oh i hate them! i had to take my dear baby girl to get her first shots today & it made me want to cry! I am such a worry wart, I read some book about the reactions that immunizations can have on a baby & it scares me, even though i know that its very very rare, i've only known my julia for 2 months now but i would be devistated if anything ever happened to her like that!
my son was immunized, however we have since stopped and will not continue with any further immunizations. my second child is due in june and i am choosing not to immunize at all. I would suggest doing some further research on the subject, and speaking with some natural health practictioners who usually will provide an alternative opinion to your average doctor on the subject.
I just finished reading and hearing about how there is Mercury in many of the shots and how you can request them mercury free, but I am on government insurance and programs so i hope I can do this. I am such a worry wart though, if I didn't immunize I would be always fretting about if she would get some strange disease, but I still worry by giving her the shots. What was your reasons to not immunize radmama???
I stopped immunizing after my son just kept getting sicker and sicker. He developed all kinds of food allergies, asthma, and digestion problems. We stopped immunizing and started eliminating foods from his diet. The main one we had trouble with was the prevnar. With each one he had major asthma episodes. It has been over a year since he has received any immunizations. We are now starting to add foods back into his diet with no health problems. I will never give him another immunization and if I were to ever have or adopt another child, they would get none. Kathi
Our oldest had all his shots. I learned about the dangers b4 my girls were born and niether has ever had a shot. The Drs try to tell me they are so safe,yet when I took my middle girl to a world repected neurologist for seizures one of the first questons he asked me was whether or not she had had any immunizations close to the onset of seizures. You need to research and learn yourself, don't just take someones word for it. The Drs will try to make you feel bad and a horrible parent, I've been told I don't love my kids cuz of the no shot thing. I can't even get govt med in some states unless I agree to have them done, or go through alot of shit. make sure you know the laws in your state, because they don't. A friends mom who worked for childrens service in Oh didn't belive me that I had a right to not immunize untill I showed her a copy of the law. All 50 states have medical exemptions, 48 or 49 have religous exemptions and some have "philisophical" exemptions. Definatly research the issue b4 making choices.
With respect to all of you. I am just wondering. Aren't you worried about your child getting one of the desises that the shots prevnet? NOw I can understand why you chose not to get the shots if your child is having horrible reactions to them. But for those of you who just chose not to, well do you take extra precation, or have other metods of getting your child imune? I am just curious, because in my own opionon I would be so germ fobid if I knew my child was not immune to all these horrbile desises, that could kill him.
I am a firm believer that immunity can be developed naturally with eating organic, whole foods, and by leading a balanced lifestyle. Herbal supplements and formulas can be tailored to children for the same purpose. The chance of my son "getting" one of these dieseases is slim to none. I have yet to hear of any cases of parents in North America not immunizing and the child dying from one of these diseases. I think we have become hyper-sensitive to germs. Coming into contact with all sorts of germs when you are a child is what helps to naturally build your immune system. Germs are a very natural part of life. I have meet many adults who were raised by parents that chose to treat them naturally and holistically rather than treating them with antibiotics and modern medicines, and they are some of the healthiest individuals I know...physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. My reasons for not immunizing or choosing to stop immunizing my son... many immunizations contain mercury or live bacterias many documented cases of children dying or having life altering illness occur from immunizations there is no gurantee from anyone, not the doctors, not the drug companies that are getting rich from making these immunizations that my child will not react to one of these shots. you never know. and that is not a chance i am willing to take. and for me personally, it is just another way that i believe the medical system is pushing hard to medicalize the lives or women and their children. women are strapped to tables and pumped full of drugs to give birth, take this pill for morning sickness, and this pill to relieve when afterbirth pains, lets give your child ritalin rather than love. are but a few examples. I chose not to buy into this anymore. Whereever and whenever possible I chose to treat myself and my family holistically and naturally.
I have most my life been treated homoepathically, and most homeopaths are against immunisations, because they screw with the immunesystem in a bad way. I have read a lot about immunisations, I can't give you any sources or exact quotes right now, but these are some things to consider: - most doctors argument, that since people are immunized, the numbers of people getting these deseases has decreased. Yes, but at the same time, hygienic mesures, the availability of medical services has increased and these things also decrease fatal deseases. - as far as I know, allergies and other overreactions of the immunesystem have increased since people are getting immunisations. - one of the biggest lies: the influenza (the real flu, that lasts about 3 weeks, and can develop into a very serious illnes) imunisation: they tell everyone who works with other peoples, is close with a lot of people, who is youg, who is a senior´, to get flu immunisations. There are statistics that prove, that most people who get the shot, are sick within 6 weeks after the shot. sick with the disease, the shot should have prevented: influenca. If it happens to you, docs tell you, if you didn't get the shot, it would have hit you worse. My hypothesis is this one: When you get a shot, they inject you either parts of dead, or weakend illnescausing agents, usually proteins (be it a parts from a virus, or bacteria), your body's immunesystem reacts to the foreign proteins, by producing antibodies. There are millions of different kinds of flu viruses, because they mutate very fast, and the immunisation only covers up a few kinds. The antibodies, your body produces are specific just for one kind, or two kinds or what ever was in the shot. It kind of works like the key-keyhole principle. so if you get exposed to the third kind, there is no protection by the shot, and your body is already busy and weakend from producing antobodyies for the agents from the shot. so you get sick. *and the pharmaceutical industry didn't only sell you the shot, but can also sell you flu cures....... - even in the scientific medical schools, there are oppinion against the injection of foreign proteins directly over the bloodstream. - I personally know a little boy, who is now handicapped, because he got a shot early in his life. - my homeopathic doctor recomends, if people still want to immunisize their kids, that it be only tetanus (it's one of the savest) and no earlier then 3 years. Last but not least, no immunisation is 100% save. I have been immunisized against all sort of unnecessary things early in my life, and I still got many of these, because children just get these things. Some of these deseases are just part of the development, and each disease that is cured by itself, and maybe a little help by natural treatments, means a finer and stronger immunesystem. since I know all these things, I chose to not immunize myself anymore, except tetanus, and I probably won't my children either (don't have any now...but who knows... ) These are just some points to consider, The final decision is each person's own one. I am sorry I couln'd give any sources, but there are good books about this in german, I bet they also exist in english. Just look up some homeopathic literature.
Well, just reading all this made my stomach upset. I just want the best for my little girl. I don't know what to think. anyone have any websites to offer that show researched facts about this topic? Some people just wait until their child is older to immunize, so I might do that. Where do you find the laws pertaining to this subject??? I think if I didn't give her any immunizations that I would be worring all the time. But I still worry, I can't help it.
it's natural to worry. you're a mama. all mama's want what is best for their children. if you're feeling torn i would suggest waiting to and doing some research before you decide. I will spend some time and try and find some websites with info for you. I would also suggest giving any alternative practictioners in your area a call ie. homeopathic doctors, herbalists, chiropractors, etc. explain why you need their advice and ask for their opinion
here are some links to start with http://www.holisticmed.com/www/vaccine.html http://www.unhinderedliving.com/immunizations.html http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/vaccination.html http://hometown.aol.com/mccfhc/readlist.htm (this is a list of books) http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/vax.html http://www.drcarley.com/Resources.htm http://www.emergingworlds.com/ch_article.cfm?link=Vaccinne_Weblinks.htm
thanks so much, I'll check them out. i was just reading some horror stories about vaccines. I think talking to a practicioner is a good thing for me. Thanks again!
Thanks for answering my questions. I was actually kind of worried that I would piss someone off. I think this is one of those toppics that can easly turn from a conversation to an argument. Kind of like breastfeeding. There are some ppl I just don't talk to about it cause I know it's going to start an argument. You know what I mean
No need to argue. We're all mamas trying to do our best for our babes. It's always good to consider all sides of an issue.
thank you for the links. I am still completely torn though, reading what everyone thinks and all the evidence just makes me more torn.......which choice is worse??? i can't tell. i don't want to end up a statistic! i might just break up all the shots so their given one at a time, i've read that doing this makes it less stressful on the immune system, makes sense.
You could easily pick and choose which shots you want and which you don't. For example, chicken pox. Who here hasn't had chicken pox? Uncomfortable ailment, but not horrible. It wouldn't be the end all if your child got it. Hepatitis...is your baby going to get a tattoo, do IV drugs or have sex? Probably not. Hep shot can wait a while. See, perhaps going through each vaccine individually and determining whether the risk of the vaccine or the disease is worse. My brother got measles from his vaccine. Don't look at the immunizations as a whole, but each one seperately.
I have a friend who is in a wheelchair due to a polio vaccine. When choosing whether or not to vaccinate, you have to look at the risk vs the benefit. No doubt, vaccinations have saved more lives than they have cost, in high risk populations. Where medical treatment is unavailable, for example, you would probably come to the conclusion that the benefit of the vaccine outweighs the risk. If you live on a farm or other rural area, your risk of conrtacting tetanus is much higher than having an adverse reaction to the vaccine itself. If you live in an area where there are a lot of immigrants (no offense!), or live in the inner city, you are at higher risk of contracting tuberculosis. My chilren were selectively vaccinated, starting at over a year old. When they began to walk, they were immunized against tetanus, because we lived in a rural area with lots of free roaming animals. They were immunized against TB (which I think is not done in the US) because we lived in a third world country. The girls were immunized (or will be immunized) against rubella when they reach puberty. Same for mumps, measles and chicken pox, because in childhood, these diseases are an annoyance, but not deadly, but as adults, they can be. They were not/will not be immunized against Hep B, until they reach puberty. Until then, there is very little risk they will be getting a jailhouse tat, engaging in sex, or sharing IV needles. However, as teens, I have less control over their behavior. They did get polio, because we lived in a high risk country with very little in the way of medical care. I waited until they were a year old, and had been breastfed a year, to build up their immune systems. Another alternative would be to have a homeopathic physician immunize them homeopathically.
Our situation is similar to Brig's. We didnt live in a 3rd world country, but our kids are selectively immunized. My oldest child had some serious reactions to vaccines, screaming, stiffness, seizures, Cerebellar Ataxia, (which cause a host of life long neurological damage) allergies ect. My other kids are immunized according to what Bear and I determined, with A LOT of research, we thought our kids needed. They got the HiB, as there are few side effects, and it has elminated deaths from menigitis in our area (the county we live in, for some reason had some really high meningitis rates) they did NOT get the Hep B shot (it is NOT a childhood illnes, it is NOT epidemic, and one can elimniate their risk with lifestyle choices) they did not get Pertusiss, as that was one of the ones that cause brain damage in my Sunshine, also no MMR, as that also cause neurological damage in her. I think every parent has the responsibility to learn about vaccines and determine what is right for THEIR CHILDREN. Where you live, what your lifestyle is,(kid in daycare will probably need more vaccines, because they are exposed to God knows what LONG before their immune systems are ready for it) whether you are breastfeeding or not, and for how long (I felt few were reallly neccesary as long as I was still nursing them) what you are willing to do or not do, ect, plays into which vaccines you will choose or reject. (We use a combination of notes from doctor's about Sunshine's neuro problems, and a genereric "I don't use vaccines which use aborted fetuses (almost all of them) in their manufacture." to get out of being harrassed from the schools about it. ALthough I am prochoice, the schools can't MAKE me vaccinate my kids with aborted fetuses, if I say otherwise. Every parent may come to a different conclusion as to what vaccines they want and need. It is something which IS a lot of work to figure out, but being a parent requires this kind of work.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art&qt=vaccinations&sn=0&qf=m0838&pc=15&oi=pub&qp%5B%5D=m0838&so=date ^^well researched articles about vaccination http://www.healthychild.com/sitemap.htm ^^i like this site too, they have a lot of information about healthy diet for children and how to build immunity naturally, etc http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=47 ^^another nice online resource if you're researching vaxes.
