So the other day I was at my first prenatal appointment at 7 weeks pregnancy. I didn’t get an ultrasound and I didn’t get to meet a doctor. It was just a screening appointment including an interview with a nurse and blood work. Well apparently I got a massive vasovagal response to getting my blood drawn. I knew I was a bit sensitive to that stuff so I looked away the entire time that the phlebotomist was filling up the vials with my blood. I felt like it took a pretty long time and was starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable with that right rubber band around my arm, but I didn’t feel lightheaded and thought I was doing pretty good, so I decided to take a peak right as he finished the last vial. I got a little surprised when I realized he’d taken 8 vials of blood. I was expecting maybe 3 or 4 at most. Then he took the rubber band off my arm and my blood pressure just dropped to the floor. I started feeling super dizzy and realized I was about to pass out. I think I passed out the second after I told the person there that I was about to faint. When I woke up I felt like I was coming out of a bizarre scary dream. I felt panicky and confused. My face was sweating and I was breathing really fast. It only took a couple of minutes to come back to normalcy and be able to stand up and walk out, but it was a scary and extremely uncomfortable experience.

Did anyone else pass out when their blood was drawn or is this really unusual? I’m scared that I might pass out getting an epidural when it’s time to deliver the baby. But I’m not sure if it’s only the blood being taken from me that triggers the vasovagal response. I’m really not that afraid of needles.