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If you are here it is because your baby needs a blood draw. I am so sorry you have to put them through this!
The age of your baby will determine the specifics on how the blood will be drawn.
If your baby is a newborn it will likely be a heel prick. As they get older it will most likely be from the inner elbow, also known as the antecubital region.
No matter where the blood draw will occur most of the following advice will still apply. So stick with me and see what you can apply to your specific situation.
How to Prepare
We should first start at the beginning. Did your pediatrician order the blood draw?
My guess would be yes.
Start by asking them any questions you may have. My first question would be, do they need to fast? My guess would be no. Babies typically aren’t going to be asked to refrain from eating food.
This is still something you want to double-check on. Can they have solids, formula or breast milk?
If you are a breastfeeding momma is there anything you should refrain from eating or drinking? Such as coffee or poppy seed muffin. We don’t want your baby to come up with any crazy lab work.
If your pediatrician is unsure of any restrictions you can reach out to the lab for more information.
I would also ask where they intend to do the blood draw, just so you know what you are walking into.
Next step. Once you are past the gathering information phase, it is time to take action steps to prepare for the day of the draw.
Provided you have no restrictions on what your baby can eat, you should feed them as normal. Start their day off with breakfast or their morning milk.
You want them to be hydrated so their veins are easier to find. Offer them a little extra milk or water the morning of a blood draw. Consider taking a cup or bottle for your time in the waiting area.
Keep them hydrated!
My final step of preparation is to consider numbing the area for your baby. Check with your doctor and your lab about applying a numbing cream to ease your baby’s discomfort. If both the lab and your pediatrician approve of you using the numbing cream apply it to the area where the blood draw will occur. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how long in advance you should apply it.
If you know your baby is going to get stuck at the inner elbow apply the numbing cream to both sides. You don’t know which side they will go with.
The numbing cream is not necessary. In fact, you may find that it doesn’t help all that much. It is an option with your doctor’s approval.
Some parents find it difficult to watch their baby experience pain. If you want to try to give them relief this is something to consider.
Another factor is why your baby is getting a blood draw. Is this a one-time occurrence? Are they going to be needing this done regularly?
If they realize this place means pain over time they will start to remember. They will realize this and fight you more and more. The numbing cream could help alleviate some of the pain and therefore the fear and struggle.
What to Bring
You don’t particularly need much for a blood draw.
Make sure you have your ID, insurance information, and the doctor’s order to get the blood work. This is just the boring paperwork side of things. Be prepared and have what you need.
Other things to bring include food and drinks. If you have a long wait make sure your little one has plenty to drink. Keeping them hydrated is important to help those veins pop out.
Plan for your baby to wear a short-sleeve shirt. You want it to be easy to access their arm without having to undress them. You don’t want to spend time after dressing an upset baby.
Quite possibly the most important item for a blood draw is a pacifier for your baby.
Pro-tip: My huge tip here is to use a pacifier clip to attach it to their shirt. Your hands will be full holding your baby. They may have it in their mouth, but then spit it out due to crying. If that pacifier hits the ground….in a lab where blood is drawn….I just can’t. That is disgusting!
If your baby likes and takes a pacifier have it with you and have it attached to your baby.
The Blood Draw
I cannot speak for every lab around the world. I can share how it went from us though.
You will go back to a room with your baby. You will sit in a chair that has armrests with your baby sitting on your lap. The phlebotomist will check both arms looking for the best location to perform the blood draw.
During this time try to keep your baby happy. Continue to talk to them and try not to restrain them yet. No need to stress them out before the main event. I even told the phlebotomists that I was waiting to fully hold her down and to let me know when it was time to do so.
Once they are ready for the blood draw you will bear hug your child. You use your arms to hold their arms down.
Often there will be two phlebotomists in the room. One will do the draw while the other helps keep the arm as still as possible. Your job as the parent is to handle the rest of their body.
Hold them tight. It is better if they are still.
This is so hard! But the more still they are the less painful it is and more quickly it will be over.
I spoke to my daughter throughout her blood draw. Who cares if the phlebotomists think you are crazy.
I told her she was doing a good job. They are almost done. It’s ok. It will be over soon.
I just kept talking to her.
Your child knows your voice and recognizes your tone. If you speak to them and reassure them that everything is ok and that they are doing a good job it can only help.
During this time they will be filling vials with blood.
Once they are done they will put a bandage on it and you are on your way.
Problems
If for any reason you are having a problem with the phlebotomists speak up. Ask if they can get someone more senior in the room. If they are taking multiple attempts it is ok to speak up and ask for someone else. You are the advocate for your child.
One time when I took my daughter they had trouble getting much blood out. It got to a certain point where I was done. They were going to have to stick her again if they were going to get more.
I spoke up and said we are done. It wasn’t that they did a poor job. I wasn’t mad. I just felt like that was enough for the day.
My daughter was getting allergy testing done. We had three things on the list. I asked the phlebotomists to prioritize my list based on the order of importance. This way if they did not have enough blood in the lab they would know which two tests to run first and which we could skip.
After the Blood Draw
Once it is done you will leave the room. Find a spot in the waiting room or any quiet corner. Give your baby love and hugs. Have their special items such as a blanket or lovely handy. Maybe they could use a moment to calm down with a quick snack and a drink.
After being restrained they may not like being quickly forced into a car seat and buckled in.
Give them time to calm down a bit.
Another thing to point out here is what type of bandage was used? Is it one your child could remove on your drive home? Would they possibly put this in their mouth? If you feel there is any risk of your baby choking remove the bandage.
And finally after the blood draw expect your baby to need a good nap. If they fought you they will be exhausted. I would intentionally schedule the blood draw about an hour before a nap. This was because we lived close to the hospital. Factor in your own drive time and what you think will work best with your baby’s schedule.
Conclusion
I know it is hard to see your baby in pain. Just know you are doing this for a reason. The pain is temporary.
Hopefully your baby’s blood draw goes well.
Take these tips to be as prepared as possible to make it as easy on your little one as you possibly can.
Good luck to you!
It really isn’t that bad.
Comment below if this post helped prepare you for your baby’s blood draw.
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