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How did you explain to your family?  

post #1 of 23
Thread Starter 
We just found a great holistic ped and we've made the decision to stop vaxing my 6 mo dd. My SILs already think we are nuts for little things like slinging and cloth diapering.
How do you explain to your family without preaching or making them feel like bad moms for their decision to fully vax?
I don't think they even thought to question what they are putting into their children's bodies...

Thanks!
post #2 of 23
How about not bringing it up?
post #3 of 23
I don't talk about most of our parenting practices to my family. If they ask I'm honest with them but I'm an adult, these are my (and Dh's) decisions that have nothing to do with them.
post #4 of 23
I don't say anything. It's none of their business. Medical decisions are private and personal.
I did explain to my pregnant SIL that we have a history of vaccine reactions in the family and with her eczema and chemical sensitivities she needs to be aware of all the ingredients in shots. But our medical decisions are not conversation starters. I understand the desire to tell people so that they can make informed decisions, too, but this area is one where you can make trouble for yourself.
post #5 of 23
Thread Starter 
Trust me - I don't plan to start any conversations about it. I was just wondering how others may have handled it when the situation arises.
My SILs sometimes ask about her well-visits and I would love to tell them to myob but I'm not looking to start a "thing" either.
post #6 of 23
hannahmom, I can totally sympathize. My mil is always, always bringing up the vax thing. And yes, she thinks I'm weird about some of the things we're planning to do. So...I had a non-confrontational conversation with her. Told her about adverse reaction, told her about myself not being vaxed until I was 5 (and I'm much healthier than her fully vaxed son), yadda yadda. At the end, I said..."so I'd appreciate it if you just didn't bring it up again, since these choices are carefully researched".

She still DOES bring it up but in an offhand way (oh, that's right, you aren't vaxing so that doesn't apply to you) and I have to learn to handle it.

I really hope that helps!


Rachel
overdue day 2
post #7 of 23
I agree. My medical decisions regarding my children are not topic starters.
My family assumes my kids are "up to date" on their vaccines. Except my mom. I knew I could tell her. Everyone else , let them just think it.

I get this question: Have they been to well visits lately ?

to which I say "If they are well why take them to sit among all the sick people and wait to be seen?"
post #8 of 23
When people ask just say the visits went fine and leave it at that.

Even if there were no visits.
post #9 of 23
If it comes up, I agree w/Arduinna- just say it was fine until you are comfortable discussing it further. I tell people which vax's I'm not doing and why if they ask, if they don't- it's a non issue.

You could say you're delaying, you could say she had a fever the day of the visit and doc wanted to postpone, you could say she's allergic to one of the ingredients, you could say you don't agree w/vax's that are only for profit or are too new.
post #10 of 23
s! I agree it sucks and its so unfair we have to second guess ourself . I really havce no advice. I tell my mom how it is, i really dont care about her feelings when it comes to MY CHILDREN I m very grateful for finding a ped who respects my decion. I bring that up to her, like well dr so and so doesn't have a problem with it

with freinds (i have no relation wil sil or that family and my other sis has no babies and my younger/ well, she agrees with me I think)

I feel uncomfortable, but try to sound.. LOL
try

educated on it. and keep it short sweet and simple, like one liners- with the information I have reserched Im not comfortable with vaxing RIGHT NOW.
I dunno Im problay a bad person to advice bc I'm really BLUNT
:

I just wanted to send some s cause I know how you feel...s

i think they might bring it up bc secretly they wish they had your strength
post #11 of 23
I've told my family because I think it's important that everyone research vaccines. Not only that, but I need to know when their child has had a live vaccine if they are going to be around my children so I have told them that.

If you are not comfortable with discussing it with them just don't bring it up, and ignore any comments about vaccines that they might make. Change the subject really quick if you have to. It's none of their business anyway.
post #12 of 23
What if you give them the research? My parents totally hopped aboard the no vaxing train. My grandparents too. Do a search on SV-40 and hand it out, I bet they will be angry that they ever received some themselves. As far as my mother in law.....she hasnt said a thing! LOL Shocking! :LOL
post #13 of 23
My mom lives across the street and soon will live with us, so she knows. She was hesitant about it at first but is fully on board now that she knows the research. We don't tell anyone else -- they aren't making the decision themselves, so it's irrelevant.

For folks who have asked the questions --

How was his well baby visit?

It went well, he's weighs 12 lbs, etc.

How did he react to the shots?

He has not had a problem with the shots

in other circumstances -- Is your baby up to date on all of his shots?

He has all the shots he's going to get up to this point.
post #14 of 23
I do not tell! My parent see a chiropractor with anti vaccine posters in his office, including the one that breaks down ingredients. They just think he is whacky and anti medicine. They haven't a clue and get shots all the time (Dad is a pilot so they feel he "has" too).

Anyway, they would see this as neglect, so no way...
post #15 of 23
Quote:
Originally posted by AnnMarie
...but I need to know when their child has had a live vaccine if they are going to be around my children ...
Such as which one?

MMR?

You only have to worry if you are not breast-feeding, because with breast milk comes immunity to M M & R.

And that's the only one that contains live virus. Is this correct?

post #16 of 23
Go with your gut. If you have qualms about discussing it with them, then there is not trust that they will respect your decision.
post #17 of 23
I don't hide the fact that I don't vaccinate. I don't tiptoe around the subject. When I am discussing vaccination with people I tell them flat out I don't vaccinate. It's legal for me to refuse, so why hide it? There's nothing wrong with not vaccinating.

I don't just say "We don't vaccinate" and leave it at that, though. People are typically curioius as to why... not always to attack your choices (though I've certainly experienced people like that), because they don't understand it.

I'm able to do this spiel inside and out about the statistics involved in vaccinating... the statistics of children getting the vaccine preventable diseases, the statistics of reports of vaccine reactions, the statistics of vaccine effectiveness, the statistics of duration of immunities... I explain it in a step by step manner that is easily understood, engages the other person, and gets them to really think about the choice to not vaccinate. I show them it IS a choice, and not some decision I made haphazardly. I know my shit, man. :LOL

Now, all that is about telling people in general. I can use this spiel with family members, too, and I have. But, my family is more understanding of my choice. My cousin died after receiving a vaccine.

My father was vaccinated against polio (live vaccine), and my grandfather got polio from it. He ended up spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. But, that's not the end of it. My grandmother was exposed to it, and while she didn't get polio she was pregnant at the time and it caused a permanant genetic mutation in her unborn child. He was born with emidermolysis bullosa (breaks out in blisters and sores especially at joints, anywhere bending or where skin would be touched).

(WARNING... THIS LINK HAS DISTURBING PICTURES OF THIS CONDITION!!!)
EB Kids

This mutation is PERMANANT and will go on for generations in my family... all because of one vaccination. Five out of my uncle's 6 kids have EB. One child was stillborn because of this condition. Another got cancer and went blind.



The reactions I've gotten from people because of my choice to not vaccinate has varied greatly. I've had CPS called on me because I choose not to vaccinate. I've received threats that I couldn't put my children in daycare or school. I've been pushed into switching doctors. I've also encouraged MANY MANY people to do their research. I've had people agreeing with me and discovered they were anti-vax, too. I know of at least one person who chose not to vaccinate after hearing my spiel and doing her own research.

My mother vaccinated me fully. I've had slight reactions to vaccines, and I've gotten whooping cough even after being vaccinated. My parents aren't offended that I choose not to vaccinate. They know where I'm coming from. Whenever the subject is brought up, they often say how at the time I was born everybody just did it. Nobody in that area questioned vaccinations. They still don't for the most part. It was just thought that since the doctors went to school for so many years the doctors knew more than them so parents had to listen to them.

At least my parents admit they chose to be ignorant, and they often sound regretful even though I didn't have severe reactions.
post #18 of 23
Quote:
Originally posted by Jen123
I agree. My medical decisions regarding my children are not topic starters.
My family assumes my kids are "up to date" on their vaccines.


exactly
post #19 of 23
Quote:
Originally posted by Journey
...I'm able to do this spiel inside and out about the statistics involved in vaccinating... the statistics of children getting the vaccine preventable diseases, the statistics of reports of vaccine reactions, the statistics of vaccine effectiveness, the statistics of duration of immunities... I explain it in a step by step manner that is easily understood, engages the other person, and gets them to really think about the choice to not vaccinate. I show them it IS a choice, and not some decision I made haphazardly. I know my shit, man. :LOL


i am gonna schedule a dr visit for both kiddos and take journey with me, lol
post #20 of 23
LOL! You wanna know something funny? I started this spiel towards a new doctor in the practice I USED to take my kids to. Turns out she was one of the doctors responsible for making certain vaccinations "mandatory" in our state. She obviously wasn't listening to my spiel, and she soooo didn't know all the sides to everything... she just didn't want to hear anything contradicting what she was taught in school. :

I asked her several questions, as in "Isn't it true...?" and she couldn't respond. She basically took off in a huff because I had educated myself and stood my ground, not cowaring to her great doctor mightiness. :
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