blood draw tomorrow

[brooklynbabymama]

This is mostly vent but any advice is SO welcome.

Just realized I have to take both kids to doctor tomorrow by myself. DD has her 2-year checkup and by state law is getting blood drawn for her lead/anemia test. This did not go well at her 1-year visit. Our doctor does use the topical EMLA but it didn't seem to help. She doesn't have a temperament conducive to being held down on a table, even by me.

I feel kind of sick over this. She's going to lose it and poor DS will wail on hearing her...and then we have to stick around for his visit!

She weaned about two months ago, so my only weapons are the doctor's lollipops, a bag full of snacks, sticker and a drawing pad. And Yo Gabba on the iPhone. But this is a scary procedure, not an airplane trip. I don't think distraction will go very far. I make sure to be calm myself and sing to her during, but again...she's insanely astute and doesn't fall for much.

Bummer

[Letitia]

Do you have any choice in who draw's your child's blood?

My daughter had blood drawn around that age and even without EMLA the phlebotomist was so smooth she hardly flinched and didn't cry. I was amazed. I have had painless blood draws like that myself - some phlebotomists are just better at it than others, and if it's a big lab they usually have a clue who those people are. Or they might have someone who gravitates to kids. Good luck.

[JBaxter]

My ped does a finger stick for the lead level on children under 3. I have 4 boys and none of them have had to have an arm draw for the lead level.

[springmum]

I don't have any advice, but we've had our DS's blood drawn 2 times now for iron (& lead once)
We tried holding him in our lap, but his little veins aren't great for blood draws apparently, b/c both times we've to stop & put a heating pad on his arm to help them. (being well hydrated is important too)

Both times it didn't go well, but DS has a hard time with strange people in his personal space, touching him when he wants to get away - I don't think it was the actual poke that made him upset (he got upset long before the needle was even out) We stopped to nurse, sang songs, did it in a quiet room, but it the end there were lot's of tears.
I think it was just as traumatizing for me, but the bloodwork was necessary for us.

I did speak to a mom that went to a Children's Hospital for bloodwork, and she said they do some kind of fancy wrap, leaving the child's arm out, and it seemed to help her DS calm down.
Can you see about doing it at a Children's Hospital where they are probably more skilled at dealing with small children?

[ellairiesmom]

Yeah-it sucks. Just going to the Drs in general can be tough-let alone with 2 AND bloodwork to do.

We recently had to go back to labcorp for some allergy bloodwork & it was rough but she did better than I thought she would this time. But at the Drs the other day for a case of pink eye-she freaked out. Literally-FREAKED! I had thought to try showing her she could draw with crayons on the paper they pull out on top of the examination table & that helped-for about 2 mins.

Babywearing might be worth a try...in a MT on your front, her arms can be easily accessible.

[brooklynbabymama]

i'm home now and still shaking! dd was basically hysterical from the time they rolled up her sleeves to apply the emla cream. i had them do everything in the order i thought best, from height and weight to her blood draw before ds' shot, but the child screamed bloody murder.

thanks, all, for your suggestions. i am thinking that next time maybe i'll go to a lab just so she isn't so traumatized by her doctor. our ped is great and has seen her since birth. and i wrapped her on my back for the baby's visit and then did a tight fwcc for the needles with the arm out and easy access to the leg. and dh showed up just before her turn...he came home instead of lunch

you know, i felt terrible not just for her but also for the other children waiting and listening to her scream! my kid is a hard act to follow.

[Mrsboyko]

If there is a next time, try explaining everything to her. We had to have blood drawn on DD at 2.5 y/o. We went over hte whole procedure, over and over, for a good week prior to the day and she did great. Yea, giant crocodile tears were rolling down her cheek, but she stayed completely still and let them do what was necessary.

Sorry it was so traumatice, for everyone.

[sapphire_chan]

Why does she need to be held down on a table? When Lina got her blood drawn for a lead test she was in my lap and I just held the drawing arm firmly and kept her free arm sort of blocked by my arm.

Is there a children's hospital in your area? I'd see if I could go there for the draw. The tech we saw was so fast and smooth that Lina didn't even notice getting pricked. She was only upset that the nurse wouldn't let her play with the fun toys (read: the syringe and the vials).