Refuse blood!!!?

Question

So my midwife weeks asking me about WHAT IF U NEED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION WILL U ACCEPT I said NO IN MY RELIGION WE DO NOT ACCEPT OTHER BLOOD so now they have me at a doc apt to sign a paper that I never heard of to decline blood and a doc just came in a told me that she doesn’t know why they need me to sign the paper because she has never had anyone sign a paper before and that they say if I sign I will become a high risk patient I DNT UNDERSTAND Y WOULD I BECOME HIGH RISK FOR REFUSING BLOOD ??? Is anyone else signing paper la to refuse blood ???

Answer

I’m assuming they’re needing you to sign a paper saying you refuse blood in a life threatening situation to protect them from liability. That way, if for some reason you do lose too much blood, and pass out, they know your choice and know to try to save you in other ways that don’t include a blood transfusion.
I needed a blood transfusion after my first, I passed out in the bathroom from losing too much blood and my iron was at a 3 (super low). I don’t remember much because I was so out of it, I can’t even remember consenting to the blood transfusion, so I’m sure my husband or my mom agreed.

Answer

It’s EXTREMELY common to lose enough blood during birth to require a blood transfusion. In cases you can lose enough to die. If you were to become unconscious before making it clear you do not want blood, the hospital could give you blood as a life saving measure without your consent. By signing this form you are making it clear that even if you were to become unconscious, your views are very clear in that you do not want blood, which will stop them from giving it to you even in a life saving situation where you cannot speak for yourself. This of course could very likely result in your death, and therefore they need proof that you said you do not want blood under any circumstance, aka the form you signed, which waives them of any legal liability. 
This would also include things like anti d/rhogram (as it’s a blood product), should you be a negative blood type. Not having these injections can put babies at serious risk and even death, so that would also be a reason why you could be considered high risk. 
Basically you are a law suit waiting to happen, so they need to make sure they have covered their arses, which in my opinion is completely fair enough!

Answer

That’s pretty normal. If you refuse bloods, you’re a liability legally and medically. They need documentation providing that you’re declining transfusions if necessary.

Answer

It’s important to sign and have all wishes upfront before and being high risk bcz they know if you need blood that they have to follow other protocols so being prepared for an emergent situation is good and I would be glad that they are making sure to get your consent now and get it known before hand so no mistakes are made.

Answer

They need to have documentation stating that you are refusing a blood transfusion, because if during/after labor you go into hypovolemic shock and need blood and there’s no documentation and they don’t give you blood and something happens to you they are liable. If they have documentation that your refusing then they are covered. In the medical world (I’m a nurse) it is all about covering your ass. You will become a high risk patient because if you end up needing a transfusion you will have need close medical attention because the reasons you need a blood transfusion are life threatening.

Answer

It’s very common to need blood during labour so they are just making sure they have covered themselves incase you do need it and they can’t give it to you.

Answer

Maybe your provider is just having you sign delivery consents ahead of time. Blood refusal is a part of our consents for delivery.  Actually a part of every consent for any kind of procedure. It is important for your provider to know your wishes before or if an emergent situation arises. In OB if you are in a situation of needing blood, that is not the time to have the conversation on if you actually want to receive it. Your provider is just being prepared. I wouldn’t view it as a bad thing.

Answer

My ex and his mom are JWs. They won't take blood either. I know my ex MIL almost died after a surgery from blood loss, she was really sick and not going to make it. My ex did some research and found some sort of option that satisfies the no blood rule, but could help her. I'm not sure exactly what was done, but it was like a platelet or plasma infusion or something to that effect. 
Just mentioning it as I know I went into shock from blood loss and had to have a transfusion with my last baby. As I lost consciousness, all I could think of was how I failed my family by dying and didn't get to say good bye. I'm still working on it in therapy now. It was the scariest moments of my life.
With the fact that the US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country, with the highest rate being for POC, I just want you to know all your options within your beliefs.

Answer

Hi! It is just for the hospital to cover themselves, since you have made yourself a liability. That being said, I am medical scientist and j constantly preach that other people's blood is bad for you! Jehovah's witnesses, for example, have a higher and faster rate of recovery than those with the same surgeries who accepted blood products. There are so many pathogens in a unit of red cells that we don't know much about scientifically. That being said, I don't sign saying I will straight up deny blood products, but I tell the hospital no transfusions unless my hgb is less than 5.5 post delivery or if I lose more than 3 grams in one hour. 
**Disclaimer I always make sure I get my Rhogam shot even though it is a blood product. It is heat treated and hardly a risk compared to the alternative of not getting it.

Answer

When I was admited into the hosptial this week for a UTI and the risk of preterm delivery. I had to sign a paper stating if Id take a blood transfusion or not if something went wrong.... They probably are crossing there T's and dotting there I's l. So even Triage can see it in case something is going wrong when you come in. The last thing you wanna do is answer a ton of questions during labor.

Refuse blood!!!?

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