Fear of blood tests - help!

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I went for my first midwife appointment today. I haven't had a blood test in a long time, I've always hated them but I've forgotten quite how much. To be clear it's not a fear of needles (vaccinations are not a problem), it is a real strong aversion to the sensation of a needle in my veins sucking my blood out. Not helped by the fact that I have in the lower range of normal blood pressure, so the stuff doesn't exactly come shooting out. I have to close my eyes, look away and insist that the midwife hides the tubes, and then I have to lie down because by that point I'm cold and shaky.

I don't need to be told to get over it, but I am wondering how other people cope given the barrage of blood tests I'm going to have to endure for the next 30-something weeks. Can I phone in advance and request numbing gel or something?!

I completely sympathise! Needles aren't the issue it's specifically blood tests!

To be honest I just put up with them during pregnancy. It was awful and hard but I knew they had to be done so I just had to sit there and grimace during. I never stopped being hating them or being scared of them though! I'm pregnant with my 2nd now and still hate them just as much!

I wish I could give you better advice but honestly I just had to deal with it haha!

Will you need lots of blood tests? I think if you're low risk you have 3, one at booking, one for the combined test at 12 weeks and one at 28 weeks. So probably only 2 more to go, you can do it.

You can buy emla cream from Superdrug!

I know this because I am a complete wimp when it comes to needles, I shake/cry/throw up/pass out/etc.

It’s only about a fiver for a small tube, and will last you several blood tests 👌 Use it about an hour before your appointment for the best effect I’ve found.

Thanks Notasgreen, I will definitely try it out.

Oysterbabe to be honest I'm still trying to get my head around what tests are when, I think I panicked when I realised I'd have to another one at the 12 week scan (pathetic, I know) and my mind has gone into overdrive.

I guess it's nice to know I'm not the only one in a tizz!

I now don't hate needles unless they are going in me. My only tactic is never look, 2nd pregnancy now and still hate them - survived through never looking, and getting used to it. Can't even remember if I had a canular in labour fwiw! I nearly fainted having my ears pierced in the past!. Worst one was unscheduled extra test for NIPT when 2yo DD as with me and she was watching fascinated, which was a shock. File it in the pregnancy misery file with the bladder bouncing etc and it will lurk in there, honest!

In my second pregnancy I went through the whole of it plus labour with no needles, I was so relieved!!

Thid is my third though, and it doesn’t have the same father as my first two... so I have to deal with the tests again ☹️

I hate blood tests too, make me feel really queasy. I had my third baby 3weeks ago. For my blood tests, IV drips, injections etc I would make the nurse aware of my fear and look away. I was often given s sick bowl too. I tried to think about the baby & how I was doing it all for her. Helped s little xx

Ignore the 'xx', I'm on autopilot

I felt like such a child. I think I genuinely yelped at one point .

randoms the thought of a cannula makes me want to cry!!

I think I'll just have to be clear with all the nurses and midwives that I hate it and hopefully they'll be as quick as possible!

So glad it's not just me.

I hate needles and get in a worry about needing a blood test.
The one done at my booking in was unvomfortable as the midwife wasnt good at finding my vein but at my 12 scan the phlebotanist at the hospital did it and I honestly did not feel a thing (and I have really difficult veins to find). I even her asked her if she had started yet to which she told me she was all done!

I find talking through them really helps as my mind isnt concentrating the needle. I always ask the person doing the blood test to talk to me even if it is utter nonsense.

Me too - but in hindsight they must have done one - but I was too high on gas and air to notice or care. It's not every appointment - 16w doesn't have any, nor does 20w scan. Also booking in has more tubes than the others as they are doing more tests so you're through the worst already!

I declined blood tests in my second pregnancy. It's entirely up to you as to whether you accept or decline them, as long as you weigh up the benefits of having them vs the risks of not having them.

Flisspaps - that's a good point. I guess I want the screening ones done at the 12 week scan, but other than that assuming I'm healthy, I wonder what the later ones are for. I'll ask (or sift through ginormous pile of notes and leaflets I now have!).

That’s exactly why I declined them.. I was healthy, in the same situation as my previous child (same father etc.). I had them look at my previous results for the routine stuff, a lot of what they are checking for can be monitored in other ways. A lot of them really are unnecessary.

I hate that they take your blood to check your blood group on EVERY hospital admittance. Isn’t that what notes are for? 😩

I'm fine with needles but generally feel faint when blood is taken. So, I always make sure I'm hydrated, have had plenty to eat, and ask to lie down during and after. Not sure if this will help you OP, but worth a shot. As PP have said, if you're low risk you'll only have a few tests - appreciate this is little comfort when you have a phobia

The 28 week one checks your iron levels.

You’re not alone. I’m rubbish with needles and had CBT before even ttc as my fear of blood tests was so bad. It did help, especially in terms of helping me not to feel ashamed about it because it is really common, but it’s a fear that I’m pretty sure will never leave me completely. Ironically we needed IVF so I was a pincushion for months but I’m still rubbish.

The things that I’ve learnt that help are:
Drink plenty of fluids the day BEFORE a test as well as on the day itself - being well hydrated helps make the veins easy to find and the blood to flow well, so hopefully it will all be done quickly and easily.

Always tell people you’re not great with having blood taken and ask to lie down if you are worried you might feel faint. They will see loads of people like this and would much rather know so they can help.

Emla cream is awesome. I used it when I needed to have a cannula. Total miracle. You can order it online from somewhere like pharmacy2u if that’s easier. You will need some kind of dressing eg tegaderm to put over it while it works its magic. I don’t use it for blood tests as for me it’s not a pain thing, it’s just an ick thing, but if you think it would help give it a try.

There is a technique you can learn to help if you feel faint. It is called applied tension. Basically you tense your major muscle groups for a while repeatedly and this pushes up your blood pressure so you don’t faint. You have to practice it in advance and do it before you feel really faint, but it really can work. Google it or see here (I know it’s about needle fear but it is probably still relevant) www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/all-patients/overcoming-your-fear-of-needles.pdf

It’s unlikely you are going to need loads of tests during pregnancy, most likely just a few, so try not to worry too much. Loads of people feel just the same and you will cope. You already have. Go easy on yourself, we all have our fears

The routine blood tests in pregnancy are:

Blood group and antibody status - your blood group obviously won’t change but in the event of needing a blood transfusion there needs to be a recent sample held so the donor blood can be crossmatched to yours, it’s far more complicated than just matching the group. That is done at booking and 28 weeks as antibodies can develop in pregnancy which would affect what blood you can safely receive.

Hb level- to check you are not anaemic, that is done at booking and at 28 weeks as again this can develop in pregnancy.

Infectious diseases - HIV, Hep B and syphilis. Done at booking only.

Screening bloods - Done at 12 weeks in combination with nuchal screening to establish your anomaly risk.

All are of course optional but some of them, e.g the blood group and antibodies test, can have major impacts later if declined as no lab is going to issue a blood transfusion based on a historic result on file as there is no way to know if you have developed antibodies since that time causing you to react to transfused blood, which could lead to a potentially fatal reaction in worst case scenario.

If you tell the midwife your fears she will support you through it and get you to lie down etc. EMLA cream can also really help.

My only advice is to drink a load. The more hydrated you are the easier and faster it is. This is my experience anyway. I have rock bottom blood pressure and regularly go woozy giving blood.

I'm the same - just had my 4th and it doesn't get easier ! But I've got more confident at admitting I have a problem which helps. I found them really accommodating - so they booked a longer appointment for me when I had blood tests, also offered the cream that numbs the area which I declined as its all to do with the thought of what is happening for me. I always make sure I'm not arriving with an empty stomach and always have a mars bar ready to eat after & a bottle of water - just knowing I have those items in my bag helps a little. It's not nice - I'm naturally squemish but also have a low blood pressure and my veins aren't good for getting blood - so I totally empathise with you. Hopefully you will just need the 3 (I think) standard tests.

Notasgreen- Your blood group is checked multiple times for a reason not just for fun. During pregnancy it's possible for women to start producing antibodies against the baby if the baby has a different blood group to the mother (and fyi there are numerous, numerous clinically significant blood groups other than just ABO and positive/negative.) These antibodies can then cross the placenta and kill the baby or make them very sick. This is why it's so important to get your booking and 28 week blood groups done, it's to check if you are producing these antibodies and if you are, to then refer you for extra monitoring and if necessary intrauterine transfusions of the baby, steroids/early delivery depending on the strength of the antibodies. It's not something we do to pregnant women because we can't be arsed looking up a record, it's for the safety of the baby and the safety of you as well. If you have antibodies then you need special blood for transfusions if you bleed during delivery, normal blood may kill you the same as the antibodies can kill your baby. Hundreds of babies used to die before anti-D (Rhogram) was developed which only decreases the risk of the most common blood group antibody of causing issues and even then it doesn't eliminate the risk, only decreases it.

OP, please try and get your bloods done if you can stand it. It's important and you are putting your child at risk by not getting them even if you think you are healthy. Posters saying they are not necessary are poorly informed and giving you bad advice.

I used to be the same, but IVF, you get used to it.

I know what you mean about blood tests not needles in general.

For low blood pressure, make it easier by making sure you are very hydrated and have something to eat with an energy boost before. That made a huge difference for me.

Don’t focus on that part of your body or think about, concentrate literally as hard as you can on another part of your body, like your toes on the other side, every sensation there! It takes your attention away and lessens or stops over focusing.

Numbing cream maybe but a lot of it is psychological, so if the idea makes you feel better sure, but other things too.

Take your time, it’s ok to sit still for a while afterwards.

I’m the opposite way to you. I hate the needle going in and coming out, but don’t mind the actual blood coming out bit!

I make sure to pack a treat to take to the hospital. I always have a little choccie bar ready to munch afterwards so that I can look forward to it while I’m being stabbed :)

I was Exactly the same, so first off... You're not alone :) You can get numbing cream from the doctors to numb the area and I think a tube does a couple of turns.

As for how to cope, it actually does get alot easier eachtime you have one. You'll be so used to it by the end of your pregnancy you'll fine it easier to deal with.

I still have to look away, but I can cope better now and I'm sure you will to. Could you take someone with you to talk to whilst they do it? That's what I did in the early days and that took my mind off it.

It's grim isn't it. The only way I get through it is to always lie down, and don't look!

To be honest, the one thing I was worried about before my first birth was a cannula/IV. I said to DH it's the one thing I wanted to avoid. Fast forward to a three day induction ending in a heavily assisted theatre birth, I'd had nine of the fuckers overall plus an epidural and my arm veins were in such a state they had to put one in my foot. I remember at one point I had one in each hand and one in the crook of each arm at the same time. I pretty much got over my fear of them by then!

Second pregnancy I've just done the same. Lay on the bed, close eyes and breathe slowly. They're over and done before you know it. Low risk pregnancy you only need to do it three times.