Refusing Blood Tests? HELP

[MrMagoosMum]

This is my first post here and I need some help for my SIL.

She is currently 6 months pregnant she only found out 3 weeks ago she was pregnant so this is all still new to her its her first child. She is Extremely afraid of needles to the point of hyperventilating and passing out just at the thought of having one and doesn't want any blood tests and told her doctor so today when she went to get a referral to the local hospital for the midwives program(this program is excellent). The doctor refused to give her a referral without doing blood tests. I know doctors can't refuse a request for a referral so I am going back to the doctor with her tomorrow to help advocate for her (she has asked me to) I have never encountered this before as I have a fantastic doctor who didn't bat an eyelid when I refused tests as he knows I don't say no without reason. I can't get her in to see my doctor because he is not taking on any new patients.

I need some help in what to say to this doctor to make him realize that he needs to give her the referral(it can take a month to be able to get the first appointment with the midwfe program so she needs it now so she is booked in to be able to give birth there) and that she is perfectly within her right to refuse a blood test and that he can't force her to have them. I am from Australia so i know laws and such are probably different everywhere but I would love it if I could get some general advice on what to say to help me help my SIL tomorrow.

Thanks so much in advance

[flapjack]

Off the top of my head, I would suggest that she contacts the midwives at the hospital directly. Tell them that she is six months pregnant, is pregnant with her first child, has not yet received any antenatal care and her doctor is refusing to refer her for AN care unless she agrees to have bloods done, which she is electing not to do. What should she do?
Certainly in the UK, it's possible to self-refer for maternity care. I would strongly suggest that she looks at a homebirth, though, if she feels this strongly about needles- the further from a hospital she gives birth, the further from amniotomy hooks, epidurals, IV drips and all else. I'd also suggest she looks at counselling quickly, as a traditional hospital birth could be quite traumatic with needle phobia.

[MrMagoosMum]

Thanks so much. Unfortunately its not possible to self-refer but if it doesn't go well tomorrow I will definitely have her call the midwives group.

I have tried to convince her to have a homebirth but she is totally not comfortable with that and neither is my brother and I respect that so I am trying to support her the best I can to get what she wants (she asked me last week to be a sort of doula for her during the pregnancy and birth)

She has said if there was anything wrong or they suspected anything wrong she would have tests done without a problem because the baby comes first. But she realizes due to the books I have given her to read and from being through my pregnancy and birth with me that she doesn't have to have these standard tests done she just needs to grow her backbone and stand up for herself more I am working on that one with her as well.

I will definitely tell her about looking into counseling for it if she wants to. I didn't realize there was counseling for that sort of thing but i will let her know there is

The hospital is very good with regards to being non-intervention I had my son there and I refused IV, cervical checks, continuous monitoring(i only had the EFM on four times for about 15 mins each time during my 105 hour labor) and they were fine with it so she should be fine with regards to not having to worry about needles in the delivery room + she will have me there an all hell will break loose (with her permission of course) if they push her.

Once again thank you

Off the top of my head, I would suggest that she contacts the midwives at the hospital directly. Tell them that she is six months pregnant, is pregnant with her first child, has not yet received any antenatal care and her doctor is refusing to refer her for AN care unless she agrees to have bloods done, which she is electing not to do. What should she do?
Certainly in the UK, it's possible to self-refer for maternity care. I would strongly suggest that she looks at a homebirth, though, if she feels this strongly about needles- the further from a hospital she gives birth, the further from amniotomy hooks, epidurals, IV drips and all else. I'd also suggest she looks at counselling quickly, as a traditional hospital birth could be quite traumatic with needle phobia.

[veganf]

How about making an appointment with a homebirth midwife instead?