In a message dated 8/13/2003 11:34:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

> When I do a heel stick on a phototherapy baby for a bili level or a
> newborn assessment with PKU I always have the mother nurse the baby
> while I warm the heel and do the stick.  Often, they barely flinch.
> Rarely does the baby cry.  If they do cry, they are consoled in seconds
> and go back to nursing...
> A screaming baby
> will actually make it harder for the blood to flow easily.


This is more consistent with my experience, too. When doing a PKU or bili, I found blood tended to flow MUCH better when mom BF during the procedure. I also think that in the cradle position the baby's leg dangled lower so gravity helped. I've noticed that even when whoever is doing a stick tilts the plastic crib, they still tend to hold baby's heel up in the air -- reverse gravity with blood headed to groin!

Karen

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