Do you as a parent feel traumatized trying to keep your baby still while the pediatrician or nurse is drawing blood? Is it okay to skip these blood routine for your baby?
It is normal for a parent to somehow feel that pain when the needle pricks a child’s finger, heel or arm depending on the amount of blood drawn. Caring Nurse Services, a home care agency in Edgewood MD, has a team of skilled registered nurses who will perform blood tests to determine hemoglobin and lead levels.
With you as a mother, Caring Nurse Services understand the sentiment to disregard the procedure because it is too painful to watch. That is why we enumerated significant things you should know about blood draws for your little ones.
- To check levels of anemia
Hemoglobin is an oxygen-carrying protein in the red blood cells. So when your child is deficient with hemoglobin it increases the risk of anemia which includes symptoms of developmental delays, behavioral conditions, and irritability. Pediatricians recommend a hemoglobin test to be done at the ages between 9 and 12 to lessen the risk.
- To check levels of lead
So, why check the level of lead poisoning? Kids are normally curious and every object that they touch, they put inside their mouth, which can increase their risk to lead exposure. In this respect, doctors suggest blood check to confirm levels of lead in the blood. Lead poisoning results to constipation, headache, hearing loss, behavioral problems, and learning difficulties.
- To check levels of white blood cells and platelets
White blood cells (WBC) or leukocytes in the blood act as soldiers in the body and help fight infection in the body. An abnormal WBC count may show inflammation as well as other stressors that can affect the body. Platelets play an essential role in our bloodstream which is the blood clotting cells that help prevent bleeding.
It is necessary to determine the levels of RBCs, WBCs, platelets, and even the risk of lead poisoning among children to avoid irreversible consequences that can affect your child’s condition for life.
Post a comment below if you have several concerns regarding blood draws for your little ones. Click on this link www.caringnurse.org to learn more about pediatric services that we have on offer. Or you can reach us at 410-676-2222.
