It hurts our hearts to see our bambino cry. Deciding to do something that will cause him pain, even if it is ultimately in his best interest, isn't easy. Vaccines fall in that category. Helping the nurses to hold down our infant son to vaccinate him in this thighs was difficult, but vital to his health and the health of our human tribe.
Following the recommended vaccine schedule helps to keep all babies healthy and safe. Many diseases have mostly vanished because we are vaccinated against them. Some babies have medical conditions that do not allow them to receive the vaccinations; if other babies receive the vaccinations, they keep those children safe.
There are many public conversations about possible connections between autism and some vaccines. Public health and medical organizations have not proven this connection. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a very clear page about vaccine safety, including a linked page about autism and vaccines. Here's what they say:
MMR and Autism
Q. Is there a link between measles vaccination and autism?
No, there is no scientifically proven link between measles vaccination and autism.
Extensive reports from both the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conclude that there is no proven association between MMR vaccine and autism.
Autism is a chronic developmental disorder, often first identified in toddlers from age 18 months to 30 months. MMR is administered just before the peak age of onset of autism symptoms. This timing leads some parents to mistakenly assume a causal relationship. There is no evidence that MMR causes autism.
Increasing evidence indicates that autism is determined while the baby is still in the womb, early in the pregnancy.
Our bambino was quite fussy for about 48 hours after receiving his first round of vaccines. He had a low grade fever, resisted sleep and didn't want to eat without extra coaxing. A little baby Tylenol and many, many cuddles helped him through. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to help your baby after vaccinations.
Vaccines help to protect everyone. Follow your doctor's advice and keep us all safe.
Many differing points of view on this one. As a postpartum doula, I recommend reading, reading, reading up on this -- from both points of view. Check out the CDC for the PRO- party line and Vaccine Information website for the ANTI) and best to do it BEORE your baby is born, when you have more time to think and debate this one with your partner. IMHO: Babies now are given far too many unproven and potentially unnecessary vaccines. HEP B (for a sexually transmitted disease!) minutes after birth? REALLY? WHY? I question the wisdom of that. The ongoing Guardisil vaccine push is a travesty. When I was a child we received something like 8 doses of vaccines. When you were a child, maybe 15. Now there are DOZENS, many administered in groups. (How does an immature immune system handle that?) There are many ways for parents to approach this, from following the scheduling to the T, to delaying some more problematic vaccines until baby is neurologically more developed, to skipping some or skipping all.
ReplyDeleteBest practices continues to be exclusive breastfeeding in the early months to confer many of the mother's immunities. I have lived long enough to question every word of the medical establishments "wisdom" ( HRT, Fosomax, Vioxx etc.) and encourage all my clients to do the same.
Best of luck to all you new parents with this weighty issue. I don't envy you this debate or this decision. As with all things that pertain to your family, in the final analysis GO WITH YOUR GUT, but only AFTER you do your homework. Be well.