Great Experience

Wow!! What a difference a little research and understanding makes. We went for the immunizations today and I used some of the distraction techniques I had read about, taking a toy from home, having Dad there, and singing songs. Although he still screamed, it didn't seem to have the same level of distress as the previous immunizations. I was refreshed to see that the nurse went through all the immunizations with me today, and when she was about to give the Intramuscular injections in his arm, I stopped her and asked for her to give them in the leg, no fuss she did. All in all it was a way better experience today. I am happy I started this course.

Next Immunization appointment

Tomorrow my son has his 18 month immunization administration. I am having mixed feelings about the whole experience, but after reviewing the literature surrounding pain management in infants/toddlers during immunizations, I feel more confident as a parent that I can help to decrease the distress felt by my little guy. As for change in the whole system, I am still pondering my next motivated step in this. My thoughts are to continue to review the literature and then possibly approach the clinician at the Public Health Unit here and discuss the literature out there surrounding this topic. It would be nice to discuss with this person as well, the possibility of implementing some of these techniques into practice at this Public Health Unit on a trial basis, part of Kurt Lewin's theory of change, moving. The process may be a slow one, but I think if the subject is approached properly and well supported with literature that is well read, and established the change from no techniques to teaching parents distraction techniques will be an easy transition.