Blood sample for my 19 mo DS - does it hurt ?

[nanneh]

I have a 19 month old DS. We went to see a consultant last week because my DH is worried about our DS slightly bow-shaped legs. DH thinks it might be calcium deficency. I am not that worried and nor was the consultant. She said that babies can have bow shaped legs until they are 3 years old. Also in our case it may be hereditary, because my mother and sister have slightly bow-shaped legs as adults !!

My DH has always been very pro-breastfeeding, but thinks that perhaps DS has not had enough calcium due to the fact that I have NEVER given DS any formula milk and I refuse to force him now to like cow's milk. I give him 2 pots of yoghurt per day, which I am told together with bf 4 - 5 times a day should provide him with enough calcium.

In order to have absolute peace of mind, the consultant has suggested a blood test (this coming Monday). I am very reluctant as I don't like the idea of having a needle stuck into my baby. Also DH and I are both very poor blood-givers as in it usually takes 2 tries with a big needle dug deep into our veins to get a proper sample. I think we have deep veins (or were vampires in a previous life ??) If DS has the same problem it will be difficult to get much blood out of his little arms. I was given a cream to put on his hands at least 1 hour before to numb the area I suppose.

Sorry for the long story, but I am convinced the blood test is unneceassy because he is a very healthy looking, very active, very bubbly, breastfed toddler, but DH think it is better to be safe than sorry !!

My question is do you have a child who has had to give a blood sample this young ? If so, did it cause alot of pain and discomfort ?

[blueshoes]

Hi Nanneh,

How much blood do they require? If just a pin prick, my dd had blood taken out of her toe when she was days old. They pricked it and she did not even notice.

Not sure for 19 months, but I would ask the hospital if you could use a specialist blood taker experienced in taking blood from children, When I had a give a blood sample, there was one room which just did children.

Bring his fave toys, lots of distraction, failing which soothing words, hold hands, stroking face. It's so hard.

[CountessDracula]

dd had one recently and she was absolutely fine, in fact was fascinated by it. The needle was tiny and obviously didn't hurt at all. She was just 3 though

[nanneh]

Thank you both for the reassurance. He is very good actually, had no probs. with his vaccines, very little crying, very easy to comfort, and even smiled at the nurse on each occassion when we left the room, which surprised her !! I guess I am more scared than my DS because I hate needles !!

[Meanoldmummy]

Nanneh,

My ds2 has had every test under the sun and some were more traumatic than others. I think the most important thing is that it will be over very quickly and a big cuddle wipes away anything for a baby that age!! It certainly won't be any worse than a vaccine and probably not as bad! The fact that you'll be there holding him and comforting him will mean that he feels trusting and safe enough to weather a litle discomfort and he'll have forgotten about it by the time you get outside the building!

Good luck with it

[nanneh]

mean (ps - you don't sound mean !!) thanks for that. i feel reassurred. any kind of medical procedure on my baby makes me really emotional !!

[Meanoldmummy]

I know what you mean, I have wanted to punch doctors and nurses a few times when really they were just doing their jobs.. that's natural!! I usually find the big fuss and cuddles afterwards are as much for my comfort as his!!!!

[lalaa]

my dd had blood tests at 3 months and again at 6 months. nurses suggested i leave for the one at 3 months (which i did) but i held her for the 6 month one. to be honest, i think it did hurt, just in the same way as an injection hurts, but it's over quickly and you can reassure, cuddle, bribe with chocolate or whatever afterwards. perhaps set up a treat like going to a soft play area after the test?

[pucca]

They use what is called a butterfly clip ( i think)my dd had blood taken at 14mths, it sort of spray's the blood out and they catch it in a specimen tube.

You will have to hold your ds very still, it doesn't take long, and isn't too bad.

Good luck xx

[lanismum]

i was a phlebotomist at a childrens hospital, and in my experience he will probably hate having the sticky patch that covers the cream taken off more than the actual needle, the emla cream is very good and should take away the sharp sting. a lot depends on wether he has decent veins, and if he is being held still enough, and on the experience the phlebotomist has in taking blood from children, my hospital had play specialists which were a great help in distracting the children, you could ask if any are available, you could also try giving him a drink/snack to take his mind off it, hope it all goes well for your little man

[Meanoldmummy]

You're a phlebotomist!!! Did you used to say "sharp scratch" before inserting the needle? I've had hundreds of blood tests and never met a phlebotomist who didn't!!! I met one once who had a tourniquet with little vampires on it - lol!!!

[rummum]

YES.. it did cause a lot of pain and discomfort..
TO ME ...
my daughter had quite a few blood tests when she was about 2 for anaemia..We used emla cream and she didn't even flinch!! I used to go giddy, and feel sick.

I always sat her on my lap and would feed chocolate buttons into her mouth [1 for her 3 for me]

Did they give you any plasters for the emla cream (with a clear pocket in) because as far as I can remember it can't be rubbed in.. We used to put cling film round her arms...

did they look at his veins?? are they going to take it from his hands or arm [crook of elbow}

[nanneh]

lanismum- thanks. I will make sure I ask for someone experienced. I know that when DH and I have had problems giving blood, the problem has usually gone away when someone very experienced has taken our blood.

I had one very young looking female doctor take blood from the back of my hand once when she said she couldn't find a vein in my arm. I had just landed back in Stansted from a trip to Italy and ended up in A&E at 4 in the morning with a bladder infection...she ended up taking blood from the back of my hand which caused me agonising pain and I had a huge black bruise on my hand for more than a week...she even managed to spray my blood all over her face and white uniform when she took the needle out and had to go and get changed ...poor woman she loooked more distressed than me at the end of it !!

So that's why I am worried about my son. Of course I think the NHS does a great job overall...I have just had bad experince with blood taking...

Unfortuantely my own experiences are making me paranoid about DS having to give blood...but I am reassurred by what you have all said here. I hope we have someone nice and experienced with children doing it

[nanneh]

rummum - lol....I will make sure DS has some nice snacks - and I will have plenty of chocci too (oh, well I will have to forget the diet for the day !!)

[nanneh]

rummum - lol....I will make sure DS has some nice snacks - and I will have plenty of chocci too (oh, well I will have to forget the diet for the day !!)

[Meanoldmummy]

nanneh - me again!! I too have "difficult veins" - I've had so many bad experiences, been in tears with three doctors excavating in my arm...I've ended up full of holes, covered in bruises and STILL having to have the blood taken from my hand. It got to the point where I used to beg them to just take it from my hand in the first place and save us all the trouble! However I've never had this trouble with DS2, apparently it's just easier to find the veins with babies. Do try not to worry too much, they will know what they are doing and it will be over quickly. I found maintaining eye contact with him helped to keep him calm - Mini Cheddars were also great!!!

[nanneh]

MOM (just realised what your abbrebiation is ...glad to hear you are a vampire too !

I once told my FIL that I think I may have been a vampire in a previous life due to inability to give blood...my sensitivity to light (I always have to wear sunglasses even with very little sun outside and our entire flat is lit with very dim side lamps) I am also an insomniac so I often walk around in the middle of the night... said FIL didn't look very impressed with my sense of humour or may be it was beacuse I was pregnant at the time and he got worried about the mother of his first grandchild !!

[Loobie]

Ok now to let you here the other side,my dd had a seizure xmas 2004 so she would have 2 years old,they had to take blood from her to check for infections etc,the blood was taken as described by someone with the help of emla cream and with a butterfly,she screamed the place down to the degree they had to put her under a fan to cool her as the reason for her fit was her high temp.I had to help hold her in the crook of my arm and both her and myself though it was the most traumatic thing ever!!!She would let anyone hold her hand for about a fortnight afterwards cause she thought they were going to hurt her.
As if that wasnt bad enough in the new year she took suspected meningitis,so was rushed to sick kids,more blood tests needed she totally freaked out!!!!! They couldnt get the blood from her hand,either of them! So they tried the crook of her arm,both of them,still got nothing,then eventually they had to go to the top of her feet,where on the second foot they got enough blood.She started off in my arms then had to be wrapped in a large sheet and it took 2 nurses,myself and the doc taking the blood to hold her down-at 2 years old.I will never ever allow her to go through that again if i can put my life down instead
Sorry this probably wasnt what you wanted to here but just to let you know there is a bad side to to be prepared.

[mears]

nanneh - IME most toddlers have bow legs. As far as calcium intake is concerened it is highly unlikely that your DS is not getting enough. Like you my children did not get formula or cow's milk (didn't like it except DS3). A dietician can tell you other non dairy sources of calcium.

Sounds to me like your consultant is doing this test purely to keep DH happy.

Blood tests for toddlers can be painful and traumatic. I would discuss it further with consultant before exposing your DS to possible unnecessary test which may leave him traumatised.

[nanneh]

loobie and mears - thanks for the other side of the story ! The blood test is tomorrow morning, but I was planning to postpone to have more of a think, plus I have a bit of flu at the moment and don't want to contaminate the other children at the hospital !!

I think I will post this under "breastfeeding" also - perhaps other bf mothers (or fathers ?) have had similar concerns about bow legs in a bf baby ?

mears - you are right...it was DH who put it into consultant's head to have a blood test .

My mum says my non-breastfed niece had terrible bow legs and knock knees and she used to nag my sister about it. Said niece is now a very tall and healthy looking 10 year old with no problems despite the fact that she has been a poor eater all her life.

[binker]

ds,noe eight has had regular blood tests since about 3 months - I dread them as he is actually worse at having them now he's older. We both have a hereditary blood disorder which neccesitates this (though fortunately I don't need my blood testing anymore ) - I had blood tests a lot as a child,plus a blood transfusion and so feel quite anxious myself about subjecting ds to this. It was quite stressful taking a tiny baby to have blood taken - they did it with a butterfly needle and it kind of drips the blood out- but ds was fine afterwards - I suspect that the parent feels worse ! You might ask a friend or relation to hold the baby...my parents took ds for the test before last which saved me a lot of stress - particularly as we'd had a disastrous visit previously where I actually fainted !!
All I can say is that it's not nice,but tell yourself that it will soon be over and your baby won't be uncomfortable for too long - also,is better to find out whether he has a calcium deficiency or not for sure. Lots of luck

[binker]

forgot to say - ds hates the cream that they put on - plus the waiting around for it to numb the skin adds stress (for an older child anyway,as he is anticipating what's to come). We usually go straight for the needle !

[Laura032004]

nanneh - DS (22m) has had to have blood taken twice over the last month

First time it was urgent (severe chest infection) so no time for magic cream. It was terrible. It took three of us to hold him still, whilst a nurse got some blood. They had to make several attempts, so he was covered in scabs. He screamed the entire time, and given that he was barely concious otherwise, he must have been v.distressed.

Second time- routine blood test. He had the cream on for 45 mins. Tip - put cream in several places - we did backs of both hands and crease of both arms (opposite elbow), just in case they struggle to get the blood from one place. I held him to me really tightly - 'tummy to mummy', one nurse held his arm (this was the only thing that annoyed him), DH fed pieces of chocolate, and another nurse got the blood. No stress whatsoever, and I really mean that. Just remember the chocolate and a favourite (moving and noisy if possible) toy. If you haven't got enough cream at home to do a few areas satisfactorily, then go for a walk while you wait for it to work- we just went to the restaurant for a bit.

Good luck

[Heartmum2Jamie]

nanneh, I would say that if your are in 2 minds and it is not strictly nessecary, don't have it done.

My ds is also a fairlyly regular blood giver, most recent was just beofre xmas for RAST testing (food allergies). He has the magic cream and is not the least bit bothered by the whole experience. It bothers me more. Having said that he has fairly bad veins, probably something to do with his heart problems. They usually prepare 1 hand and 1 foot and 9 times out of 10, go for the ankle to take the blood. I also have terrible veins and normally end up getting blood taken from the back of my hand (and even had it taken from my wrist once......ouch!!), so I can really sympathise.

If you go for it, I hope that all goes well.

[nanneh]

I was really distressed reading about some of your children's bad experiences. It really really makes me upset to hear any child is sick or has to go to hospital for anything.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It gives me alot to think about and more time to decide what to do

[tissy]

nanneh, as mears says, bow legs in toddlers are really common. If you and dh are caucasian and do not have any family history of metabolic bone disease, then I'm sure DS will be fine. Rickets is as rare as hen's teeth in the UK.

Take a photo of ds standing facing you with bare legs, then take another one in 6 months, I'd put money on there being an improvement!

Was ds a heavy child, and/ or an early walker? There is a theory that because young bones are rather pliable, they can "bucle" a little under the weight of the child's body. If this happens, it always improves with time, in fact, he may go from bow legged to knock kneed for a while, as the body tends to over-compensate!

As for the blood test, if you do have it done, sit him sideways on your knee, with the arm that is to be bled sticking out behind you through your armpit (IYSWIM), the Dr. can then work out of sight and ds will be a lot less anxious if he can't see what they're doing. You will be too! Dd had blood taken this way a few times and didn't bat an eyelid.