What Juicy Veins You Have - Real Mum story on MoM

15 Comments

Ok, so I’m petrified of needles, always have been. But decided it was finally time to suck it up and put my brave “mummy can do anything” face on, and roll up my sleeve and donate blood. So, I get to the blood bank, check in, get weighed and measured (BMI) and take a seat and fill in forms. After I’ve filled out the forms, I am then interviewed by a nurse, where she asked questions and checked my iron levels with a drop of blood and checked my blood pressure. All the time nurse Bek is talking, I’m thinking to myself, something will render me “unfit” to donate. Yeah, no, nothing. I was fit as a fiddle. Now I’m feeling like a kid on their first day at school, excited but scared, but it’s ok for kids. Now this scared mummy has to toughen up.

Right, onto the comfy reclining chair I go. I was offered a blanket, to which I didn’t take. Nurse Bek was always reassuring and offering drinks. Heck, maybe I should just go there to feel pampered. Offerings of blankets and drinks, all this and I haven’t even given a drop of blood. Well, I guess she was buttering me up. Now, time for the needle. Ok, it didn’t actually hurt, THAT much, did a bit though. But it was over pretty fast. The lovely Bek, stayed by my side for a while. It felt weird, but ok. Eight minutes later, the needle is out and I’m sipping on a cordial with my huge bandage on my arm, that’s right people, I just gave blood and feeling pretty damn good, whoozy, but good about it.

Being a first timer you sit for a bit, though I’m told anyone can sit for a bit. Tatijana (the nurse who removed the needle) shows me my donation and tells me “you have juicy veins”. Why thank you Tatijana, but I bet she says that to everyone to make them come back. Wow, I actually put out 600ml. Now, I’m feeling all hero like. Then she tells me, this will save 3 people. THREE people, for sitting in a chair for 8 minutes. Well, well, I may be petrified of needles, but this mama will be back, well that was in February. May the 5th I’m booked in again.

Yes, it hurts a little, but it could save you, or a loved ones life. I received a transfusion when I had my first cheeky monkey nearly 6 years ago, and that same lil monkey had a transfusion when she had a hip operation as a bub. I’m proud to say I’m now a donor. Oh, they also have some awesome snacks after.

So unless you have a condition (medical, being scared pretty much is invalid), or a religious belief stopping you, why not save 3 lives? There are some other things that can stop you from donating and some just have a wait period. Give the guys at the vampire bank a call on 13 95 96

You can find out everything at the Australian Red Cross Donate Blood page here http://www.donateblood.com.au/

Posted by 220606, 18th April 2013

15 Comments

- - june11 said
  - 25 Jul 2016
    10:29 pm
I wish you didn’t have to make an appt. that you could call in when you are in the area and see if they have a gap in which they can fit you in. They would possibly get more donations when they are calling for more at short notice because of a disaster either here in Aust. or overseas.

- - mom81879 said
  - 09 Nov 2015
    2:01 pm
Donating blood is on my to do list, nearly the top of my bucket list. I don’t have juicey veins though. Having given blood for testing many times in the past, I know how hard it us to find a vein

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 26 Oct 2015
    7:15 pm
My son and I give blood – and for me it is a real struggle, but like you I do it LOL

- - mom81879 said
  - 08 Sep 2015
    9:25 am
Thank you for that. I’ve been curious about donating blood for a while now. It was interesting to know it only takes 8 minutes to donate, I always thought it was an hour at least. Shows how much I don’t know :/

- - jenniw said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    3:07 pm
Well done, you are braver than I am. I am terrified of needles etc and know that I am unable to do this.

- - Kell said
  - 11 Jun 2015
    5:10 pm
I use to donate ..I will start again

- - mom57522 said
  - 26 Dec 2014
    8:40 pm
I need to do this.

- - BellaB said
  - 03 Aug 2014
    8:20 pm
I would love to be allowed to donate blood, but both my husband and I are medically excluded.

- - Michelle said
  - 06 Jul 2014
    10:55 am
The vampire bank…that’s funny. Thanks for sharing your story.

- - 3timesamum said
  - 30 Jun 2014
    7:46 pm
Best cause to be brave for! Well done.

- - eestigirl said
  - 21 May 2014
    7:51 am
I don’t even know you, but I am so proud of you for taking a brave step in spite of your feelings about needles. That is awesome!
Saving 3 people really means saving their suffering family and friends as well when you think about how a critical situation affects everyone around the patient. Big hugs to you : )

- - jodie80 said
  - 01 Apr 2014
    12:33 am
it was horrible i had a c section and they had left 1/2 of the placenta in me so my body kept feeding the placenta blood thinking it was going to my baby and i was coming out in to my body it took day 5 when i felt like i was almost on the edge i went in for a ultrasound and the found i had been bleeding .. I had a horrible time i spent 10 days in hospital then they let me out and i couldn’t even hold my son because i had no strenght in my arms. But then i went again and had a little girl…Weird how you forget how hard it was .

- - yyon4699 said
  - 31 Mar 2014
    10:48 pm
..oh wow! that’s is amazing JODIE80!

- - yyon4699 said
  - 31 Mar 2014
    10:40 pm
oh wow! that’s is amazing JODIE80!

- - jodie80 said
  - 31 Mar 2014
    7:29 pm
8 people saved my life when i had to have blood after having my son. I need to repay the good work