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Eco-Friendly Family
Got the H1N1 vaccine - am I a bad EF Mom
After a ton of research and agonizing over this decision, I got the swine flu vaccine at 15 weeks. Well, recently the ladies in my Bradley method class went on and on about what a terrible decision it was, how they would never do it and how I could have given my child brain damage. Now even prior to pregnancy I've been very EF - organic foods, no processed foods or HFCS, crystal deodorant, paraben-free lotions/shampoo, etc. I can't imagine that one vaccine is going to do so much damage when my life and body have been relatively chemical free for so long. [As a note, I do believe in vaccines - been to enough 3rd world countries to see the necessity - but I plan on doing the alternative schedule once she arrives.] WDYT - have I done damage? Am I a terrible eco-mom?
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Re: Got the H1N1 vaccine - am I a bad EF Mom
IMHO, you are a great mom. I'd have gotten it if I was pg. My personal opinion is that the amount of chemicals in the vaccine (which is the normal flu vaccine base, just with the other strain of flu - I got the flu vax when I was pg) is nothing compared to what your being extremely sick with a very high fever. Again, IMO, the benefits (even though, yes, there's a chance you won't get sick) far outweigh the risks.
I'm a fellow believer in vaccines - also on the alternate / selective schedule.
I got it and DD got it too. It was the best decision for our family.
I got the vaccine too, and I don't think I'm a bad mom.
I'm sorry those ladies made you feel bad about it, I think that's the wrong way to go about things. There are other ways to get their point across.
You're fine.
All 3 of my kids received it because my DH is a police officer and cannot control who he has contact with. We decided that the benefits outweighed the risks for our family.
You made a very personal decision, and no one has any right to judge you. You didn't do it to harm your child, you did it to protect him/her. And I very much doubt he or she has brain damage.
Welcome to motherhood, where there will always be women who have to one-up everyone else, and claim they made the best decision. Let it roll off your back and take it all with a grain of salt.
DH and I both got it when DD was 4 days old. We weren't really planning on it, but the nurse at the hospital told me that if DD got it before 2 or 3 months there was nothing they could do to help her. So we decided to go for it.
ETA: We did research it as well.
You're probably fine. If you did the research and you decided, own it. It comes with the mom territory that people are going to forever be questioning and judging your decisions--ESPECIALLY if those decision don't jive with their own. Not all people are like this, but there are a TON of people who are. BF-ing, EBF-ing or FF? Co-sleeping or in a crib? Epidural or not? Etc etc etc. There are people who love nothing more than to harangue you about your parental choices no matter what they are. I totally understand it can get under your skin (I was once berated for the choice to FF--including all the "you're so selfish" and "I feel sorry for your unborn child" BS--and it sent me away in tears), and unless you learn to cope it will make you miserable and full of self-doubt.
LUCKILY the EFF board is full of supportive lady-types who respect each others' decisions
So I think you and your kiddo are probably okay. Sorry people were jerkwads about it. 
Tales of the Wife