Major bruises every time i have to give blood ?

Question

Every time i have to give blood for a test or something (which is often now that i am pregnant) , i bruise almost immediately and it's a big bruise that lasts for over a week. Initially i thought maybe the nurse i had was just too rough with me but this last time i hardly felt pain at all and she was able to get it on the first try but within an hour i was black and blue. I know i know, ask my doctor, and of course i will but i wanted to know if anyone else experiences this or knows what the cause could be. Anemia maybe? i have been taking my prenatal vitamins so i didnt think it would be due to an iron deficiency. My veins are very small and difficult to find, which i let them know right away and they usually take from the same vein because it is the only one that cooperates. Does anyone know what could be causing this and if i should be concerned? i would have them use a different vein but then they have to try 3 or 4 times to get it going and that most definitely bruises.

it has been a different nurse every time

Answer 1

The only time I have had any bruising with giving blood (either for tests, or as a donation), has been when the technician pushed the needle all the way through both sides of my vein, which allowed the blood to escape from the far side.

My guess is that perhaps your veins don't "seal" up when the needle comes out...again, allowing the blood to escape the vein. Do you have this problem regardless of who is taking the blood? It could also be the nurse you're seeing - not that she's too rough with you, just that it's not her best skill.

Yes, to be sure, check with the doctor. I doubt that it's anemia, as they would already have tested you for this, and treated you for it (besides, I'm not sure that anemia would cause this problem).