Are the blood tests really necessary? - Page 2

[MaerynPearl]

my first blood draw took 7 vials (but as i said std testing is required here and since my last child was born nearly 5 years ago I cant say that I was just tested)

they tested for (among other things) the main STDs, progesterone, hcg, iron and thyroid...

my progesterone came back low which made them tell me to watch for spotting/cramping and go to the ER if it happened (it didnt) and my iron was borderline-low so I was told to eat more iron rich foods

the progesterone/iron/thyroid test can tell you a lot and point out problems worth fixing (ESPECIALLY the thyroid)

[limette]

I refused all bloodwork this time around(4th pregnancy) and my midwives confirmed that it wasn't really necessary anyway. Actually the only prenatal testing I agreed to was the 20 week ultrasound.

[Magali]

If I was 100% sure that I was std free, I wouldn't have bothered with the blood testing.

[lunarlady]

I had no idea some states require blood testing.

I wish I had declined mine as the insurance only covered a small portion and now I'm looking at a $300 bill for tests I didn't really need. (Including a drug/alcohol screen, STD screens, and testing for immunity to various illnesses.)

[nia82]

Do you guys have resources (like codes, laws) that states for every state what testing they require? I have to worry about Colorado and Wyoming (in case of an oopsie homebirth). I would really love to know since my googling didn't yield any results...

With DS, I did preconception checks for rubella, chickenpox, 5th disease, thyroids, toxo and cbc. The CBC was repeated at 20 weeks and during labor and after labor (I would not consent ever to a throughout labor check again!).
I just had my titers (darn, still not immune to toxo despite herding cats), thyroids and CBC tested as a preconception check and see if I'm all good on iron and such (history of anemia). So I can avoid those tests at the first visit which I see the point of during the next pregnancy. I DO not see the point of further STD testing. I know they think everyone sleeps around, but I know for sure. I have had enough HIV, Hep b/c and chlamydia testing already, I'm sick of it! I also have heard that sometimes pregnancy can cause a false HIV positive result which will cause horror to your pregnancy and baby... So I do not want it again ever. Like NEVER. Which states won't mandate it>?

[Eresh]

Hemocrit is the only blood test I'm doing this pregnancy though I did the whole STD tests and immunity tests last time and I had a complete blood panel a year ago.

From a health standpoint I would get my hemoglobin levels checked since that can indicate whether you're at greater risk for hemorrhage. And a complete blood panel at some point isn't a bad idea since that can indicate any underlying health problems that might crop up. With everything else, I think if you knew your status as of a few months into your monogamous relationship, I don't know that it matters too much.

[Stitches]

I refused all the testing this time, except a CBC and iron level. I think it's such a waste of time and resources to be rechecking things like my blood type (hello, it's not changing), when I am with the same midwifery practice and the old result is still sitting on my chart. As for the STD tests, if say I had changed partners etc etc I would repeat but I'm in a stable relationship and I feel confident in not having them done. My midwife was fine with it, but I've seen a couple different ones since my first appointment and it seems to confuse them and then I have to explain every time blah blah blah.

[Magali]

My doc said the HIV and Hep B tests were more for her than me.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Magali

My doc said the HIV and Hep B tests were more for her than me.

But if I don't have either (and haven't been exposed) then what's the danger to the baby?

[HeatherB]

In Texas, they recently revised the law such that TWO HIV test are mandated! It's insane. There are clauses in the law, though, that say, "unless the patient refuses." They do say that if they don't have proof of the mother being tested they will test the infant (in a hospital setting, obviously). But, if I recall, you can refuse that one too.

I have done bloodwork in the past, and haven't discussed it with this pregnancy yet. I know we talked at length (my MW, DH, and I) about the HIV screen, and the possibility for false positives, coupled with the likelihood of baby being tested if we had to transfer and it wasn't in the records. Now, I don't remember what we did!

For me, I will probably do some basic CBC type testing. I have never had more than one blood draw with my MW (I did have blood drawn in labor at the hospital - ugh!), though.

[cagirlintexas]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

In Texas, they recently revised the law such that TWO HIV test are mandated! .

Wow thats crazy but good to know I didn't realize that!


Its amazing how many blood tests they do with out even asking. They sent me for blood work at my OB office. I am switching to a midwife but was seeing OB at the beginning. I figured routine and just went along with it. Anyway he redid all the tests I had done with my first baby to see if I was a carrier for different genetic syndromes. If they had asked I would of been able to tell them I wasn't.

[Amila]

I think it is good to get a baseline blood test- CBC, thyroid, and stuff. I had perfectly healthy bloodwork with my first two, but have since then been diagnosed with a thyroid issue that can be potentially harmful for the babe if not monitored, as well as some low platelets (which arent a biggie, but should be followed up on). I refused the STD garbage, mostly because I think it is a crime how much they charge to run those tests (even if I am not paying for them).

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

In Texas, they recently revised the law such that TWO HIV test are mandated! It's insane. There are clauses in the law, though, that say, "unless the patient refuses." They do say that if they don't have proof of the mother being tested they will test the infant (in a hospital setting, obviously). But, if I recall, you can refuse that one too.

That's so stupid.

One of the midwives I'm considering said that the HIV and Hep B are mandatory so she has to offer them...but that I can refuse any medical procedures. She does a blood count one that I think I'll be okay with...

[Magali]

Originally Posted by AFWife

But if I don't have either (and haven't been exposed) then what's the danger to the baby?

No danger to the baby at all. But my Dr. said the tests were more for HER, as in the Dr. and the staff, than me (and my baby). Not sure how I feel about that, but I did bloodwook anyways cause I wasn't 100% sure I haven't been exposed.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Magali

No danger to the baby at all. But my Dr. said the tests were more for HER, as in the Dr. and the staff, than me (and my baby).

I hate that. It's stupid.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by AFWife

I hate that. It's stupid.

its stupid to ensure shes not putting herself at risk by being around contaminated blood?

[nia82]

Medical professionals are around contaminated body fluids all the time. It's not like every single person walking into a doctor's office, ER, urgent care etc to get stitched up or God knows what is getting tested for blood-borne diseases. That's why they have protective gear, such as gloves, coats, etc.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

its stupid to ensure shes not putting herself at risk by being around contaminated blood?

I didn't think about it like that... I thought about it like CYA

Originally Posted by nia82

Medical professionals are around contaminated body fluids all the time. It's not like every single person walking into a doctor's office, ER, urgent care etc to get stitched up or God knows what is getting tested for blood-borne diseases. That's why they have protective gear, such as gloves, coats, etc.

but that's a really good point...


My MIL pointed out that HIV can lie dormant for up to 10 years...so that's probably why all the testing.