Jabs Dread

[WinkyWinkola]

DD (8 weeks) is having her first set of jabs on Thursday. I feel sick at the thought. It's the polio, pertussis, meningitis one. The meningitis one is the latest addition to the jab.

Anyway, she's such a titch. What if she's affected badly by it? I couldn't bear it. It's bad enough having to see them scream because of the needle.

It just seems a lot to go through at such a young age. Why can't they do them at 4 or 5? Sigh.

I think it's 2 actul jabs they get at this stage. Don't worry, my DD was teeny when she got hers and was fine after a hug. HV did use a smaller needle right enough because she was so tiny - you could enquire about this? not sure if it's standard practice. Also, I had calpol at the ready just in case her temp went up afterwards, and have also heard of mothers bf during the jabs or giving a bottle straight after to calm them down.

It's not pleasant getting the jabs done, but I look upon it as in their own best interests in the long run. Hope all goes well

it's horrid isn't ti having jabs, just rememebr baby won't remember yes they'll cry but be ready with lots of cuddles afterwards - (if you can get DH/P to hold baby as well) - I never could at that age, then pass straight to you. it's heart breaking but personally I feel it's for the best. remember lots of loves and cuddles, if you can sit in the chair after at home and just have cuddles (that's all I did for the whole day with J anyhow! lol)

as for the effects, the dr will give you a perscription of calppol to use, my DS was fine - he had the jab at 11 and promptly slept after till 5 when I was leaking so much BF I was relived he woke up! lol.

((hugs)) it's not a nice thing to go thru, but will be forgotten about soon hopefully.

is this your first child?

Aah, poor little one . Mine had her second set yesterday, and we learnt the following from the first (after which she was not a happy bunny):
Make the appointment so she ready for a feed straight after - nothing like milk to dull the pain
Give her something to suck during the injection (dummy/finger/bottle/boob)
(perhaps a bit controversial) We gave Calpol 30min before the jabs, as it's loads easier to give when she's calm.

Good luck !

Take someone else to hold your LO while the injections are done - then when it's over she can come back to Mummy for a nice cuddle to make it all better. I had to skip DS latest set (5mnths) because there was no one to go with us and I physically couldn't hold him still for someone to hurt him! Sucha wimp I know.

Don't know if you BF, but I made sure that DD was due a feed at the time of the appointment, and BF straight after the injections. It calmed her down a treat.

Ooo yes bagsundereyes, Calpol. The GP prescribed some for us especially for her jabs.

it's over in a second and it'll be fine but it's always a stressful time for mums !

Bagsundereyes, thanks for that advise about giving Calpol 30 mins before injections - I'll certainly do that next time.

It does seem young doesn't it, but its so much easier giving them jabs when they're wee rather than at 4 or 5. dd will have no concept of what is about to happen, and a few minutes later will have forgotten about it entirely. THey are so much easier to distract at that age.

Don't forget, you don't have to look at the needle either, you can focus on holding her still and keeping eye contact with her, then you don't have to watch.

Agree with the BF comments (if you are BF) - with mine, immediately as they had finished, I got the boob out there and then. Jab was forgotten about in seconds.