keeping DD calm and cooperative during upcoming ultrasound (hers!)?

[nfowife]

DD has a hepatic hemangioma (basically a vascular birthmark on her liver). She is fine but it needs to be monitored periodically via ultrasound. So, the last ultrasound was about 7 months ago and I ended up having to nurse her to distract/calm her so that she would be still enough for them to get a good "shot" of her liver. Well, now I am no longer nursing and I have NO idea what I am supposed to do to help her get through this! It's not painful or invasive, but I know she will freak out, cry, wiggle all over, etc. She isn't old enough to understand that it's okay. She doesn't take a bottle or pacifier (sucks her fingers, and I can't make her do that unless she wants to!). Do you think I should try a popsicle? I seriously do not know what I am going to do about this. Anyone been through something similar? She's been through a catscan and had to be sedated for that, and did alright, but it's not their normal protocol to sedate for ultrasounds, and it was a difficult experience for me to go through (the sedation process, I mean). I don't know what can be done. Anyone?

[nfowife]

DD has a hepatic hemangioma (basically a vascular birthmark on her liver). She is fine but it needs to be monitored periodically via ultrasound. So, the last ultrasound was about 7 months ago and I ended up having to nurse her to distract/calm her so that she would be still enough for them to get a good "shot" of her liver. Well, now I am no longer nursing and I have NO idea what I am supposed to do to help her get through this! It's not painful or invasive, but I know she will freak out, cry, wiggle all over, etc. She isn't old enough to understand that it's okay. She doesn't take a bottle or pacifier (sucks her fingers, and I can't make her do that unless she wants to!). Do you think I should try a popsicle? I seriously do not know what I am going to do about this. Anyone been through something similar? She's been through a catscan and had to be sedated for that, and did alright, but it's not their normal protocol to sedate for ultrasounds, and it was a difficult experience for me to go through (the sedation process, I mean). I don't know what can be done. Anyone?

[Wife_and_mommy]

Does she have a lovey of any kind? I'd definitely take that with. Books and other "quiet" activities might help her to keep still while they get the pics they need.

Hope it's smoother than you're imagining. GL!



http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]

[Wife_and_mommy]

Does she have a lovey of any kind? I'd definitely take that with. Books and other "quiet" activities might help her to keep still while they get the pics they need.

Hope it's smoother than you're imagining. GL!


Elizabeth
mommy to DD(April '04) and DS(January '06)

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]

[writermama]

No experience but here's hoping it goes smoothly.

Maybe you can ask the tech to put the probe on your tummy first -- walk though it with the tech saying things like "That feels fine. That tickles! Oh, pretty pictures!" And then tell DD that it's her turn to play with the tummy tickler.

Good luck,

[writermama]

No experience but here's hoping it goes smoothly.

Maybe you can ask the tech to put the probe on your tummy first -- walk though it with the tech saying things like "That feels fine. That tickles! Oh, pretty pictures!" And then tell DD that it's her turn to play with the tummy tickler.

Good luck,

[lvales]

We had to have an ultrasound of DD's heart to check for a murmur. We tried everything to keep her still, showed her it didn't hurt - but she didn't get it.

I had to hold her down so they could get the pictures they needed. :( She was not quite a year old at the time.

I had to do it again 2 months later when she needed skull x-rays after she opened her gate and fell down the stairs. However, they were pressing big paddles on her head to keep it still so she was scared and there's not a thing I could have done to convince her it wouldn't hurt her.

So obviously this isn't from successful personal experience :) but I would say let them put it on your tummy first and try a lovey if she has one. Maybe bring a favorite book and read it to her while they are doing the ultrasound? Or sing a song to her - anything to distract.

Good luck!

[lvales]

We had to have an ultrasound of DD's heart to check for a murmur. We tried everything to keep her still, showed her it didn't hurt - but she didn't get it.

I had to hold her down so they could get the pictures they needed. :( She was not quite a year old at the time.

I had to do it again 2 months later when she needed skull x-rays after she opened her gate and fell down the stairs. However, they were pressing big paddles on her head to keep it still so she was scared and there's not a thing I could have done to convince her it wouldn't hurt her.

So obviously this isn't from successful personal experience :) but I would say let them put it on your tummy first and try a lovey if she has one. Maybe bring a favorite book and read it to her while they are doing the ultrasound? Or sing a song to her - anything to distract.

Good luck!

[mariza]

Are you going to a Children's Hospital? Even if it's not, call the hospital and see if they have a Life Care Specialist. DD has Kidney Reflux and has had several Ultrasounds and invasive bladder studies at Children's in Boston. She was 7 months old when diagnosed and did ok, but we had to go back just recently at 15 months and I was a nervous wreck!
I asked the Pediatric urologist about the lifecare specialist and they got me in touch with her, she was a godsend!
DD did ok with just me and DH for the ultrasound, we just surrounded her and talked to her. During the other procedure they had to insert a catheter and take x-rays. The lifecare specialist came to meet us, she brought a balloon and blew bubbles. Also, they had Baby Einstein videos and a player there, we just picked out a tape. I thought it was going to be a disaster, but I've honestly had diaper changes that were more traumatic then that!
I would definately call the hospital with your concerns, and if they don't have a similar setup ask if you can bring a portable DVD or similar to distract her. HTH, Good luck!

[nfowife]

Yes, it is a children's hospital. Mariza, I had totally forgotten about the dvds- they had a player in the room last time so I will be bringing a dvd (signing times or jack's music show) for sure!! That is a great idea, as are the bubbles, although I'm not sure the techs will be okay with that mess.
She doesn't have a lovey. I'm thinking I will just bring snacks, drinks, the dvd, and some bubbles and know it might be a difficult 30 minutes. I know we'll get through it but I'm just worried! She is still too young to really understand if I say it won't hurt or whatever.

[JTsMom]

I go through this every couple of months w/DS's heart. To make matters worse, he has to be still, calm and not cry during the 30 min test. Riiiight!

The fact that you're doing it at a children's hospital makes all the difference in the world! At least you'll be dealing with staff who works with little kids every day, and they aren't going to be expecting her to act like a 10 year old.

As for how you're going to get her to cooperate... I doubt there is a ton you can do. If she'll watch a DVD, that would be great. For Jason's last test, we got REALLY lucky and he slept through the entire thing. I didn't have any idea how we were going to do the test, but sometimes fate smiles on you. He hadn't napped the whole day, and I was freaking out b/c I figured he'd be in full tantrum mode through the whole appointment, but it worked out perfectly. If you can time her nap right (which I realize is probably impossible), that would be the best case scenario.

If it absolutely doesn't happen, they will probably have you reschedule and do it sedated, which I know stinks. We've done that too, and I dreaded it also, but it could be worse. I don't know what type of sedation they did for your DD the first time, but there are different levels they can do. One is just to use Benadryl, and that's not too traumatic (for you or DD) ;).

I have nursed him through many a test, but since that's not an option, maybe a drink or a lolipop would work? You can try singing songs, toys- don't be afraid to bring anything you think would work. A couple times I've held him while they did the test. Most techs tell you that's not possible, but sometimes you can convince them to do something like that if nothing else works.

Try not to stress. Easier said than done, but it's the best advice I can give you. There's only so much you can do, the staff knows that, and one way or the other it'll work out.

Good luck!