What happened at baby's first immunisation (or: I am a wuss!)

Last Friday, I took D for his first round of immunisations. I hated every second of it.

Now, don't get me wrong; I am virulently (pardon the pun) pro-immunisation. I know there are side effects- but the benefits outweigh the risks in my opinion. I've done my research and I'm happy for D to have the full whack of immunisations.

So, anyway, I took D to the doctors and made sure I took a friend for moral support. I bought Calpol and a thermometer. I was prepared. But I was also nervous. After he was born, we stayed in hospital for five days due to an infection. This meant, every twelve hours, he was taken away to another room for antibotics and blood tests. I hated seeing my tiny (well, not tiny- he was a bruiser, even as a newborn!) baby in pain, even for a second, even though I knew full well that this was necessary. It got to the point where I would take him and wait just outside the door until they were finished and take him back again, giving him a furious cuddle while I did so.

Unfortunately, D's dad was at work when the jab appointment came up (so I coudn't pass the buck to him. Rubbish.), so I gritted my teeth and went in with him. I knew that the problem was all in my head, that it was a bit selfish to worry about how I felt and that he wouldn't remember what was going on. The nurse fussed over him and I looked away as she injected him. We chatted about what the jabs were for and my nervousness- it's very common, she reassured me. It was all over in a couple of minutes- D had cried briefly and had two small plasters to show for it. As we left the room, the baby fell asleep and it was as if nothing had happened! I'd got so nervous about something he couldn't give a monkey's about! I did feel a bit daft, to be honest. I mean, I am a grown up after all!

A few hours later, D got very cross and hot, so after fiddling with  the Calpol and trying to work out how to get the syringe into the bottle/stripping him down to his vest, we finally helped him feel well again. (Tip: to use the Calpol syringe, you put the sit over the top of the bottle, which you then tip up. As you do this, pull the plunger of the syringe and voilà, strawberry flavoured goodness is ready to be dispensed. You're welcome.)

We took D to bed early and called an early night for ourselves as well, anticipating lots if broken sleep. Instead, after a bit of grizzling, he slept for seven hours straight, had a quick bottle at 6am and then slept til 9. Brilliant!

I'm still getting his dad to take him next time, though.