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A prequel episode:
Visit to the Doctor!
As with all newborns, Caitlin’s first few visits to Dr Pixie’s weren’t exactly pleasant for her. But the one visit that really stood out in my memory, was the time when her cold / nasal congestion was so bad that she needed suction performed up her nose.
Not a very pleasant experience being pinned down and having the tubes shoved up your nose.
And as with older sisters speaking to the youngest brother, I was made to feel all the well-deserved guilt when Dr Pixie I-told-you-so reminded me why I should have heeded her advice to persistently squirt sodium chloride solution into her nose after each feed, to clear / flush the gunk. “Regardless of how unpleasant it is for her, it has to be done!”
I was the one pinning her legs down, having the full privilege of coming face to face with Caitlin when the tubes were inserted. Her eyes said it all while wailing: Why are you doing this / allowing this to happen to me?? It was heart wrenching! This was when she only managed 2-3 word-sentences, I think…
Strangely though, Caitlin doesn’t seem to mind visiting Dr Pixie’s even after that visit. Perhaps it’s because she looks forward to the indoor gym / playground of slides and rocking horses. Either that or she’s forgotten the experiences even though she remembers having been there.
AHHH! A BIG FAT NEEDLE!
As she grows, the number of mandatory shots were slowly being ticked off the list. But earlier this year she needed a HepA booster shot. I think she knew what was coming, because she knows that people visited a dr when they are sick, but she was healthy. I had to tell her what was coming. Boy was she not happy about it!
She had still put on a brave front when we were already in Dr Pixie’s and waiting for our turn, quietly but persistently “I don’t waaaaant…” It wasn’t until when we were seated infront of Dr Pixie and the sight of the needle that she started crying.
Dr Pixie, in her years of experience, was a little disappointed that we had told Caitlin that she was there for a shot. “It’s usually a lot easier that the kids don’t know what’s coming, to then distract them and quickly and swiftly ’sneak in’ the shot, so that by the time the kids realised it, its over and done with. Knowing beforehand, the kids would put up a fight.”
So, Caitlin was putting up some resistance. She wasn’t wrestling, but she wasn’t going to remain still either. Dr Pixie was about to do the I-told-you-so again, when Hot Mummee and I then decided to ask Dr Pixie to wait for a few minutes while we have a quiet word with Caitlin. Dr Pixie didn’t think that would work, but she didn’t have a choice.
Hot Mummee went into the adjoining room with Caitlin, while I waited with Dr Pixie for a while; all the time feeling a little tense that we were wasting her time while other patients were outside waiting their turn. But to Dr Pixie’s surprise (and not too surprising for me), Hot Mummee soon returned with Caitlin, all ready for the shot.
Hot Mummee coaxed her into taking it, much to Dr Pixie’s (further) surprise! She even asked us how we did it!
The idea of sticking a needle into your flesh is one that isn’t easily stomached by anyone of any age.. Well, that’s not true, I don’t have a problem watching someone sticking one into me, but we are not talking about me!
And apparently HepA shots are quite painful. Caitlin had a plaster stuck on the site immediately after this shot. Earlier inoculations I guess weren’t as painful, cos this time she was really quite sob-ish about it, not allowing anyone near the plaster, and mere suggestions will bring her to tears again.
Poor kid…
These days, Caitlin is very relieved it isn’t her anymore, to require shots. You can tell that when she is being told that her little brother needs to visit the Dr’s to get an injections, that she is weary of it and even shows signs of sympathy (she has that OOoooooh poor baby it’s gonna hurt you know look) but I am sure she is glad it isn’t her anymore.. for now!
So how do you prepare your child for the next visit to the Dr’s?
Reminds me of the time when my parents also told me aboutmy first dentist visit and I nodded in 9seemingly) understanding as to what would happen! But I still screamed so hard when I was made to sit in the chair that I had to be taken home!
So I reckon sometimes a stern “Don’t give me this nonsense. We have to do this coz iti s good for you…to be strong and healthy” (crap) may work better.
but reckon I don’t agree with the dont tell them and sneak it in concept. They may have trust issues with us later….
Oh, the jabs!! This Mommy has been in bliss, and I just checked their cards. Oops! We are 2 shots behind!!
But it’s also hard to remember the jabs, because on good days we are just too happy playing, and you can’t jab them when they aren’t well. So….
The last Micah had a jab, he just said “ouch!” and we were all surprised that he did not cry. But the one before that, to distract him, we asked him to count to 10 to show how clever he was to the nurse. At 8 he let out a yell and cried a little. But OK after that.
max so far also only lets out a short cry, more out of shock, I think. But this time round, I don’t know how it’s gonna be.
Mommy not looking forward to that.
Moomykin’s last blog post..Mood: Bad End of a Great Day