? on delaying vax's at 15 months.

[ribbit1019]

I want to start asking for delayed vaccines for DD and need to learn more about this. I am ordering Stephanie Cave's book, but was looking for some quick assitance, DD's 15 mo appointment is Sept 13th. Any quick read links would be so helpful!

Our ped did not give me too hard of a time with not getting the chicken pox/flu vaccinations. I want the new baby to have a delayed schedule from the start, the ped will fight me on this. She gave me a very hard time when I explained my concerns during DD's 1 week check up.

I like my ped, DH likes her too. I could switch but I am not familiar with any other Docs in the area. Asking around (friends co-workers, mid-wife) I have not been given much help in finding someone that is natural minded and would accept a delayed vax schedule readily. There is one doc (my ped when I was young) but he is over an hour away and gas is getting so expensive.

Any advice is helpful. I am very overwhelmed with all this.

Christy
Maddy born 06/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
Little Peanut due 03/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/K8fum4/.png

[brittone2]

Honestly, it is hard to find reputable internet sites sometimes. I find they all have some inaccuracies, but they are a good starting point.

Mothering.com has a vax forum. There are a lot of informed mamas on there. Yes, there are times that things people say aren't entirely true IMHO but there is a lot of good info as welll.

I'm not sure what else would be helpful for you...most peds are quite resistant to anyone going against the grain of what they were taught and what the reps tell them.

The CDC gives info on disease rates year to date, etc. so that can be helpful in weighing the risk of the vax vs. the risk of contracting a disease.

THe VAERS database can be viewed online and contains info on adverse events. Parents can report on their own so some people think it isn't "accurate" because parents can report symptoms they think may be tied to a vax. It continues to exist so I'm sure the gov't sees some value in it.

Ask to see package inserts in advance and research them BEFORE your child gets the vax.

[Wife_and_mommy]

I don't know if you've done this yet but asking LLL, birth centers, health food stores, etc who they recommend is a great starting point. I found DD's doc through a friend but our birth center recommends his partner to lots of non-vaxing families. DD's doc is pro-vax but has told me he doesn't run families off for not vaxing.


Elizabeth

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/dogdogcrd20040405_4_My+child+is.png

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev035pb___.png
Our second morsel due early February 2006!

[starrynight]

Check your states laws, if you have a legal right to exemption (all states have a medical one but it's hard to get, mississippi and west virginia are the only ones with medical only. The other states have religious, medical and then some have a philosophical also and check the harassment laws) In my state there is all 3 plus it's illegal to harass you for not vaccinating so your doc could agree not to see you anymore but cannot give you a hard time or bother you in anyway if there is a anti harassment law. She does have the legal right to opt out of being your health provider though.

I've found it's easier to tell the doc you know the risks and appreciate their imput but it's not up for discussion. That you are there for the well baby check ups only and you just want to know if your child is fine and their height and weight. I've heard that general mds and family practise docs are less pushy about the vax angle than peds but I have a ped so I don't know. Good luck!!

[chlobo]

If you are only delaying the vax's you won't need to worry about an exemption until you DC attends a daycare, preschool or school. The vaxs are required (unless you have an exemption) for those institutions. Although its still good to know the laws.

[Melanie]

Christy I send you an email via the boards. LMK if you don't get it.

[ribbit1019]

Thanks Melanie I got it!

Thanks to everyone for for the advice. It is so hard having to fight against the grain sometimes isn't it?

Especially here in our newly crowed red state. People still look at me cross eyed when I tell them I had no pain meds when DD was born and I plan on having none with this one, I CD and BF DD until 13 months. LOL

Thanks again!

Christy
Maddy born 06/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
Little Peanut due 03/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/K8fum4/.png

[mommy_someday]

It is so hard having
>to fight against the grain sometimes isn't it?

So true. I had a devil of a time trying to find an MD willing to be DS's doc. I interviewed a bunch of peds before DS was born and so many of them refused him as a patient if we were *considering* not vaccinating. To me, it felt like they were saying, "I care about the welfare of children, but only if it's on my terms." Maybe that's not what they were saying to me, but it sure was the message I got.

The PP who said that FPs are sometimes more accepting was right in my case. We have an FP for DS who *so far* has been okay with letting us delay and make our own decision as the parents. He has said that he strongly believes the benefits outweigh the risks, but that he respects our right to choose as long as we research it. I think perhaps he's more accepting because DH and I haven't made up our minds yet. My friend and her DH aren't vaccinating their DD and they are very solid on that. They take their DD to the same FP and he has given them a bit of a hassle about it. So maybe once DH and I decide for sure that we aren't (if we go that route), then he might fight us on it. I am already dreading the 9-month checkup because we're revisiting the issue. Every time I think about a possible confrontation, I can feel my face getting hot. I wish things were more clear-cut and we, as parents, all knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what is best for our DCs. It's all just so complicated...

Sorry for rambling. Just wanted to commiserate a bit. :)

[ribbit1019]

Thanks Erica! ;) It is nice to know I am not alone.
Christy
Maddy born 06/09/04
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040609/3/4/0/-5/.png
Little Peanut due 03/02/06
http://bd.lilypie.com/K8fum4/.png

[HannaAddict]

Just wanted to mention one other reason why some peds won't accept non-vaccinating patients, their own professional malpractice insurance. There are policies that require all patients to be vaccinated. I don't know if it is an option with cheaper premiums for the doctors or if it is an outright requirement by the insurance carrier for any policy, but it might not just be the doc's own choice.

Kimberly
DS 3/18/04

[mommy_someday]

That's entirely possible. I just wish they'd be a little nicer when refusing. Some of them were quite haughty and rude, which I didn't appreciate. Thanks for the additional perspective, though. :)

[brittone2]

We looked around in PA quite a bit when we were living there and our ped was fine with us making our decisions, as long as they were informed. She wanted to make sure I wasn't just going off of random internet websites. I told her where I get my information (looking through actual studies on medline for example) and once she understood that DH and I knew what we were talking about, she was okay with our decision. She was still provax but supportive of parent choice, provided it was informed. ONce she understood my concerns went well beyond thimerosal, etc. she was very accepting of our decisions.

We haven't selected a ped here in NC yet. We are probably going to go the FP route here. We had one in mind but she took time off to be with her own kids right around the time we moved :( However, there are several docs in the area that are supportive of parent choice, which is wonderful.

[starrynight]

>Thanks to everyone for for the advice. It is so hard having
>to fight against the grain sometimes isn't it?

Ah yes it is!! I would get the looks and odd comments when I used to use a sling, and negative comments about cloth diapers. I've heard good comments too, just not as often. And everyone thinks I'm nutters for having all the kids without pain meds and wanting to have the last one at home (I never did but wanted to). Good luck to you :).