You don’t happen to go to UNC Children’s Hospital do you? I ask because the most wonderful woman who has drawn my daughter’s blood since she was 40 hours old has just left - I honestly cried. Like a baby.

Our oldest has always been more tolerant to this kind of thing but from day one I have talked to her about how it would hurt but only for a second and that it was to keep her healthy etc. . . now at 4 she sits by herself, lets them take her blood and never even whimpers.

Now, my youngest, 19 months, it takes 5 of us to hold her down sometimes. I have tried everything - from having gone through it before I know that the frustration is really from nothing more than being held down and not the pain, (that is actually supposed to make YOU feel better ;-) ) so we hold her and keep her occupied until the exact moment they are ready to draw her blood - if they have her on the table or whatever and then need to go get something or start to chat etc. . . it just makes it worse. Plus, we ask that they use the cloth clips that go around the arms instead of the plastic tube ties - it doesn’t seem to pinch as much.

Also, we pump both girls full of milk or fluids before we go in, it helps so much!

Good luck, we’ve all been there!