Best Lap Corp to get blood draw for infant?
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Anonymous
| My 9 month old needs to get a blood draw. I've done these with toddlers before and it's agony. Has anyone been to a lab corp that was particularly good at drawing blood on little children/infants? |
Anonymous
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I don't have a specific lab corp recommendation, but could you please specify what area? DC vs VA vs MD?
It helps to make sure the child is well-hydrated and dressed warmly to encourage venous dilation. |
Anonymous
Maryland. That is helpful! |
Anonymous
| I had a good experience at the LabCorp up in Hanover when my preschooler needed a blood draw, but that was a few years ago so YMMV. |
Anonymous
| I second the well-hydrated advice. If it were me, I'd ask if they have a phlebotomist who is experienced with that age child. and also bring a favorite item to distract baby. And you, mom have to try to hide whatever anxiety you have. Babies pick up on your anxiety. If you are calm and matter of fact, baby is likely to be also |
Anonymous
also a good point. |
Anonymous
Good to know! thanks! |
Anonymous
|
Make sure they have pediatric needles AND pediatric collection tubes. Normal collection tubes are too large and will cause the vein to collapse.
Heel sticks are the preferred method for babies under 20lbs. https://lug.hfhs.org/babiesKids.html Make sure your child is warm and very well hydrated. If you nurse, nurse before you leave, while waiting, etc. ALSO ask whether they are comfortable with you nursing while the blood draw is done. Another thing is to make sure to call ahead and ask if they have someone on staff who has experience with under 1 year. If not, dont go. A 2/3 year old pediatric is very different from a 9 month old. A great option would be to call Childrens and ask if they will do it. I had a 8 month old who had to have it done 4 times before anyone was successful. And that was multiple pricks at each attempt- learned later they arent supposed to do more than 2. I learned with multiple blood draws to ask all these questions ahead of time. Be willing to drive for experience and dont let anyone push. If they cant do it, they cant do it. Good luck |
Anonymous
| There was a guy who worked at the Children's outpost on Macarthur - long long ago - he was wonderful and my 10 month old didn't even cry. |
Anonymous
| Children’s has a lab and they are amazing. We get regular bloodwork there. Not sure where in MD you are located, but it’s pretty close to Silver Spring. And as one poster said there are multiple outposts. |
Anonymous
Do you know if the Children's lab affiliated with lab corp? |
Anonymous
| I've had a good experience for my child at 11119 Rockville Pike Ste G101, Rockville, MD 20852 |
Anonymous
| I paid the extra and went to a childrens hopsital. |
Anonymous
| I took my infant to the Lab Corp in Holy Cross Germantown, and the woman was fantastic! We originally took our infant to a place close to home, and it was a nightmare. They poked her twice, and weren't able to get a draw. It was an awful experience! Now we only go to the Holy Cross location. |
Anonymous
Why do you need LabCorp in particular? I assume this is for a doctor, so Children’s could send the results. |