Needle Phobia

[Helga55]

Have recently found out I'm pregnant, around 7 weeks, and waiting for my booking in appointment with the midwife, but I'm dreading having my blood taken I have a bit of a needle phobia, last time I passed out (which was about 15 years ago) I always go light headed, shaky and start crying as soon as I see a needle, absolutely ridiculous I know, but I'm bricking it. Even being in a drs/dentists room, I can feel myself getting panicky & then I worry about having a full on panic attack & I just have to get out. Can anyone tell me if it's just one lot of blood that needs taking? Trying to put a positive spin on this appointment

Funnily enough, I'm not worried about what will happen during labour as I know my mind will be focussed on other things

It varies but usually it's bloods at booking, bloods if you choose to have screening for Down Syndrome and Trisomy and then bloods again later on to check for iron again I believe. I have to have an extra one for Diabetes as it's in my family. I don't like blood tests but I don't have a phobia like you so can't offer much advice there. I just don't look at any part of it!

The best advice I'd have is

1. Don't look at the needle- look away
2. Think of something else- like your future baby
3. Just as they are about to insert it take a deep breath, it distracts the brain for a second

If I were you, I would ask to have your booking and combined test bloods done together, so you only have to get through one test. Then another blood test is done at around 28 weeks. There are also several other blood tests that may need to be carried out but you can chat to your midwife and weigh up how important they are and how you feel about it.

Agree with PP. I was the same but first lot of bloods I told the nurse so she took them lying down. I looked away and DH rubbed my feet :-) by second pregnancy phobia had totally gone (although in retrospect shouldn’t have admitted to that as I was enjoying the foot rubs)

I have this.

Ask for it to be done with a butterfly needle and ask to lie down.

I used to be horrendous, now I barely blink. Combination of having to get loads of bloods taken/jabs when nurse training, and during pregnancy.

Tell the nurse ahead of time. Them being prepared for how you will be does help.

Does numbing the skin help at all?

Don't look

Distract yourself - blether. Think about something else, dig nails of opposite hand into palm if necessary.

Plan a treat for after - works just as well for adults as kids! Meeting a friend, buying a small treat, something nice to eat - reward yourself for doing something you find difficult.

I'll be honest with you, I used to be terrible with needles. My two pregnancies pretty much put an end to my needle phobia, I had to have so many blood tests!

A healthy, straightforward pregnancy usually only needs one lot of bloods done at the start. With my youngest I had complications and needed further investigations that needed more blood tests and injections.

Thanks everyone, I thought I was being s but pessimistic that it'd only be one lot of blood to be taken 😕 Distraction techniques are something I shall definitely be using, and I will be telling them what a wuss I am when it comes to needles, just hope the person doing it is quick. Strange question, where do the take the blood from? Hand, top of arm, crease of elbow? & what's a butterfly needle? Never heard of that

I hate needles too - think I had about 4 blood tests when I was pregnant. Definitely lay down and ask for butterfly needle (it's the thinnest smallest needle - takes a tiny bit longer to draw the blood but doesn't hurt as much).

I hated needles too. Not a phobia but I would cry whenever one came near me. Being pregnant I had a lot of blood tests and also the flu and whooping cough jab. I'd rather have the blood tests, they don't really hurt at all and from the crease in the elbow

Assuming straight forward pregnancy you will have bloods taken at booking in, at your scan should you choose to have the additional screening, and at 28 weeks.

You will also be recommended to have a whooping cough injection and a flu jab. If your blood type is rhesus negative you’ll also need a anti D injection at about 28 weeks. If that’s not something you already know you’ll find out once you’ve had your first lot of bloods taken at booking in.

Very standard, healthy, normal 1st pregnancy: I had blood taken at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 28 weeks. Plus an additional test for gestational diabetes at 28 weeks (whether you need that depends on your answers to the questions asked during the 8 weeks “booking in” appointment).

Definitely ask to lie on the bed. Look up at the ceiling.

Practice nice slow deep breaths - I learned this in yoga classes and it really helps to calm the body.

At the last appointment I tried having blood taken from my hand instead of my elbow and while I can’t say it was “good” it was certainly more comfortable so that felt like progress!

And of course - a cake / treat afterwards

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Blood and/or needle phobia with fainting is very common - between 3 and 10 in every 100 people suffer from it to some extent - so the midwives and phlebotomists will have seen it all before. So the first thing to say is don't feel embarrassed about it and tell them in advance that you are prone to fainting. That way nobody is surprised and you have one less thing to worry about. They will probably suggest you lie down for the blood test and I suggest you ask to lie down if they don't offer - it reduces the chance of a faint and ensures you're safe if you do.

I have a long history of medical phobia - it didn't have to be an actual blood test, talking about it (or medical conditions, or somebody's operation) would be enough to make me feel faint! And I managed 2 rounds of IVF (LOTS of injections and blood tests, and an egg retrieval op with painkiller but otherwise fully conscious as I chose to forego sedation), pregnancy blood tests and a planned C-section. So I promise, it's do-able.

Things that helped me:

1. Stop worrying about fainting, accept it might happen and learn to think "so what".
2. Familiarisation with what would happen. So for blood tests - looking at the needle (I ordered a travel medical kit), watching some you-tube clips in increasing detail, going with my DH for a blood test that he needed to see what happened. Sort of like looking from a distance at a little spider and building up, rather than going straight to holding the huge hairy tarantula...
3. A technique called applied tension, for faint-inducing situations. Put simply, you tense the muscles in your arms and legs for 15 seconds, then relax for 30 seconds, then tense again and repeat.
4. Hypnotherapy techniques, to relax and distract (I still use them every time I go to the dentist!). A hypnotherapist who teaches hypnobirthing might be able to help with a couple of tailored individual sessions.

This leaflet has a good summary of the problem and the techniques. www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/all-patients/overcoming-your-fear-of-needles.pdf If you want something more in depth, I found this book really helpful. www.amazon.co.uk/Overcoming-Medical-Phobias-Conquer-Dentists/dp/1572243872?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Thanks everyone, some good tips for me, will let you know how it goes

Quick update, had my booking in appointment Friday. Was very nervous & yes had a few tears but the midwife was great, she was in no rush, took lots of time to let me get comfortable with the idea of having some blood taken, and I think that's what made a huge difference. I did lie down on the bed, in case I felt faint, looked the other way, & she was very quick, it barely hurt & I would guess took less than a minute. Feel a lot more confident about the next lot of bloods to be taken now