Last week I wrote a post about
trusting yourself. As a parent I need to trust myself more, and not worry so much about what others think. I need to go with my gut feeling when I think something is wrong with my girls, and not doubt those feelings. Thankfully this week I did just that.
Last week Cherub was sick with a high temperature, congestion, runny eyes and cough. I thought she had picked up the same cold as Popette and myself had been suffering, so kept her home from preschool on Tuesday while she was on the mend.
Then I thought about taking her to the "special" playgroup we had been attending on Wednesdays, but thought I'd give her one more day at home. I didn't want her catching something else if one of the other kids was sick with something.
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Cherub enjoying some colouring-in on a recent outing |
Of course Cherub complained, she wanted to get out of the house and play with other kids. So I made a deal with her, if she was okay by Thursday we would go to playgroup.
So off we went to playgroup. We had a lovely morning catching up with friends. Cherub had fun riding trikes and playing with the kids outside.
Then when we got home I noticed a rash behind her ears and on her face. At first I thought she might have been bitten by something, then thinking about how she was sick the week before I decided to take her to the doctor's.
Call it mothers intuition I must have sensed something was not quite right with her. Not that she seemed tired or grumpy, she was her happy little self and kept telling me "I'm fine Mumma".
It was when the doctor told me so matter-of-factly that Cherub had german measles. Aaarggh!! I must have looked worried, as he reassured me that if we were all vaccinated (yep), I wasn't pregnant or have a baby then there was nothing to worry about. There was no cure for it, and really nothing I could do except keep her home for 4 days while she had the rash.
After we picked up Popette from school, I rang everyone I could think of informing them that Cherub had contracted german measles. What I wasn't expecting was a phone call from the local Health Unit giving me the 3rd degree about my daughter.
Our conversation went something like this.
"Is your daughter vaccinated?"
"Yes she's fully vaccinated".
"How old is she?"
"She will be 4 in September".
"Has she had her 4 year needles yet?"
"No, as she hasn't turned 4 yet"!!??
"Well she can have her 4 year needles from 3 1/2 years of age" (I didn't know that)
She went on and on asking me questions, making me feel like it was my fault that Cherub had contracted german measles! It got me so mad as I had done the right thing informing everyone, taking her to the doctor, having her vaccinated at the appropriate ages (ok maybe not her 4 year needles yet!!), what else could I do to protect my daughter?
Cherub had been to so many places she could have picked it up anywhere. One friend asked if she had picked it up from an unvaccinated child from preschool. I have no idea.
I'm just grateful that I trusted my gut and took her to the doctor's when I did, otherwise we wouldn't have known that she had german measles and she may have infected more children. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that none of her little friends from playgroup come down with it.
Have you ever experienced german measles? Have you ever experienced mothers intuition? Do you trust your gut?