Look at this sad photo. Don't you wish there was an easier way?
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/10/07/ap-poll-third-parents-oppose-swine-flu-vaccine/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
H1N1
Have any of you had the H1N1 vaccine yet? Or your kids? How did it go? I know someone who took her 2 grandsons and one spiked a fever of 101 afterward. But, that's what your body is supposed to do. Start fighting it and build antibodies. I'm pretty convinced I'm getting it for the kids as soon as it's available. My 3 year old will probably get the nasal spray. She just got the Flumist for the routine vaccine and she was so happy to not need a shot. My one year old won't be so lucky. I would appreciate hearing any experiences you have had or your thoughts about the vaccine. Has anyone had H1N1 or think you may have? Thanks!
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/2009/09/flu-vaccine-update-for-20092010-season.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/2009/09/flu-vaccine-update-for-20092010-season.asp
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/
Saturday, October 3, 2009
So Many Shots!!
Shots...where to start. I hate them! Don't mind getting them myself, but I get so anxious when my kids have to get them. Does anyone else feel this way or is it no big deal for most of you? My daughter is so fearful of the doctor's office because of them. She openly tells her doctor that she does not like him. At my son's one year visit a couple weeks ago, he received four shots, two per leg. Then his doctor tells me he'll need a booster for the flu shot in one month. He is also recommending the H1N1 vaccine and I'm reading that it will also be a series of two shots for his age, and then by that time we'll be ready for his 15 month appt when more shots are due. It just seems like so much. Are there any children out there who aren't fearful of going to the doctors?
So I wanted to post some information about methods for lessening the pain during vaccines, a couple I have tried, and I'm curious what others have tried (especially if it's something that worked!!).
The first thing I tried was the sugar theory. If you give an infant sugar just before or during the shot, it's less painful. So, I went online and bought TootSweet Sucrose Solution (guaranteed bacteria and mold free) from Hawaii Medical. The solution comes in 1oz cups with a vanilla scented pacifier to dip into the solution and then give to the infant to suck on during the vaccine. My daughter seemed to cry just as much. Still have 4 of the 1oz cups sitting here. Of course I have read you can also breastfeed your infant during the shot, but I was never up for that.
Then there's EMLA cream that numbs the skin. I tried this with my daughter too. You need a prescription and the pediatrician was willing to give me one with no problem. You need to put it on the skin one hour before the shot and keep it covered with something that won't rub it off. I used a tagaderm bandage. I have read some use plastic wrap. First, my daughter cried when I put it on. I'm not sure why. I tried it on my own skin and it felt a little weird, but it didn't hurt. But worse than that, because I put it on at home before I left for the appt, I never seemed to get the cream in just the right place and it seemed to stress out the nurse because it wasn't exactly where she wanted to give the shot. I'm stressed enough about the whole thing, I don't need the nurse to be stressed too! The first time I used it the nurse didn't give the shot where I put the cream. I think I tried it a couple more times and stopped. Of course, if you don't mind waiting, you could have the nurse put it on and then wait an hour at the doctor's office before the shot is administered.
Recently I read that something as simple as the order the shots are given can reduce some of the pain. No personal experience with this one, but here's the link. http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Vaccines/14040
The sense of smell is the most advanced sense that babies have at birth. According to a Swiss study, by one month, a familiar odor can soothe your baby, so try holding her with a blanket that smells of breast milk or a familiar baby lotion during vaccines.
These are just a couple things I have tried or read about. Of course, you could search the Web and find other ideas. Are any of these much of a benefit to the baby or is it more for our own peace of mind? If you have had success with other methods, I would love to hear about it, because the shots aren't going away anytime soon!
http://www.aimtoolkit.org/talk/order/Lessening_the_Pain_of_Vaccines.pdf
So I wanted to post some information about methods for lessening the pain during vaccines, a couple I have tried, and I'm curious what others have tried (especially if it's something that worked!!).
The first thing I tried was the sugar theory. If you give an infant sugar just before or during the shot, it's less painful. So, I went online and bought TootSweet Sucrose Solution (guaranteed bacteria and mold free) from Hawaii Medical. The solution comes in 1oz cups with a vanilla scented pacifier to dip into the solution and then give to the infant to suck on during the vaccine. My daughter seemed to cry just as much. Still have 4 of the 1oz cups sitting here. Of course I have read you can also breastfeed your infant during the shot, but I was never up for that.
Then there's EMLA cream that numbs the skin. I tried this with my daughter too. You need a prescription and the pediatrician was willing to give me one with no problem. You need to put it on the skin one hour before the shot and keep it covered with something that won't rub it off. I used a tagaderm bandage. I have read some use plastic wrap. First, my daughter cried when I put it on. I'm not sure why. I tried it on my own skin and it felt a little weird, but it didn't hurt. But worse than that, because I put it on at home before I left for the appt, I never seemed to get the cream in just the right place and it seemed to stress out the nurse because it wasn't exactly where she wanted to give the shot. I'm stressed enough about the whole thing, I don't need the nurse to be stressed too! The first time I used it the nurse didn't give the shot where I put the cream. I think I tried it a couple more times and stopped. Of course, if you don't mind waiting, you could have the nurse put it on and then wait an hour at the doctor's office before the shot is administered.
Recently I read that something as simple as the order the shots are given can reduce some of the pain. No personal experience with this one, but here's the link. http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/Vaccines/14040
The sense of smell is the most advanced sense that babies have at birth. According to a Swiss study, by one month, a familiar odor can soothe your baby, so try holding her with a blanket that smells of breast milk or a familiar baby lotion during vaccines.
These are just a couple things I have tried or read about. Of course, you could search the Web and find other ideas. Are any of these much of a benefit to the baby or is it more for our own peace of mind? If you have had success with other methods, I would love to hear about it, because the shots aren't going away anytime soon!
http://www.aimtoolkit.org/talk/order/Lessening_the_Pain_of_Vaccines.pdf
Friday, August 28, 2009
Why I'm Doing This
Most of us have heard of the pain of open heart surgery. Maybe you have known someone who has been through it. Maybe you have been through it yourself. The pain you're thinking of is the pain experienced after the surgery. Have you ever considered the pain you would endure if awake during the procedure with no pain management? The initial incision, breaking of the sternum, prying open of the rib cage. How would you respond if a doctor suggested that you go through the procedure in this way? You would think he's crazy!?!
Did you know that until 1985-1987, infant heart surgery was performed like this? No pain management, only a drug to paralyze the infant making it impossible to move a muscle or cry out in pain. Some say the reason was because it was thought babies don't feel pain, but I find it impossible to imagine that anyone ever believed that. http://www.math.missouri.edu/~rich/MGM/blog/chamberlain.html
According to one article I read, the parents of these infants were not made aware that the surgery was performed in this manner. As a mom, I can't imagine consenting if I did know or if that was my only option in order to save my child's life, what it would be like to experience knowing that your child had to endure such an inhumane procedure. If a person were to subject someone to this procedure outside of "surgery" it would be considered a heinous crime and that individual would likely spend the rest of their life in prison. But since it occurred in an operating room, with doctors who the parents trusted to save their child's life, I guess it's okay.
From what I have read, heart surgery is no longer performed in this way. I pray it isn't. However, infants still do not fair well when it comes to managing the pain of many procedures. A day after my son's delivery, my husband and I were still uncertain whether we wanted him to be circumcised. We asked how the area would be numbed and the doctor told us he doesn't use anything. "The procedure is so quick, it isn't worth the time to numb the area." Isn't worth it to who? This really angers me, hence my blog. I would like to use this blog to share pain management techniques I come across and hope others will share as well. Hope some of you find it helpful. Thanks for reading!
Some interesting resources:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/100/4/626
http://www.ama-cmeonline.com/pain_mgmt/printversion/ama_painmgmt_m6.pdf
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/Supplement_2/S78
Did you know that until 1985-1987, infant heart surgery was performed like this? No pain management, only a drug to paralyze the infant making it impossible to move a muscle or cry out in pain. Some say the reason was because it was thought babies don't feel pain, but I find it impossible to imagine that anyone ever believed that. http://www.math.missouri.edu/~rich/MGM/blog/chamberlain.html
According to one article I read, the parents of these infants were not made aware that the surgery was performed in this manner. As a mom, I can't imagine consenting if I did know or if that was my only option in order to save my child's life, what it would be like to experience knowing that your child had to endure such an inhumane procedure. If a person were to subject someone to this procedure outside of "surgery" it would be considered a heinous crime and that individual would likely spend the rest of their life in prison. But since it occurred in an operating room, with doctors who the parents trusted to save their child's life, I guess it's okay.
From what I have read, heart surgery is no longer performed in this way. I pray it isn't. However, infants still do not fair well when it comes to managing the pain of many procedures. A day after my son's delivery, my husband and I were still uncertain whether we wanted him to be circumcised. We asked how the area would be numbed and the doctor told us he doesn't use anything. "The procedure is so quick, it isn't worth the time to numb the area." Isn't worth it to who? This really angers me, hence my blog. I would like to use this blog to share pain management techniques I come across and hope others will share as well. Hope some of you find it helpful. Thanks for reading!
Some interesting resources:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/100/4/626
http://www.ama-cmeonline.com/pain_mgmt/printversion/ama_painmgmt_m6.pdf
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/Supplement_2/S78
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