bloodwork for toddlers

My boys are 19 months. We have to take them to the lab to have b/w done for CBC and lead testing.

How do they get enough blood? Is it using the rubber and arm vein or do they use the finger prick at this age?

My boys screamed during their haircuts - I am so not looking forward to this.

 

Ours have always been done with a finger or heel prick.

 

We had to have that blood work down at 12 months for Wic and again in a couple weeks for their 18 months stuff. They had to get it out of the vein in their arm. It is not fun, but I heard their is this cream you can ask the doctor for before hand. It has to be rubbed on an hour before hand to numb their skin. I can't rememeber the name of it, if i can find it, i'll let you know.

Keri

 

Oh my goodness, I just had to join under another name for some reason just to answer your poll--- the name of the cream is called EMLA. I am a huge fan of it----- I used it myself when I was pregnant with my twins... Just put it over the blue part of the vein and they won't feel a thing... I promise!!! Just get it from your pediatrician and spread it over the whole area... I can't say enough things about it... Love,Megan

 

I don't know if pain or anxiety is the bigger issue. I have never had a really painful experience getting blood drawn. I can definitely see a child hating to be pinned down with a stranger coming at them with an unknown object telling them to stay still. WIC does their iron count with a finger prick. A CBC is going to need a full draw though.

 

We had blood draws both times. My daughter is an easy stick. I explained to her that it would pinch and she didn't make a peep. My son is like me with bad veins! The poor guy! He screamed for an hour afterwards. He was so offended that we held him down and did this to him. We have a nurse who used to work in the NICU and I now request her for my son. She is one stick and done!

Good luck! Bring them out to lunch afterwards.

Tracy

 

We go for blood work every 6 weeks (for cancer screenings due to a syndrome the girls have). When they were really little, we did the finger prink and it was more of a production and more stressful than the blood draw. The blood draws are pretty easy, the girls sit on my lap for them and honestly the last time we went they both sort of did a silent cry and went into their daddy's arms afterwards. They are more concerned about the bandaid on their arm afterwards than anything else! We don't use the cream, maybe if pain becomes an issue later on we will try it. Our drs. office has its own lab that serves the pediatrics and family practice offices, the 2 ladies that are in there are fantastic and that really helps. I would definately try to bring someone with you, so you can have a "consoler" while you are doing the 2nd child.

 

We just got done with our first B/W experience. My DS had to get B/W done because he isn't gaining weight, and is actually losing. He just literally almost jumped out of DH arms. After the inital stick he seems to be alright, and just cried until they were done. They had to take 4 tubes. It took 3 nurses, and my DH to hold him still. He must have had a "feeling" that something was about to happen that he wasn't going to like...LOL! BTW...the did it in his vein in his arm.

 

Ainsley has to get bloodwork every few months because of her thyroid. We used to get them done at the children's only lab in the hospital, but with the new insurance we have to go to an outside lab. At the chilren's lab, it went much better. The techs are more experienced and find the vein quickly. Now Ainsley freaks as soon as she sees the tech and I really have to hold her arm still. The process is awful, but she is fine as soon as it's over. I can't even remember what they did for the blood draw at 12 months.

 

We just had bllod drawn for my DD. It was at a childrens hospital, so it went well. I would suggest making sure that there is a toy there for your child to play with while the nurse is getting everything ready. After the inital shock of it, the whole thing went great.

 

I think you should do the vien only because when they do the fingers they have to squeeze to get the blood out. The kids hate that more than the finger stick.

Erin

 

we just had blood drawn (from arm vein) for c&a about a month ago. the thing they hated was being held still and the tourniquet around their arm - that freaked them out. cameron was actually really great - only fussed for a minute. alisha, on the other hand, was TRAUMATIZED. it was so bad that in the evening, when we got undressed for them to take their bath, she saw the bandaid again and relived the entire experience - started bawling and was so upset i had to take her out of the bath to comfort her. poor baby!

 

My little guy *freaks* out with immunizations. He was absolutely fine for getting blood drawn for lead/CBC. Not a tear.

My little girl is fine for immunizations and had to take a time out so the lab woman could see to more people while she (my daughter) calmed down before trying again. The second time I went in with her and nursed her and rubbed her forehead vigorously like they do with cats to distract them at the vet. It worked but is obviously not an option for everyone (the nursing part!).

Good luck - hopefully it will be just fine!


Here's another thought and what my sister did when she had to take her little boy to the dermatologist to get a skin tag under his chin looked at. Hopefully the (wo)men working in the lab will be kind and flexible. Sit in the chair yourself and have the child sit straddling you and facing your chest. That way you can see their eyes or they can bury their face in your chest. Wiggle their arm out to the technician and hope for the best!

 

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply. My heart hurt reading about your own babies screaming during their draws.

We didn't get to go because we had an ice storm. It will definitely be harder for me and DH!

Thanks for the ideas too. Reading all of your posts certainly does help.