Help! Where do I start?

[LindsG]

I am 6 1/2 months pregnant and i'm trying to educate myself on the vaccine schedule and issues with it but I don't know where to even begin my research! I'm so overwhelmed! This is my first child so I know NOTHING about this. Are there any good websites or books that really break it all down? My brother in law has "autism" amoung other problems, but it does seem highly likely that vaccines may have played a part in it. He was extremely smart and developing normally until age 2 when he suddenly took a turn out of nowhere. Please help me figure out where to begin! I'm running out of time!

[tanyalynn]

This website:

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/

has good, well-referenced articles. It wasn't around when my son was little (and he's only 2 1/2yo now!) so check back regularly for more articles.

The CDC Pink books are surprisingly helpful (less fear-mongering, more straightforward information than the main CDC vaccination pages).

And this (long) discussion is great:
http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=406983

It's on immune function and nutrition. I got a lot of good tips from Momtezuma Tuatara's old posts, especially on ways to support kids (and adults) through illness, so that I eventually came to believe that I have a lot of other options besides vaccination to get us through these illnesses healthy and whole.

[Gitti]

No, you are not running out of time. Take it easy. You have lots of time. There is no rush. Just don't vaccinate before you have done research and are positively sure you want to inject that stuff into your child. Before that - refuse!

Here is what I would do:

To start out with, have a birthing plan and state that you don't want any vaccines in the hospital. You can include no circ if it's a boy, no eye antibiotic, no Vita K shot (since it is linked to childhood leukemia), and whatever you decide. That is the best start. Then concentrate on breast feeding. Join LLL BEFORE you have the baby so you know how to prepare the nipples. By breast feeding your LO you will pass on natural immunity you have gained in your life time and that is highly beneficial to the child.

Then keep reading along here and read all links that people provide. You will be surprised how you'll get informed. When you have some time, start reading some books. Two I would recommend:

1. Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Aviva Jill Romm

2. How to Raise a healthy child in spite... Dr. Mendelsohn

Relax, you have to think of your baby first and it is not good for you to be so worried about something you can just put off and learn gradually. Trust nature and don't let anyone rush you into making a decision you might eventually regret.

I have 2 grandchildren that are completely vaccine free and they are not in any danger. (Ages 2 and 5)

Good luck to you!

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by Gitti

No, you are not running out of time. Take it easy. You have lots of time. There is no rush. Just don't vaccinate before you have done research and are positively sure you want to inject that stuff into your child. Before that - refuse!

This cannot be emphasized enough! I hear you, mama--I'm due to have my baby any day now and didn't really start reading about vaccines until a couple of months ago. It seems overwhelming at first, and that's because there's a lot of information to sift through. That's okay, because you have plenty of time.

And I should warn you that doctors, nurses, and friends and family may pressure you to vaccinate immediately. You will be told that your baby is "behind" on his vaccines and that he is in immediate danger. But as long as you are breastfeeding, his immune system is in good shape and you have very little to worry about. Take deep breaths, do your research, and pay the fearmongers no mind.

Vaccines are a big business and vaccination proponents often have a financial stake in making vaccines seem necessary for children's health. But they aren't--in fact, quite the opposite.

Gitti's links and book recommendations are great and I would add that you can learn a lot just by reading the vaccine archives here on MDC. I learned a TON by reading old threads about dread diseases like polio and tetanus.

You have plenty of time. Try not to freak out too much.

[1littlebit]

i know it can feel overwhelming! my DS is 8 mos old and he was vaxed for a bit and then i stopped entirely until i feel i know enough to make an educated decision. sorting through all of the information is hard sometimes! way to go on researching now, before your lo is born!