Yesterday was vaccination day for Tiny. 2 injections and polio drops. The first time he got vaccinated, he was all of 3 days old and I was still too weak to move around. So mom took him for the vaccination and I had absolutely no idea what it would be like.
This time, I was prepared for a little bit of crankiness and some screaming and crying fits. I had also decided to hold him through the vaccinations. We reached the hospital and there was one more little baby, slightly older than Tiny, ahead of us waiting to be vaccinated. They went in, i heard loud cries and some desperate cajoling by both the parents. and when they came out the kid was still howling away and the mother was also in tears...the poor dad din't know who to cajole! The sight gave me cold feet. Tiny was immediately transferred to my mother's confident arms. She welcomed him and gave me an all-knowing smile!
I went in with them. Well, Tiny's pediatrician isn't the friendliest of people nor is she the stereotypical loving candy-floss type of a doctor. Though she's a great doctor, she can be quite rude at times. She's not even the types to talk to babies and put them at ease. She just goes about with her work.
I think Tiny had sensed that something new was going to happen. The moment we walked in and the doctor put the stethoscope on his chest, Tiny did something very unusual. He looked at her and flashed a 10,000 watt smile with some lovely gurgling sounds. Even the doctor couldn't contain herself..she said 'hello baby..someone's become a big boy' and smiled back. I was surprised. The she quickly readied the injections and told us to keep talking to Tiny. We started while she finished. Tiny's face contorted and first a whimper and then the loud cry. really loud. It was heart wrenching. I then looked at his thigh..drops of blood trickling down. I had tears in my eyes. Tiny was sobbing inconsolably. It was time for the second injection. This worsened the sobbing and I was ready to throw up. My mom also had tears in her eyes. I din't dare let the tears show cos I was sooo scared of the doctor. Lame reason, i know!
The drive back home rocked Tiny to sleep. But he woke up and continued crying the moment we got home. The crying continued through the day and the night. And this morning as well. Thankfully, it has subsided now and so has my nervousness.
It still breaks my heart to see two tiny pieces of band-aid on his little thighs. But I am braver by 2 vaccinations and hopefully will be able to hold and console Tiny through his next set of vaccinations in December.
Awww...poor poor thing!
ReplyDeleteYou managed quite well, i guess. I know of moms who wail louder than the babies and blame the husband for not being supportive through it :D
that was gut wrenching just reading about :( so hats off to you for being able ot be there for tiny right through it..
ReplyDelete@Scorpria: yea...in fact I did the same thing and had all the more reason to do so cos S isn't even around let alone accompanying us to the doctor and acting dumb.
ReplyDelete@Haathi: well, i just stood and watched and held the tears back. But to work up the confidence, I did something...peeled off the bandaids while he was in a playful mood :D didn't even flinch :D