Ok, so I had a breakdown last night...(long)

[katiegrace]

about vaccines. I am SO conflicted....I mean, this is getting to the point of being ridiculous....I decide not to do vaccines, then I read about a disease, it scares the begeezez out of me (meningitis, pertussis), so I research the vax again thinking maybe I"ll do it, then I read about horrible vax reactions, and it scares me into not vaccinating...and THEN it starts all over again!!!: Of all the vaccines, the ones that I am considering right now are Prevnar and DTap. I just don't know what to do. I was in tears last night trying to figure out which is the right choice....I feel like whatever I do, it will be the wrong decision, and my baby will end up dying because I made a bad choice whether it be from meningitis, etc...or a vaccine reaction. I read about the serotype replacement in prevnar, and decided not to do it, but then I'm like, "well at least she'll be protected against something". Pertussis is causing me some pretty bad anxiety too. Katie is 6 1/2 months, and I know most of the severe cases are in babies under 6 months, but what if she gets it and has major complications from it? The thought of watching her cough until she can't breathe makes me want to vomit. I don't really know much about the Dtap vax....I tried to get some books yesterday at the bookstore, but I'll have to go to amazon.com cause they didn't have any of the ones I wanted...i do have Dr. Sears book and it even scares me when I read about the diseases. I'm scared to go anywhere with her for the fear of her catching something like pertussis or meningitis,bloodstream infection I could vax for. I feel like I"m helpless...I want to vax her to protect her, but what if the vax kills her, or causes her to have brain damage or one of the other 100 side effects they can cause....I have read tons of posts about what people's opinions are, but I like hard evidence....evidence even a MD can't deny.If you have any factual info on Dtap, I would love to see it! Or prevnar for that matter....I just want to cry again...I want to protect my baby, but I feel like I can't vaccinate her because I'm too scared to. I don't know what to do. Sorry for rambling, and thanks for reading.

[stayo22]

Take a look at the insidevaccines website - it has a ton of information that is well researched.

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...nes-work/dtap/

I know it's hard but I say trust your GUT instinct. It is hard when you are upset to know what your GUT instinct is but if you keep researching, praying(if you believe in that), and listening to yourself....I think you find your answer.

I was a lot like you - just plain WORRIED all the time. I felt that I am damned if I do vax(she'll have a reaction) and damned if I don't (she'll catch pertussis and die.) Then I took a step back and thought - the likelihood of my dd catching the whooping cough is LOW - she is EBF and stays at home with me. Then I researched the disease....once I understand the disease and how to treat it I feel more comfortable....it's not this big scary thing I don't understand - it's just pertussis.
Do I find myself running from the coughing person in the store...yes! Do I worry a little if I am around my nieces and nephews who are coughing...yes! But for me......my GUT instinct is saying not to vax her and so I can sleep at night knowing that I listened. I personally don't want to trade the FEAR of the disease for the consequences (both short term and long term) the shot may have.

HTH!

[k9sarchik]

I went through a little phase of this too. But after talking to my DS's 2 MD's I became much more relaxed about it. The odds are very low of DS catching these diseases and I was reassured by my Dr.'s that everything is treatable and not to be feared.
I'm very lucky to have supportive doctors with my decision to not vax. Reading books has also been helpful and hearing from others who have successfully treated their children through the illnesses.

Hearing about children who have suffered from vax reactions or who have died, just reassures me over and over again that I am doing the right thing by not vaxing.

[Murihiku]

My sympathies!

Risk is connected to perception, so you could try thinking "If I vaccinate, I protect her against this sickness; if I don't vaccinate I protect her from a reaction." That way, instead of damned if you do, damned if you don't, you're actually blessed if you do, blessed if you don't.

I hope that's not too facile a response. It won't help you with your decision, but it might make you (and myself) feel better about making it.

Good luck!

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by katiegrace

Pertussis is causing me some pretty bad anxiety too. Katie is 6 1/2 months, and I know most of the severe cases are in babies under 6 months, but what if she gets it and has major complications from it? The thought of watching her cough until she can't breathe makes me want to vomit.

Yeah, it is scary, I know, but I would suggest you research treatment for pertussis. When you find out you can reduce the risk of complications and reduce symptoms I think you'll feel better about it.

[swissmom]

We probably all had our doubts at some point, I certainly did... The thing I've asked myself then was: "Am I scared of the diseases because they ARE actually easy to catch and deadly, or because authorities and medical experts have tried to brainwash me?" And then I remind myself: I didn't make up vaccine criticism, I am not a paranoid mom scared of needles that could hurt her little munchkin. It's renowned scientists, immunologists, medical doctors and others that are pointing out the facts we would never hear about otherwise and ask us to think twice and make an informed decision. Reminding me about this lets me think rational again.

[stayo22]

[

Originally Posted by Murihiku

Risk is connected to perception, so you could try thinking "If I vaccinate, I protect her against this sickness; if I don't vaccinate I protect her from a reaction." That way, instead of damned if you do, damned if you don't, you're actually blessed if you do, blessed if you don't.

I like your way of thinking Murihiku! It is so true that positive thoughts bring positive outcomes! I need to remember that more in my day to day life.