when your a baby, they prick your feet with something, what the hell is that? i've always wondered.
2007-05-11 04:13:56 · 11 answers · asked by bum nully 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
whats a thyroid, is it a gland
2007-05-11 04:28:00 · update #1
It's a heel prick test here is some info
What is the heel prick test and how is it done?
Taking the blood spots involves balancing the need to collect sufficient blood, with the potential for discomfort for the baby and unease for the parents.
After all the baby’s details have been entered into the screening card the midwife will perform the test using a newborn automated device.
The heel puncture will be taken from the sides of the baby’s heel. The foot will then be allowed to hang down to increase the blood flow and the circles on the blood spot card will be filled completely.
After the heel prick test is completed, any excess blood from the baby’s heel will be wiped away and gentle pressure applied to the wound using a cotton wool ball to prevent excessive bleeding and bruising and to protect the wound.
2007-05-11 04:19:30 · answer #1 · answered by D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had 4 babies and I recently became a grandma on April 15. I am not familiar with the practice of pricking a baby's feet. Taking some blood to test for jaundice is common and this involves pricking the baby's heel with a needle to withdraw some blood. The only other thing that I can think of is if a person is unresponsive, sometimes a nurse will prick the bottom of their feet to test for a response. However, I don't believe I have ever seen or heard of this being done to a baby. ADDED: This is for the United States, perhaps in the UK they do different procedures on newborns.
2007-05-11 04:36:58 · answer #2 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They use a lancet to prick the heel for a blood sample to run routine tests on the baby. That something is called a lancet much like what a diabetic uses to prick his finger to test his blood sugar.
2007-05-11 04:20:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The foot prick is used to get a small sample of blood. This is to check thyroid hormone levels and detect hypothyroidism,PKU test is done for phenylketonuria and a test for sickle cell disease. In some areas a test is also done for cystic fibrosis and other abnormalities.
2007-05-11 05:20:07 · answer #4 · answered by Dr Frank 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is hard to access a vein in a new born, so in order to draw a blood sample, nurses and MDs stick the heel of a the baby with a simple needle called a lancet and squeeze it out to a tube. Babys hardly ever cry with the squeezing, because they are so flexible.
2007-05-11 04:21:40 · answer #5 · answered by stagg_walk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't stand on your feet for long periods of time and when you do sit, elevate your feet so that they are above your heart. This will decrease circulation. Also you can put ice on them, but only for 15 mins at a time. Good luck and just know that your ankles may not return to normal until you deliver.
2016-05-20 04:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by richard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's most likely a simple blood test. The blood in our bodies will pretty much tell us everything about our bodies and it is very important to have a health start!
2007-05-11 04:17:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its called a heel prick test
it checks the thyroid function and also some other rare illnesses
2007-05-11 04:17:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's for a kind of blood test as far as I can remember
2007-05-11 04:16:48 · answer #9 · answered by Nexus6 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
needle prick for blood or check the nerves and feelings.
2007-05-11 04:31:04 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋