anyone raising their children "unassisted"? - Page 5

[mamaverdi]

Both of my children have a rare metabolic disorder that is not treatable by traditional care practioner. Traditional care can provide supportive care. My children's different issues have actually sent several of our traditional care people running from the room in a panic, looking things up, calling people all over the world, coming back to us saying, you have to call your "western medicine doc."

My younger son was born with an obstruction in his urethra that was partial enough to allow aminiotic fluid to be present in levels capable of maturing his lungs and body, but not capable of letter normal bacteria out. This caused him to become septic by 5 days old.

The combination of the metabolic disorder and the urinary tract anomalies have caused severe illness that my homeopath and naturopath would not touch with a ten foot pole.

Had I kept my child home at day 5 when he began running a fever, he would have died within a few hours. (Once he was running the fever, he had probably been septic for a good 24 hours.)

It was my intuition, my extensive knowledge of traditional medicine, and my insistence that continue to receive human milk that has kept him alive. That and my adapatation and learning of the modern medical system as it exists, how it functions, and how it can best serve my child.


I too believed that most situations could be remedied by good preventative care.

I wish that I could continue to believe that.

But frankly after what I have experienced and observed, to believe that would be to battle blindly against a glaring reality.

[BelovedBird]

M'V

[bri276]

mamaverdi. you know that I know exactly what you are talking about.

it's great to treat mild childhood diseases at home, but some of us have a little more on our plates and would be criminally neglectful not to take advantage of some of the uses of modern medical care and technology. and no, not because of interventions during our pregnancies that caused problems. genetics that were determined at the moment of conception.

[mamaverdi]

I will also say, as I have said in a recent post that I believe it is homebirth, breastfeeding, natural medicine, avoidance of vaccination and OTC drugs, diet low in pesticides or added chemicals that has caused my children to do so well. Other children who have faced similar crises would have died many times over by now.

My children cannot process fats, so they cannot use fat soluble medications which includes even ibuprofen, licorice, benedryl. When exposed to these drugs, or say Lipil in formula, they begin metabolizing their own muscle which leads to kidney failure, shock, coma, and eventually death.

Even a simple "injection" can cause them to have permanent muscle damage.

I said it before, and I will say it again: I appreciate every single person who does not bring their child to the hospital or to their doctor for an ear infection or a high fever. G-d knows it only takes me longer to see the doctor or get admitted to the hospital because of people needlessly being there.

But every emergency or crisis is neither avoidable nor is it predictable. Having a PCP ahead of time could save your child from the pain and damage that my child has suffered because I didn't know any better and believed it wasn't relevant to me.

[doula mary]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

Both of my children have a rare metabolic disorder that is not treatable by traditional care practioner. Traditional care can provide supportive care. My children's different issues have actually sent several of our traditional care people running from the room in a panic, looking things up, calling people all over the world, coming back to us saying, you have to call your "western medicine doc."

My younger son was born with an obstruction in his urethra that was partial enough to allow aminiotic fluid to be present in levels capable of maturing his lungs and body, but not capable of letter normal bacteria out. This caused him to become septic by 5 days old.

The combination of the metabolic disorder and the urinary tract anomalies have caused severe illness that my homeopath and naturopath would not touch with a ten foot pole.

Had I kept my child home at day 5 when he began running a fever, he would have died within a few hours. (Once he was running the fever, he had probably been septic for a good 24 hours.)

It was my intuition, my extensive knowledge of traditional medicine, and my insistence that continue to receive human milk that has kept him alive. That and my adapatation and learning of the modern medical system as it exists, how it functions, and how it can best serve my child.


I too believed that most situations could be remedied by good preventative care.

I wish that I could continue to believe that.

But frankly after what I have experienced and observed, to believe that would be to battle blindly against a glaring reality.

Great points! I completely agree. Some illnesses DO require immediate and intensive intervention. You may not have the option traveling to another county for care. Unless you have had a severely ill child, you may not know the horrid feeling of being helpless and the comfort of knowing that everything is being done that can be done.

As mentioned before, I don't do well child checks, do most health care at home, use herbs, common sense, energy work, chiropractic, aromatherapy, massage, and acupuncture...and MOST of the time this is all that is needed.

I do have a family Dr. who is very pro-breastfeeding, anti-vac, does acpucnture and is very confident that as "the mother" my perspective is as important as his. We are also lucky to have another Dr. who treats our family, who did a fellowship with Andrew Weil. Due to "his" choice though...he does NOT have hospital privileges but is available to us during office hours and is spectacular!!!!!!!

Other than health care, in our culture...you always must advocate for your children. I do not homeschool....( I have), my kids are in the public school system and I know I have a file somewhere with my name on it...with a big red flag because I'm a pain I'm sure. It's Ok to ruffle the feathers of the establishment...whether it be, school or our health care system.

As frustrating and single minded our health care system is, particularly when it comes to birth....take a look at the absolute LACK of ANY kind of health care for millions...we are darn lucky to have what we have..as much as we mistrust it. It is HANDY to have a hospital when you need one.
Mary

[doula mary]

P.S,

For me...the bottom line is that My hubby and I make the choices for our family. Our choices ~might~ clash, might not..but we believe that we are ultimately responsible. Our AP choices are not always popular....and we simply don't care.

Once, I was taking my two boys to school I was pregnant with DD and when I got out of the car, there was fertilizer EVERYWHERE! I was totally horrified. A commercial spreader had been used and they did not bother to sweep it off the parking lot or the sidewalks. It had been put down one hour before school (DUH?!)

Long story short, within an hour, I spoke with the company who makes the fertilizer...hmmm supposed to stay off for a minimum of 24 hours and be watered in, is a cargenogenic chemical and children should avoid it. I had also called the Health department.

So, I called the school back and said I would be removing my children from school until they could make it safe again for my kids. I did not want to walk on the fertilizer, the principal walked my boys to the car and I received a letter of apology.

Guess what, I was the only parent that minded..out of hundreds. YIKES
Mary

[majazama]

mamaverdi~ I understand completely. ... I knew a very very crunchy family who had a baby born with PKU (phenylketonuria)... is that what your kids have? the child I knew who had that, had to eat a very very limited diet, like potatoes had too much protein. It was quite sad He would drink a mix everyday to get his vitamens and nutrients, but apparently, it can go away once they are older?

But my kids don't have any genetic problems. They would have manifested by now, right? I will take your thoughts into consideration if/when I have another baby.

It's hard when a person moves around a lot, like I do. I live in a really "hick town" right now, and I'm sure there isn't any AP friendly doctors. I also don't have any extra $$ for a naturopath, though MD are covered here.

I'm just a radical, don't mind me.

[mamaverdi]

PKU is permanent, though the effects can get better. Most metabolic diseases are permanent, though now they are doing liver transplants for some...but then you have a grafted organ which carries its own risks.

My boys most likely have a mitochondrial beta oxidation disorder. But they don't have an official diagnosis yet.

More later...screaming hungry boys.

[mamaverdi]

Well, genetic problems, specifically metabolic problems can surface at any time. Now there are metabolic diseases that are considered adult-onset. My now 6 1/2 y old was symptomatic at birth and up until about 8 months old, but by basically luck we stumbled upon a treatment. It wasn't until he weaned that issues really started to surface, and then only slowly.

My 2 1/2 y old on the other hand was symptomatic in utero. I knew something was not right virtually from the moment I conceived. I interpretted this as different ways that helped and didn't help us later on.

The chances of someone having a metabolic disease are thought to be fairly low. But SIDS deaths for instance are attributed to certain IEMs in greater and greater numbers.

Knowing what I know now though I don't think it's important for just when you have a new baby, I think it's important all through your life simply given the uncertainty of life and the way the modern medical system works.

For instance, I need to go visit my dh's PCP and establish myself as a patient with him if G-d forbid I ever need his help....which once we have a diagnosis for our boys, we will all be tested..and then I will need his help.


I have moved more times than years I have been alive. And I will be 31 in mid-December. So I know how that goes.

[accountclosed3]

here's the thing. if my traditional medical doctor advised that i see a western medical doctor, then i still wouldn't have issue with a PCP, would i? that individual would recommend a western doc, i would go to said doc, and get whatever treatment was necessary.

as if it's an 'us-them' situation. no one said that you were a 'bad mom' for going a western route, for getting a PCP and doing what you needed to do. But, a PCP needn't be enlisted "just in case" b ut rather "when a case" arises.

and that was my point. You enlisted help when you needed to. I'll enlist when/if i need to.

[doula mary]

I think regardless of WHO you get help from, it is imperative to advocate for the best care possible...to be involved, to ask questions to understand risks vs. benefits.

Mary

[accountclosed3]

yup--research, find supportive groups who are going through it too so that you have physical and emotional touchstones that are non-medical, and so on.

[georgia]

At this point, I think we've veered way far out of the Unassisted Childbirth forum's intent. It would probably be best if anyone was interested in continuing the conversation, to please start a thread in Health and Healing. Thanks!