https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 16:24:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342159 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 07:32:43 +0000 Adira 342159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! There's a chance I have Mad Cow (lived in the UK for more than 3 months between 1980 and 1996), so I'm not allowed to donate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342152 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 07:27:45 +0000 mrsjyw 342152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've wanted to, I used to be borderline anemic and they wouldn't let me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342077 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:47:19 +0000 anonysquire 342077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to all the time but cant now because of anxiety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342070 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:01:38 +0000 pinkcupcake 342070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't yet, but I want to. I'll make it a goal for next year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342060 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:03:37 +0000 Ree723 342060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: Interesting. In Australia, we can only donate every 12 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342049 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:42:19 +0000 MaisyMay 342049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pre-pregnancy I gave blood at least 4-5 times a year, and I will resume when I can post-baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342030 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:49:03 +0000 PawPrints 342030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every eight weeks like clockwork. I consider it an obligation.</p> <p>Curious why people are saying they give every three months; I've donated in three different states and the requirement has been to wait eight weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-342019 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:38:17 +0000 cyndistar3 342019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried once despite severe needle phobia but passed out and haven't brought myself to do it since :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341996 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:13:50 +0000 Penny Lane 341996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to donate whenever I could, but here they don't let you donate if you're pregnant or breastfeeding :( I have to wait until 3 months after I wean!</p> <p>@Ree723: it's sad huh? I wish I could still! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341953 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:15:23 +0000 oliviaoblivia 341953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to donate every three months because I never got some childhood illness that is fatal to newborns which makes me a candidate for infant donation. I haven't donated since moving to Canada and I'll have to wait for<br /> LO to arrive before I get back to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341942 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:58:30 +0000 Mrs. Pen 341942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: good to know!!</p> <p>I would and have in the past but I haven't in a long while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341936 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:55:45 +0000 cram88 341936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always wanted to give blood but my dad was in the airforce so I lived in England for about a year when I was about a year old! It sucks because I clearly don't have mad cow disease 24 years later! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341920 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:40:51 +0000 photojane 341920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i was nervous to click over when i saw there was a picture on this thread!!</p> <p>i haven't, but i've wanted to. pure laziness mostly, but i really need to get on it. there was a blood drive when i was in college, but i got mono, so obviously couldn't go! :( now that i'm pregnant, it will be a while until i can donate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341915 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:27:20 +0000 Ree723 341915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I just looked at the Australian Red Cross website and apparently you can't donate blood until NINE MONTHS after the birth of your baby! And if you're breastfeeding, you need to wait until the baby has significantly weaned (i.e. taking most of their nutrition from other sources). </p> <p>I'm glad I checked, I always thought it was just 6 weeks after birth - that's what it is in the States isn't it? Regardless, guess I won't be donating any time soon, even though I keep seeing all the signs saying blood stocks are critical and it makes me really sad to know I can't help out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341881 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:58:38 +0000 Arden 341881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've tried twice, but I was under the weight requirement. Plus, I was anemic as a teenager, so I don't know if they'd be able to do it anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341875 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:55:09 +0000 MamaMoose 341875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup! I'm a big believer in giving blood! I had a cousin who was a hemophiliac and he depended on donated blood to survive. I have obviously had to stop since being pregnant but plan to start again as soon as I can after delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341861 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:44:23 +0000 BananaPancakes 341861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, never. I think I might be able to, now that I've been through the ordeal of having blood drawn and having an IV, but I have been terrified of needles and blood since childhood. The day of my c-section, my husband thought it was hilarious that my main concern was having to get an IV. In 28 years, I had managed to avoid having blood drawn, an IV, or stitches, so I was a wreck. But now I feel a little more confident about it all and might actually try to give blood. Most of my family members do already. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341772 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:37:40 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 341772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crash806: @CATWOMAN: I also don't meet the weight requirement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341767 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:31:14 +0000 lovehoneybee 341767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Cute sign!</p> <p>@runsyellowlites: Oh thank you, good to know! I lost a lot of blood during delivery (3x more than I should have) and was just this side of needing a transfusion, so I'll probably wait until 6 months pp...I'm 10 weeks now and still feeling weaker than I'd like, so I don't want to take any chances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341764 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:30:28 +0000 hilsy85 341764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never have, actually....I didn't even know my blood type until I got pregnant and had bloodwork done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341763 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:28:58 +0000 Ree723 341763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I've always been a once every three months donor, but obviously had to stop once pregnant. LO is 3.5 months old now and I've been meaning to get back to donate but it's so much harder with a baby! </p> <p>Also, last time I donated, I was told that they don't really need my blood as my blood type isn't that common in Australia (B+) and I should donate platelets instead. Considering that takes about 45 min instead of the usual ten min for a pint of blood, I'm really struggling to find the time.</p> <p>@travelingbrit: DH has the same issue - he was born in England so he is forever banned from donating blood. It makes us both sad as he really wants to donate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341759 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:25:29 +0000 boiledpnut 341759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've given blood twice when my hemoglobin levels were normal. I can't now because I've been diagnosed with Thalassemia. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341677 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:37:14 +0000 CATWOMAN 341677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crash806: Me too! Everyone gives me a hard time :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341449 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:53:32 +0000 runsyellowlites 341449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FutureMrsMcK: Here are the red cross guidelines per LLL</p> <p>defer while pregnant<br /> defer 6 weeks after giving birth<br /> defer 12 months if delivery required a blood transfusion<br /> accept nursing mothers </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341448 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:52:36 +0000 runsyellowlites 341448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have in the past, but it always wipes me out so since I'm nursing I don't think it'd be advised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341420 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:44:40 +0000 heffalump 341420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't. I just never tend to feel very well so it's probably not smart for me to do.</p> <p>DH works at the local blood center though. He also can't donate because he has crohns..... but we support our local blood bank in other ways. We even have one of these signs on our yard! </p> [attach=1561/12/mby6qh.488x301.PhillipTop.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341409 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:41:00 +0000 lavender 341409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, I don't meet the requirements-I'm under the weight requirement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341407 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:39:43 +0000 wheres_c 341407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: Good for you!<br /> I may get heat for this but I feel like it's everyone's duty to give blood as long as there's no medical/religious/ethical reason that they can't.</p> <p>I would love to give blood, but I cannot give blood in the United States per Red Cross regulations. Due to the possibility of Mad Cow Disease, people who lived in the UK for a certain amount of time are ineligible. I plan on giving blood next time I'm in the UK. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341387 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:31:09 +0000 lovehoneybee 341387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not since before I got pregnant. I don't know if they'd let me now since I'm nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-give-blood#post-341360 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:18:23 +0000 tororojo 341360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to, but don't do it very often. I say go for it--just think of the cookies and juice. :) </p>