[Resi]

Have you made your first doctor's appointment yet?? I know it's already been asked but I didn't see an answer. Also, how are you feeling about blood work? I know it's a big fear of yours.

And.. What's your plan for telling you Mom and Step Dad this Sunday?

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

I've not made an appointment anywhere yet. I don't have a girly doctor... I've always just gone to my general practitioner for my annual paps. My health insurance through my job is switching companies so I'm waiting to figure that out an get enrolled properly before I go trying to track down a doctor. I'm also kind of waiting on my mom, because I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing! haha

As for the blood draw thing... I was really hoping I could just explain that to them and get away with just POAS for them or something. Or are they using it to check iron levels,etc? I'll live. After this past year with my mom, MIL and granny all in the hospital I've gotten better about being around those things. People would just talk about IVs or something and I would cry... then it got better where I had to see them to cry/panic... but now I think I'm okay. I'm going to tell myself I'm okay and hopefully get through it.

As of right now, unless we come up with something better by then... the plan is to POAS on a FRER and write "Happy (grand)mother's Day!" on it and put it in a jewlery box. We will tell my mom "we brought this back from Mexico" and give it to her. I want something that she'll instantly KNOW means we're pregnant. I think they will be super excited. I can't decide if we should have Ben video it on our camera or actually take pictures of her reaction. I hope it's not some fluke and she freaks out in the bad way or something... this isn't the best timing. I think it'll be fine.

I hate to burst your bubble sweetie, but they take a TON of blood work in the first trimester.

Ohhh I definitely think you should take pics of her reaction too!! You always take the best pics!

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

Well I'm gonna just have to see what can do about this blood non-sense. I mean, they can take it like... from my arm... it's the vein that's the problem.

[~*Bethy*~]

um...their....are veins...in your...arm....how else would you get blood

[chellerenee]

Awww, poor Shannon! I was thinking about this just the other day after your BFP post! I hope you can overcome your fear. I'm sure you'll be fine. You know it's to make sure you and the baby are healthy, so you'll do what you need to do when the time comes. I love the idea of putting the pg test in a jewelry box and telling her you brought it back from Mexico! So cute! You definitely have to at least take pics! I'm sure she won't have a bad reaction!

[ScottishBrit]

I forgot about your fear of the blood! Oh boy. Ill say I was surprised at all that they do. But I know they didn't do it until my 3rd appointment or something like that. But they did take 10 Vial's of blood. 4 were HUGE.....Sorry to scare you! I had an Idea of a way you can show them your preggo. Develop some of your pic's and take a pic of the Pregnancy test and slip it in there. She'll never suspect your preggo when you tell her to look at some pic's! haha..

[Frozendesire]

^ Oh that's a cute idea!! But I also like yours too Shannon Can't wait to hear what you decide to do.

They actually do alot of blood work when your pregnant. That's the part I HATE about pregnancies haha. I can't stand needles and always faint. I actually learned that laying down works really well for me! But I'm not to sure if it will help you? I guess it depends on what your scared of and stuff.

[Mars]

You will need to take a video of her reaction. On your cell phone or something. I know you don't want to give it away until she opens the test but you have to get it somehow.

[Oriyan]

Its all about finding the right phlebotomist. Some of them are really good, others just suck. I had something like 9 vials of blood taken and that was less then normal cause I had a whole bunch of tests already with the whole IVF thing. Plus they usually take blood 3 other times during pregnancy to check for anemia. You'll do fine!!!!!! I promise

I think the jewelry box idea is cute! I bet you anything regardless your moms are gonna be super happy

[Resi]

From what I remember I only had blood taken 2 times. At the first appointment and then for the step b test or whatever it's called. I never look so I don't know how much they take. You will be fine. It's a good thing you got a little better with it over the past year. That should help.

I like your idea for telling your mom. I can't wait to hear how it goes. She is going to be so happy and excited.

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

My vein phobia has nothing to do with blood... which is why I said if they took it from like the top of my arm or a non-veiny area it wouldnt be a big deal. I don't mind bleeding at all... it's veins that I have a problem with. When I was deaf, they took me away from my mom to get blood and because I was scared they strapped my arms and legs down ( I was 5) in this chair and were taking blood from both arms. It was horrifying. I don't let people ssqueeze my wrists where my veins are or go anywhere near it. I used to not even be able to talk about it. I almost didn't go to a majority university b/c they had to take blood to make sure I had had the chicken pox. I brought my mom and buried my face in her chest and just BAWLED... and threw up... and thought I was having a heart attack. It's awful. I can't imagine THAT being good for the baby. But I'm not as bad about it anymore when it comes to talk about veins or being around them so hopefully that'll apply to having blood drawn as well. I absolutely will not look at how much they take.

Oh, I can have my blood pressure taken without crying now. That used to be as bad as the vein thing with the squeezing and the being trapped, etc.

[**Jenn**]

I don't remember getting much blood taken. I think it was the initial tests they did at my first appointment--just a couple vials. And then not again til my gestational diabeties test. And that was it. People always have a hard time getting a vein on me too so maybe that's why I hate it so much. They usually have to use pediatric needles for me.

I am horrible with needles as well and usually faint. At the end of my first trimester I was so dehydrated from having hyperemesis that I had to be given IV fluids in the office. Because of the dehydration it was even harder for them to get a good vein and took a couple tries and I almost did pass out then.

Just make sure you're hydrated and don't look at what they're doing. If I don't look I'm usually ok, but if I do look I'm a gonner! LOL

[~Jess~]

You can request they take it out of your foot. They had a super duper hard time getting blood out of me once. They finally had to take it out of my hand and use a syringe to literally SUCK it out of me. They told me if that didn't work, they'd try my foot next....

[Resi]

That sounds awful Shannon. I knew it was a vein phoiba but I didn't want to say the word incase it made you get upset.

They did take blood from my foot during pre-op testing once because they had nothing else. I'm sure your mom will be sooooo happy! And it's your first Mother's Day too

[♥Ashley♥]

Aww! I think your idea for telling your mom is so cute!!! Take pics and show us, im sure shell be so happy!!!!!!!

[soImarriedAnerd]

Must have pictures of you telling your mom!

A good lab person can draw out of a place that has no obvious veins (and you have more blood flow so this will easier). I HATED the foot blood draws-I've had them also.
Do some exercise and make sure you nice and warm to help them out!

I only have had blood drawn once so far (I know this thur I will again--think its the last time if all goes well).

Great idea for telling your mom! VIDEO IT!!

Im coming up on my next round of blood taken...errr. This will be my third time this pregnancy getting my blood taken.