Re: Re: Pediatric check up right after baby's birth

May 18, 2006

Grant has had more blood draws than I care to think about. They can get a

blood draw out a baby's finger or arm at that age if they need to. A heel is

ideal, but it's not the only way. Just make sure, if there is a need for a

draw, to have them apply a gel heat pack (for an infant).

If the blood draw is the PKU test then that is done right away in the hospital

before casting would begin. My second daughter (no clubfeet) had to have it

done again because they didn't get the right amount of blood the first time. I

think it was done about a week or two after the initial test. If this is the

case, a finger wouldn't be particularly fun, but it wouldn't be impossible

either. I think it's pretty rare for the test to have to be done over again,

though. I believe the only time a blood draw would be done in early infancy

(besides the PKU) would be if something was wrong, such as jaundice, etc.

Otherwise, as said the only blood draw my other kids needed was for

lead and anemia at one year.

As for the shots, I see that being a challenge, but if you are doing Ponseti

you should be done with the casting pretty close to the time you'd start the

series (around 2 months). I'm thinking they could work with that even if it

was a bit delayed. And, my question would be, is there elsewhere the shot(s)

can be given?

Joy

--- kannhoudek wrote:

> The biggest obstacle we had was figuring out the shots with the

> casts. Never problems with drawing blood. But then again, I don't

> remember them needing to get blood from Aleksander while he was in

> casts.

>

> I only remember one blood test, and he was much older. I think it

> was to check lead levels in his blood. They just pricked his finger

> and got what they needed that way. No big deal.

>

> Also, Aleksander didn't get his first cast until he was nearly 1

> month old. He was a little older when casting was done as a result,

> but again, no big deal.

Rose (1-99) http://www.geocities.com/joybelle15/rosesclubfootpage.html

Iris (2-01)

Spencer (3-03)

Grant (9-05) http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/grantphilip

__________________________________________________

May 18, 2006

Our pediatrician did need to draw blood from Lily's heel

for some test that the state of New Mexico requires. We

knew about this ahead of time & asked that the hospital

where Lily's cf was treated get the blood sample during a cast

change. They told us they also would have been able to

make a small hole in the cast to get the blood out - I think

that would not have been easy.

Kim

kannhoudek wrote:

The biggest obstacle we had was figuring out the shots with the

casts. Never problems with drawing blood. But then again, I don't

remember them needing to get blood from Aleksander while he was in

casts.

I only remember one blood test, and he was much older. I think it

was to check lead levels in his blood. They just pricked his finger

and got what they needed that way. No big deal.

Also, Aleksander didn't get his first cast until he was nearly 1

month old. He was a little older when casting was done as a result,

but again, no big deal.

Aleksander, 11/24/04 bcf

>

> Hi Jane,

>

> I don't get to post much anymore but I just happened to read yours

today.

> First, congratulations on the pregnancy. Now, according to Dr.

Herzenberg,

> it is okay to take your baby home and start the clubfoot treatment

2 weeks

> after birth. I think that the story you were reading was a very

rare

> occurrence. Assuming all is well with the baby, there is no

reason for

> blood to be taken at a " normal " well-baby check up. Therefore, it

would not

> interfere with the casting process.

>

> Hope this helps.

>

> Good luck!

>

> Pediatric check up right after

baby's birth

>

> Hi, I am expecting a baby girl in about a month and a half. I

guess

> I know I will have lot more time NOW, compared to the time when

> actually baby comes, so doing lots of research on clubfeet!

>

> I was browsing someone's website which detailed their child's

> clubfoot treatment process from the beginning up until now and

have

> a question on one thing.

> According to the website, they said they started treatment from

day

> 4 of the baby's birth and had to go through a routine pediatrician

> check up for the baby. And it included bloodtest for infants--and

> there were some problems between her cast and blood test.

> Here is the link which explains their story;

>

> http://hometown.aol.com/vc11/warning.htm

>

> I am thinking about taking my baby to the clubfoot clinic within a

> week to ten days after the birth and I am not sure what to do with

> mandatory baby check up with a peds--which thing should come

first?

> Cast or ped check up? Any experiences or thoughts? Our hospital

> recommends to bring our baby in two weeks for ped check up.

> I am a first time mama and just full of questions...

>

> Also, when you see the website on the above, the parents also

> mentioned hip problem and she wore a harness to create a

depression

> in her hip.

> Is this common to have when the baby has clubfeet?

>

> I am a first time mama and just have full of questions...

>

> Jane

>

May 18, 2006

A note on PKU my widwife taught me - she used a tool that made a small slice

rather than the tool that just makes a round needle poke. I actually ordered

the thing on line per her instruction and had it shipped to my house.

The blood flows more easily so they don't have to squeeze the foot so badly to

get the blood out. She used a small heat pack, warmed the heel, then poked him

with that gadget adn it was so easy. Everett's PKU in the hospital was so

friggen horrible I nearly threw up with them squeezing his foot blue to get

blood and him screaming until he nearly passed out. Garrison never made a

wimper.

s.

Re: Re: Pediatric check up right after baby's

birth