To be baffled by British attitudes towards suppositories?

[AnotherGirlsParadise]

I spent a few years living in Paris, where suppositories are pretty much favoured over oral medications - they work FAST, even for a sore throat, and you don't have to deal with your DC spitting out a load of Calpol and not getting any better in the process. I recently brought a haul of children's paracetamol suppositories home after a visit, and the response I've had from other parents here has been frankly quite upsetting, ranging from 'inappropriate' to 'surely that's abuse?'

So, AIBU to think people should be a little more openminded? And for the record, a suppository is easily popped in, involves no more touching than using a wipe does, and doesn't distress the child in any way. It just seems to me that because it goes through the 'other end', it's all WRONG WRONG WRONG to some.

People have opinions that differ from yours.

I don't know that I would feel violated but a smear is totally different, you're an adult, you choose to get up on the bench, you understand what's about to happen, you give informed consent.

Your baby is not an adult and therefore relies on you to make decisions in their best interest. Really by this logic, we shouldn't vaccinate kids because they can't give informed consent. Shots are far more traumatizing to a child than a rectal temp.

Petite I didn't say it was effective, I said it would feel wrong. The thought is horrifying. As is putting something up my child's bum.

I'm not saying YOU are wrong, or violating or anything. I am saying I am not comfortable doing it. I don't see why you think I'm so wrong for having an opinion that most people from my culture share.

We also defaecate with our bums and while I accept the 'It's an exit only' argument, it is quite obvious projection from adults who've undergone social conditioning to object to it on 'violation' grounds.
Just like I, and thousands, nay millions, like me have been socially conditioned to have absolutely no problem with it

You don't like the idea of it, don't do it.
Just don't rule it out - there can be sound medical reasons for it.

But taking a rectal temperature is in no way a violation of their body littlebairn . It is far less a violation than the ob gyn exams we undergo as an adult. It is less a disturbance than sticking a thermometer in the mouth of a baby.

And as for needing an exact temperature. You are possibly right. Though my kids in nursery could go in if their temp was 38.4, but not 38.5. Even if they were well in themselves. (And yes, nursery also used rectal thermometers an d suppositories for babies)

Ah, well, I have a massive problem with injection as a normal medical procedure as well because I find it very traumatic. But that's definitely me being weird. I did get my child vaccinated. I wish there was a non injection alternative, because he is also terrified (and I did not show or pass on my fear to him, even going to the trouble to bring along a friend who is very comfortable with injections. Still took three of us to hold him down for the preschool boosters :( )

Petite, I said earlier that if it was the only viable option I'd have to get over it, and I would.

I'd rather give my child a suppository than an injection, actually. But that's not usually an option. Presumably it's a different kind of medicine, I don't know how it works.

I am not saying you or anyone is wrong. Just as baffled as you obviously are and trying to explain my pov. As you are :)

bulbasuar Thank you for the patronisation I don't need therapy. The typical sneer of posters like you that don't like to accept people have opinions.

Comparing a common medical procedure to being violated trivializes sexual abuse. It is not violating to do a medical procedure for your health and wellness. That has nothing to do with you having the opinion that you personally don't like the idea.

:)

Interesting that you feel it's worse for a baby to have their temperature taken by mouth, because I didn't find mine minded at all, although armpit was easiest.

You can buy thermometers which are shaped like a dummy for babies to suck on, I believe.

I reckon the nursery policy is probably based on the availability and wide use of accurate thermometers? I've never heard a policy that exact in the UK.

Well we will have to disagree them because I do believe penetrating someone's body without their consent is violating regardless of how common it is in practice. Thankfully not so much in the UK.

Ah, well, I have a massive problem with injection as a normal medical procedure as well because I find it very traumatic. But that's definitely me being weird. I did get my child vaccinated. I wish there was a non injection alternative

Me too. I hate watching her in pain. They had an oral one once but I guess it's just not the norm.

I just did what was expected over here in France. I never gave it a second thought tbh. It's just the norm here. It's only conversations such as this which made me wonder why it is so bad.

I also see injections as an unfortunate and far more intrusive fact of life.

And above post should read as perceived as so bad.

petite I've never really know a baby (I've cared for many) to object to a thermometer in the mouth or armpit or ear.
There is nothing comparable about a medical procedure we consent too as an adult and that of a baby. Especially when there is no other way to do a Gyno procedure but there are other methods for taking a temp.

Bulbasaur I think the rotavirus vaccine is given orally. And one of the flu vaccinations. No idea why some are and some aren't.

Yeah, I was one of the last lot to get the oral Polio vaccine, it was great, someone told me after eights are the best thing to mask the taste so I wandered around school munching on chocolate mints! Other people said "Eurgh, I'd rather have had two injections" (as we had TB at the same time). I found the TB one awful and wished that every vaccination could have been oral. I wouldn't care how bad it tasted. I don't faint either, I just find it extremely painful and frightening. Can just about cope with blood tests, they don't hurt as much, but the intra muscular ones - awful.

Littlebairn I have never known a baby to object to a suppository or rectal temperature taking either.

Someone upthread wondered how we teach French kids to be aware of private parts. Same way you do. Doctors and parents sometimes need to look. Consent is important. My 3yo knows that sometimes I need to look and put cream down there. She allows it. Am fairly sure that if a random person other than me, DH or a doctor tried to look/apply cream she would object. She knows that it is private, but that sometimes needs must (she gets thrush).

I can't imagine what some people on this thread would make of vaginal pessaries!

Interesting that you feel it's worse for a baby to have their temperature taken by mouth, because I didn't find mine minded at all, although armpit was easiest.

Mine chews on it, and melts down when I have to hold her arm against her side. It's just easiest to give her a toy to play with while I take it rectally. She's content and it's stress free. When she's old enough to understand how to take her temp orally or hold still while it's under her arm, we can take it from there.

Really, babies are not going to be traumatized because they are not at a point psychologically where they need body autonomy or independence yet. It's the same reason dressing your baby in an embarrassing outfit is ok, but not for your 6 year old. You're not stripping a baby of any independence or choice because they don't need those yet. They are hard wired for total dependence. It's why they're not going to be traumatized by things like shots, stupid Christmas photos, and medical procedures.

DD had to go to the hospital with a fever and get a catheter for a urine analysis which you could tell was painful for her. She isn't, and won't be traumatized by it, just like she won't be traumatized by vaccines, because she didn't have the need to say no in the first place.

You can teach children that when it comes to the health of your body, you need to do certain things you may not like and it's important to do so and take care of yourself. That includes, shots, suppositories, medication, etc...

Boo do they give them to children, why?
I've had them to induce labour.

Well, I wish they were more frequently prescribed in the UK. Two GP friends of mine have told me DH (who suffers from renal colic chronically - stones) should ask for diclofenac suppositories and he got the face and 'Oooh no no no' from his own GP. Apparently diclofenac up the bum is the most efficient way of dealing with kidney stone pain.

I have to use them sometimes because I have Ulcerative Colitis.They're bloody horrible I hope to god none of my 5DC or my DH ever have to use anything like it.

bloody*

Bairn i have not had any of mine prescribed vaginal pessaries, I assume that is because they would be painful due to hymen . But may be wrong. No such issue with rectal meds.

I have had them for thrush and as antibiotics though, as well as for birth induction. V painfree too.