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Original poster

Stressed about DS (6yrs) having bloods done at hospital

57 replies

Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 17:24

Please can anyone tell me if their young kids have had bloods taken at their hospital and how it went? I’m feeling stressed thinking about tomorrow when DS(6) is to have his bloods done at paediatrics.

I’m sure the team will be experienced but worried how he will cope as he has never had them done before.

Last time we were there to speak to doctor, we heard a kid screaming the house down behind a closed door and worried it may have been them trying to do her bloods 🙈

Doctor did mention they would give him some numbing cream and there would be a play therapist but still worried .

Please share your experiences if you don’t mind

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/01/2022 18:11

Children are treated so much more carefully now than when I was a child - EMLA cream (which doesn't work for everybody, according to DD1, Miss Standard Anaesthetics Have No Effect Upon Me), cold spray (which does seem to), finer gauge - when it comes down to it, though, he needs the tests.

That other child could equally have been screaming because they didn't want to sit still in the first place and nothing to do with tests, or they could have had something painful that led to needing a test. Or their parent was becoming distressed by proxy and they picked up on it. Or they've had hundreds of the things and are just sick of everything related to hospitals, doctors and nurses.

The phlebotomists that work in Paediatrics are brilliant. They've got the ability to get almost every single child quiet and compliant and for the few that aren't, they can do it so quickly and efficiently that it's over and done with in seconds.

Your DC will be fine. Hide your fear and upset and it'll be easier - and stash something sweet in your bag for as soon as it's over; it's a great distraction.

Lalallama · 16/01/2022 18:14

As PP have said, they will ask if you want the numbing cream and will distract (with DD it used to be Where’s Wally books, and then more recently they gave her an iPad with a game on). I can’t remember if this was when she was slightly younger but one time they couldn’t find a vein in her hand so they took the blood from her foot, but they explain it really clearly so its not scary for the child.

As DD has got older she now prefers to have the blood taken without the numbing cream so she can get it over with and not have to wait around.

nattiee · 16/01/2022 18:17

I work as a phlebotomist and have taken bloods from kids. You may want to check first as phlebotomist aren't allowed to put the numbing cream (EMLA) on so if you have to do it yourself put it on an hour before the appt (both arms) and wrap in clingfilm. Clingfilm is so much nicer for the child to be taken off then plasters. A lot of the kids used to hate having the plasters taken off.

Try and stay calm yourself but you will be in good hand.

But like I say just check first if you need to put it on first or the hospital do it.

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FrancesFlute · 16/01/2022 18:17

Had to take my 7 week old last week. There were two working in a team and they were excellent - just chatted to me and were very fast and slick. Poor DS too young to understand but the staff will be doing this day in day out. Please don't worry and definitely don't show your son you're worried or stressed about it. Could you tell him about when you had bloods taken and say how easy and interesting it was?

Wolfiefan · 16/01/2022 18:18

My eldest had to have many blood tests. Apologies if I’m repeating what others have said as I haven’t RTFT!
Hydrate. Makes it easier.
We used a stress ball type thing to hopefully get veins up.
Cream is ace.
Mine was younger. We sat with him on our lap. A huge picture book open hid his arm. Then a play assistant blew bubbles and we had toys that stuck their tongues out when you pressed them to try and burst bubbles.
He didn’t even notice they had done it.

YogaLite · 16/01/2022 18:28

Plan something nice to look forward to afterwards for both of you and don't make too much of a big deal of the hospital visit just say it needs to be done.

Carrotco · 16/01/2022 18:45

You can buy the numbing cream EMLA at the pharmacy without a prescription. If you don’t want to hang about the hospital waiting for it to work. Make sure you let them know so they throughly clean the area before taking blood.

BabycakesMatlala · 16/01/2022 18:50

@stopringingme has described the ideal set-up and positioning absolutely perfectly. I'm afraid due to my DC's various ailments we have far more cannulations and blood tests under our belts than I'd like. Particularly with numbing cream, they really don't feel much at all (and DS survived OK during a fantastic cannulation with the cold spray in A and E just the other day).

Original poster
Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 20:00

stopringingme Thank you!!

OP posts:
Herald44 · 16/01/2022 20:03

My 6yo had her blood taken last month. She is not hardy when it comes to medical things! She was fine. Didn't feel a thing. Definitely use the emla cream and cover with cling film.

onwardsandupwards22 · 16/01/2022 20:17

My 4yo had a blood test without numbing cream recently and was fine. A couple of tears but he tried hard to hold them back bless him and we told him it was ok to cry

onwardsandupwards22 · 16/01/2022 20:17

My 2yo has also had bloods without numbing , he cried for less than 2 minutes

MiddleAgedKick · 16/01/2022 20:18

I had one dc who had bloods done when she was 6. Dh took her and it was completely fine. She didn't feel anything due to numbing cream

ofwarren · 16/01/2022 20:25

My 7 year old has been having them since birth, currently every 12 weeks but at one point it was every day.
The outpatient nurses who take the blood usually have a play therapist or another nurse with them who distracts the child with a book or toy and it's over very quickly.
My son just watches now and doesn't need the distraction.

Original poster
Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 20:33

NeverDropYourMooncup Thanks for your detailed and thoughtful response x

OP posts:
Original poster
Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 20:34

Thanks for letting me know, I will double check. Cling film definitely sounds easier

OP posts:
Original poster
Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 20:36

Thank you, that sounds like it went well. I hope it will be the same for us

OP posts:
Original poster
Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 20:38

@Carrotco

You can buy the numbing cream EMLA at the pharmacy without a prescription. If you don’t want to hang about the hospital waiting for it to work. Make sure you let them know so they throughly clean the area before taking blood.
That’s a good tip, thanks, will see if we can do this
OP posts:
Original poster
Zestlemondosoap · 16/01/2022 20:40

[quote BabycakesMatlala]@stopringingme has described the ideal set-up and positioning absolutely perfectly. I'm afraid due to my DC's various ailments we have far more cannulations and blood tests under our belts than I'd like. Particularly with numbing cream, they really don't feel much at all (and DS survived OK during a fantastic cannulation with the cold spray in A and E just the other day).[/quote]
Sorry to hear that your dc has various ailments and needs a lot more blood tests and cannulations but thank you for your reply

OP posts:
ImFree2doasiwant · 16/01/2022 20:41

I took ds2 last year, he was 4. I was very matter of fact, he'd seen me have injections abd blood tests. I told him he needed a blood test and why, abd that the nurse would use the "magic cream" so he didn't feel anything. I think he was a bit worried and I sure he'd have been worse if I had been showing that I was worried too.
He sat on my lap, had the horse and play therapist there chatting away. Cream on, then when ready he sat sideways with his arm behind me , like he was cuddling. He said the worst bit was the nurse squeezing his arm too hard. He didn't feel the needle at all

He did though go very heavy on me and pale just after, and needed to stay sitting on me for a good 20 minutes to feel better. He was given squash to drink and a biscuit I think,and then a sticker, a book and a toy! He's keen to go back. Wink

reluctantbrit · 16/01/2022 20:42

I thnk I have a vampire at hand. DD was utterly facinated by the whole process and loved seeing it. The nurse played it by the ear and was happy to explain what she did.

hidingfromthemouse · 16/01/2022 20:44

I was so worried taking my three year old but he was absolutely fine. Didn't have any numbing cream, watched the whole thing and was fascinated by it. Hope your experience is the same.

MsMeNz · 16/01/2022 20:47

We've had it go 3 ways with 3 kids. First kid... Watched them doing didn't flinch wasn't phased by it at all.
Second kid required being held by 3 of us as he was thrashing around so much (it had to be done it was urgent) he does have asd though.

Third child a little worried and anxious but fab nurse made it all ok with distraction and chat.

Haroted · 16/01/2022 20:55

My DS who is also 6 had to have a blood test at the hospital last week. He is terrified of anything medical and usual goes into a state of panic. The staff were amazing, we had two nurses and a play specialist (one to take blood, one to keep him still and one to distract). They explained everything in a child friendly way. He did have the numbing cream which was helpful. The actual process was over in 5 minutes, the most traumatic part was the tourniquet which he didn’t like.
I’m not sure he’d willingly have it done again in a hurry but for now it’s a long a distant memory!
The staff do this every day and have various techniques of dealing with anxious children.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/01/2022 20:59

@reluctantbrit

I thnk I have a vampire at hand. DD was utterly facinated by the whole process and loved seeing it. The nurse played it by the ear and was happy to explain what she did.
I had one of those. Possibly something to do with the number of blood tests I had to have when she was little and we were allowed to bring buggies into the Phlebotomy Room at the GP's.

[new phlebotomist that hadn't seen me before]

'Oh, um, I think we could ask Reception to keep an eye on her or I've got some toys back here if you -'

DD2 'But I want to see the needle go in and Mummy's blood come out'

Phlebotomist: '.............................................................................

Um.......................................................O-kaaaaayyyy'

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