Terrified of mmr vaccinations

[Rosiebelle17]

Hi
My twins are due mmr vaccinations in a few weeks and I’m terrified
They had bad reactions to previous vaccinations with very high temperatures and were sick for weeks
I’m crying writing this as I’m so scared
My doctor just fobbed me off
She was very rude

Yes, definitely take along a favoured treat to give to the DC afterwards.

I always gave paracetamol within an hour of the injection. It gives DC time to start feeling a bit off before administering it but not a long enough period of time for them to be feeling awful. So, preventative and proactive at the same time. It also means you're not wasting an hour of your precious paracetamol re-dose waiting period.

Do you know how to safely alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol so they are overlapping in their pain relief? If not, ask the nurse or GP to explain it to you.

It is so difficult with twins. Can you take a friend who they're familiar with? It might even be better if you're not in the room if them you're this anxious. I think they prefer you not to give Calpol beforehand because they need to know the baby is their normal self after the injection. Calpol won't help much with the very short pain, and a temperature wouldn't kick in very soon anyway - afterward, like @whatwouldjasonbournedo says is fine. Despite what you say, I'd be tempted to get them done separately because it's so hard on you if they're both ill at once and you sound like you're on your own without back up.

Do either of the kids have allergies? Sometimes vacs involved traces of egg and kids can have a reaction.

If they get feverish (my DC1 had a raised temperature with MMR ten days after the jab, which is when the measles bit kicks in), give them Calpol, it lowers the temperature. If a temperature is really bad you can alternate between Calpol and infant ibuprofen every four hours to stay on top of it (as @whatwouldjasonbournedo says. Don't bundle them up too much or the temperature will get worse.

If you're anxious, they will feed off that. You sound phobic about this. The doctor fobbed you off, but who gives the jab at your practice? Could you speak to the reception team and explain you need support with this - always start with 'I know my children need their vaccinations, but...'. They will just think you are an anti-vaxxer muppet otherwise. There is a school of thought that a lot of anti-vaxxers are actually phobic about vaccinations and if you dealt with that anxiety better you might win some over. My surgery has two nurses do vacs together. Could you speak to one in the week before the appointment and explain your concerns. Or could a health visitor help you - explain how exhausted you were with the other jabs and get their sympathy. Could they speak to the practice for you. There must be someone who can help on the day.

A friend of mine's mum had a bad experience with her eldest child's MMR. My friend was her second child and she didn't give her the MMR. Friend got measles. Measles was so horrific that she didn't hesitate to get her third and fourth child done. If your kids got a bad reaction to the early jabs, that could be about what those jabs were for (eg whooping cough is part of both of those sets of jabs). Again, speak to an HV about it? Hope it goes better this time.

I didn't mean so much of that to be in bold 😆

I think calpol is not advised not to reduce reliance on painkillers, but because it is anti-inflammatory and in some children can smudge the immune response to the vaccine, effectively rendering the vaccination useless.

Ilovecranberries You need to be very sure what you’re posting as it is the standard advice to give Calpol with all or the vaccinations for Men B. You saying on here that it might make them not work could be risky.

Paracetamol is not anti-inflammatory @Ilovecranberries. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are. And paracetamol does not in any way stop the vaccinations from working, you suggesting that is incorrect and dangerous.

Speak to the nurse administering the jabs OP - they will support you in whichever way they can.

The NHS advice is not to give paracetamol before any vaccination, and not to give it routinely after the 1 year ones. This is because there is a risk that it can reduce the immune response.

Following the introduction of the MenB vaccine at 8 and 16 weeks the advice changed specifically for these vaccinations because the risk of a high temperature after the MenB is thought to be higher than the risk of a reduced immune response.

If a child develops a temperature or appears to be in pain following any vaccination they can have a dose of paracetamol as again the benefit outweighs the risk, but it should not be given routinely after any other vaccine than MenB.

Following the MMR the reaction may not occur until 5-10 days later when there may be a short lived rash or high temperature. In this situation it’s fine to give paracetamol.

NHS leaflet

@Tini17
I actually did not say anything about paracetamol, but about calpol, which actually has paracetamol + ibuprofen as active ingredients in many infant formulations.

Here you go, a study. I am not a medical professional, but researched this topic when mine had their immunisations.

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/paracetamol-affects-childhood-jabs/

@Ilovecranberries calpol has only got paracetamol in, hence the lab on the from that stipulates paracetamol. Calprofen has only got ibuprofen in.

@EveningNibble
You are right, they are different suspensions, but in very similar bottles.

Odd how people are answering this assuming she has concerns about vaccinating rather than the logistics of caring for twins that are having bad reactions afterwards.

I have no advice but would it be possible to stagger their vaccinations so you’d only have to deal with one sick and crying baby at a time? Or would you rather get it all over with?

@Ilovecranberries I’m not sure where you buy Calpol from but in the UK, it is just paracetamol plus some colourings and stabilisers. It does not have ibuprofen in it.

I just remember that calpol had ibuprofen because I gave it when one of mine had chickenpox (also thinking it is paracetamol based), and then read the label and freaked out.

@Tini17
Yes, I was wrong - it seems that calpol has paracetamol and calprofen has ibuprofen (they look very simar though!). I apologise for the confusion. My point on paracetamol reducing the immune response still stands though (see the link above)

Wow please dont take medical advice from mumsnet. If you are anxious ring your Health Visiter and ask for an appointment to discuss immunisation.
Without knowing your twins medical history , even a doctor or nurse wouldnt comment.
Sorry you are feeling stressed OP. Twins are hard work and if one has had reflux very tiring. Grab all the support you can get.

Are you not the poster who posted about her annoying mil coming round all the time? Enlist her help. And your husband should be doing more than his fair share when they are ill. Can't he take them to get them done?

I guarantee how you feel now is absolutely nothing in comparison to of they contracted one of those diseases.

Your babies are going to pick up on your anxiety and be fractious.
Perhaps it would be better for them if someone else took them.

Mine were all fine after their MMR’s and I was happy that they were covered from nasty diseases that can be life changing and life threatening.

[quote Ilovecranberries]@EveningNibble
You are right, they are different suspensions, but in very similar bottles.[/quote]
Jesus wept.

Hi OP

I think it's the meningitis virus thsts most likely to give them a temperature, that's the most common one anyway. My daughter had a high temp for over 48 hours after that one. And some kids do react badly to the rotavirus as it is a live virus and can make them ill. It gave one of mine a funny tummy for a couple of weeks. Both worth it in my opinion as rotavirus hospitalises babies, and meningitis kills.

Both of mine were fine with the MMR. It's less likely to cause a fever etc I think and they are that bit older with better immune systems. Also they are at an age where you can bribe them with chocolate!! What I would do if possible is make sure one doesnt see the other being done first as it might put them off. If not, more chocolate!

@Ilovecranberries

I think calpol is not advised not to reduce reliance on painkillers, but because it is anti-inflammatory and in some children can smudge the immune response to the vaccine, effectively rendering the vaccination useless.

Calpol (paracetamol) is not an anti inflammatory pain relief; ibuprofen, however, is one. Then recommend you wait until after immunisations time give calpol so you don’t mask an existing temperature as it is advised not to immunise of the child already has a high temperature.

@Bitchinkitchen
Well - you can take me as an example of your average idiotic mum who had no idea of that an ibuprofen-based very similar product from the same manufacturer exists, and definitely bought it as "calpol" from some chemist (I would have never asked for "calprofen", I even had no idea it exists, not British and not familiar with the local medication names). But if I am the only one, it is actually a relief to me.

It does not invalidate my earlier point though that calpol is not advised by the NHS because there is (weak) evidence that it can affect the immune response, not because they are concerned about the child becoming dependent on the pain killers.

How old are your twins? Recommendation of first dose 12-15 months . Second 4-6 years.

A MenB booster is part of the 1 year vaccinations, so paracetamol afterwards is still advised.

This must be so hard with twins, OP. My son had a bad reaction to early vaccines esp 16 weeks. Up all night screaming. Nothing happened with MMR - hope it's ok for you