Calpol and bf question

[Spudthecat]

I have my babies first jabs coming up next week and I was told to bring the red book and calpol, I don't want to give anything other than breast milk until 6 months so would prefer not to give calpol, would it be ok not to??

Paediatric paracetamol (calpol) is recommended because the Meningitis B element of the baby vaccinations is likely to cause your baby to have a raised temperature. It is medicine and you would be sensible to follow the recommendations for your baby's well being.
There may also be occasions when your baby may need other medicines before he/she is six months, such as antibiotics should he/she have an infection. Are you seriously saying you would not follow medical advice if the need arises?

If it was something serious then yes I would but I don't think it's needed for injections, I read about the virgin gut so don't want to effect it by giving calpol

DS had his 16 week injections last week. For all three lots (8, 12 and 16 week) he was unwell afterwards. He had a raised temp for the 8 and 16 week ones where meningitis B is given, as pp said. He was also in considerable discomfort for all three in the days that followed. The calpol really helped him each time.

I ebf until 23 months... calpol will help if he comes down with a temperature or any other symptoms. Its slightly cruel for such a tiny to suffer that unnecessarily.
They wouldn't recommend it if it wasn't safe.

For gods sake, it's to prevent a fever in the poor baby, do you enjoy having a fever? let him/her have it!

I bf both my kids for over a year. Am very pro breastfeeding etc etc etc but I would never deny an uncomfortable baby with a temperature a dose of Calpol to make him/her feel better. It's a bit cruel.

There is a risk of increased temperature after the meningitis B vaccine, and if little babies temperature goes too high there is a risk that they could have a febrile seizure. It's a small risk admittedly, but serious enough consequences so the guidance now is to give 3 doses of paracetamol after those injections, which will keep their temperature down. I wouldn't take the risk of not giving it, and you're probably going to have to give calpol or other medications at some point anyway, like for teething etc.

I think you would be bordering on cruel not to give calpol. Babies have been having it for many years. It is safe.

It's not the safety aspect just didn't want to give anything other them bm, my others never needed anything for teething as it's never bothered then

The definition of exclusively breastfed allows for vitamins, minerals and medicines to be administered, see this link from the WHO:

www.who.int/features/qa/21/en/

2.5ml of sugar and colour free calpol will not destroy your baby's virgin gut. Also, according to the virgin gut theory, it will be repaired following 2 weeks or so of only breastmilk.

I understand where you're coming from Spud. There's a risk of a fever, but not every risk materialises. Is there any research you can find to help you make a decision?

I gave Calpol to my exclusively BF DD when she got a fever. This happened twice after shots. I didn't give it preventively but definitely when needed.

After first lot of jabs DS was burning up, and that was after I had given the immediate calpol dose as recommended. I continued to dose with baby ibruprofen and calpol through the night. Honestly, I was terrified. DS is also ebf and I was reluctant to give calpol but I am so glad I did. Doctors don't recommend drugs for babies for fun, it's because of the risks associated with the fever.

Please read up on the risks of a high uncontrolled fever before you decide to ignore medical advice.

One of the vaccinations is given orally so if you are strictly going for the no breastmilk until 6 Months thing you're going to have to refuse that too...

I fed mine until they were 2, DS 3 is 5 months old and exclusively breastfed. I've never given them any food other than breastmilk until 6 months. But I gave them calpol if they were in pain, and they had all the vaccines.

You say you don't want to give calpol unless it's for something serious. Vaccinations can be something serious. They play havoc with babies bodies. My dd got a very serious water infection as a direct consequence of her first vaccinations. To the point that she needed antibiotics and nearly had to go to hslospital. That's how much they can effectively babies. My Dd stopped eating for 3 days after her second set and ended up dehydrated. The calpol is to prevent a temperature and the suffering, but ultimately worse can and does happen. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to help minimise any impact to your child?

DS was exclusively breastfed till 6 months. He also had calpol after his first jabs because no preciousness about his virgin gut was more important than him not beige in unnecessary pain.

The meningitis jab is new and almost universally causes a temporary fever which is why calpol is recommended prophelactically.

Bloody hell they have suggested giving the baby a perfectly safe medicine, not a bloody cheese burger.

It's to help treat a potential fever and other side effects associated with vaccines. They're not suggesting it for the sake of it.

The 'virgin gut' thing is a load of bull shit IMO. Medicine does not count as food anyway.

Are you going to refuse rotavirus vaccine? Because that's oral?

An adult in pain or with a high temperature would usually treat it with medicine, why would you deprive a tiny baby who has no idea why they feel so unwell!

My doctor's surgery wouldn't let me leave until I had given ds calpol and waited for 10 minutes in case of a more acute reaction to any of the jabs.

Dd2 had a febrile seizure (unrelated to jabs) and had to be blue lighted to hospital, a deeply scary experience. I would go to great lengths to avoid the same for her baby brother.

The Men B jab pretty much always gives the baby a fever and I was advised to give it to DS as soon as I got home as I forgot to bring it with me.

After about three hours his temperature did start to raise and he was grizzly, but was soothed by the next lot of Calpol.

The men B jab caused my DD to be really poorly, with a really high temp, in pain and almost impossible to rouse for hours, despite having given Calpol in the surgery, and again to schedule. Don't risk not giving the Calpol. Do you really want such a young baby to have a febrile convulsion?

Appointment is today and I've seen sense baby is definitely having calpol, thanks for the comments

Good for you, Spud, sensible decision. As a mother all you want is to do the best you can for your baby, it can be difficult at times. Best wishes for you and little one.

I'm late to this thread but I just wanted to congratulate you OP on your last post and on changing your mind after the wise advice on here. Yes breastfeeding is great but it can be made out to be this almost religious thing that must be done exactly "right" and any deviation is failing your baby, which is nonsense of course and sometimes dangerous nonsense at that.

Best wishes to your baby for the visit.

Hope all went well and baby is not too grumpy