Donating Blood while Breastfeeding

Today, we have a Blood Donation Drive in my company. Hospital Taiping Blood Bank is here. I was so excited to donate my blood, proud to say that I am a regular blood donator. Filled in the form and queued to be weighed and checked, I looked around and saw the smiling familiar faces laying on the beds provided. I guess they were all proud of themselves to part of this honorable event.
After pondering on the weighing scale on why suddenly my weight has shoot up, the she doctor asked the usual questions, any recent operation (nope), did I take any medicine recently (nope), pregnant (nope), age of youngest child (1 year plus), nursing? (yes), fully? (yes), banyak susu? (so far okaylah)....
She doctor : Maaf na akak, akak xleh menderma darah hari nih.. sebab takut nanti akak pengsan.
Me: Pasaipa aa...
She doctor : Masa derma banyak amik air dari badan, nanti akak xcukup air nanti pengsan.
Me : Nanti saya minumla air banyak2
She Doctor: Saya xnak amik risiko kak..

Ngeh..ngeh..ngeh... owh saya sangatlahhh frustnya.

With a heavy heart, me went back to the office did some net search and found this.

Can a Breastfeeding Mother Donate Blood?

Whether a breastfeeding mother should donate blood or not is subject to debate. Because donating blood removes fluid from the body and fluid levels can affect milk supply, a breastfeeding mother should carefully consider whether she should give blood and consult her doctor before doing so. In general though, a healthy mother with a well-established milk supply can donate blood.

In the American Red Cross guidelines, pregnant women are asked not to donate and nursing mothers are asked to wait six weeks after giving birth. The Canadian Blood Services temporarily defers women from giving blood if they’ve had a pregnancy within the last six months. The Australian Red Cross requires women to wait at least nine months after giving birth for the iron stores to replenish. It also requires that the mother wait even longer until the baby receives most of his or her nutrition from solid foods.

La Leche League experts are divided on the issue:

Dr. Gregory White, long-time senior medical advisor to LLLI, has always recommended caution in regard to breastfeeding mothers donating blood. On the other hand, Dr. Jack Newman, another member of the LLLI Health Advisory Council, says that any otherwise eligible mother can donate blood whether or not she is breastfeeding.

During blood donation about one pint (two cups, 450 ml or 16 fluid ounces) of blood is collected. According to the Canadian Blood Services, the plasma loss is replaced within hours. Because breast milk is 87% water, theoretically that temporary loss of fluid could affect milk supply and nursing mothers with supply issues might wish to refrain from donating blood. Others should consider drinking extra water before and after the donation as it’s important for a nursing mother to stay properly hydrated.

the link is : http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/can-a-breastfeeding-mother-donate-blood/

So it is true whatever the doctor said....

Any comments from you nursing moms out there. Is there anybody who has broken this rule?