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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What fresh hell is this?

72 replies

Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 13:27

Dd had 8 week jabs this morning and was given the rotavirus vaccines as drops on the tongue. The nurse told me to be careful when touching, kissing and changing nappies as it's a live vaccine and could cause sickness and diarrhoea. I'm a serious emetophobe so this has really freaked me out.

My older dc never had this vaccine as it's apparently quite new. Has anyone actually gotten ill from this? Is it passed in the same way as a bug? She was sick after the post vaccine calpol and clearing all that up made me feel anxious.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 28/06/2022 13:30

Bit dramatic to call it a “fresh hell”

it is possible to pick it up from the vaccine but a, unlikely and b, would be very mild. It’s mostly recommended that you’re careful if you’re immunocompromised

if you just wash your hands after handling nappies (which hopefully you do anyway) then you should be fine

Hugasauras · 28/06/2022 13:32

Yes it's possible but good handwashing hygiene should prevent it. Just make sure you wash thoroughly after nappy changes, which you're probably doing already anyway.

Original poster
Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 13:33

@ShirleyPhallus possibly dramatic but as I mentioned I have a big phobia of this sort of stuff and particularly getting ill myself. I wasn't sure if it was likely that you might get sick from it or if the nurses are just covering all bases as I've never had any experience of it before.

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 28/06/2022 13:43

Rotavirus causes diarrhea, so your daughter is getting a vaccine to prevent this. You should be over the moon!

10HailMarys · 28/06/2022 13:50

It's highly unlikely but I understand why it's anxiety-inducing for you if you're emetophobic. The usual hygiene precautions should be fine - no need to get out a hazmat suit!

Not really the point of your post, I know, but ... is it not incredibly difficult caring for babies and small children when you have emetophobia? I'm also somewhat emetophobic and although I don't have kids, I've often wondered how people manage. Or is it only being ill yourself that scares you? Either way - bloody well done you for soldiering on through with it, because it must make you really anxious.

Original poster
Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 13:51

I am! I'm just frightened of getting sick myself. I can deal with the kids poo and puke but getting it myself makes me incredibly anxious and panicky. Might sound daft but there we are.

So if dd was sick and I got some on my hand then touched the door handle for example, could I potentially get sick the same as if it were an active bug by touching the handle?

OP posts:
Original poster
Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 13:54

@10HailMarys cross post sorry, yes I can deal with the kids bodily functions a lot easier. Partly because there is no choice! And partly because I don't think kids sick is quite as offensive as adults. For me the feeling of being sick or having to dash to the loo is the worst. Its sheer panic. And the fear of that happening is what makes me super anxious about bugs.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 28/06/2022 13:54

To say “but there we are” sounds like you have just decided this is how things will always be. You can change how you feel about this. Do seek help.

GG1986 · 28/06/2022 13:54

You will be fine, but you need to make sure you throughly wash your hands after changing babys nappies, which I am sure you do anyway x

DuggeeHugPlease · 28/06/2022 13:58

I was told this too but don't know anyone who has actually got sick. As long as you wash your hands you should be fine.

Mrbay · 28/06/2022 13:59

Yep!
My husband kissed our daughter straight after, he is an idiot!
Had one or two episodes of diarrhoea and that was it. I didn't get it.

Whilst it's a live vaccine, it's very mild, my baby only had one or two terrible nappies.

Charlavail · 28/06/2022 14:07

I kissed DS basically non stop after his as I forgot they said it straight away. Nothing happened!

TheWayoftheLeaf · 28/06/2022 14:12

Just wash your hands and antibacterial the handles if you think you got sick on them.

HoppingPavlova · 28/06/2022 14:12

To be honest if you have a phobia where you can’t deal with vomit (or diarrhoea), then wouldn’t you think twice about kids up front? They are balls of puke and poop, often spreading the love around, for the first several years of their lives and that’s perfectly normal and expected, not some weird one off surprise.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 28/06/2022 14:14

HoppingPavlova · 28/06/2022 14:12

To be honest if you have a phobia where you can’t deal with vomit (or diarrhoea), then wouldn’t you think twice about kids up front? They are balls of puke and poop, often spreading the love around, for the first several years of their lives and that’s perfectly normal and expected, not some weird one off surprise.

As she's said she's fine with the kids sick etc it's just her own she fears.

And it's a bit harsh to say emetaphobes shouldn't have kids... she clearly decided the risk was worth it.

MissNothing1991 · 28/06/2022 14:17

Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 13:51

I am! I'm just frightened of getting sick myself. I can deal with the kids poo and puke but getting it myself makes me incredibly anxious and panicky. Might sound daft but there we are.

So if dd was sick and I got some on my hand then touched the door handle for example, could I potentially get sick the same as if it were an active bug by touching the handle?

To be honest I'm not a massive fan of being sick myself. That being said, I'd sooner that I got sick and dealt with it as an adult, than preferring my child to get sick and just 'dealing with it'. I'd deal with it five times worse happily if it stopped my kid getting something.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 28/06/2022 14:18

Sounds like you need some counselling.

You know as your kids get older, their vomit will become 'more adult.?

Also depends what they have been eating.

So if dd was sick and I got some on my hand then touched the door handle for example, could I potentially get sick the same as if it were an active bug by touching the handle?

Please educate yourself a bit.

Lipsandlashes · 28/06/2022 14:20

My DD had this as a baby (she is 8 now - so it’s not that new) and I (like an idiot) kissed her to soothe her after her vaccines. I had one bout of violent vomiting and that was it.

user1471481356 · 28/06/2022 14:20

This vaccine has been around for years and years in Australia. We’re told to be hyper vigilant about hand washing for a week after the vaccine. I did get sick a few days after my son had one of the doses and I assume it was from that. Around 12 hours of vomiting, then it was over.

TeapotTitties · 28/06/2022 14:23

They used to give exactly the same warning after Polio drops many years ago. Just wash your hands well after nappy changing.

Original poster
Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 14:23

@MissNothing1991 sorry at what point did I say I'd rather my kids get sick? I'd rather none of us got sick, surely that's obvious Confused

What a bizarre comment.

My question was had anyone actually gotten poorly from contact with their dc after they had this vaccine. I asked because I've never had any experience of this one as it wasn't routine when my other dc were vaccinated as babies. Yet somehow that's descended into questioning whether or not I should even have kids and the suggestion than I'd rather they get sick than me. Only on MN....

OP posts:
10HailMarys · 28/06/2022 14:25

Jazzyjeff44 · 28/06/2022 13:54

@10HailMarys cross post sorry, yes I can deal with the kids bodily functions a lot easier. Partly because there is no choice! And partly because I don't think kids sick is quite as offensive as adults. For me the feeling of being sick or having to dash to the loo is the worst. Its sheer panic. And the fear of that happening is what makes me super anxious about bugs.

@Jazzyjeff44 I totally understand where you're coming from. I know exactly what you mean about the feeling of panic.

bumpytrumpy · 28/06/2022 14:27

I don't understand why the vaccine doesn't make the kids sick but makes adults who kiss them sick. I know it's "live" but why does that make a difference

Loki01 · 28/06/2022 14:27

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 28/06/2022 14:18

Sounds like you need some counselling.

You know as your kids get older, their vomit will become 'more adult.?

Also depends what they have been eating.

So if dd was sick and I got some on my hand then touched the door handle for example, could I potentially get sick the same as if it were an active bug by touching the handle?

Please educate yourself a bit.

I think its a valid question from non expert. I say that as a microbiologist.

Ponderingwindow · 28/06/2022 14:28

I’m really curious about this. We have always been instructed that no one in the household can have a live vaccine because of DH, but there have always been other options available.

No one young enough to be getting a rotavirus vaccine so not really something we need to worry about, just curiosity and I guess something to pay attention to if we go visit anyone with an infant.