The Great Vaccine Debate
March 30, 2009 8 Comments
Opening up a can of worms here . . .
The girls had their four-ish month appointment last Tuesday. Doing well, growing steadily along the 25th-ish percentile. Elise is at 12 lb 12 oz, Althea’s at 12 lb 9 oz (both gained exactly 1 lb 3 oz each since their last appointment last month). Etc. Because we thought we were doing daycare, I had to get a regular round of shots this time, whereas we’d been staggering their shot schedule to not do more than two at once previously.
And the shit hits the fan.
The day of the shots isn’t bad, really. It’s the weeks after that scare me. Since this last round of shots, Althea has been a royal pain. Crying. Whining. Complaining. Unhappy. She arches her back violently, rolls all over the place, complains incessantly. Her previously stable sleep schedule has all gone to shit. Two of her three daily naps are sucking.
Elise, on the other hand, is sleeping more than ever. A two-hour nap is now easily three or more hours if we let her. She’s happy enough, at least. Both girls are back to being up multiple times at night, where they used to wake up just once.
The same thing happened for about two weeks after the last round of shots, too. I chalked it up to their four-month growth spurt, but now I’m wondering. And worrying.
I had this conversation with a friend this weekend. We both raised the same suspicion that there’s something rotten in the pharmaceutical industry. I recently heard a pediatrician say that we’re lucky anyone even makes vaccines because there’s no money in them. I find that incredibly hard to believe.
The whole thing scares the hell out of me. So I want to know, dear readers (I know I have more than two, c’mon guys): What are your opinions? Go ahead, cite research, give me anecdotes, spill your shit. I don’t have the answers, but I know what I’m seeing and I don’t like it.
8 comments
AskMoxie.org – use her search to find ’4 month sleep regression’ – she’s been saving my ass this week. In fact, here are some specific links:
http://www.askmoxie.org/2007/10/4-month-olds.html (read the comments – you’re sure to find your exact situation)
And this: http://www.askmoxie.org/2006/02/qa_what_are_sle.html
I’ve heard both sides of the vaccination argument. I don’t know who I believe because well, I’m no pharmacist. I just know my kid has to go to public school so needs her shots. I also know people who’s kids were not affected at all, and kids who were terrorized for weeks. So I chalk it up to individual differences.
But really – read about the 4 month regression cuz it’s making me feel sooo much better (this too, shall pass).
Awwe, sorry you’re going through this! My boys had their 2month immunizations 2 weeks ago. They had a huge crying fit for an hour and then whimpered and cried a bit a little later that day, but we were fortunate that this was the only real reaction they had. I know it was due to the tetanus shot, as their legs were red, swollen and tender for a few hours.
Although I don’t have any valuable research to give you, this site has been invaluable to me for figuring out the whole twin pregnancy thing and beyond. Specifically here’s the link to their immunization info:
http://www.twinstuff.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76801
Twinstuff is a great site, their forums are what I go to with any questions/concerns.
GenerationRescue.org is a great source of current research on this topic. Check out this article http://www.generationrescue.org/vaccines.html . You’ll be particularly interested in the section with data on how vaccines ARE big business. (Your pediatrician didn’t make any sense with that comment. I think you’re right to question him or her.)
Also, you might want to know that vaccinations are NOT mandatory anywhere, despite what preschools and elementary schools will lead you to believe. If you choose not to vaccinate, you simply sign the back of the immunization record at the school, stating “personal beliefs” as your reason. That’s it.
I hope this is helpful for you. So sorry your girls are still dealing with the after-effects of the shots. You’re right that this issue is really loaded, with many vehement about their opposing views. In the end, the best we can do is learn what we can, trust ourselves to make the right choices for our families, and then cross our fingers.
I wish you the best!
Cheers!
Alexis
Hey–
I am struggling with this so much too. For our two month appt. I fought with my doctor. I wanted to stretch out the schedule and he made me feel like crap about it and finally convinced me to do it all at once. My boys were exactly like yours. Carter was MISERABLE for five days, Jaxson slept endlessly. Our sleep pattern was screwed up for days and days. I don’t know what to do either.
I live in a small, small town and there is no other pedi practice. Basically, I have to go to a family practice doctor or stay there and on the regular shot schedule. Otherwise I have an hour drive to a pedi. I hope someone has good advice for you, cause I’ll follow it too!
I am so torn on this. I think that so much is unknown or unproven or accepted by example because the growth spurts babies go through so often coincide with dr appts. Heck, when they go in every month or two, it’s bound to happen. Do you blame it on the growth spurt or vaccine? You can remove the vaccine from the equation, but you can’t stop growth spurts. And what about development spurts that aren’t visable as growth? I would think that they all coincide and are responsible for sleep disruptions. Also, just the discomfort of the shot and the owie it can leave adds to it. I think a shot of just saline could distrupt things too. These babies are so small and just getting inroduced to the world and everything they see, do, touch, taste, etc is new and requires time to process. Their heads must be spinning inside!!!! Oh well, I’m no help to you at all on this one. Sorry.
I’d have to say that every time I read boards especially those based out of the states, it seems like a heck of a lot more vaccinating going on…like a couple months ago with the “oral” vaccine I questioned what it was as I had never seen or heard of it, especially in babies. Saying that I don’t do a slow vaccination time and the only one to react if you can call it that was the first boy in the 90′s when he got a low grade fever after. I might add he was also my only formula fed babe. Saying that I have to wonder if it has something to do with what baby is eating(not trying to debate bf vs ff). Little Heath hasn’t had his 2nd round of shots just yet, but he acted no different after the last set, just the other 2 boys..besides the bandaids you wouldn’t have known they had even been poked. Perhaps things are done slightly differently up here, just like with the prenatal care and what not. I hope the girls get back to their old hat routines soon and that momma gets some more zzzz’s
[...] she’ll take one side only some feedings. So, hopefully, my baby is back. Not sure if it was the shots or her 4 month growth spurt, but hot damn, this has been a rough [...]
Hey I am a mom of three who educated myself on behalf of my children. Iwill admit I am very scared and extremely concerned about the ingredients that go in these vacc. I know a lot because I care about my children more than anyone could. You can find any info about it by typing in vaccine ingredieants as well as vaccine side effects. The side effects will blow your mind. I was amazed to find my 2nd son who was strictly bf for 9 months then introduced solids while continuing only breast milk till 15 months. My point never an ear infection until 4 year pre k shot now its constant ear problems and yes you guessed where I am going vacc he was given had normal side effect OTTIS MEDIA. GO FIGURE. Any way dont be bullied or told this recomended schedule of shots are important protocol because every baby and child handles aluminum ether aborted fetus animal parts differently. All joking aside I am serious look it up mom it is there. In my personal opinion there is no person in the world who can tell me this is healthy at such a vulnerable time in our growing developing babies and children. Call me CRAZY but I call myself a mom who wants the truth and I want a safer vaccine and s chedule. There is a saying it is so TRUE vaccines can never be ONE SIZE FITS ALL. That alone should be the ped. first and foremost thinking. I cant tell you enough make your choices from both sides but make them educated after all you will be the one to deal with the damaging effects. I hope all our babies stay safe. I thank god everyday for mine. I am really honestly just scared and so bent over this and I do see others roll eyes at me and say I nuts but am I . Cause the last I checked I was studing literature on vaccines and the side effects while they are telling me to get on my space anf face book. Thanks for letting me bore you JENN
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