Do you Donate Blood on a regular basis?

[Lolli]

Hi MoM
I was actually thinking today, I can't wait till I can give blood again, soon as I'm done breastfeeding. I started when I was 16 and did it religiously every three months until I got pregnant (actually, I had to take a hiatus after i got my tattoo too).
My grandfather was so proud of the fact that a year before he passed away, he got his certificate from the Red Cross for donating 100 pints. He died when I was two and I don't really remember him... but I know he'd be proud of me donating blood when I can.

[luna moth]

I used to, but I've just been told to stop before TTC I have 40-something donations under my belt, so I feel good that I've been able to help so many.
Last time I went to do it, I was waiting at the bus stop, and this old dude tottered up to me and said "Are you going to the city? Can I offer you a lift in my taxi?" So his taxi pulls up, and he asks where I'm going. I told him it was to give blood, and he said "Well, how funny that we should meet. I'm on my way to receive a blood transfusion."
That made every needle worth it. Even the mega two-headed ones they use for plasma, over 40 donations worth of scar tissue.

[Lolli]

Last time I went to do it, I was waiting at the bus stop, and this old dude tottered up to me and said "Are you going to the city? Can I offer you a lift in my taxi?" So his taxi pulls up, and he asks where I'm going. I told him it was to give blood, and he said "Well, how funny that we should meet. I'm on my way to receive a blood transfusion."

Wow. That's amazing...

[C~Q]

I've tried to but i'm from the UK so they won't let me

[AngelPunks]

I'm not allowed to - Mad Cows used to live in the UK so I'm not allowed

[HotI]

Yep! When i was at uni, there was a donation place on campus and so i was a plasma donor (every 3 weeks) for a couple of years. Would like to say it was completely altruistic, but i was on a really limited budget, and the carrot cake was really good and that with a glass of orange juice was a top lunch.

I don't live so close to a donation centre anymore so have just gone back to 3 monthly donations.

My iron levels are usually borderline but there are only a couple of times, i haven't been able to donate. Plasma donation was actually pretty good because they return your red blood cells to you.

[MantaRay]

It's something I want to do. I donated once, and was really ill afterwards. I have low bp, I don't know if that was the problem, but I was fine for about half an hour, then felt really ill suddenly and fainted at work. I couldn't get up off the floor for ages. Someone brought me some tea and an orange which I had some of while lying on the floor and then after a while I could get up. So I'm scared to do it again. Most of the time since then I've been pg or bfing anyway so couldn't, but now I can again. I just don't know if I've brave enough!

Ironically too, I have high iron, and if my levels get too high the only thing I can do to lower it is donate blood. So I might have to start doing it again!!

[dusty]

I've tried to but i'm from the UK so they won't let me

Yeah I have the same problem CB as I lived in the UK in the 90s and ate meat off the bone while there, hence they try to reduce any risk of passing on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (mad cow) which we are highly unlikely to be carrying!

I find it really frustrating to be so rejected!

Thanks to those of you that are able to and do donate. All Australians benefit from your generosity .

[blue_hebe]

I want to, I know it's important...I did once and felt and bit faint, but it wasn't too bad. The second time I went in, the room starting spinning and I felt like fainting again as they did the finger ***** test and they wouldn't allow me to donate blood (nor did they want me back!). I have to admit to feeling a little silly because I'm absolutely fine with the idea of giving blood, but for some reason even reading through the brochures detailing the procedure (that they ask you to read each time) makes me feel sick and faint. It's quite bizzare

I intent to try again in the future.

[Nai]

I do when not pregnant or breastfeeding. I got in 1 donation between DD and this one. DP donates on a regular basis. Both of us have been asked if we would be plasma donors so we are looking into that as well.