hate needles, love emla

It's May, which means it's almost June, which means it's time for CYBERMUMMY!

For those of you who may not know, it is the UK's first conference for blogging parents and in my case, kids!

Last year I had to convince mami to go. She wasn't very sure, but I advised her that it was best for her to go and meet so many of our blog friends!

This year we have been very lucky to be sponsored by emla. 

I wish we had known about them sooner. See, emla is a special cream that goes on your skin BEFORE getting your vaccinations and it takes away the pain. It's like magic!

I cannot tell you how many times I have had needles stuck into me and it HURTS! OOOOOUCH! 

And it doesn't just help those who are getting the shots but it helps ease the nerves of people who are afraid of needles, like papi. Just the thought of a needle makes him lightheaded and he needs to take a seat.

Mami says it's just an act, but I've seen him get really pale. Poor papi.

Anyway, it's also good for when you donate blood or have to get travel vaccinations. I had to get a few before going to Chile and it was not fun!


This is how it works:

First you have to make sure that the area of the skin you are going to apply the cream is clean and dry. If you are a little hairy, you may have to shave the area before putting on the cream. Sorry!

Squeeze half a 5g tube of emla cream onto the area where the needle will go, but only about the size of a 50p coin.

For more specific instructions, depending on age, part of the body or procedures, usage timings may be as little as 10 minutes, but check the leaflet to be sure.

 

Take one of the bandages and remove the centre cut-out piece. Peel the protective paper away from the underside. Cover the emla cream with the dressing so that you get a thick layer underneath. 

Do not spread out the cream. Press down the edges firmly to avoid leakage. 

 

Remove the paper frame. They suggest you write the time of application onto the dressing. 

Remember that emla must be applied at least one hour before the procedure and can be left in place for up to five hours for adults and four hours for children. 

The longer the cream stays on, the better the anaesthetic effect. That means you won't feel it.

emla is available without a prescription from your local pharmacy and they will also be at CyberMummy! But if you do have any questions, you can ask mami.

Have you tried emla? What did you think? Let us know!