That was traumatic.

[rootofnewt]

We live in a house built before 1978. And, like most houses which are homes to 12 month old babies, the windowsills are dusty.

As such, Ronan needs his blood tested for lead.

They stuck him twice. Failed to get the vein both times. We gave up for the day.

His veins don't pop like mine do. He's chunky, so they aren't easy to find. Warming pads didn't help. The tourniquets didn't help. I'm sure the screaming til he was redder than a boiled lobster didn't help, either.

*sigh*

Anyone know a phlebotomist at UVA who can find a baby's vein on the first try? He's too old for a heelstick, so I guess they're going for the cubital vein or whatever is in the elbow.

Comments

[melody-rossiter.livejournal.com]

Lame... sometimes it just takes the right person. I've had experience people spend an hour on my arms before resorting to fingersticks, and had others just walk right up and find it on the first try.

I don't know if this is the same for babies (probably not) but I actually have worse luck with the butterfly needles than I do with the tree-trunks. They think that a smaller needle hurts less, but for some reason it also makes the vein roll more, if they are prone to that.

And what hurts less, having a more painful stick for a short period of time, or have someone try to play the violin on my veins for half an hour trying to *find* the vein... I go with the bigger needle.