Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

HELP! My LO had his first immunization at 8 weeks today and is really distressed.

28 replies

Lulabellx1 · 04/12/2007 20:53

He has been crying since 6pm and wont even go to the breast. If ever he is upset usually, i can just put him to the breast and he will calm down. He is crying even when i put him to me, and he has never donw that before.

I dont know how we can console him and feel awful!

Now i dont want to take him for his follow up jabs in 4 weeks time too.

Any advice would be really apriciated... i need to calm him down.

Lu xx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PuppyDogTails · 04/12/2007 20:55

My DS was exactly the same and I realised it was actually his tender legs that were bothering him - can you try to feed him without pressing on the sore bits? Since the first time, I have always put little plasters on the puncture wounds so that I can see them and don't knock them accidentally.

Kammy · 04/12/2007 21:07

This is quite normal after first injections - usually 2nd and 3rd are fine. I was advised to give Calpol - ring nhs direct and they will advise.
I remember how awful it was and it was 6 years ago for us!

Flier · 04/12/2007 21:11

have you given calpol? If he hasn't calmed down after some calpol, I'd give nhs24 a ring.

Flier · 04/12/2007 21:12

btw i disagree that this is "normal" after 1st injections.

Kammy · 04/12/2007 21:19

Sorry, 'normal' not the right word! Maybe 'quite common' would be better.

Tovik · 04/12/2007 21:59

watch him like a hawk is all i can say
don't go to sleep if you possibly can help it!
five viruses all at once plus all the chemicals that go with them
not surprising he's upset
plus i'm a fortune teller -- if you phone nhs direct they will tell you it's quite common and to give calpol
but phone them anyway and keep phoning them if he doesn't calm down, and if he does calm down keep watching him and tomorrow night too
make a note of all his reactions and all the non-feeds etc
tell nhs direct or any other medical personnel you come into contact with and make sure they write it down
good luck
as for calming him down now, i'm sure you know as his mum what he likes and what soothes him, and if these things don't work especially feeding -- he needs watching even when he's asleep
i'm sorry it's not very nice advice but there are profound risks involved one in a million whatever -- but it happens to someone doesn't it? on the day one of sally clark's sons died he had been vaccinated.
sorry to be scary , best wishes, i hope it's nothing but leg pain

notnowbernard · 04/12/2007 22:05

Tovik, you are obviously entitled to your opinion... but really!

You screech scaremongering!

Your post contains some valid points, but I suggest you try and gain some diplomatic skill and aim for a more tactful and sensitive response.

Lu, I would suggest giving your out of hrs GP a call just to let them know the situation. I did this with dd1 after a similar reaction, they were really helpful.

Hope he settles soon

Tovik · 04/12/2007 22:06

how else should i put it? on the day sally's clark's son died he had not been vaccinated?

pistachio · 04/12/2007 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notnowbernard · 04/12/2007 22:10

I don't know if I can explain myself any better.

As I said, you made some valid points but the manner in which they were said was really quite alarmist.

'Watch him like a hawk'

'Don't go to sleep if you can help it'

'5 viruses in one go I'm not suprised he's upset'

Do you know what I mean?

Tovik · 04/12/2007 22:10

It's a tough message.. most babies are ok -- a tiny percentage aren't.
most mums can go to sleep and let their babies sleep it off -- for tiny percentage it ends disastrously
tiny minute percentage yes
but it's one hundred per cent of your child
i am one voice amid many others saying it'll be fine (probably including gps, nhs direct etc)
where's the harm in watching..

Tovik · 04/12/2007 22:11

sorry i cross posted with you
not up for a row at all.. nor for scaring the pants of a new mum
i don't really see what you mean though, and I don't take any of it back

NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 04/12/2007 22:13

Right I've never done this before but Tovik - just shut up would you?

You've given your view, no need to keep on and on.

Tovik · 04/12/2007 22:14

oh sod off

notnowbernard · 04/12/2007 22:15

Ok Tovik, all I'm saying is there are ways of delivering sensitive and potentially worrying information on an internet forum.

The way your initial post read freaked me out, and I'm not the one who's just had my baby immunised.

Not up for a row either

Tovik · 04/12/2007 22:16

lullabell not you
hope the baby's ok and feeding soon

sandcastles · 04/12/2007 22:21

My dd was very distressed after her first lot of jabs. She didn't drink much either.

Nothing would calm her down for a few hours. Eventually she calmed down, but she had to be lying chest to chest with dh or I. She didn;twant to be touched much, either. She spent the whole night like that & if disturbed she would start again.

It is a huge shock for a little body to cope with. The next day she was still grumpy, but much improved.

The following jabs she was upset, but no where near on the level of the first.

soapbox · 04/12/2007 22:22

Is the site of the injection red and angry and bigger than the size of a 10p piece?

Is the crying a kind of high pitched screeching (or more high pitched then normal)?

How is her temperature?

The real issue for piece of mind is not with the reaction to these injections, but reaction to the second set. Typically severe allergic reactions only occur after the second and subsequent exposure to the allergen, not on the first exposure. So give calpol as necessary to deal with the current situation and go to the GP to discuss whether second set of injections should be given in controlled circumstances, i.e. in hospital.

Obviously if she becomes more unwell and floppy or temp rising remarkably then go straight to A&E.

soapbox · 04/12/2007 22:23

That should of course say 'peace of mind'

TheTwelveDAISYOfChristmas · 04/12/2007 22:28

lulabell, I hope your DS has settled down some.

Have you given calpol? and were you advised to do so?

My DD was fine initially with hers then was inconsolable for about two hours as well, even after calpol. Next day she was as right as rain. She was fine with 2nd lot, less fine with third lot. I think there is one in paritcular (pnuemococcal?) that causes distress.

I hope you have been reassured by most of the posts here, that, yes, this is quite normal, and that Tovik hasn't given you the fright of your life

Tovik......how can lulabell be expected to calm her son down when you have worked her up into a frenzy. I love MN as it is a supportive, friendly place, but I think your posts have been neither supportive nor friendly, and talking about sally clark...well, there is a time and a place. I don't think this is it. Yes there is a one in a million chance.......there is less chance than that of being run over by a bus, but we cross roads everyday. A little perspective here please!

notnowbernard · 04/12/2007 22:45

Lu, hope your ds has settled down.

Let us know how things go

spanielsmom · 04/12/2007 23:06

I had exactly the same with my ds and as he was my first, I did not know what to do, he screamed for 3 hours while I kept phoning the surgery, and my neighbour even came round to check on me. I now wish that at the time I had been more confident about giving him Calpol - because once I spoke to the duty doctor and gave him the recommended dose, he calmed down very quickly.

When I went back for next set of injections, I gave him calpol just before he had them and I sat in the waiting room after the immunisation for about 45 mins, just to make sure he did not have another reaction. The Nurses were great and very understanding and it all went fine. He is now a great and very bright little boy.

Make a note of which injection caused the reaction - which side is sore, or possibly inflamed and as soapbox suggested, discuss with your doctor or nurse about best way to give next set.

Original poster

Lulabellx1 · 05/12/2007 10:20

Thanks to everyone who posted, Little one calmed down after 3 hours and a dose of calpole. He is a little hotter then usual and slightly grumpy today but all in all much better and feeding well.

Tovik, I know you were just trying to give words of wisdom but suggesting i stay up all night and not sleep and watch him like a hawk was a bit harsh. Im glad i finally did get some sleep as it means i am in a fit state to look after him today. Maybe you should approach these sorts of subjects a bit more carefully, as if i read your message last night i really think you would have put me in even more of a panic.

Regards
Lu xx

OP posts:

notnowbernard · 05/12/2007 11:54

Glad all is well this morning

Flier · 05/12/2007 12:45

lulabellx1 glad all is well, one of th ebest bits of advice I was given by my health visitor was to try and get a morning, beginning of the week appointment for any immunisations. That way, if you have any concerns after them you should be able to speak to a gp. She also advised to always give calpol immediately after - some people may disagree with that, but I liked to do this,
hth

Flip

1 2