i'm scared.

[ryleeee]

i don't know what to do. i cancelled haye's appointment but then my doctor instilled fear in me that he would die of whooping cough. we are flying home on dec 22 and i'm scared he'll pick it up at the airport. maybe i'm just being paranoid. blah. i don't know what to do. to vax or not to vax?

[InfoisPower]

First you have to consider what it is exactly you're afraid of of?

If you're afraid of the disease and how to manage it, I suggest you look into the many excellent posts in the archives about whooping cough and how to manage it. Be acutely aware of the pros and cons of the vaccine...70% efficiacy isn't exactly great and the side effects...well that's for you decide.

If you're afraid of "I told you so's " from people close to you, I suggest you look into what those relationships entail, what they're worth to you, and stragtegies on how to deal with that with a snappy comeback.

Look, I'm not going to try convince you one way or the other. You have to go with your gut feeling here, and not let anyone dismiss it as invalid. That little voice that speaks softly when you're quiet is the most reliable guide. Do not ignore it, and that is my one piece of advice I will give you on this issue.

[Plummeting]

I agree, you have to do whatever you think is best, BUT whatever you choose to do, your child isn't going to be protected from pertussis by Dec. 22 unless he's already had the first two rounds of vaccines. It takes 3 doses to give any immunity, so one dose isn't going to keep him from catching pertussis. Even after 3 doses, less than 70% of people are immune, so I wouldn't necessarily consider him immune even if he has had the first two.

[mamakay]

Originally Posted by Plummeting

I agree, you have to do whatever you think is best, BUT whatever you choose to do, your child isn't going to be protected from pertussis by Dec. 22 unless he's already had the first two rounds of vaccines. It takes 3 doses to give any immunity, so one dose isn't going to keep him from catching pertussis. Even after 3 doses, less than 70% of people are immune, so I wouldn't necessarily consider him immune even if he has had the first two.

And, by the time the 3rd dose comes around, babies are past the age where whooping cough is so dangerous.

I know how you feel, though. I was terrified of pertussis until ds was 6 months, and then I still didn't totally relax about it till he was one.
It's just scary. No way around that.
If you have the $, you could get your own titers checked, I guess, to see if you're immune to it. If you are,(not terribly likely) then you could relax, since if you're breastfeeding then you're good to go, or at least there's passive immunity till 6 months for your ds even if you're not nursing.

[pinkmilk]

Hi.
Just keep strangers faces away from your baby and make sure that even relatives with any type of cough or cold symptom stay away and all other people wash their hands properly. Hopefully you are nursing because your antibodies play the biggest role in keeping your baby healthy.
Trust in your body, you'll do fine.

[Gitti]

double post.

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by ryleeee

i don't know what to do. i cancelled haye's appointment but then my doctor instilled fear in me that he would die of whooping cough. we are flying home on dec 22 and i'm scared he'll pick it up at the airport. maybe i'm just being paranoid. blah. i don't know what to do. to vax or not to vax?

Hi, you didn't say how old the baby is but I looked at your pictures and it looks like he is very young. And so pretty!

I feel very sorry for you because I know what you are going through. Instincts tell you that to inject anything into a healthy body can't be healthy but then your ped tells you about all the diseases that be a danger to your child and you certainly don't want anything to happen to him.

The airport has a lot of people but you can pick up things at any store, theater, playgoup....Don't be paranoid about it. He'll be fine.

Here are the facts: He was born with the ability to protect himself against parasites. That little baby can actually deal with certain parasites!

He was also born with an immune system that is rady to start learning from day one. Now we humans don't know much about the immune system, but we do know that it serves us all our life.

For now his immune system depends somewhat on mother's milk. I do hope you are breast feeding for that purpose. If not, make your own formula. Don't use that stuff that you buy, you never know what's in it - really.

He was created so that he can handle germs and parasites that he comes in contact with. With a little protection from you, he is strong enough to take care of the rest.

But what he is not able to protect himself against is a needle full of germs, heavy metals, antibiotics, foreign proteins, and all the other stuff that could be injected into his blood. He has no defense against that. He was not meant to defend himself against that sort of onslaught.

Let your instinct and the love for your child guide you. Take care of him. Don't let him be coughed on, make people wash their hands before they hold him, you can tell them no kissing (if it makes you feel better) and make sure he is in a smoke free environment. Don't overheat the room.

Oh, one more thing, take him out (bundled up heavily) into the cold air once a day. Take him for a short walk. He needs fresh air.

Don't worry, he'll be fine.

Originally Posted by Plummeting

Even after 3 doses, less than 70% of people are immune, so I wouldn't necessarily consider him immune even if he has had the first two.

And he won't be "immune" (if there is such a thing) after the third either. In a pertussis epidemic most of the kids are in fact FULLY vaccinated.

Here is an interesting letter!

And if I may suggest it, buy yourself the book by Dr. Mendelsohn, Raising A Healthy Child In Spite Of Your Doctor.

[alegna]

Another voice to say- even if you gave the vax now he would have next to no protection AND his immune system would no longer be unaltered and up to par. So, give him a tiny bit of protection and a slightly damaged immune system (and risk the most reactive vax out there...), or build up his immune system and let it do its job?

-Angela

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

If you go to the thread that I put up, and you read all those yearly reports, you will see that many of the babies and youngsters in this country who have had pertussis have had the full course. Some of the deaths were fully vaccinated for their age as well, but notice in the summary tables in the second post, two out of the four had underlying conditions

[DesireeH]

I'd just nurse nurse nurse on the plane. That's what we did up until he weaned (at 2 years old). My ds has been on quite a few flights and never gotten sick with so much as a cold after a flight. Plus the nursing keeps them happy, quiet, and helps their ears with the going up and down.

[imgr8ful]

if it helps any, my wee one is just a few weeks older than your babe , we are flying from ak to az and then down to mexico for the holidays - ha has not had any shots

[ryleeee]

thanks everyone!
i will NOT vax him.
i just get scared.
21 years of being force-fed what is "right" is hard to undo with just a few months of being online...YKWIM?
i have a hard time with being scared of what to tell everyone regarding why i am not doing it. i know it's our decision and not theirs...i'm just scared still.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

You don't have to tell anyone. Don't be scared. Doesn't do your immune system any good. Read a lot of surround yourself with people who will help you not hinder you. If people get up your nose, show them the door. It's too important at this time of life to lay the foundations now, of who makes the decisions. You have to do it now, because if you don't they'll be telling you how to make your beds next.

And if your doctor gets in your ear, either go deaf or change your doctor.

[ryleeee]

i'm trying to change my doctor. he pissed me off. told me if i didn't vax haye then he would turn blue and die in my arms from whooping cough. i was shocked. he also retracted his foreskin...yeah, i'm one angry mama.

i actually bought that book and it's in the bathroom

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

Originally Posted by ryleeee

i'm trying to change my doctor. he pissed me off. told me if i didn't vax haye then he would turn blue and die in my arms from whooping cough. i was shocked. he also retracted his foreskin...yeah, i'm one angry mama.

That's downright emotional blackmail, and deserves and immediate firing...

i actually bought that book and it's in the bathroom

Bathrooms are the best place to read. Peace and quiet.

[ediesmom]

I just wanted to pipe in here and let you know that when Edie was about 18 mos old she got whooping cough. She DID NOT turn blue and die in my arms. I worked closely with a homeopath and she got through it fine. I believe the reason she is so healthy (no chronic colds, no eaar infections, etc) is because I did not vax her.

Rest assured, momma, you are right to trust your instincts and leave your childs immune system intact.

ediesmom

btw, edie is now 9

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by Momtezuma Tuatara

Bathrooms are the best place to read. Peace and quiet.

Um, it depends on what you ate for dinner. Or if you OD'd on Vitamin C....um ok sorry. TMI.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Momtezuma Tuatara

Bathrooms are the best place to read. Peace and quiet.

: says someone who hasn't had toddlers in a LONG time....

-Angela

[ryleeee]

i feel better. you guys always make me feel better.

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Just wanted to add- I have had a terrible cough now for 5 weeks. Lots of wheezing and tightness in my chest. I finally went to see a dr who said I most likely have whooping cough. Didn't do a test, though. Anyway, my point is I have an unvaxed 12 week old boy who did not get sick, even though I hold him, wear him in my sling, kiss him and cosleep. Breastfeeding is better than any vax available!

Suzy