Two tips for an easy blood test

My fear of needles is legendary, so when I was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder last year that requires careful management during pregnancy, one of the most difficult things for me to handle was the frequent blood tests.

Now that I'm expecting again, I'm back to being a regular at my hematologist's office. After about a zillion trips to the lab for bloodwork, I've discovered two key tips that make all the difference in the world -- in fact, it no longer really bothers me to have my blood taken.

The two key things to do are:

• Drink lots of water before you go. Since blood largely consists of water, it makes a huge difference to drink plenty of fluids before you have a blood test. It makes the vein easier to find and it seems like the blood flows a little better as well.
  
  
• Ask for a butterfly needle. This is a big one. Butterfly needles are smaller than regular needles and, in my experience, far less painful. A nurse told me recently that the only reason most places don't use them standard is because they're not cost effective -- but they almost always have them available and don't mind if patients request that they're used.
  

Hope that helps any fellow needle-phobics out there!