let's talk about VAX

[grazy101]

This is my first baby, and I worked very hard to ignore this very pressing issue. (I have been reading up on home-birthing and learning everything I can about my body and the babe)
I know there's a VAX forum and I need to spend a lot of time in there. But was trying to see if any of our December mamas has any input/thoughts/research to this?
I am completely lost. I am leaning towards no vax, but this seems so important and I want to read all i can. Any help is really appreciated.

[Qbear'smama]

I agree that the best move is to explore the vax forum, it is so chock full of great resources, books, sites, research, etc etc. Good to think about it now, because those first shots come pretty early and if you aren't going to vax, it's good to have that decision made sooner rather than later and by that I mean that friends of mine who weren't sure ended up doing the first few shots because they were still mulling it over and perhaps felt pressured when the appointments came. Especially if grandparents and well-meaning friends get in on it, not to mention doctors, there can be a lot of pressure to do it before you have really sussed out the issues and made a decision, IMO. Good luck!

[ema-adama]

This thread will bo doubt be moved over to the vax forum.

This is a HUGE topic, as you are no doubt aware. Try to formulate your questions into specific questions about specific diseases and specific vaccines.

It might help you to look at the CDC schedule so that you at least know which vaccines are recommended for which ages. Then take it from there.

An invaluable resource for me has been http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...less-traveled/ It is not rabidly anti vaccine and the authors have done a series on myth busters that look at myths on both sides of the debate. I have not found outrageous claims being made, and like that the articles are referenced, allowing me to look at their sources and make up my own mind.

[WifeofAnt]

It is a really big decision. So far we've decided on selective/delayed under Dr. Sears's schedule. My personal thing against them is the additives (especially the aluminum). On Dr. Sears's schedule we'd only get one aluminum containing vax at a time but we'd still get 'caught up' before school started and get whatever protection they offered. Of course though if he shows signs of a reaction we'd stop immediately but I don't feel comfortable with either the standard schedule or not vaxing at all.

[summersmama]

i was unsure when i had my daughter, so we decided to delay. it worked out well because it gave us more time to research and decide. ultimately we decided on just a few and are being choosy about which ones-she didn't get her first until her 2 year check up.

i got A LOT of pressure from doctors. be prepared for that if you decide not to or to delay. they really push the pertussis (dtap) when they are babes.

the first one they wanted to give our baby was within a day of birth, the hep.b vax. be prepared for that. i simply said no and no one pushed it.

[quantumleap]

I'm going to give this thread about ten more seconds before it gets shipped off to the vaccinations section!
My synopsis is, if you aren't sure, DON'T vaccinate. You can always vaccinate your child, at any time. Any doctor will be more than happy to shoot you up. But, you can never take away a vaccination. Once it's done, it's done, so be sure before you do it.
One useful book is Aviva Jill Romm's "Vaccinations". She covers all the vpds - signs and symptoms, side effects, history of each disease and history of each vaccine, and then offers a variety of treatment options. It's not super biased towards not vaccinating, but does lean a bit that way, especially for certain vaccines. However, it's all very rational and researched, and also very readable.
Have you talked to an ND about homeopathic vaccines? I'm not as up on those, but I know they exist, and they might be a middle ground if you're looking for one.
I'm also pretty sure (it's been awhile since I looked) that there's a resources section in the vaccinations area of MDC. I know they have the exemption forms for various states and provinces listed there, which shouldn't be an issue right off the bat, but it's nice to have it bookmarked for later.

We're not vaccinating. At all. We were a little torn about the tetanus vaccine, and have left space to change our minds on that one, for sure. Our daughter(s) will be given information and the opportunity to choose the rubella vaccine at puberty, if they don't wind up with natural immunity, same with mumps for our son(s).
Overall though, my general philosophy is that people get way to excited about this issue. It's a personal choice, and as long as you're making an INFORMED decision, you just do the best you can with what you know and go from there.

[grazy101]

that's everyone for your replies. I am just SCARED! I don't want a decision I made now will or might end up killing our child...
Gotta read read and read!! Thanks for the links and will definitely spend more time on the vax forum.
Love the approach on breaking down each vaccine and learning the pros and cons and knowing myself, it's going in a spreadsheet. But man... I studied accounting in college because I HATE BIOLOGY!!

[wholewheatchick]

I am reading Aviva JIll Romm's book right now, and I also checked out Raising a Healthy Child in Spite of your doctor. Romm's book is a little dated: no HPV info, but everything else seems up to date. The other book is quite old, but looked good and a friend recommended it to me.

I also have read Dr. Sears' book and will likely look at it again when I get it back from the lady I lent it to.

This is our first baby and we are also very undecided, but at this point are leaning towards the DTaP and nothing else until puberty. I'll get the rubella vaccine booster, since I would be the one affected most by that disease and I am not naturally immune.

Good luck researching. It can be so overwhelming. If you don't want to read about it, I've heard good things about Jay Gordon's movie, Vaccinations? avaialble through Netflix.

[Dichotomy]

I, too, have the Dr Sears book on vaccines, and am going through it. We havent made any final decisions as of yet, but are leaning towards a delayed vaccine schedule.

I'd say the vaccine forum here and Dr. Sears book are good starting points to get info.

[yukookoo]

i didnt do a ny vax with dd and wont with this babe.

I didnt think about it at all with dd luckily I had a nurse when i went into labor and delivery who said dont vaccinate yet, I had to sign or say if i want hep b and she said do you have it? I said no, she said there's no reason then....

When dd was 2 months or whenever the first vaxs are done I looked at her little tiny beautiful exclusively breastfed everything organic body and couldnt bare the thought of anything un natural going into her blood, or giving her over to some dr to inject something into "for her protection". then I started researching and delaying and thinking ill do some vax at some point but now she's 3 and they never got done and im very ok with that


anyway much like many parenting decisions you really never ever know until youre holding your baby. I also pre dd said that I dont want to nurse because formula is just as good and I dont really like the whole idea of it, it seemed like an annoyance HAAAAA she nursed until 2.5 on demand, which was all freaking day long things change... not that preparing and reading and all that isnt good to do now, its just hard to decide ahead of time imo

[MamaMonica]

Moved to vaccinations, per DDC guidelines