need help/support

[Erin082]

I have decided not to vax at this point. My dd is 4 months old, very healthy and thriving. I have the support of my df and family about this decision, and am personally very comfortable with it. Rather than dealing with a confrontation with the pedi, I opted not to take dd for a 2 month check up. Since she is baby # 4 for me, and #7 if you combine df and my broods, I am confident she is developmentally on track and otherwise has had no health concerns. But now she is 4 months old, I wonder if she shouldn't be seen as a safety net . . . but I dont want an issue about vaxing and know it is coming at the ped. I havent been able to find a dr inour area that I wont have these issues with. What should I do?

[ammiga]

With dd, our first, we did WBV for the first year, then stopped. Now that I know more about being a parent, I probably won't do them for our second. They seem entirely unnecessary.

If you do decide to go, just go knowing that they will push at least one vax (almost every pedi has their pet vax that is VERY important, and it ranges from pedi to pedi). If you don't want to vax, tell them you will go home and think about it. They will give you all sorts of reasons why you should do at least that one while you are there. It helps to know that ahead of time and be prepared for it.

[Deborah]

There are several approaches:

Call first, say we aren't planning on doing vaccines for a while, we are researching, so please, just a well baby check. Add that you'll be happy to accept any written material on vaxing they want to give you, but that you don't want to take up the doctor's time to discuss it <insert evil grin>

Claim that vaxing is against your religious beliefs.

Earplugs, insert when the doctor starts on the topic.

Bring along an aggressive an argumentative friend, unleash when the doctor begins the discussion.

Procrastinate for another month.

Good luck.

[peainthepod]

Ask around, look in the Finding Your Tribe forum for your region, call some birthing centers and/or homebirth midwives for recs.

And be sure to ask the receptionist before you make an appointment whether you'll be "fired" for not vaxing. (Since when do doctors fire paying customers? But that's what they call it. )