Scared of blood or needles? Our advice for taking a blood test

Although taking a blood test is a short procedure, it can generate stress for many pregnant women! This fear of blood or needles can be so strong that it can sometimes even lead to vagal shock. Fortunately, our team has put in place several tips to alleviate your fear during the blood test. It must be said that we are particularly used to taking blood tests during pregnancy for your antenatal screening. Prenato makes your experience as pleasant as possible!

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Group all your blood tests from the first trimester

Our main tip to reduce your stress is to take as many samples as possible during the same blood test. For example, it is possible to do the first blood test (routine 1) and the antenatal screening at the same time. The first trimester of pregnancy is a time that requires multiple blood tests, which can be a challenging time for pregnant women who have this fear. Call us and we will help you organize all your blood tests for your pregnancy, trying to group them as much as possible, thus reducing the number of appointments needed to have them all done!

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Fear of blood, needles, or pricks

The fear of taking a blood test can generate a lot of anxiety for our future mothers. Even if you know that everything is going to be fine, it is simply out of control. It's a phobia! It can be caused by a bad experience in the past or it can be instinctive. The fear of blood or needles is seldom explainable, but the nervousness it generates is very real. However, how you take a blood test can greatly influence how you react. Our nurses are used to taking blood samples from pregnant patients. They make sure you are comfortable, lie down when needed, and give you tips on how to reduce your fear of blood, needles, or pricks.

Nausea, vomiting, fainting, vagal shock... They never judge you. The Prenato team is there to make you feel good!

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The consequences of stress during the blood test

When you are stressed, your heart rate increases and your nervous system is overstimulated. You are in a state of hypervigilance caused by adrenaline and cortisol (hormones secreted during times of stress). Your body's response to overstimulation can cause unpleasant physical symptoms. For example, you may experience sweating or hot flashes, sweaty hands, dizziness, or even fainting. We then speak of a vagal shock. Rest assured, although unpleasant, vagal shock poses no danger to you, your pregnancy, or your baby. Our nurses will be able to help you if the situation arises.

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Avoid vagal shock

Here are some tips to help you avoid vagal shock:

Eat: Unless required for your test, do not fast. Eat before your appointment and bring yourself a snack if needed. Snacks and juices are also available in all of our Prenato waiting rooms.

Drink: If you can, drink plenty of water before your blood test. When you are well hydrated, your blood volume increases and your veins will be more swollen and easy to prick.

Notify: Tell your nurse about your fear of blood or needles before taking a blood test. Ask to be seated in a lying position. You can also mention if you have a preference for which arm you want to use.

Accompanied by: Come accompanied by a person you can trust. This presence will help you calm down during the blood test.

Breathe: Focus on your breathing during the blood test. Breathe in through your nose, exhale for a long time through your mouth.

Discuss: Our nurses love to talk! Would you like to change your mind by having a discussion? Ask them to talk to you during the blood test, they will help you to occupy your mind and forget your fear. Do you prefer the blood test to take place in silence? We will also respect this request!

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The environment in which the blood test is taken greatly influences the state of mind of pregnant women who are afraid of this moment. We are happy to welcome you in bright, comfortable and gently decorated premises. You will feel calm and confident. At Prenato, we take care of our future mothers... Even those who are afraid of blood or needles!

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