To Vaccinate or Not Vaccinate...

This is a hot topic among parents today. There is propaganda on both sides and people are really starting to feel the pressure. Driving into Atlanta the other day I passed a billboard about childhood obesity and one for vaccinating children. I need to make sure Logan becomes a vaccinated skinny kid, in order to show the world I'm a good parent.

I never really thought about vaccines growing up because what kid does? You got your shot, cried a little bit, and got over it. Then vaccines started bounding into the spotlight because of the rise of autism in children. It seemed to make sense. Vaccines are becoming more routine and autism is becoming more common. We have a correlation, but do we have a cause and effect?



Apparently, I don't love or protect Logan

In 1998 Andrew Wakefield conducted a study and his findings stated that vaccines may cause autism. After this article, everyone was in an uproar. It was like the scene in Beauty and The Beast where everyone storms the castle to, "Kill the Beast." There was a lot of negativity aimed at vaccinations and people were starting to veer away from them. Then two years later the study was discredited and retracted. The pharmaceutical companies rejoiced and started their pro vaccination crusade.
When you make the choice of not vaccinating or delaying vaccination people look at you as if you said, "I beat my kid with a canoe paddle everyday." It's not that I think that Logan will become autistic once he's vaccinated; I just think we're not fully informed.

Have you ever watched a commercial about a new drug on the market? During the commercial they show happy bouncy people doing fun things; while in the background, in a subdued voice, you hear the horrible side effects. They start off with normal side effects  like dry eyes, itchy nose, and trouble sleeping. Then later, you hear the more disconcerting side effects like anal explosions, suicidal thoughts, and death. Sometimes your ailments sound better than the side effects. Now if there are these side effects with regular drugs. What could be the side effects with vaccines?



Roseola makes for a fun Easter!



I believe the reason drug companies are pushing so hard for vaccinations is for profit. They make a shit load of money on vaccines. This is another article that shows the tremendous profit that vaccines make. This article states that Gardasil is predicted to jump to $3 billion in profits by 2012. I also found another article by Dr. Sears that states that Md's sometimes get financial incentives for the number of patients they vaccinate per quarter. Now if you were a greedy bastard with no moral compass would you care if your product could potentially harm people? Look what the cigarette companies did KNOWINGLY to their consumers. I'm afraid that what happened with the cigarette companies is what the future holds for pharmaceutical companies.



However, I do not believe that all vaccines are terrible. Logan has gotten some on a delayed schedule and will continue to get more as he gets older. There will be some that he will never get unless for some reason he wants to when he gets older. I do think that some vaccines are necessary. I think the Gardasil vaccine is a good idea when your child reaches the age where they become sexual beings. I also think the Hep A & Hep B vaccines are a good idea at the same age as the Gardasil vaccine. Some vaccines do not need to be given right at birth like they currently recommend, but can wait till the child is older.
One thing I should mention that most people probably don't know is this: you generally don't need all the shots you're given during a series vaccination like the Hep B. Usually you're immunized after the first shot, but you could be the 50% that isn't. It's cheaper to just give you the three shots than to test your immunization after each shot. This is not opinion, but 100% fact. Our pediatrican actually did this with Logan. He tested him after every shot to see if he was already fully immunized.



I'm a little biased...



With the type of vaccine schedule that we have done with Logan. He has only been sick twice since the day he was born. He had roseola Easter of 2011 and he had a minor cold this past year. Now I'm not 100% sure if it's because we delayed vaccinations. There are other factors as well. I breastfed him exclusively till 6 months and he weaned himself at 15 months. He has also never been to daycare, but he has played with groups of children. I also know that some of the children were sick because I got sick after seeing them, but he did not. I hate to give the day care example because people say that is the main reason children get sick. Yes one sick child will expose the sickness to a group, but it's not limited to a day care setting.  Another good example is my mom was sick and a week later I got sick. Guess who didn't get sick...Logan!

I remember talking to our former pediatrician in Rhode Island and we discussed Andrew Wakefield. We talked about how his name was tarnished and his medical license was taken away. Our pediatrician also mentioned that in his readings he found that Wakefield might not be as wrong as everyone thought. I have to remind you that our pediatrician is a holistic one because a mainstream pediatrician would probably not agree with me. Now when I was looking up the information about Andrew Wakefield, I found an interesting tidbit. The other doctor in the studies was given his medical license back. If you read the article it's an interview with Andrew Wakefield that is pretty interesting.

When I was face booking, like I do every 20 minutes, I found a great post on my friend Audry's wall. Our other friend from high school Cecily mentioned a book, Saying No to Vaccines: A Resource Guide for All Ages. I have been dying to read it, but it's kinda expensive. I want to read more about Dr. Tenpenny before I buy the book. I did check out Dr. Tenpenny's website and there is a lot of vaccination information listed.



I find that the pro-vaccination information is becoming much like propaganda. There was a Law & Order SVU episode that made me really notice how crazy it was becoming. In season 10 the episode Selfish (nice title right?) starts off much like the Caylee Anthony case with Hilary Duff playing a Casey Anthony like figure. The twist is it wasn't the mother who murdered her child, but a NON VACCINATED child. Tim and I sat there like what the fuck just happened? Did you seriously blame a non vaccinated child and his anti-vaccination mother for murder?

Logan is a filthy heathen unworthy of a hug

My question to people has always been if your child is vaccinated how would my non vaccinated child effect you? Shouldn't the vaccine be 100% effective against the disease? Isn't that why you vaccinated your child? Now the child in this episode wasn't the appropriate age for the MMR vaccine because she was not quite a year old. However, in most cases shouldn't the vaccine work? I thought vaccines were infallible and I was a horrible psycho for not vaccinating. Oh wait, vaccines are actually not infallible that's why you keep having to get boosters and they are never 100% guaranteed to work. This article I found, discusses a study that found that eating microwave popcorn lessens the efficacy of vaccines. First of all, what the hell is in microwave popcorn that this actually happens? Second,  I thought vaccines were indestructible. In order to get a vaccine to work you have to put your child in a plastic bubble in order to avoid other children. They can only drink filtered water and eat unprocessed food (which I have to admit is not the worse thing).

 

The pro-vaccination crusade has really done a number on those who go against them. I am not really into conspiracy theories, although I really did like the movie Conspiracy Theory. I just think it boils down to greed. Drug companies keep getting richer and they don't care who they step on to get even more money. The way they prey on your fear is a sick way of convincing you to vaccinate your child. The billboards, commercials, and articles I see make you feel as if you belong in a psych ward if you choose non vaccination. I'm sure there is anti vaccination propaganda that makes the pro vaccinators feel like crap. I haven't found one, but if you do let me know. One last thing that I found interesting, was the post I read on the Vaccine Times website. It's a pro vaccinator commenting on a post by an anti vaccinator. It's about the 5 worst misconceptions that pro vaccinators have in regards to anti vaccinators.

In previous blogs I've always taken a you do your thing, I do my thing approach to parenting. I feel the same way when it comes to vaccines. You do your thing, I do mine let's not call each other horrible parents.  When my child kills your child just make sure you're the trashy Casey Anthony type. Then I can win the courtroom case against you like in SVU. We spend so much time lecturing and arguing with each other about how our kids should be raised. Meanwhile, who is actually raising our kids?

One question I want to leave you with is this: I believe drug companies are the new tobacco companies. Will it  be another 40 years till we finally figure this out?

There's something to be said about "3rd world" baby care



Avert your eyes from the "gross" photo

I feel that in America as we became a more developed nation we threw away old methods and practices in child care. We labelled them barbaric, uncouth, unseemly, and in doing so we disregarded great methods of childcare. When formula came around breastfeeding became "gross" and we dismissed the benefits to become a more "civilized" culture. I personally don't care how you decide to feed your child, but don't judge my choices. I got a lot of negative comments in my choice to breastfeed and personally I think it's ridiculous. I've heard how aggressive breast feeders are in their quest to make everyone breast feed, but pro-bottlers can be jerks too. I think there are jerks on both sides of the argument, but how about we agree to let everyone make their own choices? I won't comment on your bottle feeding and you don't comment on my breastfeeding.

Here are two articles that explain the benefits from both sides of the spectrum. One is an article from a surgeon general's view point who is very pro-breastfeeding. This article titled I formula fed so what explains the benefits of  a pro-bottle feeding approach. Whatever you chose to do, be comfortable with that choice. Don't try to ridicule someone else because they went down a different path. I do have a bone to pick with religious people that say breastfeeding is unnatural and disgusting. Guess what, YOU just called God unnatural and disgusting you hypocrite. Who made the human body? Who made it so that breasts develop milk for your children? It surely wasn't Satan so stop trying to pretend God had nothing to do with it. It just really irritates me when religious people critique something that God designed and made. If you love God so much stop insulting his work.

So freaking cute!

In less developed parts of the world baby wearing is something that most mothers practice. It's something that has found a resurgence here in America and they are many types of slings to chose from. When Logan was born there were recalls of baby carriers because of infant related deaths. Everyone called me and told me to make sure my sling wasn't one of them. It wasn't, I have this annoying habit of reading and researching before I buy something. 





Baby Bjorn



I really wanted to practice baby wearing because it looked practical and made sense. First I used a Baby Bjorn because I bought one off of a friend. He and his family liked using it. It also wasn't part of the recall. Baby Bjorn's I feel I are the most well-known of the baby carriers. I remember seeing a lot of celebrities being photographed with it and seeing it in movies.You can find it easily in Babies R Us or other stores. It was very easy to use and figure out. You could have the baby forward facing or facing towards you. Logan liked being in it which is obviously one of the more important factors. If your kid doesn't want to be in it then move onto to anther carrier. Tim and I liked using it the only problem was it killed your back. We could only wear it for a short periods of time. Afterwards, we would have to stretch to get our backs to feel slightly normal again.







La di da

Moby Sling in turquoise

I then decided to get a sling because I saw other moms using it and I thought it might be better for our backs. I was scared of trying to get a wrap because it seemed too complex. One of my friends used a Moby Sling. It looked comfortable, but it took her five minutes to wrap the baby in it. She wore it to a fair all day and didn't complain once. Her baby liked it too he didn't cry or try to get out of it. It's hard for me to read instructions. I physically need someone to step by step show me how to do it (in person). I didn't know about the store Bellani in Warwick, RI, where I could have gotten a sling/wrap demonstration. They actually have baby carrier rentals now so if you wanted to try one out before buying it's a great idea. I wish they had it when I was trying to figure out sling options.The only complaint I've heard about Moby wraps is that they stretch out. They are cute and I think if you can figure out how to use it, then it's a good choice.

Tim hotslinging it at the beach

I decided to use a hotsling because it looked easy and the reviews looked promising. It wasn't bad at first and it was easier on our backs.



It was hard for me being a fatty boom batty to use it. I think if I was thinner it would have been easier for me to use. It does come in different sizes depending on your weight, but it was awkward at times.Tim had no problems using it. He liked it better than the Baby Bjorn. It was easy to wash and we took it everywhere. It didn't take up much space in the diaper bag.



Logan loves the sling!

The bigger that Logan got the harder it was to keep him in it. He didn't mind it, but he wasn't too thrilled with it either. If his mother weren't so fat maybe he would have found it easier lol.

I then decided to get the Beco Baby Carrier (Gemini). I saw that you could sling the child in four different positions and I was hooked! I wanted to be able to go for walks with Logan and not severely strain my back.



He loves the Beco Baby Carrier!

When I finally got the carrier I tried it out for a 30 minute walk and I could barely feel it. My back didn't hurt for one second. The longest I've walked with Logan is an hour and a half and my back felt fine. I've gone uphill, downhill, winding roads, and I've never had a problem. I've walked in the blazing Georgia heat and Logan is the only one who has an issue. He's not a fan of being that close to my soaked back lol. He tries to pull himself away, but eventually he just deals with it. Logan falls asleep in this carrier sometimes within a matter of minutes.



Great for running from zombies!



The Beco Baby Gemini Carrier has been the best so far. I would highly recommend this to any family that wants to practice baby wearing. There are some amazing benefits to baby wearing and I feel that it's something that every family should explore and see if it's an option.There are many animals that practice baby wearing, click on the link to see some adorable baby animals pics. Check out this website it gives 10 reasons why baby wearing can be a good thing.

I think advancing as a society can be beneficial. We have found cures for diseases, some diseases aren't quite the death sentence they use to be, the technology we have to day is amazing. However, we must not forget what got us to this place. We can't turn our back on all old traditions because sometimes they are more useful than what we currently have in place.