Any other "crunchy moms"?

Ecomom17 · November 2013

the6mayers said:

I am wondering if vaccines work so well and your child is vaccinated why do you feel threatened by my unvaccinated child?

Because, as they said, they are not immune to rubella, which is very dangerous to a fetus and hence a pregnant woman. So YOUR unvaccinated child can pass on a disease that may kill their unborn babies. Vaccines DO work very well; there is a small percentage of people in which they do not confer immunity. Which is why it's important for 95% of the population to be vaccinated, so that those who cannot be vaccinated of for whom the vaccine doesn't work (again, a very small percentage) are protected.

angaleano82 · November 2013

I do agree with PP that said up until they go to school, it's a personal choice. My daughter's school district does not allow unvaccinated children to attend. I'm sure there could be people who lie, but that's just dumb. That being said, I feel like between her school and her pediatrician, I get bombarded with the flu vaccine. I refuse it for me and I refuse it for DD. The awful side effects an things I've had happen to me because of flu shots, and after 3 years in a row, I put together the common factor, I will never have another one and I will not allow my daughter to be subjected to it. I feel like they want to call social services every time I say no, judging by the looks I get and the rebuttal arguments. I keep up with all of my daughter's other vaccinations because her day cares and schools have always required them. Are you able to stay home or have a friend who runs a home day care? A friend of mine did not want to vaccinate and maintains she was "forced to" because her day care told her she had one week to return vaccination proof or remove her child. Not trying to scare you or judge you, just throwing out some realities.

I know nothing of gluten free eating, so I don't pretend to have advice for you on that other than if you are GF by choice you may have to change it up just a bit. I have 3 very crunchy GF mom friends who all had to slowly work in some gluten foods during their pregnancy. If you don't want to, or that's not an option, I agree that I nutritionist is your best bet.

pantherRN · November 2013

the6mayers said:
I am wondering if vaccines work so well and your child is vaccinated why do you feel threatened by my unvaccinated child?

Because your unvaccinated child can pass on illness that can cause severe disease or death in a baby that is too young to be vaccinated or a person who is immunocompromised.

Also, you're selfish. Vaccination is about protecting your child, yes. But vaccination is MORE about protecting those who cannot be protected. When you decide not to vaccinate your child, you have damaged the herd immunity. If enough parents choose to not vaccinate their children, there will no longer be a herd immunity, which puts everyone at risk. You can only "hide in the herd" for so long.

LuluPMW · November 2013

This doctor provides plenty of credible and reliable research addressing vaccinations. For those against vaccination it's worth a read. I hope you can look through the info with same same open mind you had when deciding not to vaccinate. https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/category/vaccines/

In my life I have been guilty of both name calling and judging, but at least I feel guilty and have decided to take a stand and I stand by what I said earlier: Name calling is not helpful. It is deliberately harming someone with verbal abuse.

Judging people alienates and divides them, it also does not help.

By name calling and judging the OP we are not helping her change her mind to vaccinate and protect us and society! I fear this only does the opposite as she will want nothing to do with us.

It takes much more self control and compassion to educate than to judge.

mamakiss · November 2013

I wouldn't quite consider myself crunchy but I do PLAN (I'm a FTM so I'm fully aware these things can change) on breastfeeding, wearing my babe, going drug free, and cloth diapering.

I also am gluten free because of an intolerance. However it isn't severe (non-celiac) and all my usual side effects of it are trumped by nausea right now and the only thing I can stomach is breads and carbs. I talked to a doctor and was told the best thing I can do is eat what I can stomach and when I start to feel better I can cut it out again. Besides eating some gluten now and again can keep my baby from being born with an intolerance (having never been exposed to it)

And while I don't want to jump down your throat for your decision not to vax, no matter how much I disagree with it, but I do not appreciate the implications that people who do vax haven't done the research. Most parents (and I'd say all parents on here) are looking to make the best decisions for their kids and that includes research and the decision to vax. So please don't assume we haven't done our research, because that's hurtful to those of us who will be vaccinating.

Huahine · November 2013

Regarding alternate vax schedules: DS's grandpa is a family doctor. His office never does more than two vaccines at any one visit. They find they get fewer post vax reactions by limiting the number given at a visit. This is a deviation from the AAP schedule. We see a pediatrician in another practice but have implemented his alternative schedule. This means that we have to make more trips to the doctor's office to fit them all in. We also did not do the Hep B shot at birth. I decided that there was no need to stress his system like that since he was unlikely to go out and do IV drugs or have unprotected sex. We caught up on that vax by 18 months and are current on all others.

AutumnBonfire · November 2013

I'm semi-crunchy and extremely liberal . I exclusively breastfed DS until 6 months and still breastfeed him and I plan to do the same with this baby. I cloth diaper and I made all of his baby food myself from mostly organic fruit, vegetables, and meat (what was available) until we started table foods. I try to do mostly homemade foods now with little processed.

However, I think not vaccinating your child is just foolish and selfish. You absolutely are taking advantage of the herd immunity that the rest of us are providing for you. It wasn't until I had a baby myself that I became aware of this. I work in a school district that does allow people to enroll non-vaxed children and I think this should be illegal. My coworkers wanted me to bring the baby to visit when I was on maternity leave the last time and I would not until he had his pertussis vaccination. I'm going to even go one step further than some people on here and just say that I think people who don't even get a flu shot are irresponsible. Babies can't get a flu shot until they are six months old. I damn well made sure DH and I had ours. It is ridiculous that those who are the weakest in our society are put at risk of death for preventable diseases.

One of the reasons I love my son's pediatrician is because they refuse to take patients who are against vaccinating and they put out a statement about people taking "selfish advantage." They are also against alternate schedules.

Aab7114 · November 2013

Please be thankful the majority of people around you vaccinate, but be aware of other people around you who have not vaccinated their children or been vaccinated themselves. We live in a country and society where international travel and immigration is very very prevalent. I meet multiple people from other countries on a daily basis. These are the people who will expose your unvaccinated child to polio, mumps, measles, ect. Also I am nervous for my self and my unborn child's life not because I don't trust vaccinations, but because I understand the limitations of vaccinations. Like anything in this world they are not 100%. Your unvaccinated child if exposed could pass on the disease to my child, which could unfortunately cause a "milder" form of the disease.

Also for those of you anti flu shot, YOU CAN NOT GET THE FLU FROM THE VAX!!! You can however get a "milder" form of the flu even with the shot. So instead of being soo sick you have to be hospitalized, you will just have something similar to ur everyday virus. I work in healthcare and the flu is a very serious life-threatening illness. Especially for elderly and young.

cakergirl · November 2013

I'm crunchy. I grow my own garden, will be breastfeeding, preparing my own baby good etc. but I do believe in modern medicine. Congratulations to you, on being able to take advantage of it!!! (The only reason it is even remotely safe for you to not vaccinate is because the rest of us do). I'm so happy that your child will benefit from herd immunity as the rest of us do the responsible thing and assume the risk for you. But if you truly want to be "responsible" you would live off the grid, not go out in public, not shop, not buy gasoline, not go to the bank, the grocery, to work or to school. This way you wouldn't be irresponsibly, knowingly choosing to expose the rest of our children (who may be only 2-3 weeks old and thus not elogible for vaccines yet) to yours. I'm all for not vaccinating if you and your family choose to remain completely isolated and choose not to live or associate woth the modern world in any way. That would be extremely responsible... not only protecting your child from the illnesses of the world, but also vise versa. But no. You aren't being "responsible" if you choose not to vaccinate yet still go out in public. That's just selfish.

DSwe · November 2013

I don't want to insult you for choosing not to vaccinate. That's rude and impolite. I would, however, like to point out that you're very lucky that most parents do vaccinate their children, because that's what is keeping your unvaccinated children from getting seriously ill and potentially dying. The "Herd Effect" of mass vaccination is what is preventing epidemic disease from running rampant. So although you choose not to vaccinate, please thank those people who do. I'm sure your children will one day.

hokiemom86 · November 2013

I'm an organic eating, baby wearing, breast feeding mom... But I vaccinate. We do spread them out, to prevent her from having 5 shots at once, but we vaccinate. I vaccinate my animals as well. Titers can be pulled on most to determine your levels and if a booster is needed. I just voluntarily opted to go through a rabies pre-exposure vaccination series. I will have titers pulled every 2 years. The vaccination is a serious of 3, which means if I get bit by an unvaccinated animal (common in my line of work) I will only have to do a couple of post bite shots, rather than almost 10.
Google is not your friend. I TRUST my pediatrician, not Joe Blow and his "research".

violet615 · November 2013

I'm dairy free bc of severe lactose intolerance and since being pregnant I'm craving rich cheesy creamy foods and everything else tastes bad to me. I hope you find something that helps as I haven't.