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How to take blood from a 22-month-old for a blood test?
Is there a way to take blood from a 22-month-old baby other than holding the arm down and injecting into a vein in the arm like they do with an adult? The first time this was done, the baby screamed and thrashed about so much, got so distressed and overheated that the parents decided "never again". Now the doctor has recommended another blood test for something. I kow that they take blood from the heel in newborns. Can they do this for older babies?
I know that, over all, it's better to have a short time of screaming and distress if it means a possible discovery of something vital, but still ...
4 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavourite answer
two of my children have had to have blood drawn and iv's put in and it is heartbreaking to watch I know.
I think the best suggestion is to lay them down and wrap him/her in a sheet tightly so that only one arm is exposed. It is WAY easier to stop them thrashing and kicking when they are wrapped up and that is the way they did it in the hospital for my children. You still need 1-2 people to hold them down but it is a lot easier and quicker this way and causes less distress.
Make sure the person doing it is not a trainee or inexperienced with small children, so it can be done fast and accurately.
When its all over, have a lollipop or candy on hand to help take their mind of it and make sure they perk straight up again
best of luck
Source(s): mum of 3 experienced this with mine - MinnowLv 71 decade ago
It depends on how much blood they have to take. Sometimes just a drop of blood will do, then it's a prick on the finger. But if they need a vial, then they basically need to draw blood like with an adult.
Some things that will help is to make sure the baby is hydrated, so the veins aren't hard for them to reach. And also something like a sucker or candy that will keep the baby's attention. It hurts for a moment, but while they draw the blood you don't feel anything, so if they can just get it in and start drawing and the baby can be distracted with the sweets, then that may help. Also, get someone who KNOWS what they're doing. Ie, a children's hospital, someone who will get it immediately and fill the vial with no problem. If they do not get the vein as soon as they get the needle in, tell them to pull it out and try again, not to dig around for the vein (that's painful and doesn't help at all.)
I remember how they would take blood from the heel and the heel was so bruised and looked awful afterwards. I think blood being drawn is less painful and I don't think an older baby would tolerate them taking it from the heel. They only do that with newborns because finding a vein is so difficult, they're so small.
- Carandy1Lv 71 decade ago
I'm sorry I know how distressing this can be. They really do need to get the blood directly from the vein. I think the only blood test they can run trough the heel is the PKU. Unfortunately there really isn't an easy way to take blood.
Good Luck!
- 1 decade ago
OH GOD I HAD A HARD TIME WHEN THEY DID THAT TO MY SON YOU JUST HOLD HIM DOWN I KNOW ITS HARD TO DEAL WITH BUT HEY THEY GOTA DO IT
