Not vaccinating=worrying?

[stacey05]

I have a 7 month old who is not vaccinated. We started researching vaccines after my 4th child had a possible neurological reaction to his 4 mos. shots. He hasn't received anymore vaccines. We had our 5th child and he is 7 months old. Mostly I am very sure of my decision not to vaccinate him. But, sometimes I get nervous because it is going against the mainstream and he will be my first to not receive any. I did fully vaccinate my oldest 3 (no boosters, though) because I did not know any better and I did not even think to research it.

My problem is that my 7 month is now sick with a runny nose and a cough. (his first cough) He is teething now too, so it could just be from that...and the cough could be from the drainage. Anyway, I can't help but worry that it could be or turn into something worse. I mean, like the beginning of wc or one of the other ones they vaccinate for to prevent meningitis. I read in Dr Sears book that some of those look just like a cold until it is too late and the baby gets really sick. I am very sure my baby is fine, but sometimes I just get these thoughts in my head and it makes me anxious. I know it is because we are new to this and over time I will, hopefully, gain more wisdom and more confidence in my decision. I would just like to be reassured that my baby has a good immune system and that the fear that everyone likes to throw at you is just scaremongering for the most part. How do you have confidence when they do get sick that it won't be something very bad? Thanks for your help.

Stacey
mom to 5 amazing blessings and wife to one deployed hero!

[mykdsmomy]

First of all
Second....remember there are many more viruses and bacteria that we dont have vaccines for than ones we do.

Are you breastfeeding? Are you eating well?

I know we've all been indoctrinated with the same scare tactics. We are all afraid our child will be the one who will come down with something they cant recover from and could have been avoided by a "simple" shot. You have to remember that is all coming from a place of fear. When you make a decision not to vaccinate, you are definitely going against the grain.
Your child has a healthy intact immune system. Trust in his immune system to take care of the illnesses he will encounter.
I have a friend who's baby just passed away from meningitis BUT it was after she had her vaccines and some of the dr's are questioning whether the vaccine actually had a part in her death.
There is no guarantee in life. Whether you vax or not, you are still faced with the same viruses/bacteria. Do you want to face them with an intact immune system or with one that has been compromised? Good luck, mama....we've all been where you're at now

[alegna]

Originally Posted by stacey05

How do you have confidence when they do get sick that it won't be something very bad?

1 word- research.

If you're concerned about a cough turning into meningitis you haven't done enough research.

-Angela

[Spy]

Originally Posted by alegna

If you're concerned about a cough turning into meningitis you haven't done enough research.

One huge AMEN to that!

It also gets better over the years once you've seen how this child gets over the illnesses.

[Debnicolai]

Read this all the way through...... it is the best and most complete article on the subject and will help you feel completely sure about your decisions.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...velopment.aspx

[PassionateWriter]

THE DR SEARS BOOK IS HORRIBLE IMHO

if you are worried, you need to spend more time researching.

[IrishMa]

New to the no-vax community

Hello all,

I am very glad to have found a support system (if you will). I am new ma to a 10 week old...we decided not to vaccinate as well. Stacy05, you have my most heartfelt empathy. I have to keep reminding myself as well to remain confident in our decision. Incidentally, we go to a naturopath for our baby and since we travel a lot, I asked her about some sort of travel kit because even though my son is BF and all the rest, I didn't wish to be caught someplace with absolutely nothing to help him should the occasion arise (please god it won't). She recommended and I purchased the family homeopathy kit from Boiron, if you don't have it already. I also have the book Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines by Ullman. It helps you with what you can address and what requires more. Perhaps you already have a resource, I just wanted to share.

I'm sure you will see me here more often, I look forward to reading your stories and hearing your experiences/advice. It's been a little scary for me, that fearmongering/sensationalism is hard to ignore at times...

Cheers!

[angie7]

Originally Posted by Spy

It also gets better over the years once you've seen how this child gets over the illnesses.

:

My twins were born premature and their first cold was very scary for me (they are completely vax free). They were 6 months and teething, so it was probably more from that then anything but still enough to scare me. It was just a simple runny nose, cough, just like you are describing. But they beat that in just a few days and I felt great that their bodies fought it off. They are 2 years old now, only had 3 minor colds (including that one)and it DOES get better! My dh and I got the flu a few months ago and they didnt even get a sniffle from it. So now I am confident that their immune system is intact and fully capable of fighting off disease. In time, you will feel more comfortable.

[Deborah]

My daughter is turning 41 in a couple of months. The first time she got sick...I was terrified. She was 8 months old, teething, had a stuffy nose and a fever and I though she would die (in my defense, I was only 17). Luckily I was living with my mother who wasn't the least bit worried, having raised 5 kids and having seen every possible sort of minor and not so minor childhood illness.

The funny part: My daughter wasn't vaccinated. It never occurred to me that her being sick had any connection at all with her not being vaccinated. There was a lot less fear-mongering 40 years ago.

Lots of fear-mongering comes from the CDC, but it helps to realize that they talk out of both sides of their mouths. http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/?cat=20 is a good article on how bizarrely the pertussis stats have been manipulated to convince parents that only vaxing will prevent a huge outbreak of pertussis...but the CDC is arguing at the same time that everyone needs to be vaxed against this disease because it is...endemic. Which means that it is around, all the time, among lots and lots of people. How does that differ from a huge outbreak?

Sorry, I'm wandering way OT. But learning to recognize the subtle and not so subtle ways in which fear is implanted in parents is important. You've been carefully trained to expect the worst.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by Deborah

My daughter is turning 41 in a couple of months. The first time she got sick...I was terrified. She was 8 months old, teething, had a stuffy nose and a fever and I though she would die (in my defense, I was only 17). Luckily I was living with my mother who wasn't the least bit worried, having raised 5 kids and having seen every possible sort of minor and not so minor childhood illness.

The funny part: My daughter wasn't vaccinated. It never occurred to me that her being sick had any connection at all with her not being vaccinated. There was a lot less fear-mongering 40 years ago.

Lots of fear-mongering comes from the CDC, but it helps to realize that they talk out of both sides of their mouths. http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/?cat=20 is a good article on how bizarrely the pertussis stats have been manipulated to convince parents that only vaxing will prevent a huge outbreak of pertussis...but the CDC is arguing at the same time that everyone needs to be vaxed against this disease because it is...endemic. Which means that it is around, all the time, among lots and lots of people. How does that differ from a huge outbreak?

Sorry, I'm wandering way OT. But learning to recognize the subtle and not so subtle ways in which fear is implanted in parents is important. You've been carefully trained to expect the worst.

My favorite is contradictions. When you google ANYTHING pertaining to "vaccine preventable" illnesses, all you get is mainstream fear-mongering garbage. Case in point..........From this website http://www.medicinenet.com/pertussis/page3.htm
"Pertussis can cause serious illness and even death in young children; 13 children died from the infection in 2003. From 2004-2005, 66 deaths due to whooping cough were reported to the CDC, and 56 of these were children under 3 months of age. Most of the pertussis-related deaths have occurred in children who have not been vaccinated or who are too young to have received the vaccine."
And then from the SAME WEBSITE, on the next page.... http://www.medicinenet.com/pertussis/index.htm
"Whooping cough (Pertussis) is highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. There are an estimated 300,000 plus deaths annually from whooping cough (pertussis). Whopping cough commonly affects infants and young children, but can be prevented with immunization with the vaccine. First stage whooping cough symptoms are a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, a mild cough with the cough gradually becoming more severe. After one to two weeks, the second stage of whooping cough begins."

So in one click we went from a total of 79 deaths due to whooping cough from 2003-2005, to 300,000 deaths annually. THATS EVERY YEAR PEOPLE??? Sooooooooo, what are we to believe when the resources we are provided with are soooo contradictory?

[katiesmom]

I used to worry as well when dd was young. The more time you spend researching, the more you become familiar with the vpds and their treatments, the more confident you will feel that should your child encounter these diseases, he will be fine!
Dr Mendellson's book is good for reading about the diseases and what to do
is it Raising a healthy child in spit of your doctor? I think that's it, it's been a while!
My 6 yo dd and 17 mo old son don't have shots, and they are the healthiest kids I know.
Hope that helps!
Heather