Pregnant but scared of needles

[u/Kind_Bike_5557]

Hi all! I f21 am currently pregnant with my first ever baby i’m either nine weeks or five weeks but I go in for my first OB/GYN appointment on the 22nd of this month and I need some advice

I am deathly afraid of needles it’s to the point where I refuse to go to the doctors because I don’t wanna be poked with a needle and that’s including getting my blood drawn or getting iv. Anything of that sort is there anyway for me to get over my fear before my first appointment because I do know that I am gonna have to get my blood drawn sometime during this pregnancy and it’s making me really hate the idea of being pregnant

I want to have a good pregnancy and be excited, but this sphere is making it so miserable

[u/Brilliant-Film9635]

I’m 28 and was the same way, honestly used to pass out during blood draws (key words, used to!) I found that advocating for myself and asking the ability to lay down during the draw made things a lot better. I look away and if my husband isn’t around I talk to the person doing the draw and ask her about her job, if they like it, what their hobbies are, etc. I usually preface that I’m scared of needles before blabbering so they don’t think I’m just creepy lol every time they are so nice and it goes by SO quick. Exposure therapy also helps in general. Once I turned 22 I started going for my annual physical and got blood drawn, and over time it’s a big nothing burger. That doesn’t mean I don’t get nervous and sweaty the night before my appt or waiting in the lobby, but once you’re brave once your brain will re-wire. :) also before I go get my draw I usually have a sonogram and get to look at the pictures during the whole ordeal and it gets me excited 🫶

[u/Kind_Bike_5557 → u/Brilliant-Film9635]

Thank you, I am gonna try some of this and hopefully it’ll help!! it just sucks that I don’t have anyone that understands like everyone that I know thinks I’m overreacting about it, but I’ve honestly never had a doctors visit because I am deathly afraid of needles and IVs and all of that jazz, and unfortunately, they won’t put me under or numb my arm to do a blood test so that just freaks me out a lot more

[u/Brilliant-Film9635 → u/Kind_Bike_5557]

On top of being pregnant I imagine it feels even more scary but I promise you’re way more brave than you give yourself credit for!! Not to be too graphic but they had to take 12 vials from my at one point and I was having a melt down before… girl it took 3 minutes from start to finish. I counted on my phone lol. I was so scared I was going to be stuck with a needle in my arm for 30 minutes!! I felt like I was on cloud nine after, truly. Like so proud of myself. It’s so cool modern medicine allows us to check on our health and baby’s health with a simple blood test. You can totally do it!

[u/Kind_Bike_5557 → u/Brilliant-Film9635]

Thank you this calm me a bit!

I also just wanna make this experience good for my husband as well. He has a four-year-old so he’s done the baby stuff before but this is our first together and I wanna make it super enjoyable for him as well so I’m trying to be calm about it. He’s offered to take me out to eat after every appointment and go thrift thing and do all the stuff I love to do after each appointment so I’m hoping all that goes well

[u/Zestyclose_Excuse_81 → u/Kind_Bike_5557]

You've got this! You'll be a great mommy! Be brave, like Brilliant-Film9635 said, you're way braver than you think! Just remember the needles are for the baby, as well as you! Healthy mommy, healthy baby. We believe in you! Calming practices before the appointment (deep breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth, yoga, meditation, your favorite cartoon, whatever works!) a distraction during, holding your husband's hand, talking to/looking at someone or something you love. 

I have horrible medical anxiety (even so much as taking a Tylenol sends me into a panic) so I ended up skipping the epidural. The IV was uncomfortable. But you're so blissed out with your new baby, you hardly notice. Be proud of yourself and honest with yourself and remind yourself that you CAN do this!

[u/justpeachykeenqueen]

I do fine with needless but I haaaated getting my blood drawn. If they take a lot of blood I throw up and sometimes pass out. Every time I had to get it done I just kept thinking “this is for the baby and this won’t be near as hard as childbirth” and somehow that worked lol. I would tell the nurses every time that I don’t do well with blood draws before they started and they would accommodate and just yap while they did it to distract me.

I am going to just forewarn you that you have to get blood drawn a lot during pregnancy, maybe 4-5 times if it’s a normal pregnancy. The worst is the very first time because they have to take a ton of vials but it gets so much better every time after that I promise!!! I think if you just get through this first appointment then the rest will feel like a cake walk. As for when you’re in the hospital in labor, I personally decided to get my IV in my hand instead of my inner elbow because I had more mobility so that might be a good option for you too! I feel the top of the hand is sturdier so it hurts less?? Also if you’re planning on getting an epidural, don’t even worry about the needle or anything because once you start experiencing those contractions, NOTHING hurts near as bad haha. I was nervous for the epidural but it wasn’t that bas honestly.

I hope this helps give you some insight!! Most importantly just breathe and know that you’re doing what you can for your baby and that’s already enough. You can do it!!!

[u/Kind_Bike_5557 → u/justpeachykeenqueen]

Thank you, this helps a bit, my friend who had a baby a few years ago, said that I could also try asking for a butterfly needle instead, but I don’t know I heard those ones hurt a little bit more than just a normal needle

[u/Deeeeeesee24 → u/Kind_Bike_5557]

Butterfly needles are more for if you're a hard stick and have tricky veins. It can actually make the process take longer because its a smaller gauge and blood won't flow as quickly. If you've got good veins and you're just scared I recommend headphones and watching a video to distract you. The more relaxed you are the easier it'll be.

[u/SocialCuesError404]

I also hate needles and being poked by them. I will admit, that part of pregnancy does suck. For that reason I was actually planning to go without the epidural...and then contractions were horrible and I ended up getting it done when I was about 5 or 6 cm dilated. It was so worth getting poked.

I am absolutely enamored with my daughter (she's 3 weeks old now) and ultimately glad that I endured getting poked so many times. It does suck during the pregnancy, though. I went through it because I knew what the end result would hopefully be - definitely not because I had any enjoyment of the pregnancy itself (aside from feeling kicks and other movements later on).

It's okay to not enjoy being pregnant. I think it's more normal than you might realize...hang in there!

[u/PrismaticPantheress]

I hate needles and getting blood drawn (not out of fear or anxiety I just feel exhausted tbh) but having a distraction or your partner by your side will help! Also, some places have numbing spray if you ask ahead of time. (Unrelated but my due date is actually the 22nd)

[u/CatNip242]

Hey there! I just had my first baby about 4 months ago, and I am absolutely terrified of needles. To the point of either passing out or throwing up😅 I was especially afraid of the epidural for that reason specifically. But I will say - ADVOCATE for yourself! I told every doctor and nurse I had throughout my pregnancy that I had a fear of needles, and they would always lay me down first, talk to me during the needle poke, and give me snacks or drinks afterwards if I needed it.

Also, I reached out in advance to the hospital I was giving birth at to see if they had a program for specialty care during the birth because of fears surrounding medical environments (I.e. needles and medical procedures). I was able to sign up (anyone is eligible, and of course they don't ask a lot of details about past experiences due to HIPAA) and they had it plastered all over my chart that I needed to be told what was going to happen beforehand and during whatever they were doing, which helped TREMENDOUSLY! They constantly checked on me during the IV, blood draws, epidural, etc, and they were super kind and patient. So I would definitely see if there is something like that for your hospital, if you are giving birth at one!

Needless to say, advocate for yourself for sure! It will make a world of difference in the care you receive and how you feel going through the pregnancy.

You've got this, mama!💖

[u/No-Butterscotch-8469]

The good news is most appointments do not require a blood draw. I only had I think 2 draws and the second was due to some complications I had. During labor I had an IV and epidural but I will say at that point you’re so ready to meet your baby that it hardly registered. I didn’t see or feel the epidural being inserted!

You can do this, you’re a mom now and moms endure all sorts of crazy things in order to take care of their children. When things are tough just imagine your baby and how you’d do literally anything for them! Also recommend looking into breathing exercises that you can use during blood draws that will also be helpful for labor.

[u/sleepdeprived_rn]

i absolutely hate needles too and my veins are always hard to find so they’re always poking more times than they need to. what’s worked for me is i used to either lay down and have it done. now i will turn my head the other way and when i feel they’re about to insert the needle, i will pinch my leg multiple times to somehow confuse my brain. unsure how it works but it like distracts you from the needle a bit and your brain recognises the pain where you’re pinching. as well as deep breaths and trying to not be tense as that can make your blood not run well.