Urgent - obligatory 12-hour fast before baby gets blood tests done tomorrow am - can I still bf...

[winter singer]

[Cross-posted in Health and Healing]

My DD has been diagnosed with anemia and we're having to have a whole raft of blood tests done on her. The doctor said that she needs to fast for 12 hours before the tests.They include checking the blood glucose and blood calcium levels, both of which can apparently be affected by whether or not the person being tested has been fasting.

When I made the appointment for DD's tests I asked the lab technicians if I could bf her during the fast time. They said they didn't know and that I should do what I want . I would vastly prefer to just keep bfing as usual, and I'm sure DD would too - the longest she's ever gone without milk has been five hours or so. But it would be a big hassle to have false positives in the tests, which I guess could happen if she has any food in her stomach (at least according to what I read on a quick Internet trawl just now).

I just wondered if any of you might know something more about this issue - I know next to nothing about blood glucose and blood calcium. I would imagine it all depends on how long it takes to digest breastmilk (and 12 hours seems like a very long time for that - maybe a good compromise would be to feed her two or three hours before the test and then not again till afterwards?).

Any quick insights much appreciated - I don't have much time to make up my mind as the tests are scheduled for tomorrow morning, which is already less than 12 hours away! DD is asleep now and has a bellyful of milk, but I'm sure that won't last her the night...

[goodygumdrops]

Hmmm...that's a tough one. Is she allowed to have any liquids?

[boobs4milk]

http://www.kellymom.com/health/illne...y-surgery.html
i would think that since bmilk is digested faster, the time period would be less. it's ridiculous to think any baby is going to be able to go 12 hrs. by then, she might be dehydrated enough that a draw might be harder. i'd def call the ped and ask and call the lab and ask to speak to a super visor. good luck. btw, my dd3 is anemic and had similar testing and was not asked to fast.

[winter singer]

Thanks for your replies! We ended up postponing the tests that require a fast - DD had such a bad night last night that I ended up bfing her through the night, and DH went and talked it all over with the lab people this morning.

She's getting the other ones done in an hour or so's time. boobs4milk, that's interesting that your daughter didn't need to fast for her tests. Could you tell me what the tests were called specifically? Maybe I could ask about them here.

[boobs4milk]

Originally Posted by winter singer

Thanks for your replies! We ended up postponing the tests that require a fast - DD had such a bad night last night that I ended up bfing her through the night, and DH went and talked it all over with the lab people this morning.

She's getting the other ones done in an hour or so's time. boobs4milk, that's interesting that your daughter didn't need to fast for her tests. Could you tell me what the tests were called specifically? Maybe I could ask about them here.

sorry, i don't know specifically what they tested for, but i do remember the dr. asking the lab (on the phone) if she needed to fast. they asked how long it had been since she ate and were okay with a 2 hour fast. this reminds me, i need to call in for the results today.

good luck! and s