Could use some support from non-vaxing mamas.

[I<3Ardis]

This is soooo hard for me to figure out... They could get sick from the shot or get polio and be paralyzed. I didn't let her get the Hep B shot in the hospital...but she got it at her first well baby visit...and I was bfing while they did it. I went to my daughter's pedi and they sprang it on me that she was due for 5 shots and one that they drink. I was in such shock and I couldn't get ahold of my mom that I talked to the doctor . It's hard for me because logically I can see both sides. I let them do the vax and I instantly regretted it...she dropped the boob and gave me a look of utter betrayal that made me cry. The nurse left with both my baby and I crying. I am so conflicted. I am scared of doing the wrong thing .
More power to you if you know what you want...

[slaferriere@berklee.net]

If someone tries to tell me I'm wrong w/o even knowing the facts, you just have to brush it off. I feel that the majority of the time, they act the way they act out of defense because "well, I vaxed my kids, are they gonna be autistic?" lol... you are educating yourself and making a decision you feel is best for your family. It's so silly that people don't get it... more and more parents are choosing to stop vax, vax research is making commercial TV headlines, and many doctors are now becoming OK with parents creating a vax schedule for their family. When you tell anyone about your life style aside from vaxing it's the same reaction (cding, bfing, non-circ, etc). You can do something as simple as stop eating meat and all of a sudden you are an outcast. haha.. People jump on the defense because you bring up points they hadn't thought of and now you are trying to make them feel like a "bad parent" or something, lol. oh well.

Bottom line - if you choose to live outside of societies standards, you have to develop some thick skin.

[burnsis]

We are also a non-vaxing family. I don't tell family/friends of our decision, b/c it's none of their business. No one really asks though anyways, they sort of just assume that we do.

I belong to a group on Cafemom, called "Choosing not to Vaccinate." There are close to 3000 members now, tons of info, and lots of support. You'll also find helpful mamas on Mothering.com, discussion forums

[Terra]

Originally Posted by I<3Ardis This is soooo hard for me to figure out... They could get sick from the shot or get polio and be paralyzed. I didn't let her get the Hep B shot in the hospital...but she got it at her first well baby visit...and I was bfing while they did it. I went to my daughter's pedi and they sprang it on me that she was due for 5 shots and one that they drink. I was in such shock and I couldn't get ahold of my mom that I talked to the doctor . It's hard for me because logically I can see both sides. I let them do the vax and I instantly regretted it...she dropped the boob and gave me a look of utter betrayal that made me cry. The nurse left with both my baby and I crying. I am so conflicted. I am scared of doing the wrong thing . More power to you if you know what you want...

That's what happened to me when I was having DS vaxed. By his 6 month appointment I said no more until I knew more.
I'd recommend getting The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. It tells you the statistics, ingredients, pros, cons and what the each vaccine is all about. It makes it much easier to get a handle on how you want to approach it.
I would say don't vax again until you read up more because you can always give them later if you want too but you can't take them back once they are given. Hang in there mama!

[momof3boys1girl]

I dont mention it unless someone asks. I havn't really gotten a whole lot of cr@p about it except from our first pedi but we dont see him any more. I try to blow it off if people look at me weird when I tell them. I totally support my dec and have no regrets and in the end that is all that matters.

[oneofsix]

I never mention it. I do know some people who don't vax and we can talk about current issues and stuff. But generally I just stay out of conversations. Coming up with some pat answers that doesn't really answer the question is the best way to go. I find it rude that people ask though, its very nosey and notb. I would never ask an adult "So how was your last pap?" or "How'd you handle your recent prostate exam?"

[kristinc]

Originally Posted by Ashhan I'm still new to the site, but this is one of the first website I've seen with moms who are proud of not vaccinating their children. We are expecting our first baby in August and have decided not to vaccinate, but I have felt very alienated in our decision. I did the research, read tons of stuff, and I feel we made an educated decision that works for us. Why do people seem to have such a problem with it? A woman I know even suggested that I was putting HER child at danger by not vaccinating my baby. I'm not going to change my decision but some support from like minded mamas would be appreciated.

you should check out mothering.com also. there is a huge community of non-vaxing families there

[iris0110]

Dh tells anyone who will listen that we don't vax, and why. When you have a child who is autistic because of vaccines people listen, and fewer will judge. But we had to go to 5 different notaries to get Kearnan's exemption form stamped. All of them seemed to think it was their place to try and make us vax our child. Dh took care of it luckily, cause if some one had said something to me I might have hurt them. It is no ones business what you do with your child. You've done your research, when they say something stupid just try to remember your research. You are doing the right thing.

[kristinc]

Originally Posted by iris0110 When you have a child who is autistic because of vaccines people listen, and fewer will judge.

It is unfortunate that it takes that to make people realize that the the pharmaceutical companies may not have our children's best interest at heart.

[JDT]

A question for non-vaxing families:

How do you register your child in school? All of the public and private schools that I know of require vax records. Also, some public programs (like WIC) require them as well. So how does that work when you don't vax?