Blood Work for 9 Month Olds

Is it true that some doctors want to do blood work at the 9 month well baby visit (for hemoglobin and possible lead)? If your baby had blood drawn, when was it done, and how was it done? At my cousin's baby's 9 month visit they took blood from her arm and it was apparently an awful experience. Couldn't they at least do a toe prick?

 

I'm not sure about doctors in the States, but my two are 3 and have never had blood drawn for anything since before they left the hospital.

 

My two never had any blood drawn either. A friend of mine has a daughter who has her iron checked via prick every dr. visit. I think there have been anemia concerns though in the past and that is why.

 

Mine had blood drawn at birth and then again at the 12 month visit for iron levels and lead levels. My DD has her iron checked at every peds appointment since 12 months because of her iron levels.

 

my friend's doc did the lead test at 9 mo. but our doctor waited until the 12 mo. visit. ugh... it was a horrible experience. they tested the iron and lead amount too. I would recommend not having the 2nd twin near by to hear the commotion (if there is a commotion)... my mom was with me and we just all stood there, and I wish I'd had her take the other twin away... hopefully there won't be a next time any time soon. good luck when the time comes.

ours was a full blood draw... needle in the elbow area... ugh!

 

I only recall doing finger sticks.

 

Around here, some people's pedis do the lead and anemia check at 9 mo others at 12mo. Ours is one that waits till 12 months and it's an actual blood draw at the lab. However, we ended up skipping it, and not doing it at all.

Poor Ellie, didn't have a good attempt while we were there (weren't able to get the sample) and they said it would be better to wait until 15 mo or so and in talking with the pedi, we just said forget it.

 

At 9 months my pedi does a finger stick to check for iron b/c at the 9 month appointment you get a multivitamin to put in their milk. I also got my girls ears pierced at the 9 month appointment.

 

our ped never did it - my kids haven't had blood work since the newborn testing in the hospital and that was heel pricks...

 

we did a full blood draw at 6 months. they tested iron, lead and something else i seem to have forgotten. my LO's were fine with it. they dislike being held down more than they dislike being stuck.

 

I'm not excited about the prospect of a blood draw! There are the regular shots (mine still have to get polio), plus there are 2 doses of the regular flu shot, and 2 doses of the swine flu shot. If you follow the official recommendations, that's a lot of times to stick a baby with a needle.

 

one of my girls just had her hemoglobin tested and they pricked her big toe.

 

We just had the 9 month visit a couple weeks ago. They didn't have any blood work. The only thing they got was the flu shot and that was optional.