I was thinking about this in the play date thread. I know some people can't stand seeing their kid gets shots and be in pain. Is it hard for you? Do you cry?
When DS was a baby, it didn't phase me. I would even take pics of him crying because I knew he wouldn't remember it. And reminding myself that he won't remember it makes it easy for me to get through. I have no problem with holding him down so the nurse can stick him. But I think it will get harder for me as he gets older and realizes what is happening. Not sure, but we will see.
Generally I am fine getting shots/blood taken myself, so I hope he can have the same attitude about it.
The shots don't bother me at all. The one time I almost started crying was during her first blood draw, the nurse did a horrible job with the finger poke, had to do it twice and it took forever. I've never seen one got that badly. DD was so upset she was almost hyperventilating and that got to me a little. I was so close to demanding she let me do it, lol.
I definitely don't cry. And I don't feel sad that he's in (very momentary) pain. I literally feel relief when I watch him get injected. One less thing/disease I have to worry about. I am cheerful about it but not overly so and I comfort them as needed. Both my boys are very NBD about shots, even as babies. DS1 knows they hurt briefly but that they are good for us.
I was surprised at their 2 month I didn't cry. I couldn't watch though, I just stayed by their face and calmed them down.
When they were in the NICU I cried over everything but I was also beyond emotional. They got their hep b shot and I bawled. They also had blood draws constantly which usually were at 6 am before I got there but I had to leave the room if they got one or had their IV changed while I was there. I even cried when they took DS out of the room for his circ because they were taking him away from me I was a hot mess.
I teared up a bit at his first ones - the 2 month shots. That scream was a scream I had never heard and felt so bad. Also, the nurse said, 'Stay up near his head and say soothing things, so he knows the pain isn't coming from you'. Which had never crossed my mind, that my baby could think I was hurting him?! Tears.
For subsequent shots, I've felt slightly bad, but he's over it so quickly so I feel like it's not a huge deal.
He did have his blood drawn at 9 months and was a tough stick. They had to try a few times and I just felt terrible. It was one of those moments I've heard other mothers talking about - wishing it could have been me getting my blood drawn so he didn't have to go through it.
No, I remain upbeat because I think DS feeds off that.
In fact, the last few times I like to sing the "Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shot, shots, EVERYBODY" song and he's giggled. I made have gotten a side-eye from the nurse, but whatevs, there was no meltdown so I think that's a victory.
Post by undecidedowl on Feb 4, 2015 8:49:41 GMT -5
I feel bad for them but it doesn't phase me. The nurse looked at me weird when I had no problem holding DS1 while he was put under anesthesia. I have always been a bit detached like that, just my personality.
It doesn't bother me or make me cry. I go to his appointments alone. I just try to comfort DS. I tell him "I'm sorry buddy, I know that hurt. But it's over now, and it was important to keep you safe." He's also pretty easily distracted by a lollipop or sticker.
I did cry when he had to have a chest X-ray for pneumonia. He was 18 months old. They put his arms up and then latched his chest into a hard plastic tube, so he wouldn't move during the X-ray. I had to leave him like that and stand in the technician's booth. I've never seen him so scared. He was heaving he was crying so hard, screaming for help.
Post by bananapancakes on Feb 4, 2015 8:58:10 GMT -5
I'm a little bit upset inside but I try not to let it show. I try to remain as calm as possible but I do love when they're over. I've watched my share of medical procedures on him though (lots of blood taken, catherization, feeding tube insertion, IV insertion, etc.) and some are worse than others. I had to help with both the catheter and IV line and I was a lot calmer than I thought I'd be. The worst for me was when he was 2 weeks old and our midwife sent us go the ER because he had lost a considerable amount of weight. We had only been home for 2 days and I was a hormonal mess and terrified about having an unvaxxed baby in the ER. They had to do the heel prick to take blood and he was screaming and I just lost if. He was kicking and flailing so much that they had to do it multiple times to get enough blood. I was at the end of my rope and just sobbed while holding him down. Compared to that, the shots don't seem so bad.
I don't cry. I feel awful for them but it's so quick and as soon as it is done I just scoop them up and snuggle them. They stop crying pretty quickly. I've always gone to the appointments alone and been fine.
Eta: I was much more upset watching J go under general and coming out from that. And there was an issue with one of E's newborn screening tests where the blood clotted. We had to go back to have it done again and they were horrible. Her poor heel was a bloody mess. They still didn't do it right and we had to go back two days later to do it all over again and they STILL did it wrong and had to go back AGAIn. That time they were very, very apologetic and careful because they knew it was bullshit and we were pissed as was our pediatrician who had yelled at them on the phone. Watching that was horrible and I cried.
No, I don't cry. And for general shots, no, that's not really hard. As the shots are necessary, I just can't get too bent up about it.
Talk to me about taking blood, though? THAT shit is hard to watch.
I totally agree. I'm fairly used to it since D's gets blood taken every 3 months, but I almost teared up last week because he was just so upset about it.
No, I remain upbeat because I think DS feeds off that.
Same.
I did have to hold back the tears to keep a brave face when my then-10-month-old DD2 had to get stitches. Pinned down on the papoose board, crying and screaming with that "WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING ME, MAMA?!" look in her eyes? That was hard for me to watch.
No, I don't cry. And for general shots, no, that's not really hard. As the shots are necessary, I just can't get too bent up about it.
Talk to me about taking blood, though? THAT shit is hard to watch.
I totally agree. I'm fairly used to it since D's gets blood taken every 3 months, but I almost teared up last week because he was just so upset about it.
It's been a couple years, but in the timeframe that he had to give blood occasionally (after his celiac diagnosis) - his arms were chubby and they had a HARD time finding viable veins. It was HARD to get blood and... well... it was just so hard to watch. I actually HAD to have DH go too because he had to be the one to physically restrain DS.
I've only experienced the 2 mo shots this past week, but I didn't cry or get any more upset than other times he cries. I held held his arms and just got close to his face and talked to him. He cried momentarily, but it was short lived and he was better once I picked him up.
C has only had his 2 month shots so far, but they didn't bother me. I didn't like seeing him cry, but I knew they were good for him and he calmed down pretty quickly when I picked him up and nursed him afterward.
I don't like it when he cries and I'm immediately wanting to nurse him to comfort him. Otherwise I do not cry or show outwardly (at least I try not to) that I'm not happy he gets his shots. I don't want him to grow up being scared of shots, or going to the doctor so I try not to make a huge deal out of it.