Where have you taken your kid for a blood test? Are there places where they are very experienced with children? Only place I can think of is the kids hospital here but I imagine they are extremely busy with very sick kids and I'd feel guilty about taking up their time.
I wasn't sure if anyone had any recommendations?
Natty needs a BT and she reacted VERY badly to her vaccinations, throwing up and almost passing out from anxiety/stress/pain/..? It was horrible. She's not the bravest soul, LOL. I have already got some xylocaine gel but wasn't sure if there are places where you know they'll know how to deal with kids particularly?
Any advice would be appreciated. Ta.
If i was you i'd go to the pathology service at the children's hospital. I'm not familiar with Sydney, but if they have an outpatients pathology lab, you should use it. Don't feel guilty about taking up their time. They are there to do pathology tests on children, of course any children that need priority will be given it, but it's ok for you to use the service too.
Otherwise phone a pathology company and ask them which location is best to take children. In Melbourne some flat out refuse to take blood from children and send you to another place. So just in case, phone ahead!
DS needed one recently (he was 20 mths at the time), the Paed recommended our local public hospital as he knew they saw a lot of young children. I bought some of that emla cream as well jic. I worked myself into quite a state beforehand stressing out over how horrible it was going to be but he was a total champ! He watched The Wiggles on my iPhone while the 2 nurses took the blood, he didn't even flinch and watched the whole thing with great interest. The nurses were so surprised!
My advice would be to call around first and find out which place is best for kids or just take her to the children's hospital. You might have to wait awhile but at least you know they're experienced in taking blood from little veins.
Both grandsons had to have tests last year and when we rang they made an appointment as they had a special nurse to deal with children. She was wonderful and the boys were great. Mind you they didn't go in together so they didn't see the other one being tested.
I took boytwin to the local pathology centre, who said they would be fine to take it. I won't go into details but I was traumatised and they didn't seem to care. He has had bloods taken before but it was at a children's hospital with elma cream applied beforehand and that was a much better experience for everyone.
Wanted to thank everyone for your responses. I ended up taking her to the private hospital clinic nearer to us than the kids hospital, mainly for logistical reasons with DH being able to watch DD2 for me cause I could take her and get back before he went to work.
They were really lovely and although she couldn't be distracted and she did cry, they were very proficient, very caring and best of all showered her with praise and stickers afterwards.
Thanks again for your input and your support.
Are there paediatric pathology places?
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