**UPDATE**
Seth had his appointment, and he did NOT have the HepB vax! I have to say that I am extrememly irritated with the NP who saw us, though.

Seth had a fever on Tues and Wed, so I did not want to let him have the vax (which I was undecided about anyway) especially that day (Thurs). For every child I have brough in for vax (former nanny) the ped ALWAYS has asked about a fever in the week previous to the shot, and if the chld had one, they re-scheduled the shot, so I did not think there would be a problem....WRONG!! The NP aksed me SIX times, "Are you sure?? There really is no reason not to give him the shot. Even if he has had a fever, the shot will not give him any problems, especially since he hasnt had a reaction before." in a condecending tone.... I left quite annoyed... Anyway, I told them that we would re-schedule the Hep B, but we arent. He doesnt have to go back until he is a year old, unless he is sick, she said.

My mom NEVER took us to the dr, unless we were severely ill...she refused to do well-checks, and I am thinking that we are going to fore-go the well-checks after a year, too. Esp. since WE will have to pay for them!! :)

So anyway....thankyou all for your experiences!! [[HUGS]]!
**END UPDATE**



SO do any of you vax??

I struggle SO MUCH with the vaxing thing. I really have researched this topic endlessly, and still I am undecided...

Seth has his 9month appointment on Thursday, and he is due for his Hep B and I think something else. Just a month ago, I was TOTALLY sure that he would NOT have it. Now, I am hearing about a Hep B epidemic in this area, and my dad, who is with OSHA says that in his (educated) opinion, Hep B is a "must have" in this area (SE TX)

So, I am back to trying to decide. DH is NO help whatsoever...He would do whatever the doctor reccomends (becuase the DR is always right <sarcastic tone>):rolleyes:

I have every paper that I could find online and a TON of links for info, yet WHY am I still wrestling with this decision???

Sorry if I am rambling...Does this decision plauge anyone else?? Any advice??

I am right there with you Mama!! ((((HUGS)))))

I have cried,read,cried researched,cried,read countless nights ad days.
Peyton had her 2 month shots and at her 4 month appt she had only 2 shots. HIB and DTaP.
I am NOT taking her back in for her 6 month shots. I am DONE with agonizing over the issue and so DH made the decision for me...We are NOT vaxing anymore.

In Wisconsin we have all 3 of the exemptions which are religious,medical and philosophical. So for philosophical reasons we are NOT vaxing and Peyton will go to school (if we don't homeschool her) Of course if there is an outbreak of any of the diseases i might change my mind. But Polio is considered non existence and no longer a threat in the US since 1994.

As far as the HepB...I am not doing that one anymore either. Peyton is NOT sexually active, is not a drug user and is not living with anyone who is at risk either :)

All I can say is FOLLOW YOUR HeART....that what parenting is all about :)

We do not vax at all.

~Kas

but really, we only do PLAIN tetanus, and on a delayed schedule. And even that is something that we wouldn't do if we didn't ALWAYS live in a house that was under construction.

Another mama here who is agonizing over this!

I think I will do the Measles one when the time comes due to my experience at Rutgers U. They had an outbreak in 96-97' or so... can't recall the year.

I also think Polio is going to get done because a guy that works for my DH had Polio as a teen. He tells DH the stories of his months n' months spent at the same hospital where our DS was born! This guy made friends with others there that died while he survived mostly due to his strong nature... a fighter. So - that's our bias.

Yet our baby is almost 5 months now and I haven't even takenher to a dr. yet! Well - we brought her when she was a week old and got BASHED by the ped. for not getting the Hep.

The baby is home 99% of the time now, but I worry as I plan to get involved with playgroups and we are exposed to other kids.

We do tetanus on a delayed schedule (tetanus only). My son at 2 yo just had his first.

And, we do flu shot every year for ds, and probably the whole family will get it this year. He has cystic fibrosis and the flu could land him in the hospital, so it seems prudent. Otherwise I wouldn't do it.

well I wouldn't consider myself as one of the crunchy ones here - LOL - but we don't vax either. It was just a semi - recent decision for us. My oldest was vaxed on schedule and had the chicken pox & prevnar vaxs. With my middle, I delayed vaxing until after her first birthday, but she too (although she's not "completely" vaxed still) has had the chicken pox vax & prevnar, but she won't be getting any more. My baby has had no shots and will not be receiving any either. I have read to much negitive about vaxing than postive for vaxing and just want to be safe. I also know a family whose daughter is now severly handicapped after receiving her first set of shots at 8wks because she had a reaction to them. :(

That's alittle too scarey for me!!

I wish you all the luck in deciding what to do about vaxing! It is a tough choice to make as you already know! Most Drs are of no help....especially considering the percs they get for vaccinations ( and prescripts).

I think that if you have any doubts that you might want to consider delaying vaxing until you feel more comfortable making the decision.

We don't vax either......well, ds1 was on a delayed schedule...most were done when he was 5....ds2 hasn't had any yet, and we aren't planning on doing any until he's at least two...then probably only tetnus. Anyway, I have a liberal doc who DOESN'T recommend the hep B at all......really it's only a risk factor once you're sexually active.....I believe there are other forms of hep that are transmitted differently, but the hep b vax doesn't effect them. And I agree that if you are still trying to figure it out, just put it off for a while.....you can always make an appointment if you decide to have it done, but can't reverse it once it's happened. That's what we did at ds2 3-month check up .....we were considering having the hib, but wasn't sure, so decided to wait. Now I don't think we'll do it at all. HTH!:)

Well, I have some good? news...

Kinda...

Seth is sick! So we will not be having ANY shots tomorrow... At least this will give me a reason to give the ped other than "I am undecided"...

I know that sounds TERRIBLE...what kind of a mother is glad her son is sick??!! LOL...

In any case, I think that we are going to just WAIT on the shots. There really is no need to rush the decision, is there? I really appreciate you sjaring your experiences with me!! ((HUGS))
and THANK YOU!!

This thread came at a perfect time.:thumbsup:

I just recently had my second son, and I am not going to vaccinate (well, that is what I am thinking now). I gave my first son all his vaccinations b/c I didn't really know there was another way, and just listened to what the ped. and my mom had to say (I was 17 when I had him). I am learning so much now that I am making my own decisions about raising my children (and so differently than my mother!). My mom's comment to me when I told her I was not vaxing was "You are very foolish not to!" when I thought it was way more foolish to blindly vaccinate than to make an educated decision not to. Anyways, I constantly struggle with my decisions about how I raise my kids but am comforted to know they are my own. It helps to know someone else is struggling with this decision, but I know that we all know in our hearts what is right for our kids, so TRUST in your decisions!

We don't and will not vax at all.

Vaccines are full of poisons. period. I feel very strongly about this and am not directing my opionions or statements toward anyone.....so please don't get defensive, k?

Hep B is only transmitted via sexual contact or blood contact (intraveous needles). Babies do not need this vaccine, it is completely unecessary. This article is very helpful:

http://www.909shot.com/Diseases/hepbnlr.htm

I could go on and on about each and every vaccine. The website www.909shot.com is full of information - for and against vaccines.

Our naturopath says a child's job is to get sick. It is how their immune systems get stronger.

Here's a link to what is actually in vaccines:

http://www.whale.to/vaccines/ingredients.html

The pharmaceutical companies (which OWN so much of the US) use fear tactics to get parents to vaccinate. There is constant manipulation and one sided information given.

Be informed, get the research. There is NO rush....if you choose to vaccinate, it is better to wait until Kindergarten age. Reason being, an infant is given the SAME amount of a vaccine as a 5 year old child. Doesn't that seem wrong?

Fishymom, I was also 17 when I had ds1, and I blindly got his first two series of vaxes.......ds was also seeing a homeopath for excema, and he was against vaxes. That's the first time I heard about someone say anything negative about them! So I started thinking about it, and didn't get him anymore for a while.....I did get a series when he was 14mos at a routine exam, the dr threatened me and I was scared! No longer! Now I'm confident and full of knowledge.......I know that vaxing ISN'T the law, like many dr's try and tell parents. I hate them!:mad: So ds2 is vax free and will remain so......with the possible execption of tetnaus at a later date (after age 2), and maybe not even that, I need to research it more!

We selectively vax, and don't get more than one shot per visit. IOW, we separate out the shots for each vaccination, and would never get the combo shots (like DTAP, etc.). That way if there is a reaction (hasn't been yet) we would know exactly what caused it.

Sam's almost 3 so this is much less of an issue for us now, thank god!

Tara

Uniti had one round of shots at 4 months old.
Only because I was dumb and let me family bully me into it.
I guess they gave her the HepB vax.
At the time, I had no idea newborns were receiving this!!

I regret getting her shots.
She had no side effects or allergic reactions, but I remember being upset before i took her, thinking, my baby is pure, healthy, and she wont be after today (at least pure). My heart was against it from the beginning, and after they had me pin her down so they could shove that needle in her leg, I vowed to never return.
And have not.
And will not.

The only vax I think she should get, actually, everyone in my house needs a booster for, is tetanus.
We are always working on backyard projects that involve nails and/or other items that can or could rust.

I would hate for one of us to get tetanus, when a simple shot COULD prevent it.
Which I know is the exact theory for pro-vax'ers.

I am going to sign the no vax waiver when she enters school, as well as one for Juniper.

Some things to consider:

If we lived in a highly populated area, I probably would vaccinate.

If my girls were in a highly populated daycare/preschool , I probably would vaccinate.

If there was an outbreak of any of the diseases vaccines supposedly prevent, I might vaccinte, though I have heard controversial discussions that vaccines won't always prevent/protect your kids from getting the disease.

This issue is about as touchy as circumsions, IMO.

talin is not vaxxed and will not be vaxxed....
I was never vaxxed.
I have 2 cousins that i grew up with who were also never vaxxed.
I attended public school, was in lots of youth activities, I've traveled quite a bit (in and out of country)... never had problems.

As for vaxxing for measles, I must ask WHY??? It's a prettymild illness, won't kill ya!


I must say, I agree w/ everything mzbees said!!

I also recommend reading Dr. Mendelsons book-"How to Raise a Healthy Child, In Spite of Your Doctor"
Also Bob Flaws book "Keeping Your Child Healthy With Chinese Medicine"
Both talk about why not to vax and how to treat the illnesses naturally.

Also I don't even think tetnus shots are necessarry... our bodies develop natural immunities to tetnus anyways... it lives on everything...
I've never been vaxxed against it and I know I stepped on several rusty nails as a kid... never got infected!

Please read the info in the links mzbees posted and check out those books... too many kids get hurt w/ vaccinations!

Thanks for posting those websites! Dh wants to vax the new baby and I am totally against it...so now I will be even more prepared with info for him! It was a major struggle with Akaya- the doctor would have me in tears everytime I left the office and told me my questions were (basically) stupid and paranoid! JEEZ! I ended up just not going back to the doctor, but I would highly suggest finding one that will be supportive if you decide to delay vaxs.

I was just thinking a little more about vaccinations and I remember that a couple of years ago when I left the U.S. I got a hep b and hep a vax...and I was sick for 3-4 days afterwards...really, really tired, achey, headaches, my arms hurt where the injections were... Can you imagine a new baby going through it- a person 1/22 of the size of an adult???

have read and researched the links provided, as well as many more...

and STILL, I have agonized over this decision. The "pro-vaxers" and the "NO-vaxers" all have used the same scare tactic, IMO...
"if you do/don't vax, your child will get sick and DIE!!!!"

I dont like that. I HAVE found some good info that simply presents the information and allows the parent to make an informed decision, and NOW, after MUCH worry,
I am pleased to say that I feel comfortable with DELAYING, at the very least( a decision that even dh is comfy with ;)) and possibly having no more vax's... :)

I finally realized that NO, I do NOT have to have my son vaxed on the ped's schedule!!!!! That is SO freeing!!! IF I choose to have him vaxed, I CAN WAIT!!!!! YAY!!! There are some that I have always planned on denying, but the others can wait!!
:)

I think you have a very healthy outlook on this subject Mama2Nurse.

I agree, there are militants on each side of this debate that use unecessary words to SCARE people. There are other ways of getting information out there without saying your child will DIE.

:anibirth: (from Ely, he's still on a high from his Birthday :) )

Originally posted by kayasmommy
I was just thinking a little more about vaccinations and I remember that a couple of years ago when I left the U.S. I got a hep b and hep a vax...and I was sick for 3-4 days afterwards...really, really tired, achey, headaches, my arms hurt where the injections were... Can you imagine a new baby going through it- a person 1/22 of the size of an adult???

I had a patient recently that came for her shiatsu 2 days after getting vaxxed for her upcoming trip to China... she said that w/in hours of getting vaxxed she had a fever, severe headache, and that she had insomnia for the past 2 nights, as well as nausea, frequent sweating, and swollen fingers....

About 6 months ago i had a patient come after being vaxxed for hepatitis and rubella (voluntary because she'd never been vaxxed and a doctor talked her into it)... she said for a week after getting the vaccinations she had nausea, diarreah, heat flashes, dry mouth, blurred vision, and dizziness.

I don't think a baby will necessarrily die if vaxxed, but I do think that the vaccinations are toxic, and risky, and have a history of being linked to allergies, immune deficiencies, SIDS, and autism....even in delayed vaxxing... to me the risk is not worth it... and the fact that I've been a very healthy person my whole life w/out ever being vaxxed.

I have question...how protected are breastfed babies from these diseases if the mother is immunized for them???

Excellent thread! Excellent information. I feel so empowered to have more info. on this stuff.

http://www.909shot.com/Diseases/hepbnlr.htm

This site had great UN-sided, NON-biased information.

Also I don't even think tetanus shots are necessary... our bodies develop natural immunities to tetanus anyways... it lives on everything...
I've also heard this too... that it has been found to be unnecessary and production of it being limited.

The saying "Knowledge is power" is so true it's scary Mamas!

I should have stopped vaxxing my children after my FIRST born almost died after getting her pertussis shot at 2 months. Then maybe my second child wouldn't be autistic, had I learned the first time around....I still hadn't learned the 3rd time around, but my son who is 4 hasn't had anything since 1 yr and my son who is 17 months hasn't had any since 6 months and my new baby, who is almost 2 months has not and will not get any vaccines.