First immunisations due - any tips?

[Stefka]

I am very anxious about them. Any tips for making it easier?

if you bf - do this when they have their jab

Try and get an early appointment so any upset has worn off by the evening, you also have time to see a GP if any reactions occur.

Don't make any other plans for the day except for cuddling up together.

Try and feed the baby while the needle goes in as it is proven to hurt less.

Try and stay calm as the baby can pick up on any worries from you.

Get some Calpol, just in case.

Good luck.

Have a bottle of Calpol at home in case your LO does seem a bit off colour after them.

TBH IME they scream for a moment or two but it doesn't usually cause lasting trauma.

If they normally get comfort from a dummy, bottle or bf as MLP says, have that to hand.

But honestly, I bet they won't be as bad as you think

baby is more than likely to be fine - it's you that will need the support!! who is taking the lo? all you do is give them a huge cuddle, it's two injections and they forget them really as soon as any hurting stops, all over after a few seconds. Being the sort of mother who is always happier 'on the safe side' of things, i gave my DC calpol at the recomended dose for 2month old/whatever their age, fro 24 hours regardless, rather than waiting to see if they looked in discomfort or whatever
take someone along with you, so you can look after baby and they can look after you!

Hi there, my wee one has just finished their set of first immunisations. I agree - it's probably worse for you than the wee one! I did Don't know if you're BF, but I BF through my DS's 2nd and 3rd immunisations and it was great - only a tiny little whimper, and then big smiles! Didn't really believe it would work, but it did.

Our doctors gave us Calpol on prescription so ask and you might not have to pay for it.
Don't plan on doing anything for the rest of the day, or the following day just in case LO wants cuddling all day.
Also take a dummy/bottle/something, my DD ended up sucking on my finger for a few minutes till she fell asleep.

Not that she wanted the dummy for the second lot, and we didn't really need it either. By the third set she didn't know whether to grin at the nice smiley nurse, or cry because her legs hurt.

Don't have them done, then you don't need to worry.

Get in touch with The Informed Parent, read about the other side to what the government tells us, then see if you really want to have your baby injected. There's no hurry. Take your time and really think about it.

I agree with Elf.

Failing to immunise your child is not a passport to no worry land! Included in the first set of immunisations is protection against tetanus - which is lethal, polio - the horrors of which our grandparents could tell us - but we have been protected from and diptheria - any victorian cemetary tells you the story of that one - it wipes out whole families and is still common in Eastern Europe for example.

It's good to be informed - but not immunising is not an easy option

NorthernLurker, this is just the kind of thing I referred to on another thread. There was a period of time in the US where all the cases of polio were BECAUSE of the vaccination. Diptheria, modern hygienic conditions are so different to Victorian England. etc etc etc. Honestly, if you read the other information, it is incredible what you find out.

Maybe you could wait a little bit? Tetanus unlikely while baby not crawling around outside for example. Maybe just wait that bit longer to think and read a bit more about it? The 5-in-1 doesn't contain mercury anymore so that shouldn't be an issue. But if you have allergies or atopic disease in the family I think I would just hang in there until the immune system is a bit more developed. But that's not what you were asking. Sorry! Everyone always says Calpol does the job! Whatever you do have confidence in your decision.

Oh hell - I don't know what to do. Something in me feels that it's just wrong. On the other hand I am really frightened of not getting them done. I tried to discuss it with the health visitor and she just said 'Children die of these diseases' so I made the appointment. My DH has organised to have the day off to come with me so at least I won't be on my own.

it will be worst for you than your child.

Mine didn't need any calpol, cried when the vaccine was injected but relaxed afterwards and sleep very nicely.

it;s worst for us mummies as we hate seeing our babies get upset!!

mummies
hmmm

Anyway children die of vaccines too, that's not the point -- children die of both. You make a balanced decision. That's worse emotional blackmail than I've heard from the "other side". Patronising too. Sorry going away as getting cross.

not many children die of vaccines!

i am crap at spelling, shoot me!

I'm with Elf and Mmelody. I was just browsing the thread and am so glad NOT to have to be the one who provides the link to The Informed Parent this time round.

Can I also suggest Trevor Gunn's book, Mass Immunisation - A Point in Question? Then there's this one by Aviva Jill Romm which is great. Very informative.

Trevor Gunn also does lectures around the country which I wish were compulsory. So does a woman called Viera Scheider. I haven't see hers but have had good reports.

there we go again pseudo science seems to reign!

Why is it pseudo science MrsFlora? My DD had all her vaccines 12 years ago, I didnt question it at all because we are programmed to think that because they are given in such a mass way then they must be safe....

this time round my DP made me look at the HUGE amount of anecdotal and scientific information on vaccines before we both made the decision not to vaccinate our DS.

We have spent HOURS/MONTHS looking at the information and weighing up our decision.. how much time did you spend looking at the information?

I have little faith in our government and even less for the drug companies. There are so many myths and misconceptions around vaccines and thats the way they like it..

I don't have much faith in the government either. I feel really torn - I am scared to get them done and scared to not get them done.

Stefka, that is how I felt when my first dd was two months old. It didn't FEEL right.

So, as I said, there is no hurry, do more RESEARCH. Take your time. Read and research. Your health visitor shouldn't be so biased. Ours said there are two sides and the other side has an organisation called The Informed Parent. So we read the government leaflet and then we read the Informed Parent and that led to more info and books and now none of our dcs are vaccinated.

Non vaccinated children can die but vaccinated children can die too. Good luck with your decision.

Hi Stefka, You don't have to get them done now... you can get them them done anytime. Allow yourself a bit of time to look at some research. We took months to make a decision and like Elf we started with The Informed Parent and it snowballed from there. I am currently reading Raising a Vaccine Free Child by Wendy Lydall. Id be happy to send it to you for a read if you like.

There are many many myths around vaccination. Its a big money making machine. Take your time and don't be pushed into making any decision.

Our health visitor was actually very diplomatic and admitted the flimsy information leaflet provided by the DOH is nowhere near enough information.

Initially I felt like you and was scared about not getting them done. But knowledge is power in my opinion and I now feel that without doubt we have made the right decision not to vaccinate.