I think I want to split up LO's vaccines due to his severe IUGR. He was born 4 weeks early at only 3 lbs, 6 oz. He's now two months old and has his vaccine appointment next week and he's now barely 6 lbs. I've tried to find an intelligent article researching side effects/risks of underweight or preemie babies vs risk of side effects in typical babies. It really bothers me that they take actual age (not adjusted) and then don't take weight into account. The only articles I can find are all about Autism. I really don't want to get into the Autism debate, just the actual known side-effects of the vaccines and if there's increased likelihood for the tiny babies. Thanks to anyone that's already done their research!
Re: anyone know any research on preemie/underweight babies and vaccines?
I googled "infant vaccines and weight" and came up with a lot.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=infant+vaccines+and+weight&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
BPF May 12, 2013 :: EDD Janaury 22, 2013 :: MC Began On July 14, 2013 at 12W4D
Born at 34w2d:
Thanks so much! This is what I was looking for and apparently not doing a very good search. It's hard not to worry about our little ones, especially when they're extra little.
I tried to find the same thing and couldn't. My LO was 5 weeks early and weighed 3 lbs 12 ozs. If I remember correctly, he weighed about 6lbs at his 2month appointment, 10lbs at his 4 month appointment and got all of his shots. No issues.
I was concerned about the flu shot he just had. I actually delayed his 6 month visit to one week shy of 7 months. The nurse and doctor ok'd this, and it made me feel better because it put him closer to the minimum age for the shot.
HTH!
and after 82 days in the NICU, our little girl is home!
I had DS at 32 wks. IUGR, he weighed 2lbs 14oz he got all his shots on time he had no side effects at all to none except he was a little bit cranky after the 12 mth shots but he did just fine. He has always and still is underweight compared to the rest of his age group.
Peanut Butter and Jelly!
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Pretty much this, except Layla was smaller. No side effects for her.
Scarlette weighed 2lbs 12oz at her 2 month vaccinations. She didn't have any long-term side effects that I have noticed (she's 14 months now) HOWEVER she DID have about a 3 day set back in reaction to the stress of the vaccinations. She went from breathing on the cannula to a rated cpap for a few days, ran a high temp and just overall reactued badly to them. Our drs. felt it was best to do them - I did a LOT of research prior and felt the same. Looking back I would have waited until she was a little stronger- she was still in the NICU in an isolette so her exposure was minimal.
But if my baby were bigger and close to discharge, I wouldn't hesitate. I think it's much more important that she is protected than to risk getting seriously sick from something preventable. And I had planned on delay-vaccinating before I gave birth so that was a big shift for me to make. Our babies just can't fight stuff off the way other babies can.
HTH!
Kevin got his first vaccine at 30 days - he was 2lbs. No issues at all. He's continued on the normal vaccine schedule with very few issues. I spread out his shots now so that he doesn't get Synagis and vaccines on the same day but otherwise, he's not delayed.
we delayed stella's vaccines as much as possible but wanted them done while she was still in the NICU. she was about 3 months old when we did them. we split them up over a few days & she did fine. going forward (4 month vaccines and on), we switched her to dr. sears' delayed schedule & delayed it even further so she was closer to 4 months adjusted than actual before getting the 4 month shots and so on. my dr. wasn't happy about it but i am the mom and i decided what it pumped into my daughter's veins.