Shaken baby syndrome and Vaccinations: Similar Symptoms

Ok so the day Meili got her shots, she stopped babbling. She didn't get a fever or become more irritable (than usual anyways). But she completely ceased vocalizing. She had very watery stools for two days but none of the horrible flatulence or apparent tummy discomfort. 

By day seven after the shots she still wasn't talking. She'd also seemed not to be responding to my voice anymore. No smiles for Mama. And was so lethargic, gazing vacantly at nothing in particular. She also didn't seem motivated to roll at all. And she'd been choking on her own saliva quite often, plus vomiting (which she hadn't done before). 

I just felt something was off. I got worried. 

Googling vaccination side effects interestingly brought up Shaken. Baby Syndrome (SBS). Apparently many of the symptoms of SBS are similar to vaccination side effects. 

According to MedlinePlus:

The symptoms can vary from mild to severe. They may include:

• Convulsions (seizures)
• Decreased alertness
• Extreme irritability or other changes in behavior
• Lethargy, sleepiness, not smiling
• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of vision
• No breathing
• Pale or bluish skin
• Poor feeding, lack of appetite
• Vomiting

So I worried. It totally didn't help that I read the statistics of over 600 babies dying in 2007, after receiving their shots. More than 30% died within two hours, and deaths were reported up to a week after. http://www.nvic.org/Doctors-Corner/Edward-Yazbak/Multiple-Vaccinations-and-the-Shaken-Baby-Syndrome.aspx

Meili first real playdate

Sept 5. Kyra came over to help watch Meili while I try to rest. This was meili's first real interaction with another baby. Sylvis is five days younger than her, but weighs nearly 20 lbs! He is so affectionate and loves other babies. He kissed her a bunch of times. In return Meili puked on his foot. So he also puked on her hair. It was all very sweet. 

More Immunizations

Sept 3 meili's four month wellness visit plus shots didn't turn out so bad after all. She measured 25.5" long (91st percentile) and 12 lb 12 oz (26th percentile), pretty much where she has been all this while percentile-wise. Her pediatrician Danika Wallace is super sweet and so wonderfully gentle with her. Spencer and I like her a lot and I think Meili doesn't mind her either hehe. 

Unlike the previous rotavirus oral vaccine where Meili suffered all the side effects listed for the nasty vaccine (diarrhea and flatulence for three days), this time - nothing much. She didn't seem to get a temperature either. She might or might not have been fussy - hard to tell apart from her somewhat unpredictable fussy spells. 

Rails trails with the In Step Marathon Jogging Stroller

Meili starts out happy and smiling in the stroller then cries for about 5 minutes. Then she sleeps or looks around wide eyed. If she cries for too long we stop and let her comfort suck then put her back in. So far so good. She is getting more used to being in the stroller. It's a pretty awesome stroller. The big wheels give a comfy ride and there are mesh pockets on each side for keys, phone and water bottle. Plus plenty of storage for her diapering supplies and our snacks. The brakes work good. Only thing is the front wheel is fixed so it doesn't turn easily. 

Spencer is looking forward to longer runs. Today we did 10 miles (with me on the bike) and only needed to stop three times for Meili. It was great getting out!

Didymos woven wrap: Tibetan rucksack back carry

I love the Didymos. It was pricey at $70 used from eBay - new, these Grand Dame of Woven Wraps cost easily $150. I want to back carry Meili and needed a non-stretchy type wrap to safely do so (Moby can't do that). My Didymos is soooo luxuriously soft and comfy. Even though it is thick, it doesn't feel too warm for me. After a few attempts (over the bed just in case baby slipped), I think I got it down. Meili is comfy in it and likes looking over my shoulder. She also sleeps good in it. 

Does your baby have a personality?

Meili does! And she has an impressive repertoire of facial expressions. She's a sensitive little girl - startles easily, gets upset easily, and her cries (whenever we don't manage to soothe her) are heartbreaking to hear. But when she smiles, and coos, and gurgles, and laughs, I get a glimpse of the bubbly and passionate girl she might be when she's older. She is a happy baby. 

Here's a collage of her telling uncle ken one of her very entertaining stories. 

Sophie the Giraffe: My New Fav Teether

I ordered a used one on eBay for $12. Ya ya I know it seems a lot of dough to spend on a teething toy. But it's $20 on amazon would you believe it?! 

I don't know about Meili (it can be hard to tell with her) but I adore Sophie! She is so chewy and tasty and soothing to gnaw on. Yes I did wash and sanitize her prior to my taste test. And her squeaks of joy (I imagine) are a delight! Meili giggles when Sophie squeaks. Do we have the beginnings of a lifelong friendship? 

Happy Sleeping Baby: Thank You Dr Harvey Karp!

I honestly don't know where I be without this book. 

If you are not of the 'cry it out' (CIO) camp and you feel uncomfortable letting your baby cry herself to sleep, yet would like for her to be able to get her rest at night then you need to read this book. 

The five 'S': swaddling, shushing, swinging, side/stomach laying, from 'The Happiest Baby on the Block' by the same author, helped us calm baby Meili immediately and survive the third month of her tumultuous babyhood. 

I then happened upon Karp's other book and jumped on it because after the first one I think whatever this guy has to say must be GOLD :)

And so far it has been GOLD. He clarifies some points in the first book about how loud shushing should be (about the noise level of a shower), and how vigorous swinging should be (no more than an inch of head movement by baby). And puts in a whole bunch of tips on how to safely and quickly put baby to sleep without the need for all that crying or traumatic sleep training. 

I learnt that it's ok to let Meili fall asleep at my breast but then to put her down and wake her just a little, so that she learns to fall asleep by herself after that. And if she cries? Just keep picking her up and sooth her back to sleep. And repeat by waking her up at every put down, until she falls asleep by herself (off the breast). 

Okay enough talk. Here are pics showing Meili sleeping swaddled, in restaurants, outdoors, basically anywhere she needed to sleep whenever nap time rolled around while I was out and about. 

Teething yet? Perhaps

Meili has been drooling quite a bit. Apparently that's a sign of teething. 

Also she has been gnawing at her fingers. She has been getting better at directing her little digits into her mouth. And can now hold them there to enjoy for more than ten seconds at a time. 

Below pic: "Mama why are you taking pics of me picking my teeth?" Well Meili, you don't have any teeth yet. 

More immunizations

Ok so today Meili got her HiB (Haemophilus influenza type b), IPV (polio) and PCV (pneumococcal). In two shots. The nurse warned me that the second one would sting much more and she was right. Meili cried out in real pain when it went in. She took immediately to my breast and seemed to be better. And slept in the Ktan while we picked up groceries at giant eagle. Then I also got her to nap - with a lot of coaxing - that afternoon. 

She feels quite warm now and has been super upset all evening. I've not heard her cry this loud before. She's always been soothed in the Ktan, and walking outside in the yard. But after the initial afternoon calm, nothing much helped.