Vaccines

Recently I've been bombarded with lots of information from both sides of the spectrum on disease and illness. We've been seeing a chiropractor for Noah and they are anti everything medical. No vaccines. No surgery (for things like ear infections, tonsillitis, and other common childhood illnesses). No routine antibiotics. And then of course you have the medical side of things. With Mary we were immediately referred to an ENT (a surgeon) when her ears weren't getting better and her tonsils were the size of golf balls. No discussion of seeing a holistic doctor, chiro, or herbalist. We went to the ENT because we didn't know what else to do and we wanted her to get better. I don't regret our decisions with her. We prayed and prayed and I believe God let us experience that for her health and also for our education. Those things helped her tremendously. But they were extremely expensive and now I wonder if there was a less invasive way to solve her problems.

The chiropractor has really been helping Noah. His ear problems went away and he's even been sleeping better (if you can believe it). The doctor (of chiropractic) sent us a slide show that has all this information about vaccines, ear infections, ADHD, asthma, etc. The common childhood concerns. It has been very informative and eye opening. But my degree is in statistics. I'm glad I have that background because I can look at this slide show and see some things that make me cautious about how quickly I accept this information. I love hearing this side of things, but I also want it to be balanced. As a doula I've seen (but mostly just read about) some of what goes on in the medical arena so I'm also weary when I read their side of things.

I mostly made this post so I could share about this book pictured to the left. The author is obviously a doctor so he recommends all of the vaccines be given to your child. But he also gives a very real and honest look at the problems vaccines can cause. I think he is very fair. For each vaccine he gives what the disease is, how it is transmitted, if it is serious, how the vaccine is made, side effects of the vaccine, why you should give it to your child, and why some parents choose not to give it to their child. I found this book so VERY helpful and informative and mostly unbiased. He genuinely seems to care for these parents who don't vaccinate their kids. A lot of doctors will judge the crap out of you for not vaccinating your kids or skipping some like us. But Dr. Sears does not do that. He really understands and respects some parents for choosing to skip some or all vaccines.

Luckily I found a couple doctors in our group of peds who are supportive of me. Or at least, when I turn down a vaccine they just say, "OK! You'll have to sign this paper." And that's it. The first ped we saw was super judgmental and even talked me into a couple things I didn't want (giving Mary some formula and her first vaccine). After I left I decided I would not see her again and if I did for a sick visit I would go in with my mind set and not let her talk me into anything else. I also use the excuse, "This is something my husband and i already decided and I wouldn't feel comfortable reversing that decision without first discussing it with him." Works like a charm...unless he's there:)