blood test - 8 month old

[Lisa B]

Hi there,

My DS has to have a blood test and he is 8 months old. How do they do it at this age. When he was little he had heel *****s. What about now?

Also does anyone know if I can just go to the RCH for the blood test even though the pathology slip is written out to Melbourne pathology?

Thanks

[HotI]

i don't know how they do it on littlies- maybe you can get some emla cream and put it on early to numb the area.

good luck

[Miss E]

Maybe try calling Melbourne Pathology before you go in and ask them how they will do it. I like HotI's suggestion of numbing the area first.

[Lisa B]

Thanks guys. I ended up calling the Hospital and they will take the blood even thought the slip is written out to Melbourne Pathology. I also asked how they do it and for the tests that DS required it will be in the arm like an adult. They just give a sugar syrup to take their minds off it. There is a numbing cream they mentioned but they told me it could make his veins hard so not to use it.

Poor baby!

[Traveller]

At that age my son was always given emla cream. When he was 3 they took blood without it and it was a thoroughly painful process. Sugar syrup is only useful for a small injection or heel ***** test. So unless they are only needing a small amount of blood I would insist on the emla cream if I was you.

[ladybirdflies]

When my children have been done (yes I have had to do this more then once) They wrapped them really tight and kept one arm out. It's not easy to be there whilst this is going on for you little one. But I get down close to their ear and sing a song and try and stay relaxed as the baby experiences your anxiety like it is their own. Stay calm mama and goodluck!

[Babyluv]

I have a needle phobia and use the emla cream all the time it's definitely worth it and I've never had issues with my veins being hard and I have really tiny veins. Make sure he is well hydrated, more water than usual because that will make a difference too and I highly recommend the emla I'm thinking it could be really stressful, possibly difficult to keep him still without it. He won't feel it with the emla. Put it on both arms just in case and at least an hr before the needle. You can buy patches or cream, the cream is better because you can put on a good dollop. Good luck & sorry for rambling

[Trillian]

I'd ask if you could have someone with experience doing kids - kids veins are so hard to get sometimes and you really don't want someone trying over and over again and putting bubs through that.

[Mother Goose]

Depends ob how much they need and the person doing it. At 8 months dd had a heel *****

[CeCe]

DS had blood tests at 12months. They tried the arms but due to dehydration (he wasn't well and I couldn't get more fluid into him) they didn't have much luck. They were able to do a heel ***** test but only as he hadn't started to stand/walk etc. The place I went to said if he'd started to use his feet at all they couldn't have done it as it toughens the area making it harder.

[Novella]

I took my DD to the public hospital I work at as the blood techs there are very experienced in getting bloods from children and very sick adults which can be really difficult. They were done in less than 2 minutes from wrapping her to picking her up.

In emerg she had a heel ***** test and it was absolutely terrible, she was really distressed and it took a long time for them to squeeze enough blood out.

I have never heard of emla making veins hard, its topical so shouldn't effect the vein underneath. The cream may make it more slippery and more difficult for the tech if not completely removed.

Good luck, lots of big cuddles for mum and bubs after the test are the most important things

[Lisa B]

thanks guys. I will ring the pathology in the morning and ask specifically about Emla. I'm feeling quite anxious about my poor bub having to go through a BT.

[Lisa B]

BT done. It was done on my knee. They put a cream on anGel cream and we went away for 50mins. It was supposed to numb the area but my DS felt everything. I won't go into it too much in case someone else needs it done, but I hope we won't need another for a long while. Any mums and bubs that have regular BTs you truly are champs!

[Traveller]

I'm really sad for you that your DS felt everything. The one BT that my son felt was so traumatic for both of us, so I fully sympathise.

[Lisa B]

Traveller - yes I hear you, it wasn't a great experience in any way. Anyhow this morning he is commando crawling all over the place and is his usual self. I think he is over it before I am!!