28 week blood tests...

[worriedamy]

How important are the blood tests that are meant to be taken at around 28 weeks? As far as I understand it, they only test for your red blood cell count so what are the implications of this??? I am now nearly 32 weeks and have been putting this blood test off for a few weeks now. I have got a pretty bad phobia of needles, and would really prefer not to have the blood taken if it isnt really that important/ there isn't much that the midwives will do with the results.

I appreciate how pathetic this might sound, needle phobia blah blah, but it is a pretty bad phobia- I hate it, really wish I wasn't bothered about them! All comes from a pretty rough time in hospital when I was very young... but anyways!! When I went for my booking in blood tests I got pretty bad, even though I tried so so hard not to get worked up, and even tried using Emla cream so that I can't feel anything, but it really isn't the pain, I don't really know what it is. I panick that the needle would get stuck in my arm, or that I would twitch and bend the needle in my arm- I know, all very stupid, and I have tried very hard to play it down in my head, but when it comes down to it, I just panick I worry that the state I get into will stress the baby out, and I just don't know whether it would be worth it...

The midwife has said if I dont have the blood tests by the time I am 34 weeks, she will have to put in my notes that I have officially refused the tests- I think to cover her own back in case the hospital question why I have not had them done.

If they really are important then I will have to go for it, but if they are something I can get away with not having... I would much prefer that!!

It is your heamaglobin (sp?) test for your iron levels (for anaemia) and mw's say they are pretty important.

I was unable to have mine at my 28 wk appt as I had had my GTT the day before and had had blood taken on both sides and was quite sore. My mw has booked me in for 31 weeks to have them as she didn't want to leave them any longer than that in case I did need iron supplements.

Go get them - it is never as bad as we imagine (I am nedle phobic too)and if you do turn out to need some extra iron then you can get the supplements.

I think we need plenty of iron pre-birth to cope with blood loss etc so I'd imagine they are pretty important tests.

Sorry for rambling, been up all night wit SPD and trying to type round a 2 yr old on my lap!

HTH xxx

worriedamy, you poor thing, I completely understand. I had / still have an irrational fear of needles as well but I really think that going through the blood tests throughout pregnancy have started to help me overcome my phobia - not entirely, but I'm getting there.

Ask the midwife to let you lie on the bed when she takes blood. Look the other way and breathe deeply. After the test has been done, spend a few minutes lying down to regain yourself.

I'm so afraid of needles that in the past that I NEVER had a blood test and discounted tropical countries as holiday destinations because I just couldn't stand the thought of the travel vaccinations! But I tell myself that the blood tests in pregnancy are for the benefit of my baby and that's why I make myself go through with them. (She'd better be grateful!! )

Do try and have the 28 week test if you can. It wouldn't be offered if it wasn't important. xx

Me too feb80, I hadn't had a blood test since I was very young when I had the booking in blood tests. Its such a rediculous phobia, I hate it! Me and dp are planning our honeymoon for next year, and we can't go anywhere tropical because I wouldn't be able to have the jabs- how rediculous!!

If I just make sure I have loads of iron and vitamin C, will I not just be doing the same as what the midwife would tell me to do if the blood tests show I am low on iron?!

Thanks for your help beccabump and feb80andthebump

Amy

If your gp works like mine, the 28 blood test also tests your glucose response(they'll tell you down a glass of lucozade an hour before) and then take blood. They can then check for gestational diabetes - which is pretty important - in fact the only other way of knowing is to have the Glucose Tolerance Test which also involves taking blood ... If you have gestational diabetes and don't know about it there can be all sorts of problems - you can't adjust your diet, baby grows too big, etc etc. You can't predict who'll get gestational diabetes and its nothing to do with your body size - a friend of mine who is a little wisp of a thing had it quite seriously and had to be very careful of her diet to make sure she didn't collapse and that baby didn't grow too huge.

They also test for iron levels, and they reconfirm your blood group and that you don't need the anti-D injection.

TBH I think they are v important blood tests; certainly the ones that my midwife made the most fuss about.

I think you are probably just going to have to psych yourself up and go for it - sorry its so hard for you.

I was also told the 28 week blood tests are to check that your blood group was taken correctly at booking in.

Be brave! You can do it!

xx

ow !!

I have a different opinion here worriedamy, my midwife said that if I didn't want the 28 week blood test it doesn't matter too much.
I have needle phobia too, have tried emla (thank god for emla although you are right it doesn't take away the panic) & hypnosis. This is my third baby, third c-section and it doesn't get better for me.
My midwife didn't say what the 28 week test is actually for though - you should ask her, it sounds like it might be different in different areas.