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AIBU?

to subject my 21 month old to a blood test

45 replies

tryingtobemarypoppins · 11/08/2009 21:02

which I know he will be soooooooooo frightened and upset by to ease my worries about his health when DH thinks i'm OTT?

This kind of follows on from my thread from yesterday. He is pale, covered in bruises (but is a dare devil!), sleeps for 16 hours in 24, eats very little and his dietition at the hospital is concerned, is a low weight for height, his urine smells and on accassions his breath too.

GP suggested a blood and urine test today and has refered us for the blood test as they do it at the hospital.

Friends and family think he is fine so I feel terrible to put him through something only I am worried about.

OP posts:

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pjmama · 11/08/2009 21:07

If the GP wants to investigate further, then I'd go ahead. He'll probably forget all about the test in no time and it would hopefully put your mind at rest. I always think you should trust your instincts where your children are concerned.

crokky · 11/08/2009 21:07

It isn't just you worried about it - the GP/hospital would not perform an unnecessary blood test on a 21 month old anyway. He is very little and he will not be frightened in advance because he won't know what's going to happen and he will forget quickly.

windywendy · 11/08/2009 21:07

Your GP is obviously concerned about it too if they have referred you. I would go ahead with it - your baby will probably cope better than you!

Hope everything is ok x

raindroprhyme · 11/08/2009 21:10

my son has to regularly give blood samples and only recently started making a fuss about them.
he is now 4 and has given samples every 3 months since 3 weeks old.

i would sit him on my knee facing me arm thru underneath mine. Phelbotamist(sp)one side nurse the other behind me. Nurse would read story sing dance distract. 45secs phelobotamist was done.

demand a phelobatimist as that is all they do, take blood and they are very good at it. they can numb the area with emla cream first if you would like then he def want notice.

try and stay calm about it as if you are anxious your DS will pick up on it.

fluffles · 11/08/2009 21:11

to be honest i don't think he'll be frightened and it doesn't hurt - it's only us daft adults who have learned hangups about giving blood

broguemum · 11/08/2009 21:11

I put my DS through a blood test at 18 months due to my and his doctor's concerns about something - it wasn't pleasant but it was over quickly and he forgot about it completely within a few hours. He even smiles at the doctor again.

If you are concerned, follow it up.

HTH.

tryingtobemarypoppins · 11/08/2009 21:14

THANK-YOU, I think the numbing cream would make me feel better too. I think the holding him still part will upset him most along with the environment.

I am really worried my family are also going to think i am OTT but even the nutritionist isn't convinced that the not eating is a behaviour thing.

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mrsboogie · 11/08/2009 21:15

You would be very U not to! you are his mum and you must trust your instincts.

wonderingwondering · 11/08/2009 21:15

My DD had a blood test at 15 months. They usually put cream on to stop them feeling it, but they didn't have time with her - she was absolutely fine. I just held on to her, sang and made lots of silly noises, then lots of cuddles and clapping afterwards - I don't think she knew why I was praising her!

I read your thread yesterday, and if it were my child I'd def take them along for a test. The hospital usually have people specifically to take children's blood, too.

tutu100 · 11/08/2009 21:15

My ds1 had a blood test at 26 months. He was a bit frightened, but it was done by nurses who only do children's blood tests. They were very reassuring and had a dvd for him to watch whilst they did it. They put emla cream on before hand and I have to say although he did cry before hand he was easily distracted by the new toy I'd bought him and he didn't even notice when they started taking the blood. Only started crying again when we told him they'd done it!

tryingtobemarypoppins · 11/08/2009 21:20

Thank-you......I just love him so much......parenthood is so tough

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DEMissmiling · 11/08/2009 21:22

Your doctor would not recommend blood tests if they had a good reason to want to check/ rule out something. They are very funny about using blood tests in little people and only do so when absolutely necessary. My ds has had more medical specialists then you cant count on two hands in his short 4yr life but has only had 1 blood test. I was too chicken to sit with him (pass out at sight of needled ) but the nursing staff were very very good.

sabire · 11/08/2009 21:32

My ds had blood tests at 27 months as he was very tired and had raised glands.

He didn't cry at all - actually thanked the nurse who did it!

Really - it's not so bad, don't be scared!

BrieVanDerKamp · 11/08/2009 21:36

HI, I am a phlebotomist, and trust me we know what we're doing and do it very quickly. It won't take long and doesn't hurt anymore than having an injection.

But if you take my advice don't go for the numbing gel. we put it on and sometimes you will then have to wait a while "for it to work" before finally having the blood test taken. IMO it only hightens the anxity, because he(and you) will go in worrying about what's going to happen only to then have to worry about it even longer, the gel can only numb the skin and in reality it actually doesn't hurt that much, but I know what you mean, when it comes to our kids we want everything to be as painless as possible, but it's worth thinking about.

misdee · 11/08/2009 21:42

hiya.

several of my kids have hd bloods done, youngest was 7.5months. i suggest asking the child to focus on you and not whats going on. talk to them all the time, soothing stuff, and if they try to watch whats happening call their attention back to your face and what your doing.

and chocolate buttons always go down well.

good luck and hop the test is fine.

DEMissmiling · 11/08/2009 21:47

By the way there was supposed to be an unless in the first sentance.

wouldnt reck bt unless there was a good..

tkband3 · 11/08/2009 21:54

As others have said, your GP wouldn't have recommended blood tests if they didn't think it was absolutely necessary.

My 3 DDs all have regular blood tests. At our hospital, we have a specific appointment in the children's outpatient unit to have the emla cream applied. The girls then play in the waiting area, where they totally forget why they're there. We then go to the blood test unit, where we skip the queue and go straight into see a phlebotomist who has been specially trained in taking blood from children. I read a book to them, holding it in such a way that they can't see their arm and they're always surprised when it's over.

We have gone ahead without the cream twice and both times it was an awful experience for me and DD. I understand what Breevanderkamp means about the waiting heightening the anxiety, but IME, this is not the case.

And chocolate buttons, stickers and lots of praise when it's over are mandatory .

Good luck with it all, hope you get some answers.

2rebecca · 11/08/2009 22:03

Having a blood test isn't any worse than having an immunisation. If your doc thinks he needs the test then why are you worrying? Why is it so much worse for him to have a blood test if he needs one than you? Just get on with it and treat it like an immunisation.

tryingtobemarypoppins · 11/08/2009 22:08

Thanks so much again. The problem may be more that he is always too busy to sit on my lap.......although maybe not for chocolate buttons??!!

Your right, I don't know why I am so worried what everyone else thinks, if they find something that explains what has been going on it will help him in the long run. As a first time parent I am learning all the time but my nan and mum drive me mad with all their 'wisdom.' I trust my GP.

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2rebecca · 11/08/2009 22:13

If he's 21 months old he will need to be firmly held whilst he has bllod taken because if he moves it will hurt. You have to hold him very firmly, he doesn't get the option of wandering off and being "busy". You take charge. He may well wail and wriggle. You have to be strong and remember it's just a blood test and he'll soon forget it. Bribary will help but I suspect you'll need firmness and restraining techniques as well.

gingerbunny · 11/08/2009 22:14

I used to be a play specialist on a childrens ward, all good hospitals have them.
Children usually go up to the ward for blood tests. Your ds should be perscribed with emla or amentop cream (once at the hospital), which is placed on the back of the hands and in the elbow joints. This cream numbs the area, so that when the blood is drawn they don't feel the sensation of the needle just the pressure.
You can ring and check that this is automatically done, if not you should request that you want this cream, but do it before the day. If this isn't standard practise your GP maybe able to percribe it for you, so you can put it on before you go.
Also ask and check if a play specialist will be available to provide distraction therapy, while he is having it done. between these two things I doubt he will even realise that he's having it done.
The more relaxed you are the better everyone will be.
As everyone else says blood tests on young children aren't done ramdomly, your gp has a good reason for it.

morocco · 11/08/2009 23:09

it will help put your mind at rest and your gp thinks it's a good idea - you are being a good mum to do this

he's still v young - let them put the emla cream on and have a good play at the hospital before you tell him what's going to happen. the emla is great and he won't feel a thing, if he's not looking he might not even notice. we don't use the emla with my eldest cos the hour waiting/anxiety\crying is just not worth it but that's cos he's now needle phobic after many many interventions in the past. for my others I would use it.

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Ninkynork · 11/08/2009 23:27

I would do it but then my DD has a blood-clotting disorder which can go unnoticed until the patient, um, dies...

Can't be too careful. It affects one in a hundred most of which are undiagnosed and told by male GPs that they are being silly regarding bleeding and should put and shut up.

tryingtobemarypoppins · 12/08/2009 11:59

gingerbunny thank-you. The dietition suggested the same thing to me today and felt the blood test would be useful.

My aunt phoned today however and told me when I explained what was going on, I was being very over protective and was a typical first time mum......whatever that means??

Thanks everyone I really appriciate your thoughts on this.

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PinkTulips · 12/08/2009 12:11

dd had a blood test at 2 and wasn't at all frightened or distressed.

They gave us a gel to apply at home an hour before the test which numbed her elbow, the nurse sat her on my lap and was very gentle and she got a toy for herself and one for her baby brother afterwards..... i actually think she thought it was a fun day out!

By the sounds of it the blood tests are very necessary and a range of medical professionals agree so imo you'd be negligent not bringing him to have it done.

good luck, i hope you get some answers

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