Traumatised by vaccination experience

[Mummyofmay2020]

So I'm a 1st time mum and had an awful first immunisation experience with little ones jabs... the nurse wouldn't answer any of my questions, just opened her sleep suit as i was talking and shoved the first one in. I had asked if I could breast feed her and she had said no. Anyway my poor baby starting sobbing in pain , hadn't heard her cry like that ever. I started crying too but I was trying to reassure baby and the nurse just ignored us and shoved the remaining two in then said "all finished, you can leave now". My baby was hysterical and i hadn't even had a chance to button her up or put her back in pram, before nurse repeated we are done, you may go!! I said at least let me get her in push chair and nurse responded well you shouldn't hang around with this virus going around should you - as if i was just being idle! Anyway I swear you're supposed to stay for 5 minutes or so in case there's a reaction.. I'm more upset at her lack of compassion though. Is it fair for me to ring reception for her next jabs to say I had a bad experience last time and I want to know I'll be able to comfort my baby?

Thing is, I’m sure you did comfort your baby after the fact? When my DC had their jabs, I held them and they cried up a storm and I comforted them away from the vax room because they needed me out for the next patient. Next time round, I was all prepared for the screaming and I got a yelp and that was it. Try not to overthink it, your baby won’t remember and the chances are for the next jabs, it won’t be quite so bad

You take your baby out and comfort them in the waiting room if you need to. Honestly I don’t see the problem here.

She'd have screamed no matter what you were doing

There is no particular issue here, really.

Not answering your questions is not great but I can see why they would be expecting you to be in and straight out at the moment. Your baby would most likely scream whatever happened but as a PP said, she won't remember it and all you can do is comfort her afterwards.

Yes she was pretty abrupt. Nothing to feel traumatised about though. I'd have just rolled my eyes on the way out!

I laughed when DS had his first ones 🤷🏻‍♀️ nerves and all that. He Kicked up a fuss, never stayed 5 mins, just left.
DD screeched, then an smiled because the nurse distracted her with keys. Worked each time.

Sorry you had an abrupt nurse. But breastfeeding a baby while trying to give them injections is actually harder than you realise. Tried it for the heel prick test. Never again

I don't see an issue.
Theres so much pressure on healthcare staff, even nurses and GPs so I'm not surprised she was abrupt.
Shes coming into work each day knowing theres a high chance of her contracting the virus and then I'm assuming shes also going home to her family too.
Cut her some slack, your baby would of cried anyway regardless of what you did. a
Also the only jab I've had to wait 10 minutes for is my DD2s BCG (TB jab), never any of the routine ones.

Why should OP cut her some slack?

She was rude and abrupt and that isn't ok for any health professional. It isn't professional.

What questions were you asking the nurse, op?

I would complain you hgad every right to feed her. She also should have answered your questions.

Why should OP cut her some slack?
She was rude and abrupt and that isn't ok for any health professional. It isn't professional.

Exactly. She is the kind of nurse that puts me off seeking medical treatment for anything.
Their job is to not only treat you medically but reassure you and treat you kindly/with respect, as well as answer any questions you may have.
And yes, in my experience, you do have to wait. We're advised 10 minutes in aus to wait in case of reaction.

Id be annoyed OP

Who's traumatised? You or the baby?
It's normal to cry, it's a sharp scratch. Your baby will be fine. I think you are being a bit dramatic to be honest.

It was rude and unprofessional. You should certainly be able to ask a question.

My DC reacted to a vaccination whilst we were faffing getting coats on afterwards. Luckily we were still in the room and dc could be treated immediately. They were OK. But I was very glad that we hadn't already left.

Ah love, the vaccinations are awful for a first time mum. I sobbed too and our nurse was really lovely.

But honestly, and I rarely say this- I imagine the nurse was stressed to hell with being in work at these times. She probably just wanted you in and out so reduce her risk of possible viral load.

Also comforting the Baby happens outside of the room, it's not fair to ask busy staff to hang around waiting. Your little one will be fine (and you will probably cry at the next set too ) it'll be ok

I agree with op. My baby had his 3 weeks ago and the nurse was just as awful. I didnt know they were not doing the 6 and 8 week checks so I went armed with questions that were left unanswered. My baby has had a difficult start. Hes been admitted twice for two weeks with low white blood cells and used to suck his chest in under his ribs which is a sign he is struggling to breathe. At every opportunity I have with healthcare professionals I always get them to check his breathing but on this occasion the nurse told me to 'phone the doctor' I understand they are under so much stress at the moment but manners cost nothing. My husband has always said to me the thing that attracted him to me the most is my manners and politeness. My mum would go ballistic if she was told otherwise.

Sorry you had such a shit experience with the jabs. Ignore the ones saying your being over dramatic. Some of us are just more sensitive than others.

Personally I cant see why being upset about the one person you love the very most is getting upset about having jabs is classed as being over dramatic!! Yes they dont remember. Yes it's just a quick sharp scratch but in the moment its awful.

I'm sure you did great x

@squeekums and @thesims baring in mind the OP is referring to the vaccinations as being "traumatizing", I do question really how "rude" this nurse was
The answering questions part fair enough, she should of tried to do that but everything else is standard.

I’m pretty sure all babies are hysterical after their jabs. They are sore for adults who understand what’s happening, I don’t know why people expect anything different for babies.
However, the nurse should of answered questions, you should also of given signed permission prior to your baby having their first set of jabs.
Did you give paracetamol before the appointment?
My practice nurse administered it while we were there.
As pp’s said, you can comfort baby out of the treatment room.

You need to complain. It’s not acceptable to be that rude in any situation. She also should have instructed you to wait for 10 minutes (I think that’s the standard in the UK) to ensure she didn’t have a reaction. What would have happened if you’d put her straight into the car and driven somewhere for 30 mins while she had anaphylaxis?

She shouldn't have been so abrupt but i wonder if you were slowing them up with reluctance and questions. I'd feed back your experience definitely as you have every right to ask relevant questions. Vaccinations on a new born are horrible though.

Bear in mind the balance, that while you can and should ask questions, be sure you weren't dragging your heels in reluctance instead and adding to the stress of the situation. You should have had time to dress your baby while they updated the red book, but feeding no chance. Even before a pandemic that was done in the waiting room.

Reginabambina i never was asked that for any of my dc or jabs. Dc1s reaction was mild but came up before i left the doctors it was so quick.

Given the situation if OP was asked to wait it would probably be outside in the car as most waiting rooms are close, GPs are one in one out. But I'm not sure it is standard to wait. None of the nurses here asked us too, pre or during pandemic.

Sorry to hear that op . The nurse definitely should have been friendly,empathetic and professional!! It doesn’t take any effort to be kind . The virus is actually irrelevant and not an excuse. I had a tooth extraction yesterday and the dentist and nurses were lovely...made a huge difference to how I felt because I was so anxious. I am a nurse and am working in a high risk area and we are there to reassure and care for our patients..not to exacerbate a situation.

Well she had her 6 week check up with gp right before but it was super rushed and gp received a phone call half way. He muttered something to nurse and then before the immunisation she said she had to also take blood from baby. I was already anxious so this threw me a bit and I was asking her to explain why the blood was being taken but she just kept repeating the gp asked for it. I said I'd like to understand why please, but didn't get an explanation.

Completely agree! Being kind and reassuring when patients are anxious is part of delivering good care.

Sorry the nurse does sound rather abrupt and rude

Yes I bet she was under stress because of CV but really, would it harm her to reassure an anxious mum?

I mean her that’s just nursing 101

I always hated when needles were near my babies. I cried when they had to the foot prick test

She sounds unpleasant. I’ve found bedside manner with these things makes a huge difference. With DS (firstborn) I was apprehensive about his first jabs, purely because I was full of hormones and didn’t want him in pain, not because I was in any way anti vax. I didn’t make any sort of fuss or cause a problem - just said that was how I was feeling. The nurse was horrible - incredibly patronising, brusque with no understanding of why I might be in anyway bothered. It made the experience far more unpleasant than it needed to be.

DS next ones were done by a wonderful nurse, who was warm and lovely. Made sure that she did them as quickly as possible and was just generally kind. She’s also done all of baby DD’s so far. Her attitude makes all of the difference.

All the best for the next set, I hope you have a better experience.