I have never worked with anyone who has worn gloves, and they always use the first spot...eeek!
One mentor, who i really respect, actually gets a bowl of warm water and washes the foot of the baby. She is the only one i have seen do it, but it realy helps with perfusion. Also, as it isn't exactly a sterile procedure but has to be very clean due to new cystic fibrosis testing, i think it helps. Other mentors i have seen clean the foot and then rub it up, which doesn't really help as they 'contaminate' it agaion! doh!
A retest costs £80 in our trust....yikes!
x

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STMW 2nd year - no, really!

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I was taught without gloves, bit like venepuncture and trying to do it with gloves is hard.

Yes I always wipe the first blood spot away and I was doing PKUs on day 5 in the community in year 1. It as to be day 5 to ensure the babe has ingested enough milk to be able to test that they are metabolising it properly, aswell as for the screening tests. Any later than day 5 is putting potentially ill babies at risk

I watched my mentor a few times and then I just got on with them. I feel I have a knack with them and always manage to get blood and most of the time the babes dont cry, I put it down to being taught my a master PKU'er! lol

Have a look at our screening glossary item.. http://www.studentmidwife.net/student-midwives-glossary-definition-terms/3246-screening.html#post19410

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director



MidwiferyWorld.NET our sister site for Senior Students and Midwives is now live, tell your mentors and tutors!

I know this is wandering but is still based on the same topic, I wipe the 1st spot away, as path lab and mentors have told me to do so, and yes it does say on the back (i'm pretty sure anyway), as its contaminated, have also seen mw's do the bowl of warm water/jug as it works well, some say vaseline too, but path lab say no no no (in an amy winehouse type way-honest).
I like to hold babes either across my knee, or with mum feeding them, or as you would cuddle a babe, against you, lean back on the chair, support babe with one arm and do bloodspot with other, helps catch drips well.
Oh and we can't double/triple spot either, its a one spot shop!!

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

oh yes, no double spotting thank you very much - instant rejection!
I am going to put my hands up and say i am RUBBISH at performing the PKU, my success rate is pretty low. I don't really know why though. I guess it will come like everything else does....eventually!
x

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Student Mentor Scheme Manager
STMW 2nd year - no, really!

Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

Asked my mentor ysterday and she said you are supposed to wear gloves although many people choose not to. She said it can be a bit of a lazy practice as people assume that because mums bloods are ok, so it babys and yours. But she would always expect me to wear gloves as a student.

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I can see where your mentor is coming from, but I know for me it isn't lazyness. I just feel very cackhanded when wearing gloves.

I also never take a womans negative test for anything as gospel. She may have a negative HIV test etc, but what is to say that she won't develop or become infected with something during her pregnancy!

http://www.screening.nhs.uk/bloodspot/index.htm

This is a really useful website for all things screening.

I was taught without gloves and wouldn't do it any other way!

the PKU out of my 3 children all midwives have worn gloves but never wore gloves examining the baby thats both on community hope that helps xx

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Proud Mummy Of: Morgan 3 & Angharad 9 Months
& 2 Beautiful Angels Benjamin 2 years & Baby Angel 5 weeks Gestation x

Thanks guys. My mentor asked me today if I will feel OK to do one with a mum and baby tomo that I witnessed I said YES wish me luck!

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HI I actually had some training on newborn blood spot screening today, and they confirmed then that the midwife should wipe the first spot away, i must admit i have not witnessed seeing any midwife do that, i have yet to do this procedure but at least now i know

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UCS STUDENT MIDWIFE JAN 08