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Post by scaredycats on May 13, 2015 20:11:03 GMT
Any tips or info on what to expect when taking baby for blood test please?
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Post by lovelybee on May 13, 2015 20:58:14 GMT
Depends on the age of the baby and how much blood.
In very young babies less than a month they may do a heel prick for the sample and give a sugar solution dropped on the tongue as a pain killer.
In older babies they usually use a numbing cream or spray. The cream takes between 30-45 minutes to work and the spray can be used just before the test and is like an ice spray.
Usually they will use a vein in the hand, foot or front of elbow. They will hopefully get baby sitting on your knee and cuddled close (bear hugs best) Then one other person holding the arm or leg while the phlebotomist/nurse/dr takes the blood. The actual blood test itself usually takes about 30 seconds.
My daughter (3) has had to have bloods every couple of weeks recently and if you can take someone with you to distract her it is really handy. Blowing bubbles or a picture book good distractions. Most childrens hospitals have play therapists who are also great at helping/distracting.
Let me know if you want any more info
LB x
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Post by chotimonkey on May 14, 2015 13:01:37 GMT
Main thing with any doc/ hosp thing is to be as calm as you can, take stuff to amuse tgem whilst waiting, take something they love but are not nirmally allowed (chocolate/ iPhone etc to hand them straight after injection/ blood test, if poss make sure they are not tired/ hungry. Have all business/ paperwork done before so you can leave straight away afterwards. Work out how to hold then before and let nurse get everything ready first, so you can get into position last minute and it's done super quick.
Cuddles and a walk to calm them down before you get into the car/ buggy.
Sorry for v random stream of ideas, I wanted to get it down before waking the minis and taking them to granny's house.
First time with no1 I found it a little upsetting and like she was blaming me for letting someone hurt her, which played into all my fears about her trusting me and attaching to me, but that was my stuff, not what was going on in her head, having done it a few times with all of them I'm more convinced that what goes through their head is more
What's this room, ooh shiny things want to touch, oh mummy's holding me, owwwwww wtf was that... Ow the pain... I'll probably never recover... Mm chocolate... I get to hold mum's phone... Another bit of chocolate? And a sticker? Holy sh*t this is the best day ever!!
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Post by giggles on May 14, 2015 19:08:29 GMT
When DS was 9m old we had a short stay in A&E. He had to have a blood test and it was just as Lovelybee describes. He sat in my lap, facing me, and I had to hold him tightly with his face to one side. One arm out and the. They took the blood from the back of his hand. There were two of 'them' if I recall.
All the nursing staff had bubbles too which was a great distraction during examinations, tho sadly didn't use them at the time of the blood test. Might worth taking some or asking them.
I like the idea Choti of what is really going through their minds! I will remember that when we go for pre school booster soon!!
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Post by scaredycats on May 14, 2015 19:11:02 GMT
CM, your reply made me laugh so much!
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Post by scaredycats on May 14, 2015 19:22:23 GMT
Thank you all for your replies. They were really helpful.
Blood test went as well as possible today. Hardly any wait, nice play area, great nurses (2 of "them"!), massive TV showing Shrek in the treatment room etc.....
We had dummy, muslin, Pom bear crisps at the ready and Nana came too - all managed as best as possible.
He did cry a lot when it happened but got over it quickly and even sang to himself on the way home!
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Post by giggles on May 14, 2015 21:39:33 GMT
Oh well done. Sounds like you did a fab job with him.
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Post by milly on May 14, 2015 22:20:16 GMT
Sounds good! At least they don't know what is going to happen at that age. I have a vivid of older dd aged 4 having a blood test. She screamed blue murder for what seemed like hours prior to the event and refused to comply. The nurse became quite irritated in the end. Dd had the numbing cream (but refused to believe it worked) and we eventually got her into a position where we couldn't wriggle or see what was happening - and she never felt a thing. I think the nurse muttered something about dd being the worst case she'd encountered!
She's has two blood tests more recently and still takes a lot of persuading but computer games have seen her through.
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Post by scaredycats on May 15, 2015 18:42:47 GMT
Oh, and I sang to him fairly loudly while it was happening - the only thing I could think of:
"There was a wood, the prettiest wood that you ever did see! And in that wood, there was a tree, the prettiest tree that you ever did see, and on that tree, there was a branch......"
And you know the rest.
The nurses must have thought I was crazy!
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Post by lovelybee on May 15, 2015 19:15:04 GMT
I forgot to say about singing!
I often sing. Always when taking my daughter for a blood test and sometimes when I am the one doing the bloods/cannulas. I think the parents think I'm crazy!
Glad it all went well
LB x
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