Before I continue I just want to make it very clear that I am pro vaccination.
I will never understand anti-vax people. There is a way to protect your kids from some of the most horrible illnesses out there and you choose not to protect your child. It just doesn't make sense to me!
Of course I'm not speaking about the people that can't be vaccinated for medical reasons..obviously that's different.
Anyway on with my story.
2 weeks ago we took Isla in for her 12 month needles. The measles, mumps, rubella vaccine.
As usual the child health nurse went through all the side effects and reactions and risks as they do with every single person, every single time.
5-12 days later the baby can get a rash all over, cold and flu like symptoms, a high fever of about 39 degrees for 3-4 days, loss of appetite and just generally unsettled.
Isla didn't wait for the 5-12 days. She's been unsettled since day 1. And not just a little bit irritable and whingy I'm talking full blown stuck to me at all times, screams when I put her down, cries continuously, refuses to play with toys, just plain grumpy, won't let anyone else (including Kaitlyn and Bradley) touch her, if someone even LOOKS at her the wrong way she cries.
Day 9, while we were at the Nameless Festival, she broke out in the rash all over. And I mean all over. Kaitlyn kept asking me why Isla looked so weird, I actually put the cover over her in the pram at one stage so people passing by wouldn't see how spotty she looked!
She was perfectly fine to be out of the house, the rash isn't contagious or anything but it did look bad and people were giving me the 'you're a bad mum for taking your sick kid out in public' look.
It's now day 14 and the rash has almost completely cleared up.
I wish I could say the same for the irritability.
But she's still going. Screaming, crying, irritable, grumpy-she's one feisty little bugger at the moment. And of course for the last week hubby has been away so it's made it all the worse to deal with as I don't get a break.
I'm suffering some major mummy guilt too because I have almost no time for the older two. Poor Kaitlyn and Bradley are being a bit neglected at the moment. They are being absolutely amazing though. Yesterday Kaitlyn sat down and did some homework by herself at the table while I was dealing with yet another screaming episode.
It's been so hard on them. They come home from school in the afternoon and by the time they've finished their after school snack they are sick of being around Isla and they bail outside, coming in only for drinks, toilet breaks and dinner time.
I don't blame them, I would escape too if I could.
Dinner has been almost non existent, living off sausages, baked beans and pre cooked chickens with whatever salad or veg we have lying around.
When I've finally had enough and I put Isla down for a nap all I want to do is collapse into a corner a cry. But I can't, I have 2 kids that really need some mummy time.
I just have no energy, or patience to be honest because that baby is getting on my last nerve, to do anything much so we've been sitting on the couch reading stories or cooking dinner together to try squeeze in some bonding time.
We saw a Dr the other day, for an unrelated issue, and I had a quick word with him. It's all just part of the side effects of the vaccine, some kids (like Kaitlyn and Bradley) are fine and have little to no effects, and some kids see it all. Thankfully we've escaped the cold and flu and fever symptoms. Although he didn't give me a time frame as to how much longer it would last, he just gave me a sympathetic look. He tried to feel Isla's tummy but laying her on the bed and having him stand near her was enough to set her off on a massive screaming episode. He totally felt my pain, the look on his face said it all.
My ONLY saving grace at the moment is that Isla is still sleeping. In fact she's sleeping more than usual.
Then again if I spent 10hours a day screaming and chucking baby tantrums I would be extra tired too.
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