?? for non-vaccinating parents...

Hi folks

WIthout gettng into a debate, just wanted to ask some of you non-vaccinating parents a couple of things on how you dealt with some issues surrounding your decision. A little background on my situation...Clodagh is now 16 weeks (how? when?   ) and by all accounts is a bonny, big, bouncing healthy baby girl. We are very lucky. She's had a couple of colds and now has a bit of excema but other than that all is good. She has had no vaccinations at all and I am very comfortable with our decision so far.

My questions are:

• When and how did you choose to introduce your (non vaccinated) child into progressively more 'risky' environments..such as drop in centres for mum and bubs, picking up older kids from school and letting others cuddle bubba etc.....or did these situations not seem risky to you?
• Did you at any point regret decision to not vaccinate or change your mid about it? I ask becasue I am astounded at the phone calls and pressure I have had from my Dr's surgery..all meant very kindly I'm sure..but still! No one has been able to answer some of my concerns about vaccines, even the 'nurse educator' on the subject. And I don't want to debate it here! But it has made me think a little about the pnemmeuccol (sp?) one, as I have pretty much discounted the rest for baby at this stage.

Any constructive feedback appreciated plus any other comments about what non-vaccinated challenges (if any) you face as your baby grows older.

TIA

I must be special, no pressure from my doc or plunket nurse, in fact both have been supportive of our decision. One of the nurses at the docs annoyed me at Kyle's 3 month appointment by hounding me about the decision but she had nothing constructive to say apart from "what if he gets measles?" and then she wrote in his well child book in massive letters "refused vaccination" which still pisses me off, considering there is a tiny check box for that purpose and also none of the other nurses have ever done that in Spencer or Kyle's book before or questioned me about the decision. I figure when I have just seen the doc 2 mins before it is not their place to debate it. However I overcome that by not seeing the nurse at the 5 month one, plunket weighs and measures him so no point having the nurse at the docs do the same thing and they haven't said anything.

I always get the reminder through to come for the jabs but when I phone I just make the appointment but tell them were not doing the jabs and they say ok (in actual fact the receptionist already knows now anyway and says it for me). Our doc likes to check them over each time and he never bothers me about not doing the jabs, I actually think he is anti them, not that he has gone so far to say that but some comments he has made has made me think that perhaps he is not 100% in support of them.

As for mixing with people it has never stopped me taking them anywhere, I figure the more they are exposed to the more immunity they will build up and I'm not gonna be ruled by what ifs. If I know of an outbreak or a child with something then I would probably avoid depending on what it was, same as I keep mine at home when they are ill with something.

Daycare and in home care have both been fine about them not being vaccinated but they do need to know for their records so they will ask.

Every now and then I question my decision or I might think about doing certain jabs, was recently wondering about the tetanus and polio one, whenever I feel like that I just go and look at all the research again and I always come away feeling happy about our decision again. Dh never worries about it.

I'm not much help since my DD is only 13 weeks, but we too have chosen not to vaccinate (yet, anyway) and I've never even thought of the things you mentioned as being risky! That might just be me being uninformed though... if I need informing, please do!

Also I figure it's better to "regret" not vaccinating than to regret vaccinating - at least you can start vaccinations at any age, but you can't undo a vaccination once it's done!

(I posted this in the other, identical thread, but this one seems to be where the action's at!)

I agree with a lot of what QHX wrote.
I think the risk of vaccinated kids is the same as non-vaccinated kids.

I wouldn't knowingly put DS in a situation where there was an outbreak of something, at least not at this age.
I think I would give him chickenpox at an older age, where his immune system was stronger, I hear some people take their kids to 'chickenpox party's' haha.

I used to be a bit regretful of our decision to not vaccinate, but now i know i made the right choice. We never give DS pamol or drugs.
When we went to the Dr for the 6 week check, I am also surprised, like QHX, that we got out of there without the vaccines! so much pressure from the nurse. But I've not had anymore pressure from the Dr or Plunket.
I got a few disapproving looks from friends, so I don't mention it now unless I'm directly asked. I just don't take part in those conversations.

I hadn't thought about not letting DS near recently vacinated kids, i'll keep that in mind know, as that could be a bit risky with the live viruses around, thanks for that tip.

Hey we go to an anthroposophical Dr too! Dr Leitch in Mt Eden - I think there is only one other one in Auckland in titirangi

skp - Same doc!

Looks a little like a Munster family member - but just brilliant.

Anthroposophical doctors work around Steiner principles - the one I go to is western trained, as well as having a more holistic approach to medicine. The concept is you nurse at home, using natural remedies (he prescribed me homeopathic teething remedy) and use your doctor as a last resort.

The anthroposophical society of new zealand had a bunch of info (google it) as well as I found googling anthroposophical doctor found me a list... just looked at it, and there are a few in Christchurch, all based out of the Helios Integrative Medical Centre in Opawa? (don't know Christchurch to know where that is sorry!)

I'll be ringing the Helios Centre tomorrow! Our GP is totally rubbish (though we've only seen him once, and he didn't mention vaccs at all LOL) and I've been meaning to try and find a new one. These guys sound like just what I've been looking for!

How are they different from Homeopathic doctors??

Hey this should be a permanent topic so we can share tips etc

Edited by QHX