What happens in a booking appointment? Needle phobic!

[Nellynoo182]

Hi everyone 👋

I’ve got my first midwife appointment on Wednesday. This is my first pregnancy so I’m not really sure what to expect.

I am really badly needle phobic where I have been known to faint and even have seizures following being faced with an injection/ blood test so I am obviously a bit worried about the amount of needles I will be faced with throughout pregnancy!

My husband is coming with me for support and I have been having hypnotherapy for my phobia to help get it under control.

My question is what can I expect in my booking appointment from your experiences? I rang the receptionist to ask for more info but she wasn’t very helpful! So anything you can provide to help me prepare is much appreciated. I read online I would have a blood test in this appointment. Will I have to have constant blood tests throughout the pregnancy? 🙈

Thanks everyone & please no horror stories! Xxx

There are no needles at the booking appointment don't worry :)

Speak to your midwife about this. They recommend a blood test at around 12-14 weeks but you don't have to accept any procedure. It is well worth doing as it can assess your risk for various issues but ultimately it's your body, your choice and they can't force you.

In a straightforward pregnancy it tends to be 3 blood tests- one at the booking appointment, another at 12 weeks for the genetic testing if you opt for that and then again about 28 weeks pregnant. However if you require a gestational diabetes test that's extra blood tests- usually if you have a history of GD in previous pregnancies, diabetes in the family or high BMI.

It will depend on your trust/area. They do do bloods at booking here and then again after dating scan if you opt for the combined screening. Then again at 28 weeks. HOWEVER- everything they offer is an OFFER. They may well try to insist, but you absolutely have the right to decline any, all or none of what is offered to you. If I were you I would explain the situation to the midwife and unless you know you can find coping mechanisms to help you, decline the blood tests.

There are no needles at the booking appointment don't worry :)

I've had bloods taken at my booking-in both times, I'm afraid.

If you do want to have the blood tests for your health and baby's, then you could arrange to have them in your local hospital instead of have blood taken by the midwife. I get woozy when I have blood drawn in pregnancy and the phlebotomy department at the hospital have big supportive partially reclining chairs. I've also found that hospital phlebotomists are in and out very, very fast and smooth, more so than the midwives. Good luck.

There most definitely are, I'm afraid. I'm on my third pregnancy and had my booking in appointment last week. She took a fair bit of blood, BUT - it was done super quickly and didn't hurt.

There was at mine both times! 3 vials. I'm in NI though so there's usually only a blood test at booking and then another at 28 weeks. We don't get screening for Downs etc.

It was ok OP, I'm a bit squeamish about blood but they do this all the time so tend to be very quick about it! Only took a minute or two, I felt barely anything and I just looked away.

Thank you everyone for your comments! I will just have to be a big brave girl and treat myself to a chocolate bar afterwards I think 🙈🤣

Oh I'm sorry! I didn't have blood taken at booking in and assumed that would be the same everywhere, but it must be different depending on the trust, or perhaps procedure has just changed, as the baby I had in the UK is now a teenager

The only thing I had every time in the UK was a urine sample. In Germany they took blood from me every time which I dreaded, but actually came to cope with much better and despite being a huge needle phobe, blood tests I can do now.

My trick was looking away and counting to 30 in a foreign language, or getting the nurse/midwife to distract you by talking to you about anything.

@ Ishacoco it depends on your area, in my area, no bloods are done at the booking appointment.

Definitely depends on area, I had a separate appointment with the blood clinic for mine. Do you have a number for the midwife team yet? May be an idea to call and explain ahead of time, I'm sure they're quite used to people with needle phobia and they might be able to put something in place to help!

Is the appointment face to face? If so most likely will do bloods.

For many of during the pandemic - booking in for over the phone and then a separate appointment for bloods.

To make it easier for the test - drink plenty of water before the appointment. If you are dehydrated makes it harder.

And you often have to give a urine sample so be prepared for that.

3rd pregnancy here and no bloods at 10 week booking appointment, just taking a detailed family history etc
I've had bloods at 12 week scan/appointment where they did the down syndrome test alongside full blood panel, then just bloods around 28 weeks I think. If you want to prepare yourself as to what happens in your area ahead of the appointment maybe send the midwife a text and ask :) x

I was nervous at needles, by the end of my pregnancy I wasn’t bothered (so it was good for that in a weird way)

And actually thinking about it now it was the first of many things I’ve had to do as a parent that I didn’t want to do but did it for my child.

(Play dates, soft play, night wakings, poonarmi nappies, football practice in freezing weather)

Congratulations op!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I am exactly the same, hate needles with a passion.
I was suppose to have my bloods taken at my booking appointment (8 weeks) but they couldn't find a vein as I was so dehydrated due to having hyperemesis gravidarum. I had to go back a week later as they wanted my bloods done before I was 10 weeks. I am not ashamed to say I took my mum with me 😂The first ones are quite important as they test for HIV etc.
Make sure you have lots of water and keep cool it definitely helps and something to be sick in.
I won't be having my bloods taken at 28 weeks as these are just to test your iron level and sometimes pregnancy diabetes.
They also offer you a whooping cough jab at around 20ish weeks.
Good luck, I hope all goes well x

@Nellynoo182

Biggest and most important thing - talk to your midwife about it. They can make reasonable accommodations such as making sure you're lying down in case you do faint, doing them at the start/end of the appointment to make you more comfortable, doing your blood pressure first, having some water or a sick bowl ready etc. Try to make sure you've had something to eat and are well hydrated to minimize your risk of fainting.
The booking appointment usually involves a LOT of paperwork. In my area they also book your scan at this appointment. They take a detailed medical history and decide if you need to be referred on to any specialists eg. if you have a medical condition. They will also usually give you general pregnancy and appointment information, send off a urine sample and check your blood pressure.
The blood tests at booking tend to be for things like HIV, syphillis, hepatitis, sickle cell, thalassemia, as well as checking you're not anaemic (low red blood count) and your blood type. As others have said, these are all offered and nothing is forced on you, but make sure you are well educated on the importance and risks if you did decide to decline any.
At the end of the day your midwife will support you through it :)

Your bloods are normally repeated around 28 weeks to make sure you're not becoming anaemic and recheck your blood type to check for any antibodies that might cause issues. Sometimes women who are rhesus negative (blood type) or high risk may require further injections or tests. If there are any issues such as anaemia identified they may repeat tests after you've had treatment such as iron tablets to check the treatment is working.

If you opt for the screening for Downs, Edwards and Pataus at 12ish weeks this will involve some checks on your 12 week scan as well as a blood test. Your midwife will discuss this screening with you to allow you make an informed decision, lots of people choose to have this and lots choose not to.

Hope that all helps you to be prepared rather than scares you! Lots of (lucky) women have never had blood tests before pregnancy and are really scared, you are not alone in your phobia.

As PP have said it is likely you will have bloods taken but does depend on area. It's great your husband is coming! I am also scared of needles and having bloods taken and get v fainty and find having DH for distraction/ calming really helps.

Some other top tips I've found for making the process better are asking to lie down so if you get fainty you're already down. And also be super super duper hydrated and keep the inner elbow warm - I use a wheat bag. It just makes it easier for them to find the vein and get the procedure over and done with asap. And then yes, a reward of chocolate and a big pat on the back after!!

I was worried about this exact issue before becoming pregnant, and even went to a few therapy sessions to try to overcome it as I know the importance of tests in pregnancy. I'm 30 weeks pregnant now and have had blood tests at the booking in, at the 12 week scan, and at 28 week appointment. I just ask to lie down each time and I've been absolutely fine, although I'll never love blood tests (and who does?!) I can cope with them now, know how important they are for the health of my baby, and the practice does help too. I was amazed with the whooping cough vaccine I had as I really did not feel a thing. The key is just to be open with the midwife or nurse about how you are feeling and they will do everything to make you feel more comfortable. And congratulations! x

Can completely relate with you as I hate needles and had never had a blood test before I was pregnant so I was really anxious. I had a blood test at my booking in appointment, I asked them if I could lie down for it (and the other 2 I’ve had since) and they are always happy for that to happen, so just ask for anything that will make you feel more comfortable. It was completely painless and over really quickly. Definitely have a treat lined up for yourself for after! I’m still not a massive needle fan but I’m definitely getting better since being pregnant so hopefully you start to feel better too 💕 And congratulations! What gets me through is just thinking that I’m doing it for the baby :)

I'm also needle phobic and a fainter. For my booking appointment it was the first thing I told the nurse. I took my husband with me too. The nurse gave me the choice of doing it first or last.

I chose first so I didn't spend the next 45 minutes worrying. I asked her to do it lying down, as when I have needles siting up normally about 1 minute later I need to lie down. I had the nurse on one side and my husband on the other so just turned my head away from the nurse. My husband and the nurse chatted about various things with me to distract from what she was doing. I lay down for about 5 minutes after, while she continued the booking questions. I got up when I felt ready.

A thing I found worked for me (completely by accident when a blood test was sprung on me whilst at the hospital for joint pain) is if about 10-20 minutes before the needle I eat a chocolate bar it's stops my blood pressure dropping as much after the needle. Previously due to nerves I hadn't been eating much before hand.

I have my whooping cough jab on Wednesday. I'm taking my mam for a hand hold. Then have bloods to be taken again in 2 weeks time.

YY to sugar helping a lot. And if you make sure you drink it doesn't hurt as much and is easier for them to find a vein and get blood. So plenty to drink beforehand, and take a bottle of water with you and sip it. You'll need to give a urine sample too so this will be a good idea.