Vaccinations and Vitamin K
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Forum Name: Pregnancy
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17623
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Topic: Vaccinations and Vitamin K
Posted By: SarahP08
Subject: Vaccinations and Vitamin K
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 3:33pm
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Is anyone out there NOT getting their baby (or had their children already) vaccinated or having/had the Vit K injection.
I've been reading all about it and call me a conspiracy theorist, but the whole idea of vaccinations etc frightens the bejeezus out of me. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 3:57pm
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Spencer didn't have the Vit K and so far he has none of the vaccinations.
However had his birth been traumatic we would have given him the vit K one. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 3:59pm
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i seriously considered both but decided for the Vit K in the end and as he had a traumatic birth he would have needed it anyway.. i read some quite good research mostly for but a little against.. as far as vaccines..yes it's a hard one i found all research to be biased one way or the other:( nothing really with just the facts.. (in the end we did both) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 4:37pm
| We did both for Daniel though we spaced out his menzb as i didn't want him getting too many vaccinations at once. We needed to have Vit K no matter what the birth was like because theres a big history of bleeding disorders on DH's side. Better to be safe than sorry was the way I looked at it. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 4:37pm
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Yes to both. Vitamin K coz I didn't see any reason NOT to have it, it's been around since we were babies so there were no issues for me re: it's safety.
As for immunisation, my kids are immunised, and whilst I believe everyone has the right to their own opinions, if it were up to me, immunisation would be compulsory. I used to be a bit more ambiguous about it, as in I had my kids done because it seemed the common sense option, but didn't really have an opinion either way. However I recently attended a media briefing on vaccines and it included a section on the history of disease, immunisation and the eradication of disease, as well as a medical section on how immunisations actually work and challenges to the myths that surround immunisation (eg. MMR/autism link). I came home and did some more research of my own and I can't for the life of me understand why people would choose not to vaccinate their children. But as I said, this is purely my opinion, I respect other's right to their opinion and beliefs, and I have no criticism of people who choose not to immunise, it's just as I said, I don't understand it. ETA: I thought I should clarify that this is my own, personal opinion. At OHbaby! our official position is to bring all the relevant info to parents to let them make their own decision so we aren't pro or anti immunisation as such, but more pro educated decision making. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 4:45pm
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maya i agree with you ..we were never not going to give the normal vaccines.. just looked into the MENZB one before we gave it to him.. a lot of the research says the diseases are coming back due to immunisation rates:( My Mum was suprised to know that we had an option to say no.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 4:47pm
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I can't believe anyone would support them being compulsory, what an intrusion on peoples rights. -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 4:48pm
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In Australia it used to be that you had a choice whether or not to immunise, but your child couldn't start school without being immunised, which effectively meant you didn't *really* have a choice. I can't imagine they get away with that these days.
I must admit that knowing what I know now about the MenzB imm, I would probably still have given it to my kids, but I do feel that we as a general public were grossly misled re: how successful it was, and what the long term plans for it were. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 4:50pm
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I'm not going to argue..I'm all for pro choice..so i can see it both ways but I've also sadly seen what happens if unvaccinated children get things like measles:( and that was what did it for me.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 5:02pm
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i chose not to give my kids vit k at birth. If you do decide this do be firm in your decision and the reasons why. I had a pair of midwifes effectively brow beat into giving it to my third baby and they wouldnt stop until i said ok - but i only agreed to the oral knowing that i wouldnt be giving any further doses of it. I'm not sure if it was given or not tho cause the mw in the op theatre told hubby they hadnt but it was put in her notes that they did!
as to immunisations we delayed them here by a week or two, which is another option i suppose. The same stands with them tho too... do your research and get both sides of the story and make an informed decision. there is a scary element to vaccinations and every time i get the kids done i stress about what might possibly happen... and did seriously debate the MMR for the boys oh and dont confuse vit K with immunisations, they are two diff things. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 5:07pm
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Funny you had so much trouble we just told my midwife and then on the day of the c/s I told the hospital m/w (my lmc didn't come in for the c/s) and she just wrote it in massive letters on one of the forms so that everyone knew. We did ask them to get the paed to talk to us if she thought that there was a reason to do it but she was happy that he was fine and didn't need it.
And yep Vit K and immunisations are two totally different things. -------------
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Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 6:30pm
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We did both with Leah and will do both again with the new bub too. But it is a personal thing and if you choose not to thats your choice and stand by it the same as you would if you choose to do it. -------------  
 
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 9:08pm
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All 3 of my kids had the Vitamin K. All 3 of my kids have been immunised. All 3 kids are healthy and happy. I'm not going to get into the discussion about whether or not you should immunise. I have my reasons as do people who don't immunise. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 10:44pm
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I have a very strong opinion about this having had a cousin who died from meningitis, but basically I believe that you need to make the right choice for you and your child based on academic research (not just any old website that google brings up) so you can make the best decision possible.
Jack got Vit K and has had all his injections so far. I believe that those who don't immunise rely on those of us that do to weed out epidemics, hence why some campaigns fail as they need a certain % of the population to get it in order for it to be effective. Anyway, that's just what I believe. I also think that if non-immunised children get sick at schools they should not be allowed back until they're well as they don't have the right immunity to deal with what other kids may have when they're sick already, and they can catch things easily then pass it on to immunised kids. But that's just my opinion, and like Maya said, I try not to criticise people that don't vaccinate, but I don't understand it at all (from first-hand experience with my cousin). |
Posted By: Helen21
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 12:44pm
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I have been immunised for everything including MENZB and I also have vit K, It did no harm to me so I thought it was the right thing to do for my kids.
I was worried about the MENZB so I waited until I completed the course before I had my kids done incase I had a reaction to it. I felt the pros out weighed the cons so it was the best choice for our family. However after having my 2nd MMR as a kids I ended up with rebella, I'm not sure if this was coincedence or not but I was glad I had MMR as it helped me fight this off quickly. I took chloe for her 5yr immunisations yesterday and it is an awful feeling putting our kids through the pain of it but while I was holding her still as she screamed and cried I told myself, as tears filled my eyes, that this could save her from dealing with a lot worse in the future. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Chloe 12/7/03 Miya 5/11/05 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 12:48pm
Oooh yeah, the 4/5 year ones are the worst coz they are so aware of what is going on  ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 3:45pm
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Hannah had Vit K and is immunised, but we didn't give her MENZB.
Personal choice, and as Bizzy has said, stand by your decision. Don't let someone else make those choices for you. You wouldn't ask a Maccas employee which burger is best for you... well, I wouldn't  ------------- 
http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 3:50pm
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My son had the Vit K as he had a traumatic birth being born a month early and then after 12 hours of labour was born by an emergency caesarean. He had all his vaccines on time. After he had rhe 15 month jabs he was a completely different child and was diagnosed with autism, We haven't given him his 4/5 year jabs as we are in two minds about it all. I read somewhere on the net that you shouldn't vaccinate an austistic child so it has put me right off as we don't know what it will do to him. He is at school now and is a completely healthy child that hardly ever gets sick. We are expecting #2 and I just don't know what to do as I want to immunised my child but on the other hand I am so against it. |
Posted By: SarahP08
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 4:02pm
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I think I've made my decision, but I'm still so anxious about it.
I've decided not to have Baby vaccinated immediately, I'm waiting until his/her immune system has matured and then reassessing my decision. I just know I'll blame myself if I vaccinate and things go wrong, just as I will by not vaccinating if baby gets sick. I'm going to have a lot of opposition from my family. Just wondering if anyone else out there has decided NOT to vaccinate? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 4:21pm
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When it came to us not immunising against MENZB we got a LOT of flack from people - including the nurses that were admistering her other imms.
Like you, I wanted to do it to protect her, but at the same time I had my doubts about the vaccine. DH was against it, so in the end I went with his choice. It took me a good three weeks to square away my feelings of "what if..." before I felt happy enough to deal with things if, God forbid, she ever gets sick. -------------
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: SarahP08
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 4:21pm
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This is interesting for anyone who wants some more info...
http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/Topics/Health/Immunisation/Informed+Choice+on+Immunisation.html - Kiwi Families site ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 4:29pm
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edited ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 4:38pm
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Obviously, I haven't been there yet, so can't offer my experience, however I just wanted to add that vaccinations work in a given population based on 'herd immunity', in that as long as a large proportion of the population is immunised (i.e. ideally as high as possible), then that particular disease/infection becomes almost obsolete, as there is no human reservoir to sustain it. Once the immunisation rates fall below a critical threshold, that's when infections and diseases start becoming a problem.
I fully understand personal decisions behind whether to immunise or not (for example, I have never have the flu jab), but just wanted to add a piece of imformation to the debate that hasn't already been mentioned. 
As for Vit K, I'm thinking we will go ahead with it at this stage, but I haven't done all my research yet -------------  
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 4:47pm
*cough* i bribed Caitlyn with McDs....
As for how i feel about vaccinations, um what .Mel said on the previous page, but swap the three children for one ..... |
Maya wrote:Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 6:34pm
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One thing that is worth noting, and this is neither a pro or anti immunisation statement, just a fact is that delaying immunisations can lessen their overall effectiveness.
I didn't really understand that when I delayed the girls MenzB imms till 3 mths, but the schedule is designed to work in with the natural immunity that babies are born with, and that is passed to them thru breastfeeding. This immunity starts to taper off after six weeks, hence why the imms schedule starts then. It also works in with the maximum risk period for certain diseases, at the media briefing they showed us graphs of occurences of diseases like whooping cough and meningococcal B and how they peak between 6-12 weeks then drop to a lower level until 12 mths when they drop significantly again. I would imagine copies of these charts are available from IMAC if they aren't already on their website (www.immune.org.nz). For those with a bit of medical knowledge or just an interest, the health professionals section has far more detailed info than the parents section. Rubella immunity passed from the mother lasts longer which is why they now give the MMR vaccine at 15 mths. If you give it too early, the body thinks it is already immune due to the maternal antibodies so rejects the immunisation. Like I said, this isn't one side or the other, just information I've gathered. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 7:05pm
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I don't want to get in to a debate on here but someone mentioned that people that don't immunise their children do it because they believe they don't have to because everyone elses children are immunised.
Now whilst I believe that some ignorant people out there probably do have that stance it certainly isn't why we didn't get Spencer immunised nor is it the reason that a lot of other parents who have researched and chosen not to immunise. There are many many reasons why someone would choose not to immunise their child. Mostly because we believe in letting nature do its thing and that allowing our child to be exposed to the disease and build a natural immunity is better than introducing an artificial strain. We also did not want to expose our child to all the other ingredients in the jabs especially as they go straight into the blood stream which is not how the human immunity system is designed to deal with things. What also needs to be remembered is that just because a child has had the immunisation does not mean that they won't get the disease all it is designed to do is help them fight it off quicker and whether or not it does that is debatable. Sarah this topic has come up a few times and as far as I am aware I am the only person on the board who hasn't immunised my child (unless there are others who haven't ventured into these threads). -------------
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 7:49pm
i think you might be right there. the MENZB was the only one i chose not to give my kids. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Saramich
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 8:03pm
| Hi, I'm new at contributing to these forums! But we also have decided not to vaccinate at this stage (we have a 10 week old) and we're the only ones we know who haven't. We initially had a lot of opposition from some family members who didn't understand our decision but after explaining our reasons, they ow respect our decision. An interesting book to read is "Just a little prick" by Hilary Butler. Definitely worth the read, it is a little heavy in places when it comes to all the medical/scientific content but very thorough. You can get hold of it by emailing butler@watchdog.net.nz or ringing 09-2368990. |
Posted By: pesky
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 9:05pm
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Broadly I'm of the view that we should leave our bodies to fight illnesses and diseases. It's stood me in good stead. However I grew up in a small rural community, while my daughter will go to a city pre-school.. so..
From my research so far, I'm happy giving all the vaccinations except for MeNZB and I'm still deciding about MMR. I feel that the decision to "withdraw" MeNZB shows that the programme/vaccination was flawed. The explanation given that the epidemic has passed sounds like BS, when you consider that Polio hasn't been around for decades, but is still vaccinated against. I don't have a problem with vaccinating against Measles or rubella, bit I do have a problem with the combined vaccine. A friend has Crohn's and his family (his mum and sister are nurses) believe it started when he was given MMR as a teenager. I will also research the risks for people with a family history of bowel cancer as that applies to us. I got mumps and it was horrible but I survived. Must check my plunket book to see if I was immunised against it! ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 7:24am
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i dont want to argue about this but my research has all shown that MMR doesn't cause any diseases...i wont go into it all here..but that is my opinion from the research i have done. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: EthansMummy
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 11:13am
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I can't remember about Vit K but Ethan has not had any vaccinations and is a happy and heathly little boy ------------- ** MUM TO ** Ethan 29/08/2006 Brooke 22/09/2008 |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 12:17pm
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Zaara had her Vit K jab at birth since I was in labour for 48 hours and ended up with a CS and therefore went ahead with Vit K. If the labour was fine then I would not have given it to her.
Zaara is fully vaccinised. I wouldnt have it any other way. She is happy and healthy and I would kick myself if she got sick from some thing that we have immunisations for. I am not immunised against Rubella, as in Russia in late 70's it was not a concern and I was meant to have got immunsed after Zaara but totally forgot. Hopefully I wont come into contact with any one who has it. I also dont want to argue about this as it is a personal choice. But I am all for Immunisation.....in a BIG way. BUT respect other peoples choices and reasons. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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