RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine

Two days after my baby received the vaccine, she started having mild diarrhea. I didn’t think much of it, until 12 hours later when she threw up (and I earned a Mommy Medal by catching it in my hand, thankyouverymuch!) The next day, she spiked a fever of over 102. I am not worried for her. She is generally content and just a bit sleepy. Thank goodness for breastfeeding, which keeps her both hydrated and happy!

I am not “pro-vaccine” or “anti-vaccine.” I am all about the informed decision. I fully recognize that my daughter might not actually have rotavirus, or that she might have rotavirus but have contracted it from a source other than the live vaccine. I do feel though that this diarrhea, vomiting, and fever constitute a potential adverse reaction to the vaccine.

I called the pediatrician to ask her to report my daughter’s reaction to the FDA and CDC using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Anyone can report to the VAERS but the site suggests asking the doctor for help. At any rate I wanted to mention to the family practitioner what I had learned about the timing of the vaccine. Unfortunately, the call did not go well. I would love it if all doctors would practice the following three phrases:

I don’t know.

I will find out.

I am sorry.

I was not upset; I used a nice voice. When the doctor insisted that only the first dose of the vaccine needs to be given before 32 weeks, I gently reiterated my understanding that it’s actually the last dose that needs to be given before 32 weeks.

No one is perfect. I made a mistake. The pediatrician made a mistake. Let’s learn from our mistakes. In fact, let’s write a blog post about it so others can learn from our mistakes.

Your Thoughts

Has your child ever had a potential adverse reaction to a vaccine? Do you vaccinate fully, not at all, or on a delayed and selective basis?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Four baby teeth at nine months

Over the weekend she climbed the entire flight of stairs as I followed her right behind. It’s a new world and I definitely need to be extra vigilant now! She can stand unsupported for short periods of time, and seems poised to take her first steps. I am in no particular rush for that to happen, although both my older girls were actually easier to care for once they could walk and did not need to rely on me so much to get at the things that caught their fancy!

Breastfeeding continues to go well. She nurses as desired throughout the day and night. She naps 3-4 times per day — a catnapper as I said before — and wakes 3-4 times at night. I readily admit that I don’t enjoy getting up with her for even the minute it takes me to nurse her back to sleep, but we co-sleep and I fall back asleep quickly.

She enjoys solid food and eats a modified version of whatever the rest of us eat for each meal. Vegetables, fruit, beans, little bits of meat. She sits at the table with us, feeds herself, and makes a grand mess!

We follow a delayed and selective vaccination schedule based on The Vaccine Book. Nicole got two vaccinations today, and that went surprisingly well. The first was the oral rotavirus vaccine. After an unavoidable round of antibiotics for an ear infection a couple of months ago, she knows the drill about taking “medicine” and she swallowed this stuff just fine. Then came the dreaded shot. I got ready to nurse her, as breastfeeding helps with pain management, but she knew what was going to happen and decided she wanted to watch. I always warn her that she will get a shot, that it will be an “ouch,” and then it will be over. I fully believe she understands me and deserves to be told what to expect. Today she cried for a second after the shot, but stopped when I said it was “all done.” She then gave the nurse quite the evil eye!

Anyone else with a baby around this age? How is everything going for you?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Yesterday I took her to our family practitioner for her two month well baby visit. She’s doing great, nursing well, and meeting all of her developmental milestones (in spite of my inability to capture them on film!) She weighed 12 pounds 9 ounces, and measured 23 inches in length and 15.5 inches in head circumference. When the doctor told me that that put Nicole in the 25th, 10th and 10th percentiles on the CDC growth charts, I was a little surprised! My second daughter was petite like that, but does this look like a child who is on the low end of the charts?

Ignore my belly! Look! Cute buddha baby! Cute Imse Vimse organic cotton velour diaper cover! (Yup, I am still using cloth diapers. I got hooked on the Imse Vimse covers when someone generously passed this one on to me, and I just ordered two each of the organic cotton jungle print and organic cotton farm animal print! I absolutely love how soft and stretchy the fabric is, and how the edges have gussets but they don’t make marks on my baby’s legs).

For the record, I am not afraid to state my weight on the internet. My real weight! Be kind, internets. I weighed myself yesterday at the doctor’s office. I have lost 30 pounds of pregnancy weight and at 146.6 pounds with clothes on, I have about five more to go. No rush, I just like to note those things. And it does seem to show that for some women, breastfeeding does help with normal weight loss!

I wondered how my instincts could be so wrong about Nicole’s weight! She’s my beautiful buddha baby, and she’s already in 3-6 month clothes, so how could she be in the 10-25th percentiles? I did some quick math in my head. She has gained five pounds seven ounces from her original seven pounds two ounces. That’s 87 ounces in 9 weeks, or nearly 10 ounces per week. As a breastfeeding counselor I know that the average weight gain for a breastfed baby at this age is five to seven ounces per week. It’s no wonder with my oversupply that Nicole gained more than average. If she gained more than average, though, something was fishy about those percentiles. I looked up the CDC growth charts online, and discovered she’s actually in the 90th percentile for weight, 75th percentile for height, and 75th percentile for head circumference. Just for good measure (no pun intended), I checked the WHO growth charts too, because those are more accurate for breastfed babies. She is in the 80-85th percentiles for height and weight on those charts.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t care much about the numbers. I can look at my baby and see that she is thriving and wonderful, and as long as she stays on the same growth curve, it doesn’t matter whether she’s in the 10th percentile or the 95th. But I was a little concerned when I thought she’d dropped from the 50th to the 10th, especially when I had been marveling at those rolls of baby fat! It made me question my instincts, which is never a good thing as a mother. Bottom line, everything is fine! Nicole is a good-natured, happy — and healthy — baby.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Please note: Breastfeeding 1-2-3 has no affiliation with “The Doctors” TV show. Please visit “The Doctors” website to submit a question. You’re welcome to leave a comment here but there is no guarantee the producers will see it!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

1. Husband/partner. If the breastfeeding mother is in a relationship, it’s important that her partner supports breastfeeding. A husband might want to give the baby a bottle–it’s such a pervasive image of how babies are fed in today’s society. A mother can reassure her husband that there will be plenty of opportunities for him to feed the baby bottles of expressed breast milk once the nursing relationship is well established. In the meantime, a mother can suggest that her husband help with burping, cuddling and diapering the baby. (If he insists on giving the baby a bottle, offer him the 3 a.m. feeding!) In my own situation, I can say that my husband quickly realized the benefits of nursing our daughter. He loved that nursing instantly satisfied her needs for thirst, hunger, comfort and pacifying.

2. Neighbor/friend. Friends and neighbors can support the nursing mother in two ways. First, they can set a good example with their own nursing relationships. Second, they can offer to bring a hot meal when the mother is recovering from birth or volunteer to babysit an older child while the mother naps with the baby.

3. Medical professionals. A mother’s obstetrician and the baby’s pediatrician can help get the nursing relationship off to a good start by encouraging the mother to breastfeed as soon as possible after the birth. They can continue to support breastfeeding by helping the mother to make medical decisions for herself and her baby that are compatible with continued nursing.

4. Doula/birth attendant/postpartum doula. Having an experienced person assist the mother during the birth can help her have a positive birth experience with minimal medical interventions, which in turn allows the mother to breastfeed shortly after the birth. A postpartum doula offers on-going support and guidance as the new family settles in at home. To learn more about doulas and how to hire one, go to Dona International.

5. Lactation consultant. A lactation consultant is specially trained to assist mothers in breastfeeding and can be particularly helpful if the new mother needs to be seen in the hospital or at home. Board certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) have passed an independent examination and demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude to support breastfeeding mothers. To find a board certified lactation consultant, click here. Many hospitals offer the services of a lactation consultant as part of a mother’s stay in the hospital and for a short time after she returns home. Some pediatricians also partner with lactation consultants in their medical offices.

6. Breastfeeding support group. Some hospitals and birthing centers offer support meetings and breastfeeding classes for mothers and their newborns. I took a class the day after my first daughter was born, and I found it particularly helpful to get that instruction when I had a baby in my arms for practicing the techniques.

7. La Leche League or other breastfeeding organization. La Leche League and other breastfeeding organizations around the world provide information, support and meetings for mothers, newborns and nursing toddlers. There’s a permanent link to LLL in the sidebar at the bottom right of this page.

8. Internet support. Several on-line communities exist for breastfeeding support. For information, one particularly helpful site is www.askdrsears.com (also linked on this page). Kellymom.com has message boards for information and support on a variety of topics.

9. Librarian. When we talked about recommended books on breastfeeding, I mentioned how a librarian can help mothers locate the latest versions of helpful books.

10. Pharmacist. When I thought I had thrush, my pharmacist assisted me by preparing the proper solution of gentian violet (read the link on thrush for a warning about the safety of that remedy and for information on other treatment options). Any time I have needed to take an over-the-counter or prescription medication, my pharmacist has answered questions and offered additional printed materials on the safety of the drug for breastfeeding mothers.

While the breastfeeding mother and baby form their own special pair, having the support of a whole cast of characters can enrich and extend the nursing relationship.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3