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Georgia Babies
seansgirl2006
member
Numbing Cream for Vacs
seansgirl2006
member
I keep reading about this in books and then just read a huge article about it in Parents magazine this month... Has anyone asked their dr about using the numbing cream before DC's vacs? How about the paci with sugar water? They gave that to Ethan in the hospital for his PKU and he was a happy baby the whole time, didn't make a sound. We've only been for one set of shots but are getting ready for the next round. I just hope he's not as miserable after the shots this time. That was just about worse than the pick of the needle.
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Re: Numbing Cream for Vacs
The only time I've encountered numbing cream was when they dropped an IV into Geneva. Shots happen so fast and then it's over. Tylenol, about 30 minutes before the shot, is your best bet.
I know it's hard, but don't work yourself up about it. I think kids can sense when we're tense about something. Take a couple deep breaths right before the shot and then give him all the hugs and kisses you can.
Thanks. I don't feel worked up about it, but just wanted to find out if anyone else had tried these methods since I keep reading about them. If something's out there that would help, I want to take advantage! Oh, and we did do Tylenol and will do it again.
We have never used numbing cream for shots, but I did want to say that the 2 months shots were the worst ones for Cadence as far as her being cranky afterward. The 4 months were much better, and she did really get cranky after any of the other rounds..except this last one she got for 15 months..the MMR.
So, here's to hoping it goes better this time around..though shots are just no fun in general
DD- 9
DS-6
c/p- April 2016
missed m/c- 6w5d; discovered 8w2d- September 2016
OH MY GOSH...INGRID...I swear I just sent the link to that article to one of my girlfriends...WTheck!?!?! is up with us! I'm going to ask about the EMLA cream. I was shocked to read that they didn't really administer pain meds to infants undergoing open heart surgery before the 1980s, just a paralytic to keep the still but awake/aware.
Hi twin! I know!! That article was crazy, wasn't it? I couldn't believe it either. I'm going to give my dr a call next week about it too. Worth a try. I mean, why not??
Yes, I do think they hurt. I'm sure it could be different in babies than adults, but why else would he scream like he does when he gets pricked? Maybe I'm confused as to what you mean.
I have heard people say that they didn't think the cream helped either, that's why I was curious to hear if anyone else had tried. I wonder if the stuff in the article is the same as what you and others have tried?
IMHO the EMLA cream is not worth it. For IV's or blood work maybe. You have to put a ton of it on 2 hours before the shot and then cover it with plastic wrap for it to work. I think it ends up being a PITA. But every one is different so it might be worth it to you.
At my job we just use sugar water and a paci to give shots/start IV's/do lab work and it usually does fine. With Charlie I worry about pain so with his shots I swaddle his upper body and give him a paci (when he was really small I used sugar water). I also give tylenol 30 mins prior to the shot and for 24 hours after. He usually cries a tiny bit but is very easy to soothe once I hold him.
I read that same article - I had no idea that there was such a thing. I called my pedi office to request a prescription for it. The person who answered (the receptionist I guess) asked what I was callling about and I told her. I could *hear* her eyes rolling at me. She was all "oh, we've never done that before". I just asked her to give the Dr. the message and she reluctantly agreed to connect me to a nurse.
I never got a call back regarding it. Granted, it was 2:30pm the day before I went, but I was still pissed.
And yes, of course they hurt! Why else would kids scream so badly? I felt terrible. The whole point of that article is that people just assume babies don't have the same feelings as adults, which is just not true. Just because they "only cry for a few minutes" or "are just cranky the rest of the day" doesn't mean we can't try to make the shots as easy as possible. Sorry to be blunt, but I guess it's a sore spot with ME that I should "just relax" when my child is in pain. And no, I'm pretty sure that it isn't "worse for me than for him". I'm not getting stuck w/ a needle in my muscle. I remember the flu shot - that thing hurt a lot.
Oh, and to the OP, a couple of nurses I talked to IRL said that they weren't sure EMLA would help since the shot goes in so deeply. You'd have to get a prescription and put the numbing cream on yourself before you went since it has to be on for at least an hour before hand. I still think it's worth talking to your Dr. about.
Joseph Henry was born at home on March 9, 2009
Nora Mae was born at home on October 30, 2011
Numbing cream or no numbing cream Connor still has to get shots and he will be fine. I'm just a matter of fact type person because I've never hooped and hollered when Connor has gotten his shots. The first set I was a little nervous and slightly flustered but after a minute Connor and I were back to normal. To me this is just part of life and I want to focus my attention on issues that will really affect or harm him. A minute of crying and a slight fever after a shot is par for the course. I'll pick another battle to fight.
GL ladie on getting the cream and have a great weekend!
I replied before I looked at the article. That article is very alarmist from my point of view. Comparing past inhumane open heart surgery practices on babies and vaccine pain is alarmist journlism plain and simple.
The active ingredients in ELMA cream are lidocaine and prilocaine. One of the most common possible side effects of these two ingredients is redness and swelling at the application site and the next most common side effect is burning and itching. This is not something I would take the chance of using on my girl's sensitive skin.
I do use Tylenol for the pain for my DD and if other's feel this cream would be more beneficial than harmful for their children then they should go for it.
DD- 9
DS-6
c/p- April 2016
missed m/c- 6w5d; discovered 8w2d- September 2016
I think many are confusing the point of my post- I was merely asking if anyone had any experience or had tried this! I get that shots are a part of life and are over quickly. I don't freak out and therefore upset my child. I agree that it's important to not freak out for him. I know they're over with quickly and all that, but if there's something that could help him, then why not?? If there was something out there that I was unaware of to make it easier on him, I would absolutely do it for him, whether it's only a little crying and fever or not. Thanks for the input though! I'd be curious to hear from someone who has actually tried it!
KT&John- Thanks for your suggestions and the info on side effects. I'm going to try the sugar water. From what I've found elsewhere too, it doesn't sound like the cream is anything that would help much.