Today, Alice and I had an appointment at the clinic. The nurse answered my questions about newborn's dry skin (it's normal!) and regurgitation (it's normal!). We also talked about contraception!!! I think that I will go for an intrauterine device - Mirena. If you have any experience with that product I would love to get your feedback.During my entire pregnancy, I had a such a good time researching information on all sort of baby related subjects. However, I'm pretty clueless on one controversial topic : infants vaccination.
I generally trust modern medicine but the fact that I don't "master" the subject bugged me. The nurse gave us a few brochures and we have until our next appointment to make up our mind. So Ignorant Claudia would like to know your opinion on infants vaccination.
Thank you so much! xox
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Beautiful wool felt balls from Little Red Caboose
I just ordered a set of 3 for Alice :)
22 comments:
good luck claudia!
i have some opinions on vaccines... only from teaching and hearing/ talking to other parents...
but, i'd say go with what you're comfortable with... what seems necessary... and, there's no need for alice to get many shots all at once (as often occurs here, in the u.s.).
we've been thinking a lot about what we'll do when little baby is born and, so far, we're probably going to delay baby getting vaccines for awhile. there are also some (like chicken pox) that i think i will avoid all together.
my baby will be part raised at my school so, i like to think s/he will be able to get exposure and build immunity to many things. who knows... i may change as october comes nearer.
(i hadn't even thought about post- baby contraception... geez! another thing to think/ worry about)
hope you are all well!
xoxo
tiffany
I have the Mirena and will never go back!!! I love it. I have many friends who have had it "put in" and had a horrible time...I went to a doctor that does them everyday and had a great experience (kind of painful for a day or two but not like child birth!).
immunisations is one topic that polarises a LOT of people! In the end, it does need to be your decision. But make sure you make informed decisions, not just go along with the hype (either way!).
I guess as a medico myself I know why we have vaccines - to prevent the spread of diseases & try to wipe them out all together. Here in Australia there has been a big "no immunisation" movement that has resulted in a huge outbreak of whooping cough - and several deaths of infants, that could have been prevented with vaccination.
Recently the medical journal Lancet retracted the work of a Doctor who linked Immunisations with autism - claiming his work was dishonest & unethical.
Food for thought. Good luck!
My thoughts on vaccines are pretty clear - in the "olden" days before vaccines, countless babies and children died of terrible diseases for which we now have vaccines for. We don't want to go back to those days. And it seems we hear very occasionally about a little child dying of something (or becoming extremely ill) these days when they haven't been vaccinated, but I have never heard of anyone having a significant reaction or response to being vaccinated. A slight temperature and some grumpiness maybe, but I think we can deal with that inconvenience for a day or two for the peace of mind it brings!
I agree withDanielle and her comments about vaccines. I do agree with delaying some or spreading them out. Not sure what your schedule is like in Canada.
I had Mirena and liked it but it was never properly placed and I always flet it. Might have been because i used it having never given birth. It was incredibly easy to have removed so if you do not like it no worries if you have to tie it out.
Wow, you know how to ask controversial questions :) I wish it was a topic that was easily discussed in a blog comments section but it's oh so much bigger and more complicated than that and I've seen riots break out :) Good luck with your research.
If you ever want any info about it email me. I have a bunch on both sides of the issue.
oops... nearer.still@gmail.com
Here in Italy vaccines program for babies and children are a "must" for parents even if you can do what you prefer. I think italian health care service has a gentle program for vaccines, babies here get their first shot at 3 months old, they never get more than two shots a day and vaccines appointments have always a 30 days pause. In Italy I do agree with vaccines, my nephew was born last january in the other Atlantic shore and I have to say they are really agressive with vaccines, there's no need to take several shots in the same day!! I think this is one of the reasons why many parents say no to vaccines.
I do like these felt balls, Alice will love them, in few weeks she'll suck them for good : )
I have Implanon as I am a bit of a wuss and prefered the idea of having something put in my arm, it works well for me because I'm busy and wouldn't remember to take my pill each day.
Vacinations are a tricky topic, you'll have to follow your heart. Which applies to so many things as a parent. I had all my children vaccinated because it seemed better than risking a potentially life threatening illness. Even though it's horrible taking your little baba to be jabbed.
Ah such an emotive subject Claudia, I think it is a very personal decision. I vaccinated all my children, I decided the risks far outweighed the risks involved in getting the diseases and illnesses they protect you from. All my babie's are fine and I do not know anyone who's child has suffered as a result of vaccinations, so, I am an advocate. But as I said, very personal decision. There is a lot of info on the internet.
The combined MMR vaccine is perhaps the most controversial, but you can have seperate vaccines privately, so to me it's a no brainer.
I have a copper IUD and love it, but I have friends who have the Mirena and also love it. Yay for not having to remember anything!
I have the Mirena and love it, especially because there are no hormones involved and nothing to remember. I was expecting it to hurt when it was inserted, but it didn't at all!
And although I hate doing so, I vaccinate my kids because the diseases they prevent can be life threatening. I don't do more than two shots at a time though. Whooping cough has reemerged lately as a result of people not vaccinating, which is really sad to me. I heard an interesting piece on NPR not too long ago about the autism study: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/01/06/132703314/study-linking-childhood-vaccine-and-autism-was-fraudulent
I'm so glad you guys are doing well! xx
I found the Dr Sears Vaccine Book to be the most helpful resource for us:
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/
Jeepers, this could have opened a can of worms but am amazed to see the even-handed and objective responses, you have great readers. Just pray that some hard-liners don't get wind of this post or you'll get a lot of ranting!
I'm not sure how qualified I am to comment, I don't have a baby, but I will soon, and I definitely intend to vaccinate. For similar reasons as Bec Hem (I'm in Aus too) - there have been some outbreaks of whooping couch with some very sad consequences, due to a non-vaccination movement. I myself have had every jab available! I think the benefits far outweigh the risks (I don't actually know of any risks, only the autism MMR thing which turned out not to be true).
That's only my opinion, it's up to you and what you feel comfortable with.
I am pro-vaccinations, for the same reasons everybody else has listed; the benefits outweigh the risks. Now that the link between autism and vaccines is put to rest (can't believe the MD who put forth this theory got his it published in a respected medical journal!) there is no doubt in my mind that it is the right thing to do for my kids and for health of other kids, who might otherwise unknowingly contract the disease from the carrier. Just remember some story about unvaccinated (?) child infecting a pediatrician and a whole group of children whom he treated. Anyway, informed decision is the key.
I have a copper IUD (Paragard) and considered the levonorgestrel IUD (Mirena) as well. I didn't get it because my doctor pointed out to me that if i didn't need to have the extra hormones then why subject myself to them? I like the idea of limiting my drug intake if I can help it and the copper IUD has no drawbacks that I can tell. There is evidence that the levonorgestrel IUD is slightly more effective than the copper but it is literally by 1/10 of one percent difference.
I've had mine for 4 years and L-O-V-E it! Since it was inserted I've never even felt it. My doctor checks it once a year at my annual exam.
Well, at the end of the day it is your decision. Both my boys are fully vaccinated, and they did not have any problems from it. I agree with all the others who have said that the benefits outweigh the risks. And I think Danielle is so right when she writes that we don't want to go back to those old days. We have a whooping cough epidemic here in California, too. And to think that this could be so easily prevented... But I know that this is a very "hot" topic, and in the end it is your decision alone.
This American Life has an interesting story on vaccines:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/370/ruining-it-for-the-rest-of-us
also something more recent from Motherloade:
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/autisms-unrepentant-guru/?gwh=AF1D5BE98F24BF436DF23CEED38DCC6E
I too have a Mirena. And I love it. The only issue I've had with it was, at first the wire was too long. At certain angles my husband could feel it. I mentioned it to my OB/GYN and she just snipped a little off the wire. The insertion procedure was uncomfortable, and my periods weren't normal for a couple of months, but it has been wonderful.
I agree with most everyone about the vaccinations: The decision is ultimately yours, but I am for them. We did spread them out and delay some of them. The varicella and the Hep B we are delaying until middle school. I don't know how that translates to what you do in Canada.
I got the Paraguard IUD. It's the copper one- no hormones. I loved it! I have to admit, my first 2 periods were almost unbearably painful (definite childbirth flashbacks!) but after that, I completely forgot it was there. I got it taken out 2 months before I conceived baby #2, so no problems there!
I had a Mirena in for 2 years (only had it removed to try for a baby) and it was the best decision I ever made.
No more bloating, no PMT, and no periods. I will definitely be having another in once I have had my family.
I just happened across your blog and am very much enjoying it. I know this conversation is probably mostly over, but here are my thoughts:
I have an aunt who was very sickly as a child and reacted badly to vaccines. While that may sound like I should be anti-vaccine, I'm really very much in favor of them because people like her need the herd immunity provided by everyone around her being immunized. I had my child immunized for everything (except chicken pox--I think that one's silly, though there are days I do wonder if I shouldn't just have her immunized for that as well, again, for the sake of other kids and because it will make paperwork easier).
As for when, my child had a very easy time with all of her immunizations. She was a little under the weather after several of them, but less than some colds she's had subsequently. She was also far less traumatized by the earlier shots than by later ones--with the shots she had before 1 or 1 1/2 she stopped crying as soon as the shot was over. More recent shots elicit a far longer, more emotional response because she actually remembers what's happened to her.
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