TTMA Shots

[obi]

Having infant Tylenol handy would be a good idea.

Here, the first round is 2 injections and an oral vaccine. The injections will be done one in each thigh so make sure her legs are easily accessible. You may be asked to hold her in your arms or to assist holding her leg down on the bed.

The oral vaccine is for Rotovirus and will pass in their stool. You need to be careful changing poop diapers for 10 days and wash your hands carefully. It can cause you to get diahreah.

Expect crying after the shots. Once they are done I always just scoop up my LO and sooth them and then worry about redressing them afterward.

Your LO may spike a fever afterwards. You can treat it with Tylenol but if the fever does not reduce after the dose then they should be seen.

LO may be extra sleepy following vaccines and may eat a little less because of it (or smaller more frequent feedings). She may also be a fussy mess for a bit as well. Don't feel bad if you need to give a dose of Tylenol just to help her sleep. I felt bad at first, like I was drugging my son or something. Bottom line is that they need the sleep to feel better and so do you. Again, you can discuss what is appropriate with your pedi.

The behaviour changes can last a few days or more. Or, they may barely happen at all. Every baby responds a bit differently.

You will also need to keep an eye on the injection sites. Your pedi/nurse will explain what to look for.

That's all that comes to mind right now, aside from the obvious advice to give lots of snuggles.

Good luck!

[obi]

Omg at that wall of text. Shots really are not that big of a deal. We just had Ls last week so it is all fresh in my mind and landed in that post, lol.

[kristhegirl]

I would recommend not doing any meds beforehand; my first never reacted very strongly to her shots. She might cry briefly, but then she just fell asleep. She never had trouble sleeping after.

Give meds if needed, yes! But don't go in assuming they're needed. You won't know your baby's reaction if they are already medicated. It could change depending on which vaccines they're getting, too.

Be kind to the nurse who does the shots! Thank that person for helping keep your child healthy. They do not like making babies cry, and parents can be so mean about it.

[callmeKD]

+1 to no meds before. Mine were cranky and slept a ton afterwards. Just be prepared to sit on the couch and snuggle and for possibly having a crappy night of sleep. I did give some Tylenol afterwards - about 4 hours after as they were fussy and cranky.

[suelou18]

What everyone else said. They will cry, but be fine. I just remembered it was short term pain, for a long term gain.

[meggypoo1]

Agreed with everyone else. Also, I agree on no meds before hand. We did do meds if we thought Clara needed it. She was just extra sleepy for a day. She actually slept really well after shots. She will cry but it will be ok. She may gag with the oral but the nurses will help if that happens.
obi I thought Motrin was a no until 6 months?

[obi]

Apr 10, 2017 12:01:33 GMT -5 meggypoo1 said:

Agreed with everyone else. Also, I agree on no meds before hand. We did do meds if we thought Clara needed it. She was just extra sleepy for a day. She actually slept really well after shots. She will cry but it will be ok. She may gag with the oral but the nurses will help if that happens.
obi I thought Motrin was a no until 6 months?

I'm probably wrong about that too! I normally use Tylenol. I'll edit my post, thanks!

[meggypoo1]

Apr 10, 2017 12:06:30 GMT -5 obi said:

Apr 10, 2017 12:01:33 GMT -5 meggypoo1 said:

Agreed with everyone else. Also, I agree on no meds before hand. We did do meds if we thought Clara needed it. She was just extra sleepy for a day. She actually slept really well after shots. She will cry but it will be ok. She may gag with the oral but the nurses will help if that happens.
obi I thought Motrin was a no until 6 months?

I'm probably wrong about that too! I normally use Tylenol. I'll edit my post, thanks!

Hope that didn't come out as an attack! I just know my pedi says only Tylenol until 6 months. I hated it because it only lasts like 4 hours and Motrin lasts 8!

[obi]

Now I feel uneasy that my GP was all for Tylenol beforehand.
I'll have to ask him about it next time.

[obi]

Apr 10, 2017 12:09:26 GMT -5 meggypoo1 said:

Apr 10, 2017 12:06:30 GMT -5 obi said:

I'm probably wrong about that too! I normally use Tylenol. I'll edit my post, thanks!

Hope that didn't come out as an attack! I just know my pedi says only Tylenol until 6 months. I hated it because it only lasts like 4 hours and Motrin lasts 8!

Not at all! We bought Motrin for DS once because it was all the pharmacy had but I am pretty sure he was around 8m at the time. I see it recommended often and always assumed there were infant versions of both.

[amandamh2]

If you're breastfeeding, ask if you can nurse baby while they give the needles. I did with DS for all of his until he weaned and never had to give tylenol. He would pop off for a second, give a little cry, then go right back to nursing and that was his whole reaction to needles. If they won't let you nurse during, do it right after.

[moutonrouge]

Apr 10, 2017 14:36:35 GMT -5 amandamh2 said:

If you're breastfeeding, ask if you can nurse baby while they give the needles. I did with DS for all of his until he weaned and never had to give tylenol. He would pop off for a second, give a little cry, then go right back to nursing and that was his whole reaction to needles. If they won't let you nurse during, do it right after.

There's some good research to support breastfeeding during shots and other procedures like that as a pain reducer.

kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/bf-analgesia/

[amandamh2]

Apr 10, 2017 16:34:37 GMT -5 moutonrouge said:

Apr 10, 2017 14:36:35 GMT -5 amandamh2 said:

If you're breastfeeding, ask if you can nurse baby while they give the needles. I did with DS for all of his until he weaned and never had to give tylenol. He would pop off for a second, give a little cry, then go right back to nursing and that was his whole reaction to needles. If they won't let you nurse during, do it right after.

There's some good research to support breastfeeding during shots and other procedures like that as a pain reducer.

kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/bf-analgesia/

I definitely found this. With DS my midwives let me breastfeed him during his bili blood test- hardly a peep. At the hospital with DD they wouldn't let me and she screamed and screamed. 

[muskiefan]

Apr 10, 2017 16:34:37 GMT -5 moutonrouge said:

Apr 10, 2017 14:36:35 GMT -5 amandamh2 said:

If you're breastfeeding, ask if you can nurse baby while they give the needles. I did with DS for all of his until he weaned and never had to give tylenol. He would pop off for a second, give a little cry, then go right back to nursing and that was his whole reaction to needles. If they won't let you nurse during, do it right after.

There's some good research to support breastfeeding during shots and other procedures like that as a pain reducer.

kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/illness-surgery/bf-analgesia/

That's really neat! I hadn't seen that before. Thanks for the recommendation and link!