DS has had all immunisations except for 12 months.... the only reason he had the others was because i was stupid and didn't do any research before getting them done.
imo DS seemed to react worse each time he got vaxed and i am absolutely terrified about the 12mo vax. I have done alot of research and there are obviously pros and cons to vax or not to vax.
My mummy instinct tells me NO, DO NOT VAX for this 12mo one, i just have a really, really BAD feeling about it... am i being silly or should i just follow my gut instinct and not do it? i mean whats the chances of ds getting the mumps, or rubella?? he isn't in daycare and i am a germaphobe so i use alot of hand sanitisers etc while we are out and about etc etc.... (i know this probably doesn't prevent disease, but hey its nice to feel like your trying to keep things clean.. lol)
Awwww, you're not stupid at all. It's hard to come to a decision like this because it's always out there as being the best thing you can do for your child, and it's just become the *done thing* and rarely do people put any thought into it now (even if someone does decide to vaccinate, it's never done after doing research into it, it's just done without thought really). I'm like you, and have only just decided that I would not continue vaccinating my children too and it's the first time that I can say I've made an informed decision about it and not just gone along with it. You need to weigh up the pros and cons of him not being vaccinated and be prepared to deal with it if he does get sick. Mumps can be a risk to fertility for males, so that's something to think about too. If you are undecided though, you can always delay them till you think that they would be better equipped to deal with any reactions. Although some studies have shown that being a germophobe can actually be detrimental because your immune system isn't exposed to any/minimal germs, so it can't effectively deal with germs when it is exposed and build immunity to them.
But if you're gut is telling you not to, then don't and you can always decide to do it later if you do change your mind or your circumstances change.
I saw Jenny McCarthy on Oprah talking about how she thinks that the innoculations for Autsim is how her son developed Autism and it scared the living crap out of me ! I don't know hun, she talked about the "mummy instinct" too and wished she listened to hers. I guess you have to weigh up the pro's and con's and the chances and then really make a decision on what you feel is the best option for your child?
On the germ-aphobe thing, don't stress The kids across the road live in a pretty dirty house and are always looking scruffy with runny noses and they are NEVER sick ! Whereas my SIL is like you and her daughter is constantly sick so I think there is something in that research that Trillian mentioned that rings true.
It's a tricky decision to make hey, and balanced information is hard to find.
None of my children are vaccinated - so far. I'm not against vaccinations, but I wasn't convinced when they were so small. We're looking at closer to kinder for our kids.
i still can't decide what to do and i'm actually losing sleep over it I guess i just want to make the right decision what ever that may be. is there a timeframe of when he can get this 12 mo vax?
Sirenz, you can get the 12 month one at any time - if you change your mind later, that is fine. In fact, if you delay it for a few years, you may find you only need to give one dose to get full immunity, instead of a series of doses at this age.
Sirenz, this is from a mama who has researched and decided to fully vax her kid....
DO NOT IGNORE YOUR INSTINCTS!!!!
I absolutely followed mine in vaxing DD and it is possible to have the 12-month vaxes done later of you change your mind. Once the injection is done you cannot take a vaccination back. If you have any doubts then do nothing until you feel more confident. Never, NEVER go against what your instinct tells you, it's the most important gift you get in your mummy toolbox!
I think you've done the right thing! Never ignore your gut feeling as a mum!!
I think particularly that you've done the right thing as your baby reacted worse each time to the other vax - a sure sign that his body was not happy about it, I think.
I have done lots of research, and have decided (and I was not dead set against or for before that) not to vax my 10 wk old daughter. After weighing up all the info, risks on both sides (of the disease vs the vaccines) there were none that seemed to be better for her than not vaccinating. THe Hep B particularly bothered me - it's a disease that you can only catch (exactly like AIDS) from direct fluid transfer - sex or injected drugs. Don't think my baby's into those things right now...!! MMR has lots of risks, and the only one that I would consider after all my research, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) is only available as a combo, polyvalent shot - which increases all the risks considerably, and includes two vaccines I definately don't want her to have a this point (we may consider Tetanus later on).
I read a great book which helped a lot - just called 'The Vaccine Book', neither pro nor anti, and written by a doctor. I also used to be a lab tech in a vaccine laboratory, which helped too!
Anyway, don't spend your time worrying that you've made the wrong choice. A friend told me an awful story about someone she knows who ignored her 'gut instinct' and allowed a procedure (an unnecesary one) when she was pregnant that resulted in her miscarrying at 20 weeks ... it just reinforced to me how important it is to trust that intuitive knowledge.
I agree wholeheartedly about following your gut instincts in regard to everything - especially in the vaccination decision.
I am a passionate supporter of the homeopathic equivalent to conventional vaccination (homeoprophylaxis), as I have researched the topic thoroughly, and have witnessed the outstanding health of individuals who were fully homeopathically 'vaccinated'. Many of these people are now in their mid twenties, and are very healthy beings indeed!
That said, there are also many other options, including
1. Delaying conventional vaccinations until your child is more developed and more resistant to any possible side effects
2. Immunising with single vaccinations instead of combined doses
3. Being selective about which vaccinations are actually administered to your child.
4. Using homeopathic remedies and naturopathic supplements to support your child and reduce the ill-effects of vaccination.
Remember, each child is different, and it is difficult to believe that one vaccination schedule is suitable for every single child in this country. As a mother, you know your child far better than any pharmaceutical company, and your instincts will always lead you in the right direction. Do plenty of research and talk to your friends & family -if this helps - sometimes it can be counter-productive! Naturopaths and Homeopaths will also assist you to make an informed decision that is best for your individual child.
...and be proud of yourselves for being well-educated mothers making a conscious choice instead of just doing what is expected.
That's excellent advice, Tracy, thanks!
I have a friend who has pointed me in the direction of homeopathic prophylaxis 'vaccination', and I do intend to give this a go, apparently it can be really effective.
I've found chinese herbal medecine to be absolutely amazing as well - it gives results where conventional 'western' medecine isn't even able to offer treatment. I agree that each child is unique, and different modalities and approaches work for different people, including children. I'm enthusiastic about natural medicines, and have seen some things work wonders on some folk and other things work better for different people, and I am planning to simply keep my bub healthy, breastfed, away from childcare centres, and turn to chinese herbs, homeopathics, naturopathics and conventional western medecine as the need arises ...
sorry to hijack here, but just a quick question in regards to Rubella...
I was under the impression that boys could not get German Measles? That is rubella isnt it? So why are MMR shots given to boys? Measles and certianly mumps I can understand...
Apologies if this question is not relevant to this post.
I also vaccinate my son with homeopathic prophylaxis vaccination as mainstream vaccinations were not an option after spending many months researching. This vaccination is remedy for whooping cough, tetanus, hib influenzae, polio, measles, meningococcal and pneumococcal. My question is, is there a homoeopathic option for the MMR vaccination?
don't know what to do
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The kids across the road live in a pretty dirty house and are always looking scruffy with runny noses and they are NEVER sick ! Whereas my SIL is like you and her daughter is constantly sick so I think there is something in that research that Trillian mentioned that rings true. 
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