Midwife wants to do a drug test?

[Violetbeau]

I had my booking phone appointment with the midwife this morning and she asked all the usual health questions. When she asked if I took recreational drugs before I was pregnant I answered honestly which I always do when health professionals ask, which is that I have done very occasionally in the past (like once a year maybe) but I haven’t in the last two years. She then asked if I was ok with them taking my blood for a blood test to check. Is this normal? It seems a bit odd to me, I mean I could have said no to whether I take drugs, and for all intents and purposes it is no given I haven’t in the last two years, and certainly don’t plan or desire to after the baby is born. But because I’ve been honest she won’t take my word for it that I haven’t in the past two years?

You always have bloods done anyway after the first booking appointment. Try to think of it from their perspective but honestly I wouldn't worry its just they have to cover it all

I told my midwife I’d taken coke once when I was 21... a full 12 years previously. She put it on my notes so it said DRUG USE: COCAINE - as if I was a daily user or something!!!

My DH was quite offended on my behalf but I thought it was funny. I appreciated that they are thorough and have a professional responsibility to you and your child. That means they take everything seriously - or should do at least!

So try not to be too offended, it’s better to have a really diligent midwife than a slack lazy one! And they test your blood for loads of things that are super important, this will be just another check box and like you say - you haven’t taken any in years, so it won’t come to anything

Hope you have a great pregnancy xx

I think those bloods might not be related - you have bloods done at your booking appointment as standard anyway - they need to be done before 10 weeks I think.

I wouldnt of just said no, think she means immediately before you got pregnant not years back.

Haha @Gerdticker that’s exactly how she made it seem, like I’m an addict or something!

I know they’ll take other bloods, but she did specifically mention they’re going to test for drugs now as well. She also brought it up again when discussing risk factors for postnatal depression at the end.

@ohdearymemumof3 yes that’s what I should have done in hindsight.

Anyway, thanks for the reassurance everyone. I know it’s not really a big deal in the scheme of things, just my first taste of someone worrying unnecessarily that I’m harming the baby and it irks me a bit. I’m sure it will happen a lot over all kinds of things!

Drugs aren't usually screened for with a blood test - it's quicker and cheaper to do a urine drug screen. Are you sure she meant a drug blood test and not just the routine bloods you should be getting anyway?