2nd dose of 5 in 1

Nat has gotten her 2nd dose of 5 in 1 and rotavirus oral vaccine today. The 5 in 1 is supposed to protect babies against Pertussis (whooping cough) , diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), tetanus and polio.

She was real brave this time round, didn't cry and even played with Dr. Toh prior to getting the vaccination. We could tell she is fast developing her social skills and I suppose the shift to grandma's really did help expose her to more human contact thus enlarging her social circle. Am so proud of her as she was even engaging in gibberish baby conversation with the nurse whilst I was waiting to make payment for the rotavirus oral vaccine, which cost me a whooping $94 bucks after DBS cardholder discount- Ouch! But at least it's taken orally, so no added injections for Nat and if it does what it's suppose to do, Nat would be protected from the life-threatening diarrhea (gastroenteritis).

Nat has had her usual measurements taken. She has gained 600gms and grown to 64cm in height which places her in the 75th percentile. Her head circumference is 42cm, which is large for infants, but Doc mentioned that there is no cause for concern. She'll just have more neurons than others... does this mean she'll be smarter? only time can tell.

For future reference, appended below is info re the 5 in 1 vaccination.

What is diphtheria?
It’s an illness caused by bacteria (germs) that infect the nose, throat or skin. It causes serious problems with breathing. It can also attack the heart, nerves and kidneys. About 1 out of every 10 people who get diphtheria will die from it. Babies who get it are even more likely to die.

What is tetanus?
Also called lockjaw, it is caused by a toxin (poison) that can be found in dirt and dust.
When tetanus gets into an open cut, the poison can spread to the spinal cord through the bloodstream by traveling up nerves from the muscle. Muscles may lock in one place or go into spasms (get very tight).

The first muscles affected are the ones in the jaw. A person with tetanus may not be able to swallow or open his or her mouth. This is why it is called lockjaw. If tetanus gets to the muscles that help a person breathe, it can cause death very quickly.

Children who survive tetanus may have long-lasting problems with speech, memory and thinking. Even if a child has it once, he can still get it again. The tetanus vaccine protects both adults and children.

What is pertussis?
Also called whooping cough, pertussis is caused by germs that get into the throat and lungs.
Children may cough so long and so hard that they can’t breathe.

Babies with whooping cough may have fits (seizures) and go into a coma. About 1 in 400 infants with pertussis dies because of pneumonia or brain damage.

Older children who get whooping cough will have 1 to 2 weeks of severe coughing spells. In total, the disease can last from 6 to 12 weeks.

What is polio?
It’s an infection caused by a virus called poliovirus. Symptoms can include fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and pains, drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation. It can also make children very tired and cause stiffness in the neck and back.
Some people with polio don’t feel sick at all.

About 1 in every 100 people who get the virus will get the severe form of the disease, which causes paralysis (not able to move arms or legs) for the rest of their lives. Some people die from polio.

What is Hib disease?
Hib stands for Haemophilus Influenzae type b. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the flu.
Hib is a bacterium (germ) that starts in the nose or throat and can infect almost any other part of the body, such as the lungs, heart, joints, bones and skin.

It can cause a very serious disease called meningitis when it infects the fluid and covering of the brain and spinal cord. Without treatment, all children with Hib meningitis die. Even with treatment, about 1 in 20 children with Hib meningitis will die. About 1 in 3 children who live will have brain damage.