T’s 8 week check
T had her 8 week check at the GP surgery yesterday. She passed with flying colours! Her doctor said she looked well and that she’s exactly at/slight above the development stage he would expect. T was weighed by the health visitor and she’s now 8lb 15oz, so almost 9lbs which made her Mummy happy.
After her GP examination T had her immunisations – Diptheria, Tetanus, accellular Pertussis, inactivated Polio Vaccine, Haemophilius Influendzae b and Meningococcal C (a mouthful I know). T had two injections, one in each thigh and she didn’t see either one coming poor thing. She screamed louder than I’ve ever heard before.
The GP warned she may be unwell and develop a fever so to give her two doses of Calpol. She didn’t get a fever but she was really unhappy afterwards. My husband and I dispensed lots of cuddles all evening but she was still unhappy and was awake from 1.15am-4.30am. By this point I was exhausted as I’d foolishly decided to go to bed at 1am again and within 10 minutes she was up so I didn’t get to any sleep till dawn. I really have to break that habit and try and get to bed earlier.
T seems much better today though. We went to Baby Massage this afternoon and she’s been blissed out and sleepy ever since. I hope that continues through the night.
Time is flying and I can’t believe T is two months old now. I used her pram yesterday for the first time in weeks and she practically fills it. Last time I used it I had to learn forward to see her as she was so little. T’s neck is really strong now and she’s building up stretch in her legs. When she’s lying on her tummy she can lift her head and move it from left to right. She’s smiling lots and lots which never ceases to delight me! Her noises are differentiated too, it’s like she’s trying to talk to us and I’m starting to get a sense of her different sounds. She’s also so alert when she’s awake and stares at everything. Last night I felt her right hand pulling at my clothing and stroking it while I was feeding her. Her left hand was clenched but she was definitely exploring with her right. I’m waiting for the moment she grabs one of the toys on her play gym, that will be amazing.
Bath time and vaccinations
Busy week with lots of firsts…Baby T had her first bath and first vaccination.
I’d purchased a Tummy Tub bath from John Lewis while I was still pregnant after stumbling across some rave reviews online while looking for a baby bath. The Tummy Tub looks just like a thick, clear bucket without a handle, but is 10 times more expensive. Apparently little babies find it much more secure than a conventional bath as they’re sat upright, with your hand supporting them, and it reminds them of being in your tummy.
Despite this, I was unsure what Baby T would make of it… I’d read a number of scary accounts in books and online of how newborns + bath time = incessant screams of the kind you’d expect if the poor parent was attempting to drown their offspring. So, I was feeling nervous and I’d put off bath time for as long as possible by taking the “top and tail” route with Baby T, which she doesn’t like one bit and already made me fear the repercussions of adding more water to the mix.
However, bath time became a non-negotiable prospect after a particularly aggressive afternoon poo explosion during my friend Suman’s first visit to meet my darling daughter (just 5 minutes into a nice new clean nappy effectively ruining Baby T’s nice new “we have a visitor coming” clothing). I decided there and then it was time to road test the Tummy Tub and give my little girl a thorough scrub and dunking, as soon as my husband got home so I’d have a helping hand on standby to assist in case of any mishaps.
It turns out I needn’t have worried one little bit. “Bath time, Splash time” in the Tummy Tub is Baby T’s favourite, favourite thing to do, after eating and filling her nappy. She loved every second. I don’t have a conventional baby bath so I’ll never know if the Tummy Tub is the business or if my daughter is a true water baby but I’m just happy she enjoys it so much.
The next first for Baby T was her BCG jab… I wasn’t too sure how Baby T would react, and neither was her grandmother who wanted to be there too. As it turned out T took it all in her stride and didn’t even flinch when Faith the nurse inserted the injection. No shrieks, screams or squirming at all. Baby T clearly does not take after her mother who cannot stand injections! I was very proud.
