Blood test

Ours had to have bloods taken after being admitted into hospital last month. Honestly it was the most traumatic experience. It took them a good 20 minutes to find a good vein. It’s harder in toddlers anyway but he’s naturally chubby which the doctor said made it even harder. We were all in tears. The doctor has referred him for blood tests once since and I’ve actually refused. I won’t be doing them again unless I think they’re absolutely necessary. I can still remember his screams and just can’t put him through it again

@Amelia thank you for your reply and honesty! I hated the jabs, so I thought that getting these done is going to be so much harder. Do you know how much blood they roughly take? My little one is being tested for all sorts to rule everything out (I have coeliac disease and I am suspicious that he has too, so testing for that along with multiple possible vitamin deficiency’s or similar) and the blood test form states that quite a few different coloured tops are needed (I think about 7) but was hoping that they only need a little bit of blood in each!

I’m not quite sure how much, he had two vials taken but was only testing for a specific thing. Once the needle is actually in it didn’t take that long to get the blood at all, probably max a couple mins. it was just the getting it in 😒. Hopefully it goes okay for your boy 🤍🤍

Mine has had them. I was absolutely dreading it but it was fine! His consultant is very experienced in doing them though so I think that helped. Like he found a vein straight away and got it first time.

Hey everyone, May I know what this blood test is about? Is it mandatory check? I haven't heard any such. Please guide me through

@Chloe My little boy has had several blood tests. He’s been in and out of hospital since he was born. His first blood test was for jaundice when he was a few days old. Since then, he’s had quite a few blood gas tests, and then 3 cannula’s for both bloods and IV’s. Two in his hand, one in his foot/ankle. All were essential and were done individually, he never had them all together (if that makes sense). Unfortunately he inherited my terrible veins which is why they went through different avenues. He has done really well with all of them. I cry every time, same as his jabs, but I know it’s always been necessary to get him the right treatment and onto recovery. They won’t ever take more than necessary to test and will work out amounts based on your LO’s measurements. I’m sure I was told by his consultant that it was 2-3ml per Kg your LO is, per day. So say your child is 9kg, they won’t take more than 18-27ml per day but they usually don’t even need anywhere near that! Xx

@Shruthi it’s not standard. Mine had to have them done as part of investigations into various health conditions.

My LO was admitted to hospital earlier this year. Spent 2 weeks in there and had to have several bloods as well as was on a drip. He ended up going through 2 canula as he kept ripping them out. It was awful at the time as he was so tiny and them trying to find a vein to put the needle in was awful. He now has to have bloods every 3 months and it's getting less traumatic. He has numbing cream on and after around 30 minutes he doesn't feel a thing. The nurses are always so good and patient and they help distract while I hold my little man.

My little boy has had a good few blood tests when he had Kawasaki disease, he's also had a cannula in his hand and foot..at the same time, now it's three monthly heart scans that are the nightmares 😂

@Lincy Ann thank you for replying. Are you allowed to put numbing cream on before the test? X

@Chloe the hospital I'm under send it out before the appointment and I put it on 30 mins before the appointment. So it's advised from them but I don't know if other hospitals/doctors are different x