Unrealistic expectations??

[Marnica]

I am starting to think I have some very unrealistic expectations about having a non-vaxed kid! My son who is just over 5 months came down with his second cold (which he got from his dad) in 2 months. (He had his first at 3 months old). Somewhere in my brain I really thought that since he was not vaxed, and is exclusively breastfed that he would have this superduper immune system and he wouldn't get sick!!
I know it's just a cold, but it breaks my heart to see him so miseraable. (Stuffy nose, sneezing, fever, no serious cough thank God)
He takes multivitamin drops and always has, and he also has been on a homeopathic cold spray that I got off Sherry Tenpenny's website as a preventative, but I guess it hasn't worked. I have upped the dosage per her instructions for an acute cold. I am running a humidifier in his room too....is there anything else I can do?? Should I get him some Vitamin C drops and give him extra C?? I feel so helpless. I am at work and my husband is home with him since he is sick too anyway. I just want to be home to comfort him God I'm such a wus.
I'm also petrified of WC. I have read most of the posts about it and it just reawakened all my fears. If I'm this pathetic about a cold, how would I ever handle something more serious like that? I really felt like his immune system would be so much stronger not being burdened by all the toxic vaxes and I convinced myself not to worry about him getting sick with colds or anything else, but I guess I was slightly delusional.

[angie7]

it's tough when our little ones are sick....Everyone is different. Some people have sickly non-vaxed kids and others have healthy, vaxed kids. You never know what is going to happen. Think of it this way, can you imagine how much MORE sick he would be if he was vaxed??

[Emmeline II]

As the pp said, what would his health be like if you did vax!?

Get some sodium ascorbate (vit C) and take it yourself; it will pass in your bm.

[tanyalynn]

Ditto on the sodium ascorbate, take it to your bowel tolerance (which may be a lot, maybe 20g/day or more if your body is using extra to fight off the cold, even if you feel fine)--helped me a ton with my son. After my son started solids, I had to give it to him directly to really make an impact on colds, but before solids, me taking it worked (really lessened the severity of colds and such).

My son, my first unvaccinated child (my 2nd child) gets sick easily. It's good that you have this time now to start thinking about what could be going on. I firmly believe there are reasons that we can figure out, sometimes it just takes a really long time. But one of the good things about not vaccinating as an infant is that you can see how your child is developing--it slowly dawned on me that we would be in really bad shape if I'd vaccinated my son, his immune system is already struggling (though I am slightly hopeful we've turned the corner and are getting better!).

Things like low zinc can be related to getting sick a lot, also low vitamin D. I know I, as mom, was low in both. Compromised gut flora can also be involved.

[3lilpunkins]

I'm quite fond of the collidal silver.
Although I think its more of a preventative, but wonderful for everything.
we've used it daily to keep immunity up, in eyes for pink eye, in scrapes, in infected cuts, sprayed on DS 3rd degree burn & healed beautifully

[PreggieUBA2C]

Bone broth. From organic pastured animals. I watched all four of our boys' colds disappear as they ate, and they woke up the next morning feeling great- and they had watering eyes, sneezing, mucus running down their faces faster than they/I could wipe, coughing, the whole thing.

We take powdered vit C too, but the bone broth helps the fastest by FAR! I think they must need the minerals in it to replenish and boost their immune systems. This may be specific to our family based on so many variables, but I thought I'd mention it in case it might help yours too.

There's lots of information about bone broths in the traditional foods forum, and you'll find a lot of info that will help you to 'stack' your children through food there.

Our fourth boy had a cold at four months and I was pretty devastated too- same thing as you- no vax, ebf. He gets them when his brothers do, and he gets rid of them just as fast, It's rare for a cold to last more than 2 days here. They go through all of the phases of a cold super fast, which is weird to watch. The contrast is startling between their bodies and mine; my immune system is severely depressed from issues I cannot discount as being vax related since they began after the 3-dose hep when I was 18 and included a reported adverse event (permanent damage to my sight in my right eye), so when they get a cold and go through the phases, I get it too, and it sits in my chest for 6 months or more.

Bone broth. I cannot emphasize it enough.

Oh, and if you were vaxed, your dc may have taken on a load from you, so their immune systems may be dealing with vax-related issues nonetheless. THIS evokes in me something akin to rage, but that's another topic.

[rredhead]

This probably won't help, but, my non-vaxed son gets whatever his friends get, when it comes to bugs. My friend's EBF, non-vaxed DDs get sick as much as "regular" kids too.
The first couple of colds are really hard. But you find stuff that works, you know. It'll all be OK!

[Multimomma]

It might help to think of it this way...yes, the nonvax means that his system wasn't stressed by the influx of chemicals and viruses. That doesn't guarantee the best immune system right away. What it does allow is that your son's immune system will develop as nature intended, like exercising a muscle, each time he gets a little cold, his immunity overall is built.

Is this your first child? It might help to realize that, while he's probably uncomfortable, he's probably not as miserable as you are reading into the situation. When my son had the mumps, everyone was horrified at 'the pain' he must have been feeling. His neck was as big around as the rest of his head! It looked awful! But he was adamant that he felt fine...he played as normal and while he wasn't eating steak tartar...he was having popsicles and soup and ice cream. He was having the time of his life with all the attention and snacky foods.

Just take this time to really focus on alleviating symptoms. You aren't helpless, you're supporting his body while he recovers. You're doing great!

[Marnica]

Thanks for all the encouragement. Yes this is my first baby...can you you tell . I know you are all right on and his immune system needs to build itself up like nature intended. His cold has now produced a nasty cough which is freaking me out, but I remind myself, its just a cough that anybody gets with a cold. It is not severe, it is not constant and he doesn't seem all that bothered by it. But since I am most paranoid of whooping cough of all the diseases out there, every time he coughs my heart does a little flip flop.

[In Exile]

See it this way, at least it's just a cold. How many vaxed toddler are running around with a constant cold and repeating ear infections, get prescibed antibiotics that ruin his gut, start cycle all over.

A cold is a cold-and not a VPD.

My little 5 pound guy came home with a bad cold because Grandpa decided it was a great idea to come visit with a bad cold. 5 months coldfree ist not that bad!

At least you know his immunse system has not been "hindered" by heavy metals and all that other fun stuff that is suddenly okay to inject-but not eat.

[momofmine]

Sorry your little guy is sick. I would keep nursing as much as possible and take lots of sodium ascorbate, as Tanya said above. I am also realizing that sometimes we, as moms, just feel scared when our little ones are sick. but don't let the fear keep you from sticking to what you know to be true. Not vaxing your child and ebf are giving his body the best chance to develop as nature intended, IMO.

[ilovebabies]

Hi.
Just wanted to repond to your post.

When my teens (fully vaxed) were little, they got a lot of colds and it always went straight to their ears and they ended up with ear infections. Every. Single. Time.

My two little ones are unvaxed and although they get sick sometimes as well, they've never had an ear infection and never, ever been on an antibiotic. I know their immune system is getting stronger by fighting those viruses as well.

I agree with all the pp's too. It's hard not to have those expectations. I did at first too, but now I realize that they'll still get colds, but their bodies will handle it much differently, in ways you don't even see!

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Marnica

Thanks for all the encouragement. Yes this is my first baby...can you you tell . I know you are all right on and his immune system needs to build itself up like nature intended. His cold has now produced a nasty cough which is freaking me out, but I remind myself, its just a cough that anybody gets with a cold. It is not severe, it is not constant and he doesn't seem all that bothered by it. But since I am most paranoid of whooping cough of all the diseases out there, every time he coughs my heart does a little flip flop.

Take some SA which will pass through your bm; it will help him.

[Marnica]

Can't find the SA!!

I have looked in Whole Foods and several vitamin shops in my area...Nobody seels SA. I have found Absorbic Acid most commonly, and I have found CA and PA. Im taking a C vitamin right now which is AA because I feel like something is better than nothing, but I guess Ill have to look for SA on the internet and order it from there.
An update on my LO. He has developed a nasty cough. My husband says it sounds worse then it is and I haven't run to the MD, but I have to admit it's tempting. (although I know they will just give him antibiotics which I dont want him to take) What is a reasonable amount of time to let a cough go before its wise to see a doctor. It seems like it isn't getting any worse, but it's not getting any better day to day either (He started coughing on Friday so it hasn't even been a week). Everytime he coughs Im thinking "OH GOD, Pertussis!!!!" This is all so new for me. I have done my research and I firmly believe not vaxing is the better choice given the risks of the vaccines, but feeling like he is out there "unprotected" so to speak is scary for a first time mother!!!

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I have looked in Whole Foods and several vitamin shops in my area...Nobody seels SA.

Did you ask, or just look? I've been getting my SA at the same store for 3years and if I can't find it I ask because they are always moving things.

If you didn't ask go back because Whole Foods, Sun Harvest, and the Vitamin Shoppe all have SA here.

In the meantime you can order it online:

To search in your area: http://www.nowfoods.com/index.php?cat_id=190

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...orbate&x=0&y=0

Vitamin Shoppe: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/e...jsp?id=SR-5432

You can always call your Dr and describe the cough, or just go in. Not vaxing doesn't mean you don't get to use Doctors.

If they want to vax him look at them as if they were crazy and say "um, he's sick." I'd keep an eye on his breathing and stay near him at night. Sometimes, in the very young they prescribe antibiotics; those won't help his cough but they are given to prevent pneumonia in infants.

[k9sarchik]

My DS just got over his second cold. He had a runny nose, sneezing, nasty sounding cough and horrendous diarrhea. The cough and runny nose lasted 10 days. My doctor said that is the norm.
DH and I gave him regular steam baths about 3 times or more a day and ran a vaporizer at night.
I'm also a big fan of homeopathics so we gave him some cough and cold remedies also. He slept great the whole time he was sick.

If you are breastfeeding you can put some breast milk in his nose to help from getting any sinus infections. And keep him warm and don't let him catch a chill. Also best if you avoid sugar in your diet so there is less sugar in your breast milk. Sugar depletes the immune system.

[milkybean]

Originally Posted by ilovebabies

When my teens (fully vaxed) were little, they got a lot of colds and it always went straight to their ears and they ended up with ear infections. Every. Single. Time.

My two little ones are unvaxed and although they get sick sometimes as well, they've never had an ear infection and never, ever been on an antibiotic. I know their immune system is getting stronger by fighting those viruses as well.

The first paragraph was ME.

The second paragraph is my son.



About the homeopathic spray and upping the dose....with homeopathy, a dose is a dose. One pellet, 8 pellets, it's all a dose. I don't know who the Tenpenny person is, but having people up a preventative dose makes no sense to me, unless you are being told this by an actual homeopath who has seen your child.

In addition, it's possible to "prove" a remedy where it stops doing what you want it to do and starts doing what a non homeopathic dose would do. For instance, my son, over the course of a day, eat all the pellets out of the Boiron chamomile tube. It seemed that he drooled into it then sucked out the melted pellets. I could not use chamomile for over a year, b/c the remedy was proven to his system, and chamomile didn't work for that year.

So be careful with homeopathy. You want it to continue to work, not stop working. I have two books that help me with remedies and dosing, but if DS were ever really sick and I was at a loss, I'd make an appointment for him instead of go out of my comfort level.

[Marnica]

Yes I did ask at all the places...I have ordered a 3 lb tub online!

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by milkybean

I don't know who the Tenpenny person is, but having people up a preventative dose makes no sense to me, unless you are being told this by an actual homeopath who has seen your child.

Sherry Tenpenny is one of the most knowledgable doctors to write about the dangers of vaccines. She is an osteopath. Im surprised you have not heard of her as she is quite well known among us nonvaxers! I just finished her most recent book "Saying No To Vaccines: A Resource Guide For All Ages". It's brilliant!! check out her website at www.sayingnotovaccines.com.

Anyway thanks for the info about the remedies. While I do think she knows what she is talking about it is true she is not a homeopath. I actually have made an appointment with my LO's Naturopathic doctor for tomorrow morning. I plan on taking the spray in with me and asking him what he thinks.

[milkybean]

Originally Posted by Marnica

Sherry Tenpenny is one of the most knowledgable doctors to write about the dangers of vaccines. She is an osteopath. Im surprised you have not heard of her as she is quite well known among us nonvaxers! I just finished her most recent book "Saying No To Vaccines: A Resource Guide For All Ages". It's brilliant!! check out her website at www.sayingnotovaccines.com.

Aha. Well I decided back in '95 that I would not be partaking in any more vaccines for myself, and none for a future family. Learned about it all in chiropractic school, and I need nothing further info-wise, and I'm not afraid of illnesses and know where I can get info quickly if needed, so I just don't read such books. So it makes sense that I don't know of her.