Do I vaccinate?

I'm not trying to start a fight here.  You may totally disagree with me, and that's okay.  I know many people (homebirthers and others) who do not vaccinate their children.  And they are my friends.  My children play with their children.  But I choose to vaccinate my children. I believe in it passionately.  I honestly think vaccines are one of the greatest modern blessing we have available to us, and I'd be remiss not to embrace it.  Imagine how many mothers in history would have scrambled at the chance to protect their children from the numerous diseases that are a distant memory to our modern world.  Diseases that snuffed out the lives of millions of children. For centuries.  And all we have to do is get our children a little shot. Presto, worries gone, child protected.  Seriously one of the greatest, most amazing wonderful things about living in these modern times. 

When my 5-year old stepped on an old, rusty nail last summer it was a huge relief to call my pediatrician and ask what should I do? She checked her shot record and told me not to worry, her tetanus was up to date.  Just clean it well and it should heal fine.  Instant stop to my freak-out, all because my child had her shots.  

But many people assume that, because I have my babies at home, I don't vaccinate them. True, they don't receive those first few shots at birth that a hospital-born baby would receive (which, by the way, you CAN opt out of, but nurses and doctors may treat you like scum for doing so).  But I'm nursing, so they have my antibodies available to them and are thus protected.  I nurse about 6 months before my supply runs out and I have to start formula. But my babies receive their first vaccine before that.  The first time I take them to the pediatrician is somewhere in the 3-5 month range, for a well-check and to get started on vaccines.  I only get them one shot at a time, which usually is more than one vaccine because so many of them are combined nowadays.  But just one poke in their fat little leg is good for me.

I've never had raised eyebrows or condescending tones from my pediatrician about having my babies at home or the fact that they are usually a bit behind the immunization schedule.  Or sometimes a lot behind. But hey, my kiddos are all up to date by the time they are kindergarteners and off to school, so who cares.  The only reason my kids ever go to the doctor is for shots- they just don't get sick very often.  And when they do, I turn to my herbs and oils and that works for everything from fevers to earaches for my kids.  So remembering to take my kids in for their vaccines is a major victory for me, since who thinks about the doctor when everyone is healthy? But somehow, despite how behind I may be in getting their well-checks, the schedule always seems to pan out and my pediatrician has never had a problem with it.

When I do take them in, I acknowledge to my doctor that my kids' shots are behind schedule, so, I ask, by looking at their immunization record, what shot should they get next?  And my pediatrician will say, "Oh, let's do such-and-such today, and such-and-such next time."  I don't march into their office armed with "knowledge" I read online about this or that vaccine.  Recognize that your pediatrician is a smart person and knows what they are doing (or change pediatricians!).  Showing them that respect will ensure that you don't receive those dreaded condescending tones or raised eyebrows.  

And autism is present in my family. My brother has it.  A nephew has it.  But the science just doesn't support activist's claims about vaccines and autism.  Many people have many different reasons for not vaccinating their kids, but the alleged link with autism should NOT be one of them- because study after study has said there is no link. 

Last Sunday I was listening to an elderly lady at my church giving a talk.  She spoke of having polio when she was 12. She talked about how their town lost many, many people to polio during that particular outbreak.  And I couldn't help thinking, Wow. All I have to do is get my kids a shot.  A simple, easy, fast, shot.  And I've never had to give polio or whooping cough or anything else a second thought.  What a blessing. How could I not embrace it?  

...and a few thoughts about other "pokes" your baby gets at birth: 

 {Vitamin K Tangent}  The Vitamin K shot (which is not a vaccine) is given to your baby in the case they will need surgery.  It enables their blood to clot, preventing them from bleeding to death on the operating table.  On the 8th day of life, your baby begins to make their own Vitamin K, and no longer needs a shot after that day.  So for the vast majority of babies, it's an entirely unnecessary shot.  In the case that your baby does need a life-saving surgery in that first week and didn't get the shot, no problemo- they still have effective medicines they will give your baby to enable their blood to clot. So....really, I don't see the point of a Vitamin K shot as a standard procedure for every healthy baby.  So, even though my midwife can give this shot to my baby at home, I opt out of it. I simply don't see the need for it.

{PKU Tangent} Also not a vaccine, but is one of the things your baby will get directly after being born. It's a quick prick-of-the-heel for your baby, and absolutely CRUCIAL. My babies get it.  Every baby NEEDS it.  If your baby has this rare metabolic disorder, you need to know ASAP! Just want to make sure people know we homebirthers aren't THAT crazy- the PKU test is an essential, folks. Wherever you choose to have your baby.