View Full Version : Nursing and donating blood?
Mommy_Mea
04-16-2010, 09:45 AM
Sorry for the repeat post (in kid food as well), just need some quick feedback before heading down to donate in a few hours...
There is a blood drive at work today, and I would really like to donate, it has been way too long!
The sign up form indicates that it is fine to donate when nursing, but I just wanted to see what other's experiences have been. I guess I am a little concerned with draining another fluid from my body, LOL.
Any issues with supply when donating? I will probably try and donate about halfway between my morning and afternoon pumping session...
Thanks! :wavey:
Mommy_Mea
04-16-2010, 10:16 AM
Hmmm, just read this on the LLL website, I think I will defer for a few months. My milk supply is so fragile right now I don't want to mess with it when I am in the home stretch to make it a year! (at least)
http://www.llli.org/FAQ/blood.html
I know I answered my own post, but I figured this might be useful to someone else at some point ;)
Andi98989
04-16-2010, 10:24 AM
That goes with what KellyMom says:
Blood Donation
There are conflicting opinions about donating blood while breastfeeding. The US Red Cross okays blood donation for nursing moms after 6 weeks postpartum. Donating blood causes a small loss of blood volume (and therefore a loss of fluid), so there is a theoretical possibility for a short-term temporary reduction in milk supply. Moms with vulnerable supplies may want to avoid donation. In general, women who are not pregnant, have good iron levels (that will be tested before donation), are not taking antibiotics, and are at least 100 pounds are good candidates for blood donation.
Mommy_Mea
04-16-2010, 10:42 AM
Thanks! I am not sure why I couldn't find that on KellyMom, my usual "go-to" BFing website...
DrSally
04-16-2010, 11:30 AM
Good to know for the future. I've wondered about this as well, but figured I could wait until after I'm done.
I wouldn't do it while nursing. I am so dehydrated all the time while nursing - I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose a pint of blood on top of that!!
Penny's Pappa
04-16-2010, 12:14 PM
If the concern is fluid loss, would it be possible to donate Double Red Blood (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations#double_red) cells since the majority of your plasma is returned to you in this procedure?
american_mama
04-18-2010, 11:10 PM
I know the OP has resolved her question, but I have a very bad experience the one time I donated blood while nursing. I felt fine after donating, but 15 minutes later, I got home and was lugging baby and car seat up the tiny hill to our front door. Maybe it was that exertion that did it or maybe it just took a little time to sneak up on me.
I got so light-headed, couldn't stay standing through a diaper change, tried to force myself out of the house to walk to school to pick up older DD, couldn't walk, tried to drive, couldn't make it into the car, couldn't see clearly, and ultimately laid on the lawn and had middle DD run to a neighbor's house who is a nurse. I just had no blood pressure: couldn't walk, had to lay down after an urgent need to poop (vasovegal response), had to call DH home from work (while laying on hall floor because I couldn't stand).
All was well in about 30 minutes, but I would never donate while breastfeeding again, just on the assumption that that's what caused my extreme reaction. My neighbor/nurse said breastfeeding used to be a reason to decline a donation, so she was surprised they accepted me.
MMEand1
04-19-2010, 12:26 AM
I donated blood when I was pumping for my DD. I never had a reduction in milk production and went on to pump (and overnight it back to her) like normal - 9-12 times a day. My supply was never affected.
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