Is it normal to feel terrible about taking your baby for their jabs?

[BertieBotts]

Or am I just a big old softy?! Took DS for his first jabs today, he is 13 months as I had decided to delay them while I made a decision on whether to have them or not. I asked the nurse whether it would be better to breastfeed him during or straight afterwards, she said she didn't think it would make much difference (she seemed a bit taken aback that I was still feeding him actually) so I decided afterwards might be better because I could see whether he was really upset or just a bit. So for the first one he really cried and I offered him the breast as I turned him round to do the other leg, he was quite happy to take it and seemed to be consoled by this but then when she did the second one he was so distressed he wouldn't even feed and I felt awful He was absolutely fine though 2-3 minutes later and seemed to have forgotten about it as soon as I showed him the toys in the waiting room.

Yes terrible every time!

Mine had them younger, my excellent mw suggested bfing whilst she did the heel prick test

Tbh by the time mine were over one and having jabs i would let them have a choc button in fact the nurses commented i must be a second time mum when i took ds as i pulled out a packet while they loaded up the needle with ds

First jabs - I was an absolute wreck about dd's crying.

Second jabs - I sat there stuffing choc buttons into dd's mouth and she didn't even notice the jab was happening!

Seriously, as they grow up there are all sorts of painful life experiences that our dc go through - physical, emotional, etc. With hindsight those jabs were nothing compared to what came later!

You sound like a lovely, warm, compassionate mum whose child is going to get a lot of comfort from you. You'll probably toughen up a bit naturally as time goes on, but being sensitive to how your child is feeling is a lovely quality.

I think sometimes I've had to disguise how anxious I was feeling about something just to encourage dd to be brave.

You sound like most Mums would be. Probably the nurse is a bit more blase as she jabs babies all day long!

littleducks, we went straight to the shop for chocolate buttons afterwards I think I might take some in next time! I think the midwife I had did the heel prick test without letting me even cuddle DS during but I don't remember that being as bad. I suppose the heel isn't as sensitive as a muscle. I do remember being annoyed as she insisted on really poking it to get enough blood out so she wouldn't have to come back for another sample.

Riven that sounds hard Glad they don't remember - I suppose that is one good thing. It's so heartbreaking when they give you that look as if to say "Why are you letting someone hurt me, Mum?"

Thanks blueywhite. My mum thought it was quite funny (she came with me) as she recognised the nurse from when me and my sister had our baby jabs! So she definitely has done this a lot of times.

It is hard. I think the best thing is to be as matter of fact about it as possible. With an older child never, ever go on about how it won't hurt etc - because it does a little bit. Best thing is to be honest with them and get it over with, with a younger child I just went for lots of cuddles! I liked to take dd3 for hers in the sling not the pram so we could cuddle all the way home!

When i used to immunise babies one mum told me she wanted to punch me (In a nice way) , i thought it was a bit extreme at the time but now i've got 3 DCs of my own i know what she meant!

yes, not as bad as i would feel if they caught a vaccine preventable disease.

yes, but not as bad as i would feel if they caught a vaccine preventable disease.

Of course its natural.

Much nicer than measles though!

Yes it's an awful feeling. I got DH to take DD2 for her last lot.

The ones before that she was screaming after and so I went to feed her in the reception, but she wouldn't go on, and I squirted milk in a huge arc all over some chairs. By then DD had stopped yelling so I made a swift exit

I think whether you choose to vaccinate or choose to avoid vaccination... so long as you make that decision after serious and thorough consideration/research/investigation - you can feel more comfortable with your decision.