Giving Blood

andycarmi

For my New Year's resolution I want to give blood. But I have a baby and I'm breast feeding so can I give blood while BF?

catz747

This is from NHS direct, also say you must keep hydrated:

Women may not donate while they are pregnant and for a period of time afterwards, equal to the duration of the pregnancy (normally 9 months). Breastfeeding mothers can give blood provided they are not anaemic.

dawnybabes

Pregnancy

You should not give blood if you are pregnant or you are a woman who has had a baby in the last 9 months.

HTH
Dawn

Westywoodpecker

Ditto the advice above. Have to say though many thanks for your resolution. My son needed many units of blood when he had a serious illness. At the time you almost presume that it's available, when actually it's only due to people like yourself in the first place donating blood.

Thanks

sheryldoc

Thanx to anyone who donates blood.. I hav a condition called ITP and I need blood and Platlettes often.. I have had some serious internal heamorrages and if it wasnt for those kind enough to donate blood.. I could have died!

So giving blood saved my life and for that I will always be gratefull.

My mum has the rarest blood type and she now gives blood.. x

andycarmi

Thanks for the info. Had DD nearly five months ago so will wait May.:D

JoeyG

I've just registered to give blood (also a new years resolution)

I'm a male, so no breast feeding issues here ... how will I feel afterwards and how long will it take before I feel normal again?... can i give blood in my lunch hour and go straight back to work?

quietheart

JoeyG my husband is always fine after giving blood, no problem whatsoever. I'm occasionally light-headed but I'm often borderline anaemic so I reckon most people are fine.
Well done for registering, can't believe only 6% of the population do it!

JoeyG

Thanks rovers

I've arranged it for after work, but I chose a lunchtime appointment as my 2nd choice.

Anyone else registered online? and how long do they usually take to get back to you?

Nile

JoeyG wrote:

I've just registered to give blood (also a new years resolution)

I'm a male, so no breast feeding issues here ... how will I feel afterwards and how long will it take before I feel normal again?... can i give blood in my lunch hour and go straight back to work?

Hello JoeyG

Well done for registering to become a blood donor.:T

As a long time blood donor (44 donations) I can reassure you that you'll feel normal very quickly afterwards. There are lots of blood donor sessions at work places..............and employers wouldn't allow their employees time off work to donate, if they were then unable to continue work straight afterwards.;)

I wouldn't recommend that you give blood within a couple of hours of playing sport because it will be too soon and the intense activity might make you feel dizzy. I always donate on an evening when I'm not due to play sport later that night.;)

Anyone else registered online? and how long do they usually take to get back to you?

There wasn't an 'online'/personal computers.........or even the MSE site:eek: when I became a blood donor:o .............so hopefully someone else will answer your question.

Regards

Nile

JoeyG

Thanks Nile!

Sorry to be annoying, just one more question.

If you give blood reguarly, how often do you do it?... I noticed there are sessions every couple of months at my local place