Reason for so much blood?

[IrishTwins]

I was reading through some posts and noticed lots of women getting blood drawn multiple times and very early on.. Is there a reason for this? I did one blood (rather unhappily) to confirm pg and next I meet with OB at 12 weeks. So in 7 weeks from now.. That's it. Just wonderin'

 

[sn0wbunnie]

The only reason I'm have blood drawn every 48 hours is because I've been having some spotting & my doc wants to monitor it closely.

If I didn't have spotting, my first appointment wouldn't have been until I was 8 weeks. Doctors won't check your blood so often unless they have a reason to.

 

[Mya209]

I thought it was a US vs UK thing? Not sure where you're from. The US ladies seem to be having more blood draws and earlier scans. NHS don't see you until 8 weeks and don't scan until 12 weeks if all is well.

 

[IrishTwins]

oic.. I understand if there have been multiple mc or fertility issues.. My dr confirmed pg and didnt want to check if hcg was doubling or anything. Just referred out to OB for typical 12 week first appt (in Canada)

I doubt he would even do multiple draws if I were spotting.. Would just let things run their course I think..

Thanks ladies.

 

[swanxxsong]

With my first pregnancy I had my initial blood draws at my first appointment and that was to test for STDs, random stuff. All the "fun" stuff they do. My first ultrasound was a at 12 weeks.

Since I've had two losses since my daughter's birth, this time they got me in for bloodwork immediately and a 7-week ultrasound. So typically this wouldn't be the case for me, but they're monitoring me closely since I'm a repeat-loss, high-risk pregnancy. Thumbs-down! lol

ETA// I'm highly grateful for them being proactive, but it's still scary. haha.

 

[dan-o]

Because of multiple miscarriages in my case, although this time I've not bothered, it's too stressful!

 

[Mom2Chloe]

I went in to confirm pregnancy at 5 weeks, they took blood to get HCG level. I went back 72 hours later to draw more blood to check HCG level. I than went in 3 weeks later to get my first ultrasound and got about 6 vials drawn for a whole panel draw, STD's, etc.. etc. I think that is all they need to do now though, unless I opt for another draw at my next appointment at 12 weeks to get the gender of baby and to check for downs, but thats optional.

 

[SCgirl]

With my first pregnancy (ended up being a chemical), I was told that the doc didn't see people until 8 weeks. So, the next time they took bloods over a 48 hour period to confirm. When I started bleeding a week later, they did another blood test.

The next time, because of my history, they immediately did blood tests- even a scan at 6 weeks.

 

[cookette]

I went in to confirm pregnancy at 5 weeks, they took blood to get HCG level. I went back 72 hours later to draw more blood to check HCG level. I than went in 3 weeks later to get my first ultrasound and got about 6 vials drawn for a whole panel draw, STD's, etc.. etc. I think that is all they need to do now though, unless I opt for another draw at my next appointment at 12 weeks to get the gender of baby and to check for downs, but thats optional.

This was the same for me.

 

[AMAS86]

So far this pregnancy I have had 3 u/s and 5 draws. I have 3 children but I have also had 9 miscarriages; my last being complicated. I'm considered high risk.

 

[Mya209]

I think it's funny that in the majority of cases in the UK they never actually do a pregnancy test of take blood to confirm pregnancy (the blood draw at 8 or 16 weeks is to test for other things).
They just believe you.

 

[NHKate]

I had two blood draws to check hCG levels, only because I have had recurrent miscarriages. In most cases (no bleeding or history of miscarriages), doctors around here do not check hCG levels at all, note even to confirm pregnancy. If you tell them you had a positive pregnancy test, they just believe you. I'm in the US - in New Hampshire.

 

[mummy3]

I have a lot of scar tissue so high risk for ectopic so that's why I get my draws, although not entirely sure why they've done it 4x not twice this time. Having been pregnant both in the UK and the US, there's def more tests and checks, but then between different insurances and OBs it can vary some.

 

[Selaphyna]

I guess it must be a US thing. For both pregnancies, I got a first draw just to confirm pregnancy. Then about a week later I got 6 vials drawn to testing. They test blood type (to see if you have +/- blood type), test for stds and multiple other things.

With 1st pregnancy got another blood draw during 28th week when I did my glucose test, (same will happen this time in my 27th week).

This time they also did a blood draw during my 19th week to test for downs.