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DH and I have (as often as possible so every 2 months) for years. I had a gap of 16 months for pregnancy and the requisite 6 months post pregnancy, but now I am back to it again.
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I have a couple of times, but Im not supposed to. My blood pressure crashes every single time I do and I pass out and get sick for quite a while. Even getting the vials of blood drawn when I first got pregnant did it to me.
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I can't since I have beta thalessmia minor. The blood banks don't want my blood.
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@PointeShoesTutus: boo thalassemia!
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@anbanan15: Where did you catch that? Two people at work got it last year in Florida.
I can't because of cancer.
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@boiledpnut: seriously. I'd never met anyone, other than my mom, that had it before...until I met my husband. It'll make TTC a stressful experience. Boo, indeed!
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@PointeShoesTutus: whoa, your husband has it too?
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I usually don't qualify due to the weight requirement. Once I tried to donate (I was a tad heavier back then), and my heart rate was too low at 43 bpm. Turns out I have PVC, and my heart skips a beat frequently. I don't think I'll ever be able to donate blood.
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I do it every 8 weeks when I'm not pregnant. It's super easy but I do always schedule an afternoon appointment so that I can get enough food and water in so that I don't get lightheaded.
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I don't meet the weight requirement but they probably wouldn't want my blood anyway since I have a clotting disorder.
SO has donated a number of times and has also donated plasma. He's O - and the Red Cross calls him allllllllllll the time asking him to donate!
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I used to all the time, my old work would have blood drives and we could go on work time. It was great! I miss it now that I'm pregnant, though I admit I didn't for the 8 or so months I lived here in FL since moving- the convenience factor of having it at work before was great. I have to find the closest place to do so post-baby. I'm B+ which I think is hilarious, since I'm more of a "be negative" type person, har har.
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@Arden: Exactly the same situation here. I'd love to donate and wish they would reevuate the rules. Especially since I'm AB-, which is pretty rare.
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No, I refuse to donate to an organization that discriminates against a whole section of the population.
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@boiledpnut: yep. Some sort of cruel trick of nature. We are each the only siblings that have it in our families. Some serious bad luck there.
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I am the only one in my family who does not donate on a regular basis. They see it as a civic duty.
I think I've tried a total of two times. The last time I remember donating, at least two people sat down after me and left before I was finished. It takes a lonnnnng time, and then I feel crummy afterwards.
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I go to local drives when I can/know about them!
@kjpugs: I'm B+ too!
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@sera_87: I'm not sure what you're referring to, but I see it as donating to people, not an organization. For instance, my Dad is having surgery Friday so I think of it as someone that donated is helping him directly.
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I used to frequently when it was really convenient from work with blood drives or in college, though my blood type is rarely in demand (A+). Then it just got inconvenient and I haven't in a long time. I was actually going to back in Nov and made plans with a coworker to go one day, but we were TTC and I got nervous that it would affect my chances of getting pregnant. Turns out, I literally ovulated the exact day I was going to go and got pregnant!
Being realistic, I know even once I'm not pregnant I probably won't do it that often unless there is a drive near me and it's convenient.
@kjpugs: I always remember my blood type by thinking 'I got an A plus in blood donation".
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Another potential mad cow donor here!
I can give blood in the UK though so plan to do that next time I'm there.. -
I can't because of time spent in Europe. And I have tiny veins so it would be tricky. I always cross my fingers for a nurse who is good with tiny veins when I have to get blood drawn!
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I would but I've been anemic for a long time. I donated once in college!
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I tend to have episodes of vasovagal syncope so I have to make sure to eat and drink plenty first, but I'm O- so I feel like its important to do!
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Yes! I'm an avid donor who usually goes every 8 weeks or so to donate....until I got pregnant that is. And Australia doesn't let you donate whilst BF'ing, so it's been a while, and now that I'm pregnant again, whilst still BF'ing, and have plans to BF the next one for a year, it's going to be a long while until I can go back.
I love donating blood - it's such a great way to help others out and it's easy peasy for me. No fear of needles, I have great veins, and it takes me five to six minutes to pump out all the blood they need. I honestly miss it.
ETA: those of you who have trouble because of mad cow - have they changed the regulations? I lived in the UK for three years and have never been turned down from donating because of mad cow. Now my DH who was born there between 1980 and 1996 is banned for life because of it, but anything after that time period they haven't been fussed about.
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@T.H.O.U.: The Costa Rican rainforest.
ETA: I was taking anti-malaria drugs, which were suggested for travel, and one if the (rare) side effects is a depleted immune system. It is likely other members of my group got bitten too, but because they didn't have the same reaction to the medication like I did they never got the disease.
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Ok, I just took a quick look at the AmericanRed Cross site and with relation to CJD (mad cow disease), you are only excluded if you lived in the UK for three months or more between 1980 and 1996. Alternatively, if you have lived for five years cumulatively in a European country between 1980 and now (excluding the UK), you are banned.
I wonder if blood bank screeners are sometimes giving out inaccurate info. I know I have had to argue my way into giving blood in the States at times, but when they consult their superior, I always meet the criteria (I lived in the UK from 2005-2007).
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@Ree723: Yep, I checked. I've lived a lot more than five years there so I'm out for sure. Oh well!
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I never have. Before, I was under the weight limit, and then there were no blood drives near me. I also was terrified of needles, but I am okay with that now and I think I will start when I can after giving birth.
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@Arden: I know you've done a lot of humanitarian work over there in some less developed countries, so I can definitely see how you would be excluded, unfortunate though it may be. I was more thinking of those who may have studied abroad/visited for a shorter period of time and are possibly being given inaccurate information, as has happened to me at times when I've gone to donate.
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I used to all the time, but when I found out I was anemic, I stopped. I work too hard to get my iron levels up to lose it.
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