What Happens When You Donate Blood
Since I get quite a few searches about donating blood while breastfeeding, I thought maybe I would talk a little more about blood donation. I’ve already written about whether or not blood donation is okay while breastfeeding (for most people, it’s just fine) and why I donate blood. Tonight, I thought I would write a little bit for those people who haven’t donated before and don’t know what to expect.
I know that needles and blood tend to make some people nervous. Also, the unknown can make people worried. Because I believe that donating blood is very important, I thought I’d try to take away a few worries for a few people. Here’s what happens when I go to donate blood. First, I check in with the lady who greets me at the front desk. Then, she gives me some information to read. Then, when they call my name, I go sit in a cubicle with one of the people who draws the blood. She took my temperature, my blood pressure, and pricked my finger. She sticks a couple of drops of blood from my finger prick into a machine. This machine checks your blood for iron. Sometimes, women find out that it’s hard to keep their iron count up high enough to donate.
Then, the questions.
Next, there are about 50ish questions about any sort of illness, risky behavior, surgeries, or other issues that might prevent a person from being eligible to donate blood. They used to read all the questions and ask them verbally, but now they are all printed on a paper and I just read them on my own.
Now comes the time for the comfy chair. I tend to have better veins in my right arm, so I just go straight to that one. In order to take your blood, your arm has to be very well cleaned. First, they use an alcohol wipe. Then, they use iodine. Then, comes the prick. Generally, for me, that’s all it is. It’s a prick and a little bit of aching. I usually get some sort of foam ball to squeeze. I tend to be a slow donator, so when Jason and I go at the same time, he donates blood about 5 minutes faster than I do.
After that’s all done, they put a band aid on your arm and feed you! Our blood donation center has juice, donuts, popcorn, and granola bars. Also, if you like the snacks A LOT (like I do), if you schedule your donation at the end of the day, they sometimes offer you two snacks.
So, there you have it. It’s not quite as easy as “one-two-three,” but it’s definitely not as big of a deal or as scary as I’ve heard some people make it out to be.