I always like to give out this info. on numbing cream every now and then for the new participants here.

For all those mom’s and dad’s that dread bloodwork for their children there is a light at the end of the tunnel. EMLA cream.

My daughter has CAH due to the 21 hydroxlase deficiency. (salt waster) She is 7 and a half years old this month, and was diagnosed at birth. The first blood draw had to be taken from her head because her veins were so tiny. Needless to say, not only did she cry but so did I. It was torturous to watch my child go through this. When she was about 3 years old I found a post about EMLA cream here. There are others out there and they are called "lidocream" or some other names it has.  It was the answer to my prayers. Holding down an infant or toddler makes them crazy. That adds to the pain of the draw too. So I got a prescription from her endo. and applied it. So happy I was. BUT my daughter didn’t understand that this magical cream as we called it would not let the "shot" hurt. So she cried the first time we used it. I was so dissapointed. There was a day she would cling to me as we approached the lab. Then there was a day she pleaded with her little sweet face, with the lady behind the desk in the lab, then with the lab tech. I think she made each of them tear up because she was so sweet. She would say, "Pweese can you not give me a shot to day?"It killed me and everyone around her. I just kept reasurring her it wouldn’t hurt and that this would keep her healthy. It took some time and some built trust each time we went, AND a whole lot of prayers. In time, she started to trust that the cream really was magical. I will never forget the day we went for her bloodwork and she smiled through it. Today she is even cocky as she hops up there and puts out her arm. We howl. SO, to all those who may be enduring the pain of holding them down and watching them sob over bloodwork,  there is a light at the end of that tunnel. EMLA cream! Ask your ped. endo. about getting this. They told me that one of the blood tests I think the OHP can be off if the child is in hysterics. Another reason to get something to calm them. I also used to make it a day out when she had bloodwork done. We went to the gift shop, and cruised the hospital to see all the fun stuff that her Children’s Hospital had for the kids and then on to McDonalds for lunch. Always positive trips. Always concentrating on the fun instead of the bloodwork. Take care everyone and God bless!