Ped doing bone mineralization blood tests - is this necessary?

[ShanaV]

Our dr is ordering this bone mineralization test, which is a blood test to see whether my babies' bones are "laying down" properly. She wants us to do it every month. I don't want to have to have the babies go through giving blood monthly! It's awful! We've done the test once and I don't want to do it again. Is this test really that important? Can I respectfully decline it?

[Crunchy Frog]

I'd be interested in knowing more about your situation. What gestation were your babies born at? What were their weights/lenths? How long were they in the NICU and what sorts of issues did they have? Have they been healthy and growing since they came home?

I can say that I never had any such tests with my babies, but my babies were not micropreemies and didn't really have many preemie related issues. If yours were late preemies without major issues than it doesn't seem like there's much point to that kind of testing, but I don't really know anything about your situation to be able to say that.

[OGirlieMama]

As the previous poster said, without knowing more of the history, it's hard to say if it's necessary or not. FWIW, my girls were born at 29 weeks. Because the majority of bone mineralization occurs during the 3rd trimester, one of the neonatalogists (in our NICU they rotate every 2 weeks) advised us to either supplement with Neosure for 1 feeding a day or to do the tests. I chose to do the tests. They weren't every month, though. I remember going twice, a few months apart.

[ShanaV]

Thank you for the replies, and sorry for the cryptic message. The boys were born at 30 + 5, 3.2 and 3.5 lbs, 16.5" each. Stayed in the NICU for 6 weeks with no major issues. Were on cpap for one day, nasal cannula for one day, then spent the rest of the time learning to eat and not have spells. They've been healthy and growing fabulously since they came home. I just hate to have them give blood! But since you had to do the tests with your 29 weekers it probably is legit.