Did you/Do you ever have moments where you panic?

[mamakah]

I'm wondering if you ever have moments where you panic about the vax decision you have made for your children? Whether you are pro vax, anti, or selective/delayed I would like to hear if you ever feel this way. How do you overcome it?
Thank you!

[Juvysen]

Hah. I'm panicked in every which direction right now, because my kids are partially vaxed but I don't feel good about it, but I don't really feel good about not vaxing at all, either...

[nycmom18]

yes, i do.

what do i do? i go back to my research, to the sources that i feel strongly in agreement with and remind myself why i've come to my decision.

i think this is also a part of the process of coming to the decision, second guessing, therefore more research, and in the end i've moved one direction by a couple more feet!

but the truth is, that i personally feel there is a risk either way. (we have not yet vaxed, but may do some someday)

also, i look to my boy for reassurance: is he happy, healthy, and growing strong?

and lastly, i think there may have to be a little trust/faith on our part in the end, because in life you really cant control everything: i.e. you could get vaccinated and still get the disease or the other way around as well. so there has to be some trust in your instinct.

but you're not alone!

[Marnica]

Panic isn't the word Id use to describe what I feel at times. Doubt yes. I occasionally second guess my choice, but I remind myself that my choice can change. If I come across information that would make me feel that vaxing for a certain disease is safer than the odds of my LO cathcing said disease I suppose I might just get that vaccine! So far I have not come across any info that makes me feel that way, so I don't do any. Sometimes I feel like not vaxing is the lesser of 2 evils because as parents I think we all want to be able to DO something to protect our children from disease. At this point what I am DOING is making healthy choices for our family and boosting his immune system naturally.

[philomom]

Try not to panic. It is counter-productive.


I'm married to a "vaxes are great" guy. Our kids got a slow schedule. There have been some bad reactions but nothing scarring or permanent. I've researched, been to talks and lectures and talked to all my friends in the medical field.....most of the time, vaxes do what they are supposed to do. Obviously, there are exceptions. Each vax must be researched independently. My dd won't be getting the guardisil shot, we think it's too dangerous at this point.

There are some on this board who always tell me they would have gotten divorced rather than let dh give the children shots. They don't have my life nor should they judge.

[Super Glue Mommy]

i always worry. it's not like either is ideal. risk of illness, versus possible lower risk of illness and increased risk of neurological disorder or other damaging reactions.

philo try not to worry what others think. My husband doesn't care about vax either way so I cant say what I would do in that boat. I have said I would divorce him if he ever physically discciplined our children though. I think there is a difference between something that is proven to be harmful, and something that is controversial. I think it depends where you stand on the matter. Vaccines may just be a contraversial issue to you, like to some people spanking is contraversial. some things may seem blatantly harmful, and if you felt that was true about vaccines im sure you wouldnt let anyone do that. I imagine you deal with enough continuing to vaccinate after bad reactions to worry about what other people have to say about your marriage. (HUGS)

[tmaue]

No panic here. At this point, I am not sure what I would be panicked about. All life is full of risk. When I decide to drive somewhere, I don't think about the risk of something bad happening anymore than I think about something bad happening if I did not vaccinate. Once my decision is made, it really doesn't help to spend time thinking on it.

It is all the researching I did to come to my decisions which allows me to be confident in my decisions and to not have to continue to question myself. If I was feeling some kind of panick, for me, researching more into whatever it is, would help me come to peace again.

Here is a link to see what the leading cause of death are in different age groups. There are many more causes of death that top the list than diseases that vaccines cover, but most people don't give much thought to them. Probably because we don't have doctors and the government constantly reminding us like we do with vaccines.

http://wonder.cdc.gov/

[theretohere]

I didn't for a long time, but oddly now that I have a child that I can't vax for medical reasons I occasionally panic. Somehow it was different to not vax because I didn't want to vs. because I can't.

[Murihiku]

I feel worried when I read about reactions, but I overcome it by thinking about how dangerous driving is (like tmaue) and how relatively pointless it is to worry about vaccines when I drive my children without worrying almost every week; and also how in peril the world is from climate change and how toxic are the food we eat and the air we breathe . . .

Why worry? Be fatalistic. (But not so fatalistic that we don't try to change things for the better, of course.)

[angelpie545]

I worry, yes, and sometimes, I even panic. Vaccinations are such a hard thing to make decisions about because there is always someone with an agenda who wants you to feel one way, and yet another view who wants you to come to their side. I honestly feel like the truth (as truth lies) is somewhere in the middle. Am I always comfortable with the fact that my kids are unvaccinated? No. Is it the best decision I feel I can make at this point? Yes. I don't feel completely comfortable with not vaccinating, but I certainly don't feel comfortable with fully vaccinating. I'll always continue watching the debate and continue doing research.

[Super Glue Mommy]

Originally Posted by Murihiku

I feel worried when I read about reactions, but I overcome it by thinking about how dangerous driving is (like tmaue) and how relatively pointless it is to worry about vaccines when I drive my children without worrying almost every week; and also how in peril the world is from climate change and how toxic are the food we eat and the air we breathe . . .

Why worry? Be fatalistic. (But not so fatalistic that we don't try to change things for the better, of course.)

I worry about all the things you say. I am not consumed by worry, but I have a safe amount of worry. Like a person who drives has enough worry to drive safely, stop at red lights, watch the other cars on the road, etc. Or some people worry enough about disease to vaccinate, or enough about vaccinations to not. I DEFINITELY worry about the food my negative effect on my son. I worry about the air we breathe too. I wish more people did, maybe then more effort would be made for change. I think you understand this by your last statement, but are just making it from a different perspective. My husband is fatalistic certainly. I agree with his reasons for being so, but not with the way he embraces it.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Murihiku

I feel worried when I read about reactions, but I overcome it by thinking about how dangerous driving is (like tmaue) and how relatively pointless it is to worry about vaccines when I drive my children without worrying almost every week; and also how in peril the world is from climate change and how toxic are the food we eat and the air we breathe . . .

Why worry? Be fatalistic. (But not so fatalistic that we don't try to change things for the better, of course.)

I agree with you, but with that desire to try and change things for the better, thats where the worry occasionally creeps in. In terms of other things, driving, food, water, air, I know what I can do to try and improve things. I drive safely, I eat organic foods/no junk, I have water filters on my showers, I don't drink tap water, I have air purifiers in my home..etc. With Vaccines Im not doing them because i feel they do more harm than good, but when one lets all the fearmongering get the better of them, they might think the NOT doing them does more harm than good KWIM?

[Super Glue Mommy]

well put marnica!

[xmasbaby7]

I n addition to the science behind vaccinations, I have reflected an equal number of hours reflecting on the psychology of vaccinations as a parenting choice.

Like other red hot parenting topics of breast vs bottle or co-sleeping, whether or not we vaccinate our children reveals the unpleasant lack of control we have over our children's health and well being. Ultimately, we cannot protect our children from a VPD (or horrible infections with no vaccines) or a vaccine reaction. We want absolutes and there are none. That is the source of the panic.

When you work through the fear, I think most moms who don't vaccinate on this forum who don't panic, like me, agree that we cannot control every health outcome so we do our best by avoiding vaccines and promoting the strength of our kid's immune systems so that infection can be dealt with with the least risk of complications.

[eireann]

i worry, but the bottom line is that i cannot abide by ingredients in vaccines and therefore i refuse to allow them to be administered to my baby. i do worry about diseases, etc. but perhaps less than i did simply b/c she is older. now, when #2 comes around...aye yi yi... worry x10000, until they too are a little older and more robust.

edit: I deal with it by using wipes or soap and water wahsing of her hands, simply saline to flush nasal invaders, and on the occasion a tiny bit of neosporin. i keep her clean but not hidden! when we come home from the park, we change clothes and wash up. i also try to feed her organic and keep SA on hand in case of a problem. i just have to go, ok, i did the very best i could to eliminate potentially bad viruses or bacteria. if she gets something, i try to / have to believe its weakened and her natural tools to attack the thing will kick in. oh, and i pray she stays healthy and happy.

[mamakah]

Thanks for all the answers so far!

[Gwendolyn's babies]

Yes, sometimes I worry...especially when they get sick. I think to myself, "oh my is this something big!!" My husband is a more calm attitude.

I can't say we won't ever vax, but what research we have done so far, it is more intimidating to vax. So, we try to feed the kids healthy have their vitamins, codliver, and clean with natural ingredients. Like another poster said...keeping the hands washed. If my kids are out in public we wash right away. They have to have a bath that night and I want their fingernails to soak a bit. I have been know to open public doors with the hem of my skirt!

I wish for so many things, raw milk (it's so expensive) to live in the county, but we do the best we can. IF there is this epidemic of diesease we would seriously consider vaxing.

[BarnMomma]

I worry all the time. And my only way to calm my nerves is to keep reading. sometimes it helps, sometimes it fuels my panic.

I think what it is, is that we are not making these decisions for ourselves. We're making them for our children, our babies. These tiny little creatures that came into the world with no armour except US. The decisions we make, every single one of them, always impact our kids. So how do you make a decision that either way, seems to pose a threat?

We decided not to vax because the unknown risks (possible reactions, links to cancer, toxins, and all the other unknowns) outweighed my fear of the diseases. I had to think down the road...if my son developed cancer in his 30's or became autistic...would he resent me for making that decision to put something toxic in his body? Would he plead with me, WHY didn't you KNOW BETTER? Would I ever forgive myself? Would he forgive me? And yet, it can go the other way. If he gets a disease that takes a real toll on his little body will he say to me "why did you have to go against the grain? why couldn't you have just given me the vax??"

We also take precautions, that whether or not they make a difference, make us feel better. No airplanes with germy recycled air, no busy crowds in malls or the like during flu season, we tend to stick to farm markets and shop online.

And I also have to look at DS who is healthy as an ox and at 19 months has never had more than a 2 day sniffle. That makes me feel confident in our decision.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by eireann

i worry, but the bottom line is that i cannot abide by ingredients in vaccines and therefore i refuse to allow them to be administered to my baby. i do worry about diseases, etc. but perhaps less than i did simply b/c she is older. now, when #2 comes around...aye yi yi... worry x10000, until they too are a little older and more robust.

edit: I deal with it by using wipes or soap and water wahsing of her hands, simply saline to flush nasal invaders, and on the occasion a tiny bit of neosporin. i keep her clean but not hidden! when we come home from the park, we change clothes and wash up. i also try to feed her organic and keep SA on hand in case of a problem. i just have to go, ok, i did the very best i could to eliminate potentially bad viruses or bacteria. if she gets something, i try to / have to believe its weakened and her natural tools to attack the thing will kick in. oh, and i pray she stays healthy and happy.

Now see I am the opposite. I believe the bacteria is good for their immune systems. I think all the "antibactia" stuff out there is bad for them. Much of the bacteria it is killing is good bacteria.

I don't wipe down shopping carts. I do not change their clothes when they come in from playing. Sure they wash their hands before eating (although I don't always catch them before snaking.), touching dishes/food, or after using the bathroom. But other than that.. I let them play. You need to work out to become strong. Well your immune system is the same. If you are not exposed to all the every day germs.. how is your immune system going to know how to respond to a one that stronger?

And OP.. No I don't worry. I trust that their immune systems are as strong as they can be and I keep things on hand to help them fight off viruses and bacteria when it needs a bit of help.

[MsLondon]

of course there is worry with whatever decision we make with our kids. The whole vax question was THE toughest to and fro-ing desicion ive ever had to make ever!! talk about a battle with yourself!
so yeah i do worry on occasion if I made the right choice in not vaxing my DD, who is now 18m. but it really was the one i was most at peace with rather then vax her, and it still is.
I like to keep updated on the vaccine debate and so far nothing has really swayed me to re-think my decision.

So no I dont panic but do you know what I do worry about?..... when DD eventually goes to school, I worry about what she may be exposed to, from colds to V'P'Ds. We have been blessed as she has only had a couple of minor colds since she was born so Ive been pretty used to having a healthy little girl.
So I am kind of dreading school for her. crazy isnt it?