Blood test disaster. Advice please!

[SurpriseBub]

We just took our baby for a blood test, and it went terribly. The technician said she had found a good vein, but then poked and prodded with the needle for quite a while without success lots of desperate, red faced crying from LO

I'm feeling nervous about it now- could she have done any damage poking around? Anything to look out for? I know it might bruise, which is fine. I'm just concerned about anything worse

 

[amelia26]

I'm sure she will be fine. It's really difficult to get a vein on a young baby. I had this numerous times with my son and it's so upsetting to witness, but it shouldn't do any damage (as you said, it might bruise).

 

[zorak]

Wow. When my LO had to have a blood test they nipped a vein in his foot. The technician then basically caught drops , massaging the foot to produce more. Meant bubs was only poked v quickly.

 

[amelia26]

Sometimes they need venous blood, depending on what the blood test is for. The heel prick test (which you describe) is okay for some tests but not all. If they can do a heel prick test instead they would.

 

[k4th]

I have a blood disorder & have had a gazillion blood tests. Ds also has some blood issues because of my issues (his should go away) and he's had about 10 blood tests and an IV treatment.

I'm fine despite my veins being battered - sometimes weekly. Ds is fine despite multiple tests, some poking around & being hooked up to an IV for 15 hours.

Your lo will be just fine hun

And re: heel prick vs vein blood tests - I insist on vein blood tests. On three occasions my sons blood has clotted from a heel prick & couldn't be be used. That meant a repeat trip to the hospital and putting him through it all again. Sometimes it's not worth it.

 

[SurpriseBub]

Thank you all! LO is absolutely fine (just in case anyone in a similar moment comes across this in the future). It was just a super stressful, and awful to watch. Luckily a moment that seems to have been worse for mum and dad.

So sorry you and your ds have to go through this regularly, k4th. He must be a real little trooper!

 

[k4th]

Thank you all! LO is absolutely fine (just in case anyone in a similar moment comes across this in the future). It was just a super stressful, and awful to watch. Luckily a moment that seems to have been worse for mum and dad.

So sorry you and your ds have to go through this regularly, k4th. He must be a real little trooper!

Thanks - I think he's used to it now, he didn't even cry for the last one

Glad your lo is ok. I think it is really hard to watch them have it done - probably harder for us than for them!