Dear Sprout- First Shots

Dear Sprout,

Today we took you to get your first shots, they went okay.

Well, that's the very short and emotionless explanation. But as your mother, (which at some age I'm sure you'll learn, is dramatic and sensitive.) I'm obligated to tell you the long version.

Which is this:

We talked for a long time about not giving you your shots, but when i really thought about the odds, I figured I'd rather have to take you to the ER because I did what your pediatrician (an expert on your tiny baby body and health!) told me was best and what I felt would save trouble and your health, rather than skip it, because I was scared of the pain you'd feel. (which is my personal 'feel' about it, some mamas just feel its best to skip, and that's just what was best for their families!)

So when it came time to get your shots, we drove you to a tiny office labeled "Health Department" and waited for them to call your sweet name. They did, and we went to a tiny room with a mobile hanging over what looked like a torture table. Momma felt a tight knot in her tummy, and fought watery eyes. She wanted to be brave for you, but she was so scared for you. Poppa rubbed your tiny head of hair and told you how sweet and cute you were. We both listened intently as the nurse explained possible side effects (nausea inducing to think about some of them!) and the type of painkiller we could give you. She explained our options for administration.

It went something like this:

Hold your teensy tiny baby down, Poppa on legs, Momma on arms, and we'll stab her three times in her itty bitty baby thighs.
OR
Momma can scrunch the baby up and hold her still while someone comes up from behind and stabs her.

Momma felt so bad!! It broke her heart to think of holding you down like that!!
So Momma asked if she could nurse you and hold you. We luck out! The nurse was also a lactation consultant and had no qualms with it! So I latched you on and you looked up at me with your big blues, and nursed. I felt her grab your small thigh and you turned a shade of red I hadn't seen yet, and sucked in more air than I thought possible, and to our surprise, let out a heart wrenching quiet cry. She waited for you to latch back on, which you did pretty quick and then gave you two more, it went quick and you only whimpered.

I was super proud. I didn't end up crying, and for the second time that day, I got complimented excessively on being a bfing momma. It's moments like this one, that I am truly grateful to have been nursing!!
Until next time-
Love, Momma!