My daughter was born 11 weeks ago and has para thyroid disease. After having her home for 5 days she was placed in the NICU for 8 days. Since then I have been taking her to have blood work done twice a week for about 9 weeks now out of the Oswego offices. But my ped. called yesterday and told me that I have to take her to Rush- Copley Hospital to have the work done because they do the test there. It has been a challenge to get what is needed each week for these tests and to have someone that you trust poking at your child. When I was registering I explained to the receptionist that I would need someone who works well with infants and knows the least amount of blood needed for these tests. I was assigned to the Head Lab Tech Nurse. I tried explaining to her that as soon as she finds the vain she needs to stick her and to be patient it will flow. No she finds the vain doesn't have the needle ready someone else is helping her holding my daughters arm down and straight so she can't bend it, comes back and is poking around trying to find it again and can't. I pick up my screaming daughter, and they didn't even tape on band-aid on where she was bleeding. The nurse says that she is great with Heal sticks and was calling my peds. office to find out if that was okay to do it that way. They allowed her. Well when I got home and was changing her into pj's i noticed that her leg was BLACK & BLUE with the nurses finger marks and my little one was screaming when I touched her. I feel so bad because this is the first time someone left a mark on her. Has anyone gone through this before? Is that normal? I don't know what to do other than refuse to ever take her there again! Please respond. Thank you all.
I've heard there is spray they can use to numb the area that will be pricked. You may want to ask you doctor about it. Sometimes they don't like to use it, but I can't quite remember why.
I am so sorry for everything you are dealing with right now.
What you are explaining doesn't sound normal. I would encourage you to contact another doctor. Although I haven't experienced exactly what you are describing, I have have babies who have gotten blood taken, and they never became bruised from finger marks. It can be hard to find arteries on little ones, and I know they have to use special needles. So the fact that she wanted to do a heal stick doesn't sureprise me, but the finger marks do. It sounds like the nurse was holding her too tightly. I highly recommend Dr. Schautauer or Dr. Zumhagen of Homefirst. Their number is ###-###-####.
They have offices all over the chicagoland area. They are both gentle, knowlegeable and experienced with infants, and are men of integrity.
Hi A., Sorry for what you have been through but that is unexceptable. If someone is good with the needle you should hardly feel a prick let alone get bruised on another part of the body what. They held the baby toooo hard. Next time ask for someone else your baby comes first. A good phleb knows what they are doing. Take care A.
A...First let me say im sorry and you need to report that nurse and take pictures and call your dr and file a complaint...When my son was little, I swear he caught ever infant disease they can catch, RSV and ROTO VIRUS. And I was a stay at home mom....The dr said he could have gotten it from others touching him, and they could have gotten it from not washing their hands...(now we know why they say to wash your hands)...but after the first time they dug in his veins and I saw the buises they left on him and the finger bruises they left, I swear to god I would never ever let them do that again. And I didnt. He was put into the hospital and the next day they came in to get blood and the lady came in to get blood and she couldnt get blood. I told the lady to get the needle out. She goes I have to get blood. I told her that she wasnt going to be the one to do it and to get someone else that she wasnt going to dig into my sons arms. So she called someone else. So she did and that lady came in. And sure enough she got it the first try. Also if they are using the big needles those are h*** o* babies and they are also h*** o* my viens as well. Tell them to use butterfly needles those are much better on the veins and work 98% of the time. You have the right to ask for someone else. You are your childs voice. Use it. Dont be afraid to ask for someone else or ask for a butterfly needle before they even stick your child. They are much better on your child.....Good LUck.....K.
That is horrible to go through that. I am personally "a hard draw" so I can sympathyze on both ends. When you go back tell them that person is not to take blood from your daughter and you want someone who does pediatric draws. If necessary, tell them you will go to the pediatric ward to get someone who specifically does that. Don't take "you can't do that" for a an answer---keep moving up the chain if necessary. Good luck!
you should talk to the head nurse of the department and report that your daughter was held so tightly she has bruises
for the next blood test you ask for the iv nurse who specializes in vein work and can usually get blood in first stick and knows what she is doing. Trust me been their. you have to speak up and verbally fight for your daughters care no matter what hospital or clinic or doctor's offfice it is.
Hi A.
I am a peds nurse and your child should not be black and blue on the leg. You do have to hold the foot well to complete the heel stick, but not hard enough to bruise the baby. If the baby's heal is bruised, that is normal. However you should not see finger marks on the leg. I would definately contact the Nursing Manager and ask to speak to the MD in charge of the NICU. I'm sorry that happened to you. Congrats on your little one!
Jen
Hi A.,
I am so sorry. I had a nurse do that when my oldest daughter was born and I was mortified. Honestly, I would take picture and bring it to that hospital and insist that that woman never touch her again. Especially with blood work so frequently, I would never let that lady touch her again. Good luck to you!:)
A.,
I have an 11 week old daughter too and it broke my heart to hear your story1 I'm sorry that your daughter (and you) have to endure this bloodwork stuff. My advice is that you talk to your pediatrician and see if you can't go back there to have the blood drawn if you trust them. If not, then you can always go back to the hospital and refuse to have that same nurse. Wait longer if you have to, but get someone else to draw her blood. Maybe you could even ask if you could go up to the NICU and have the nurses there draw her blood - as I'm sure they are the most experienced and it sounds like you might already be familiar with them. In any case - you are the only advocate for your daughter so if something feels wrong in your gut, fight against it! I'll say a little prayer for you! ~ K.
