anyone raising their children "unassisted"? - Page 2

[jiva]

When I was pregnant, my brother talked to a dr. friend of his who told him that if I didn't see a dr. then CS could find out and take my child...HOWEVER, my mom's friend worked for CS for several years and she said that a UP/UC was the least of their worries and that if anything did come up, all I would have to do is show them my herbalist certification and paperwork verifying that I have taken courses in nutrition and midwifery (which I have). At the most, they would want to interview me to make sure I knew what I was talking about. They would just want to know that the parents are educated and not being negligent (I think even my massive book collection (natural healthcare and some medical textbooks could have been used as proof). I would basically only take my son to the dr. (or go myself) for broken bones or something along those lines. I do wish I had a dr. to consult with and to have on hand for any emergency trips...but I don't and it really seems to bother my mom more than anyone.

Oh, and when we went to the Health Dept. to get his birth certificate, no one said anything threatening...they were more like "we haven't had one of these in a looooong time!".

jiva

[tabitha]

we dont do the traditional well baby thing. however my daughter, when she was newborn, was very sick and we have had to spend time in the ER and hospital and used antibiotics and done tests galore. she is fine now. we also live on a farm and choose to vaccinate for tetanus.

every time we go to the dr's office we get sick!!!

[2Sweeties1Angel]

We try to, but DS is severely asthmatic and needs medicine for that. We're trying to cut out all the environmental allergens that we can and it seems to be helping, but he goes to public school and it's impossible to anything about the allergens there. We stopped taking DD to the doctor when she was about 6 mos old and realized well-baby visits were mainly just for vaccinations, which we don't do.

[Sijae]

I avoid allopathic medicine as much as possible with my children. We don't do well child visits, we don't go in for sickness and I don't give them OTC medicine. We also don't vaccinate and they've never had antibiotics.

I'm reserving allopathic medical care for if they are so ill that the very definite risks of doctors and hospitals are outweighed by some benefit that I can see. That rarely happens if at all in my opinion.

I would be more concerned about CPS if I was seeing a doctor that might not agree with my parenting choices and choose to turn me in. It seems more risky to flaunt myself in front of the establishment than to just go about my business.

Laura

[mama_at_home]

We don't take our kids to the dr. routinely, but we would if it were necessary. We don't give any type of drugs, either but we would in an emergency. The twins were born at home 10 months ago and have never set foot in a doctor's office. My 3 year old goes to preschool 2 mornings a week and it was required he get a check-up. The vax waiver was really easy but he still needed the checkup. The dr. was very cool about us not vaxing, although I am sure he disagrees with it. He was very hands off and was just like "keep doing what you're doing, mama." Anyway, I told him we don't take our kids to the dr. and the only reason we were there was for the preschool and he understood. He was recommended by our homeopathic/holistic dr. I myself go to the chiropractor but have not taken the kids yet. I plan on talking to him when I have my UC (he is a family practioner) and asking if he would do back up in case of emergency.

[majazama]

I would never want to get an appointment specifically for my kid with some doctor, because they most likely would question me about vaccination. I don't want flak for something I know is right, and theres no reason for them to see my kids anyways, cause they are extremely healthy.

I don't worry about CPS, cause I live in canada I would just be honest with them, if they did contact me. "why should my kids go to the doctors? I keep them very healthy"

For high fevers..... VITAMEN A..... It really does work. Something I've learned from my old health food store buddy. My kids will eat cod liver capsules (which is really high in vit. a) so it's preventative too. We've been taking cod liver oil since the beginning of 'flu season' The body will get hotter and hotter, during illness, if there is not enough vit.a to deal with the fever.

never have used OTC meds either, like advil, or tylenol (which do not heal the things that you give them for)

we use homeopathy, herbs, vitamens, fresh air and sunshine, love. I am their doctor, and midwife... My kids are way better off, I feel, than kids who go to the doc. regularly.

I would take my kids to the hospital if they had a broken arm, or something along those lines. That's when allopathy is useful.

I would take them to a ND, or herbalist, or chinese/ayurvedic doctor if there was something up with them that I couldn't handle.

[super kitty]

*

[accountclosed3]

i will probably utilize the medical profession only if necessary. but there are a few concerns (eye) that might require medical and even surgical attentions and skills. so, not entirely. but, if i can do without it--i will.

[13Sandals]

okay - I agree with most of the posters and only take my kids to the doc for emergencies - or if they need a signature to go to baseball camp - my fear is this though - suppose one of my rambunctious boys breaks an arm or has another accident that requires stitches and we end up in the hospital? all the forms, quesitons, everything linked to the SS#...that is my fear - that the cps would step in then. my city is not very 'natural living' friendly....how do you deal with hospitals in a true emergency?

[majazama]

Originally Posted by zoebird

i will probably utilize the medical profession only if necessary. but there are a few concerns (eye) that might require medical and even surgical attentions and skills. so, not entirely. but, if i can do without it--i will.

(emphasis mine)

Do you mean pink eye, or stuff like that? or serious eye injuries? My kids have had pink eye a few times, and we took care of that at home. Cold black tea helps to dry it up, and chamomile helps too, as does homeopathic pulsatilla.

[forthebest]

For many years my dc had never attended a doctors, I treated their colds and ailments with herbs and they are not vaxed,two were born uc, my eldest transferred from hb, recently my ds had to get stitches after a bad bike fall( they harrassed me a lot about the vaxes and it was horrible experience) so I would only take them to docs if emergency. When we lived on the road cps approached me and asked me to take my dc to docs to see if they were developing properly and created quite a stink about our lifestyles but I still didn't take them cos they weren't ill, something cps failed to acknowledge. I get medicines and echinacea and stuff from the health shop and grow herbs and am very lucky to have had healthy children. Antibiotics are pretty dodgy imo and the docs aren't much good for anything else these days.

[Mama Dragon]

For the most part. #4 has never seen a doctor, and #3 not in a long time. He was a hospital birth and had a few WBV's (no vaxes though), then got sick with RSV, plus asthma and bronchitis to boot, so he was pretty sick, and medicated for a while. No illnesses needing a doc since (or really even before). I have no problems with using a doc where they are needed, but rarely is that so. I can do all the preventative at home.

[ani'smommy]

dd was born in a hospital (induced, pre-e) and we took her to WBV until she was about six months old, then we started wondering why we were doing it so we haven't been back.

She's had a few colds and a fever once or twice, but no big deal.

[homebirthbaby]

We pretty much are.
DD has seen a DR for well baby checks at 1 week, 3 months, 1 year, and 15 months. Thankfully, we have a Ped who doesn't give us any flack about being vac free. The only other thing I've taken her in for was pink-eye at 6 months since I didn't have any luck getting rid of it using natural methods.
She's never been sick other than 2 colds (she just turned 2), and I will take her to a chiro before a MD if anything else comes up.
I've decided from here on out, there's not much point of well baby checks, she's a good eater, she's healthy, and I don't want to pay for them!

[barefoot mama]

I take my kids in about every 18 months. We don't vax, so there's no point in wasting time visiting. It really is a visit, I think my kids are the only ones that love going to the doctor (she's their aunt).

When my oldest was alive, we did a lot more with the docs and hospitals. She had severe seizures and lots of other developmental issues. When you have a child like that, you have to learn how to play the game. I have absolutely no doubt if I didn't follow the rules and take her to see the neuro regularly I would have been reported. I still treated her myself~ homeopathy, herbs, cranial sacral~ but I had to let the docs believe they were giving me valuable input.

[Mummytwice]

DD was born in a hospital w/ a MW, but unless there is something dire (broken bones) no one in my family goes to the dr. My mother was a lay herbalist, and believed in healthy eating. If any of us got sick (there were six of us) that she couldn't figure out what was wrong, she would take us a walk in clinic (we never had a family dr) for diagnosis, then she would take us home, research it till she new what to do, and treated us. I will do the same with mine.

[almasmom]

way to go mamas! I am with you, all the way. Dh is a chiropractor, homeopath and we see and chinesse medicalist and I trust you guys for information and tips as well. but what about dental care? do you visit dental doctors? do your children?

[mimiharshe]

We see a chiropractor (dh is in school right now..so he's our chiro at this point). We don't see anyone outside the family. Only in a true emergency. I'm not "against" dr.'s, just wish everyone knew their place!!!My dd had to be seen b/c we found her not breathing, but that's it. My ds never other than the chiro. No vaccines. They are 3 and 17 months and very healthy. When they do get "sick" we see it as a good thing b/c their body can build up antibodies and immunities to fight it off and their immune systems can become stronger (so important!). This is great to remember. They get plently of sleep, have chiro adjustments, a lot of activity, and eat a mostly organic, whole food diet.

almasmom....Aloe Vera is what I have to say. I just recently had a horrible infection w/an impacted wisdom tooth that was really bad. I finally cut out aloe vera from my plant and stuck it right on there and it "pulled" the infection out. It was amazing! I also am a fan of Colloidal Silver now b/c of this. Another thing that's great of course is salt water rinses for the mouth! It was an amazing experience to educate myself and trust in my body to heal and it did!

I gave colloidal silver to my ds for a cough and it helped. Can also put it on infections, burns, in eye infections and ingest it! My dh just had bronchitis (recurring from childhood) and finally broke down and took colloidal silver, oil of oregano, his normal vitamins and zinc lozegens.

Anyone a fan of Kombucha? This has helped me w/infections and hard days on my "cycle".

We have the book titled Encyclopedia of Naturopathic Medicine. It's a great easy refrence.

This is getting long. I'm so passionate about this, so I'll end now. I admire all of you moms and dads for educating yourselves and taking such great care of you precious babies!!!

[darsmama]

Yes. With Darlene we had to take her to the emergency room when she was 8 months old because she was severely dehydrated and sick.
It was awful.
They have both seen a dr one time to get weight/measurements..but...besides that..unassisted here.

[ErinBird]

I hadn't really thought much about it after Raina was born. We vaguely said we'd see "someone" within a few weeks of birth, just for a once over. We ended up taking her to a naturopath at 3days old because she seemed to be hurting somewhere. Turns out she was fine and just hated my forceful letdown since my milk had just come in. Silly girl :

At6.5w, Raina hadn't gained any weight, so we're currently in the midst of a battery of doctors, weight checks and testing. After all this settles down... I'm inclined to continue to take her to the fantastic pediatrician we're in contact with now. It just makes me feel better to have someone reassure me that she's fine after what we've been through. I think I'm more than a little shaken by what we've been going through though- I'm working on trusting my instincts again.