To re: blood tests and blood draws

[Guest guest]

,

 

I don't know where the line is for you and necessary/unnecessary blood tests,

but one thing that helped us TONS is 'numbing cream'.  Ours is a

lidocaine/prilocaine cream that you put on both arms, cut a square of Glad

Press'n Seal and stick it over it (or a wide bandaid), and give it about thirty

minutes to work.  They don't feel a thing.  Everyone on this site has their type

of specialist they were referred to.  We've spent the bulk of our time with the

hematologist (requiring OOdles of blood draws), and he gave us the cream.  Ask

your pediatrician.

 

With kids, the poke is sometimes only part of the problem.  A lot of it is the

simple fear of the needle, getting held tight, that stinking rubber band around

the upper arm, and even the anticipation you get with the cold swipe of

alcohol.  (my 8 yr old daughter-not - worked herself to tears at the dinner

table the other night just thinking about the immunization she would have to

have when she turns 11 someday) However, once my son realized that with the

cream the 'poke' didn't actually hurt, he was fine.  Now everytime he sees a

nurse he reaches out his arm and pulls up his sleeve.  Granted thats its own

kind of sad, but it beats wrestling him to the ground--which we have

unfortunately done multiple times.

 

Take it or leave it, but I HIGHLY recommend the numbing cream.  Once the pain

issue is resolved for your baby, its easier to make judgment calls regarding

blood tests that need to be done. 

 

Whitney

Mother of 3yrs--fevering a year and a half