I'm torn...not sure what to do...

[HippieMamaBE]

Hi....

My name is Jess, I'm new here, and I need some advice....my DS is four months old, and I initally had no intentions of vaxing him. However, because of my profession, nursing, I decided to allow him to receive the Hib and DTaP, for fear of bringing these home to him. His ped isnt exactly supportive, at the first visit we discussed vaxing, he basically told me I was insane for not vaxing against Hib and DTaP. So I decided to go for those two. Now that those series are almost done, the ped told me I needed to decide which vax to start next(sort of a delayed schedule). We go back in Feb, and the more and more I think about it, I dont want him to have any more vaxes. However, I dont know how to address this with his ped. I'm really not sure what to do, what to say. My chiropractor and I share the same ped, and he did not give him one bit of trouble, so I thought it wouldnt be too bad when I told him I was not vaxing...I guess he just respects his(my chiro's) opinions more....I'd like to find a ped who supports non-vaxing, but I live in a very small town and that's impossible....I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say, except that I dont want to vax anymore. I've done as much research as I can, and I know that vaxing isnt for me...just like circing wasnt for me, his ped still asked me repeatedly if I was sure I didnt want it done....if I did, I would have had it done in the hospital. I'm starting to really hate the area I live in, its so mainstream and it drives me nuts...sorry if this doesnt make a whole lot of sense, but my thoughts are really jumbled right now....

[Gitti]

Do Not Go Back To That Ped!

He does not have your child's best interest at heart. His only concern is his pocket book.

You do not need to go back in February unless something is seriously wrong with your child. Cancel that appointment and tell them you'll call to reschedule. Then relax and do your own research and decide for yourself what (not) you want injected into your child.

Many mothers don't go for well baby visits because they are strictly designed to give vaccines. My own grandson who is now 2 has not been to a ped since he was 12 months old and before that he was only 3 times altogether.

[InDaPhunk]

Originally Posted by HippieMamaBE

...just like circing wasnt for me, his ped still asked me repeatedly if I was sure I didnt want it done....if I did, I would have had it done in the hospital.

:

Ditto PP.....and run, do not walk, run from this ped. The above statement is one huge indicator that this guy is a total idiot not to mention a money-grubbing mutilator. WOW that's really scary that he would offer repeatedly to do that. I would never, ever take my kid to see him again. Ever.

[Planta]

I agree with Gitti, just don't go anymore. I understand you very well - how bad you feel about having to explain, etc.
My son is now 3 and 2 months. My last check-up visit with him was at 1 and a half (when we were still in Switzerland).

[splash]

When our ped was talking about switching practices to one quite further away, we left and went to another pediatrician in the same practice/different office. After a while we decided we really wanted to see Dr. L and would just have to make the drive. I called her old office to see what new office she was at (our practice has 13 offices). She was still at the old one and had decided not to move! We were so happy about that.
Pointless story, right?
My point is, that after dealing with a competent physician that we just didn't like (not Dr. L, the ped we had switched to) we realized that it would be worth the drive for one we liked and trusted.
We're willing to drive so many places... a restaurant that's 45 minutes away, a mall in the next county, etc. So it seemed wrong to me not to be willing to drive the 30 minutes for my son's appointments. Especially since I drive farther than that to take my dogs to the vet!
Evaluate how much it is worth to you to have a ped who supports your views, or at the very least is respectful of them. If that means driving half an hour to get there, it might just be what you have to do. It's not like they go to the ped that often anyway. With us, it was easier to make the decision because our practice has so many offices and we can go to any of them whenever we want. Therefore, if he really were sick and we needed to be there RIGHT NOW, or we needed to squeeze the appt in, we could always go to one by the house. You probably aren't that lucky. But if he's not going to the doc that often (and the visits taper off right about now) then you can just make a longer drive.
Good luck!

[jessicaSAR]

This is actually an explicit strategy for pediatricians dealing with "reluctant" parents. If you mention non vaxing they always say, "well, at least get HIB and DTaP." These diseases are rarely dangerous in children over a year old, so these are the one's they push first. Once you get these they will be on to push others. I experienced this same strategy. I agree, find another pediatrician.

[aira]

Just wanted to pipe in with our situation, in case you're still feeling strange about the hospital contact.

My mom is a surgical ICU nurse, and she plays with vax-free DS daily. Handwashing and clothing changes (most of the time) are all she does.

She's never brought home anything...