/2016 16:55

Thank you. She does seem pretty clueless about everything!
I've told her they are important and how would she feel if something happened to baby because she's refused!

OP posts:

cheekstime · 02/02/2016 16:57

I should add I have found that I can't even tell I'm having my bloods done at the outpatients hosp but the MW that took my blood was awful. Worst blood test I've ever had and I've had a lot. They don't do it everyday like outpatients. I have the easiest veins too. The excuses she gave were hilarious and made no sense.

TheCatsMeow · 02/02/2016 16:58

I didn't take vitamins because they caused my HG to be even worse. So she's not being ridiculous not to take them. Tell her to speak to her GP about single supplements (I didn't though. My baby was fine)

maybebabybee · 02/02/2016 16:59

To be fair you only need to take folic acid for the first three months, after that vitamins are optional if your diet is good. I've not taken any since 12 weeks. Now 35 weeks and baby happy and healthy. But I have my bloods taken when asked so I know I'm not anaemic or anything. I also hate needles but I had to get over it...

cheekstime · 02/02/2016 16:59

gosh very annoying, the babys are paramount aren't they. It would seem seeing all the advice here that every problem she has can be got round, so no excuses really :/. all best

cheekstime · 02/02/2016 17:02

maybebabybee I think we all still need to take vit D supps all the way through, its an important hormone. that most of us are deficient off.

BTW Vit d can be checked by finger prick sample, in the post job - nhs. Info can be got online 28 pound.

TheCatsMeow · 02/02/2016 17:11

I didn't take vitamin D tablets cheek. I didn't take any vitamins regularly, no one said anything

Jibberjabberjooo · 02/02/2016 17:52

What's going to happen if at the birth she needs a cannula or a spinal for a c section? She can't refuse these things.

I suggest she gets some numbing cream and gets the phlebotomist to take the bloods rather than the mw. Does she need anti-D injection?

It would be silly to refuse, I don't like having bloods taken but sometimes you have to just get on with it as it's the best thing to do.

Whatdoidohelp · 02/02/2016 17:54

She thinks getting blood taking is traumatic?! I suggest you show her some natural birth videos on YouTube as I assume she won't be having a epidural lol

TheCatsMeow · 02/02/2016 18:09

Don't be a dick about people's phobias guys.

Dixiechick17 · 02/02/2016 18:17

Vitamin wise, if pregnacare they made me pretty sick. I'd recommend sanatogen mum to be, but for she can just take folic acid with vitamin D. I'm not good with needles, and found everyone that did the injections different. She needs to explain that she is very needle phobic and maybe arrange to have them done at the hospital.

CityMole · 02/02/2016 18:19

Gosh, she does sounds a bit precious but if this is a real phobia then I very much sympathise, as that must be terrifying, and she must be very anxious about the pregnancy and birth.
Her midwife ought to have some experience with dealing with needle phobias, so tell your cousin to be open and honest about how badly it affects her. There is a psychological referral service that she should be able to access in case that might help her too.

As for the vitamins making her feel sick, tough shit sweetcheeks! She'll find as her pregnancy progresses that lots of things will make her feel sick or uncomfortable, and she really will have to suck it up a bit and put some of her own needs behind those of her child.

SpottedLorax · 02/02/2016 18:22

She would be daft to refuse them.
She can try:
Lying down
Hydrating well beforehand
Asking for Ella cream
Using different, finer needles.

Flip

1 2 3