pedi visit/vaccination story
pitterpatter129
member
So, Newbie had his 4 mo check-up and they ask all the annoying questions at first. The nurse gave me the side eye for -bedsharing -sleeping on side -breastfeeding at night -not counting feedings and wet/dirty diapers I kind of already wanted to give her the finger by the time she left for her snide comments. 
Doctor came in. She also did all of the above things with her own kids. 
Recommended delaying solids until 7 mo and mentioned BLW. LOVE her!!
The grumpy nurse comes back for vaccinations. At this point I suddenly remember this nurse and how I said she would NEVER give my kid shots again! She gave them to DS1 once before. She pulls the baby (my tiny 4 mo old) to the end of the table (which hits me right under my boobs and she isn't much taller) and with his little spine curved half off the table, sticks his legs between hers (like in her crotch!) This is how she holds kids to give shots!! Their legs are straight out and tensed up with their little backs on the edge of the table! (It's wooden too, with a puffy leather center.)
I scooped my baby up after freeing him (he had red marks on his legs!) and told her that I didn't like that method and he would get shots laying on the table. She told me that was how she gave shots and didn't know another way. I told her, "I'm not trying to be rude or mean, but if you can't, then please find someone else to do it." She yelled "Are you SERIOUS?!" and literally stomped out the door. A cheery nurse came in and gave him his shots after that.
So, my question is, have you ever seen this shot holding method before?? And would you say something about it to the pedi next time?
Re: pedi visit/vaccination story
But I always have to restrain my child's arms while the doctor restrains the one leg that she is giving the shot to. With my older LO, I remember a few times where I sat in the chair with her in my lap...between the legs facing the doctor....again holding the arms.
With babies you cannot tell them to be still. They have to be restrained for their safety to give the vaccines.
My office always brings in a second nurse. it's 3 pokes and an oral, both nurses take a leg and do a tandem poke, and one nurse gets a bandaid on her side and passes the bandaid after the other nurse gives her second shot. They just have him lay on the table on his back and each have a hand on a knee to give their shot in the thigh, and have me stand by his head holding/playing with his hands.
Her reaction is enough for me. I would refuse that nurse from here on out and would make a point to CALL and say so to the office manager and let the ped know. Is it possible it was a bad day? Sure. But it's still not okay to behave like that in a professional setting. I'm a little particular about my medical team (for me, personally, nevermind for the gremlin), but her reaction to you asking her not to do it like that and to get someone else that knew a different way = flag in my book, and a last strike.
I've never heard or seen of it being done that way. Our nurses just lie him on the table; one holds him down, the other gives the shots. I don't look too closely because I get light-headed if I do...such a wussy mommy.
Clearly, if another nurse came in and did it differently, there are alternative methods to her system. I'd definitely talk to your pedi before your next appointment and just let her know you'd prefer that woman to not being your nurse any longer. I think you can explain it in a way that doesn't get her in trouble (unless you want to), but you should definitely be comfortable with the way your LO is treated and handled, especially at his doctor's office.
Only thing I ever got the side eye from a nurse in was when I said I was waiting til six months for solids, but I figure she probably just wasn't aware of the new recommendations. Our pediatrician was fine with it, which is what really matters to us. If he wasn't aware of the change in recommendations THEN I'd be concerned.
BFP1: DD1 born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w4d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence
At my doctor's office the LNA's give the shots. DS lies on the table. Two LNA's to do it at the same time (sort of like ear piercing for kids, haha). They each stand on either side, ready the materials, and count to three. They use onehand to hold his leg, and the other to stick him. Then he gets both legs done at once. One LNA does two, and she must be doing it a long time because she had jabbed him twice before I even saw her pick the second needle up. I get to stand at the head of the table and hold DS' hands and stroke his head. I'd rather him just get it all over it than prolong it with three separate pricks, so I like the method.
However, if anyone had looked at me like that or spoken to me like that nurse did, I don't care if she was giving him a band-aid, I would ask for someone else. I don't want someone taking their bad attitude against me out on LO.
This is how ours go. They do the oral with us holding her first, Then on to this method so daddy and I can both be in her line of site. The nurses are always really fast and I scoop her up the second they are done. I would seriously discuss that despicable behavior with your pedi. There is no reason a nurse should be that much of a b*tch about a baby. If she has been this awful to you you can bet your butt she's done it to others.
That's how ours does too. So the kid only cries once
Same here. I always think it's weird when people say their doctors give shots or medications/vaccines of any kind, because I have NEVER seen that with two exceptions: numbing meds as you described, and the anesthesiologists giving sedation/meds in the OR.
My mom has always been with me for DD's shots. The nurse has DD on her back, and tells my mom to hold her legs down and me to hold her hands. Pitter, I wouldn't want a nurse to have my baby in that kind of position either. That sounds incredibly uncomfortable for the baby. And her attitude was absolutely horrendous! I'd complain and she wouldn't be touching my kid ever again.
First round of Clomid in May 2012= BFP #1, DD born January 2013
BFP #2 in January 2014, DS born September 2014
I've had some nurses do that before. All of them seem to do it differently. My kids have never been bothered by the legs off the end of the table, but if yours are, you have every right to ask to do it differently. I've asked nurses to let me hold my child during shots since she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her. They were fine with it. I've also asked them if I could hold them while they are awake. Just depends on what my kid needs that day.
I would tell the doc that you don't feel comfortable with that nurse at your next visit and just go from there.
ETA - Yes, children need restrained, but there are other ways to do it. Some nurses have asked me to help before, so I hold down their legs and the nurse gives the shot. My kids get to lie comfortably on the table that way and I can hang over them and smile/make faces to make it all a little less scary.
That is bizarre. Yes, I would say something to the pedi and I would have taken my baby away from that nurse too.
My daughter gets her shots laying normally on the table with me right beside her. The last time the nurse gave her a little squeaky rubber giraffe that she could keep to help distract her.
We are so thankful that our second daughter, Lillian Elizabeth "Lily", was born healthy and happy on February 11, 2013. We love her to pieces.
We lost our first daughter, Hannah Grace on May 4, 2011. She was buried on May 14 during a beautiful service at my home church. We are grateful that if she could not be here with us, that she is healed and whole with the Lord. We look forward to the day when we will get to meet her. We love her so much.