lead test

[July09Mama]

Has anyone had their baby tested for lead? I'm just wondering what the test involves. I know they have to take blood, but how much and from where? Did it seem to bother your child? Other than the PKU test at birth, this is my 9 month old's first experience with a needle and I'm so nervous!

[blumooned]

DS had blood taken for the lead/iron tests at his 12mo WBC. They stuck his thumb and then squeezed out droplets of blood (one by one) into a tiny little vial. It took about 5-10min. DS sat on my lap, flinched once when they stuck him, and didn't make a peep. He wasn't bothered at all. I actually asked the nurse if that was normal & she said they either don't care at all or get really upset. But, she said, they usually don't get really upset until they're older, like 3 or 4yrs.

I was a little nervous, too. But, I tried to stay as calm as possible b/c I know that LOs can sense their Mama's fear. DS did just fine - I bet your LO will do great, too.

ETA: When she was done, the nurse put a band-aid (regular size) on his thumb. I asked if he could get it off since I knew he'd put in his mouth & I didn't want him to choke. She said it wouldn't come off. Well, as I was putting him in his car seat just a few minutes later, he pulled the band-aid off with his mouth! At least I was right there to take it away from him. Be careful of band-aids!! (His thumb wasn't even bleeding anymore.)

[blackbird2]

Yup, we had a lead test at 12months too. It can be done either as a finger stick or a regular needle draw at the elbow, like for adults. I would definitely recommend the finger stick, even though it takes a little while. If your baby is unhappy and struggling, there is no sharp object to content with that could potentially do them further harm as they wiggle.

We've had to do a couple of blood test for various reasons - sometimes it's a big deal, sometimes it's not.

[cheryllynn]

We just had this done. It was a finger prick. DD didn't mind the prick at all. But then when the nurse needed to keep squeezing her finger, she started to cry somewhere close to the end. She was Mad, not hurt. By the end she was glaring at the nurse. I didn't know a 1 year old could glare, but yes, there it was. I live in a house with lead paint under the new latex paint so I was very interested in the results. We learned the results at that appt. Luckily ours turned out negative for lead and good for hemoglobin.