Baby check and Vaccinations
My baby is 8 weeks now! This seems like a great milestone, since this week he has had his 6-8 week baby check and his first set of vaccinations.
The baby check is an opportunity for parents to ask the GP questions or concerns they may have, and also get some general advice. No question should seem silly or trivial, and the GP shouldn't be surprised by your questions. On this occasion, however, I was so distracted by worrying about coronavirus and avoiding contact with potentially sick people at the practice, that I forgot to discuss anything in particular, and let the doctor take the lead.
There are a series of developmental and physical examination signs to look for, plus weighing the baby to check his/her growth is appropriate for their age and relative to their birthweight. Baby's weight gets recorded on a chart in their red book. Mums get a postnatal check also, which can include discussion about contraception, mood, healing and breastfeeding.
Vaccinations were the next step. I am going to write a more detailed post about why babies are vaccinated in the near future, but they are essential for protecting both the individual baby and the population in general. With the current coronavirus scare, it is even more essential to have vaccines up to date, so that people don't contract diseases unnecessarily, in an already stretched healthcare system. I feel a sense of relief that we have reached the age where my baby can start to have his immune system boost and be protected by vaccines, alongside the breastmilk I am already providing.
The baby check is an opportunity for parents to ask the GP questions or concerns they may have, and also get some general advice. No question should seem silly or trivial, and the GP shouldn't be surprised by your questions. On this occasion, however, I was so distracted by worrying about coronavirus and avoiding contact with potentially sick people at the practice, that I forgot to discuss anything in particular, and let the doctor take the lead.
There are a series of developmental and physical examination signs to look for, plus weighing the baby to check his/her growth is appropriate for their age and relative to their birthweight. Baby's weight gets recorded on a chart in their red book. Mums get a postnatal check also, which can include discussion about contraception, mood, healing and breastfeeding.
Vaccinations were the next step. I am going to write a more detailed post about why babies are vaccinated in the near future, but they are essential for protecting both the individual baby and the population in general. With the current coronavirus scare, it is even more essential to have vaccines up to date, so that people don't contract diseases unnecessarily, in an already stretched healthcare system. I feel a sense of relief that we have reached the age where my baby can start to have his immune system boost and be protected by vaccines, alongside the breastmilk I am already providing.
Comments
Post a Comment