Ch-ch-check Up - Lola’s 18 Month Dr. Visit

Lola had her 18 month doctor’s visit today and, overall, it went pretty well. Here’s what they said and what we observed:

She weighs 22 pounds, 12 ounces.She is 33-1/4 inches tall.Her head circumference is 18 inches.Her ears, nose, and heartbeat are about as normal as can be.She does not like shots. For the first time she associated the exam room with getting shots so she was most disagreeable at the end when she knew what was coming. Today she got the first of a two-series Hepatitis A shot and the “dreaded” MeaslesMumpsRubella. On the one hand I wish to be sensitive to the very caring and best-intentioned parents who have some concerns about the safety of that vaccine but, on the other, I find it rather unfortunate that disgraced and criminally-prosecuted doctors have created such an uproar about taking this safety precaution against what was once a devastating trio of killer diseases.

The MMR shot was also the first shot that has been administered in her arm (all previous shots have been given in her thigh). I’m not sure that made much, or any, difference in how it felt to her. But the nurse was excellent, went as quick as possible, and by the time we were a few blocks away she fell asleep in her car seat with a blueberry gently held between her thumb and forefinger. At her next visit she’ll only get one shot, the second Hep A, and after that, nothing until Kindergarten.This was also the first time we met Lola’s new pediatrician, Dr. Jackie Agee. She was very nice and soft-spoken. It’s probably hard to judge a doctor’s skill without there being some problem to solve but I think we liked her.Her next visit will be in July when she turns Two.