October 2014 Moms

Vaccination Guilt *Update in Thread*

edited October 2014 in October 2014 Moms
So I decided not to get the TDAP or flu vaccinations while pregnant. I am planning to get them in the hospital after LO is born, but I don't want to get them while pregnant. I've read the recommendations and the reasons for vaccinating and risks of not getting the vaccines, but despite the benefits, I just have this gut feeling that I should not get them. However, I'm starting to feel a little guilty about my decision....probably from reading the popular opinions that I'm putting my baby at risk. Do I stick with my gut and not get the vaccinations or go and head and ask my doc for them at my 37 week appointment tomorrow?
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Re: Vaccination Guilt *Update in Thread*

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  • So I decided not to get the TDAP or flu vaccinations while pregnant. I am planning to get them in the hospital after LO is born, but I don't want to get them while pregnant. I've read the recommendations and the reasons for vaccinating and risks of not getting the vaccines, but despite the benefits, I just have this gut feeling that I should not get them. However, I'm starting to feel a little guilty about my decision....probably from reading the popular opinions that I'm putting my baby at risk. Do I stick with my gut and not get the vaccinations or go and head and ask my doc for them at my 37 week appointment tomorrow?
    What have you read that made you decide NOT to get them? They say getting them while pregnant (the tdap, anyway) helps pass some immunity on to the baby. I chose to get them personally, but that doesn't mean you should. Especially if your "gut" is telling you not to, that's your choice. But again, I'm curious what reasons you have to not get them.






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  • Maybe have a conversation with your doctor about it at your appt tomorrow? Share with her or him why you initially chose not to get the vaccinations and ask and talk about the risks on both sides.
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  • Here's my input... Take it for whatever it's worth: 
    The normal recommendation is for anyone planning to have close contact with the baby have these vaccinations done at least 2 weeks before said contact. This will allow for immunity to build up in the adult. 

    You are recommended to get these vaccinations so that you may pass some immunity on to the baby until they're old enough to get the vaccinations 



    You read all the info and decided that your gut instinct said don't go with it? And now you're 2nd guessing yourself ? 
    Ultimately it's your choice to do what you believe is best for you and your LO 
    If you want better advice, you can always consult your Doc...



  • You should definitely talk to your doctor about them and your concerns.  Also, my doctor wanted me to get them by 36 weeks. 
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  • Dani0329Dani0329 member
    edited September 2014
    I had to be an advocate for myself to get this shot, bc my office doesn't carry it. I spent many hours calling back and forth to my OB and PCP to work out a plan everyone (including me) was satisfied.

    Long story short: get the vaccine and pass the immunities to baby.

     
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  • Speaking from experience- watching your 8 week old struggle with RSV, I would not want to risk my child getting whooping cough as it is much more severe and deadly.  I basically stayed awake for 2 days to make sure that LO was ok while we waited it out.  We were lucky that we didn't need to have him hospitalized, but that was a possibility at one point.  Long story short, RSV is more common and less deadly and it was a very scary illness to watch him go through.  IMO, don't risk it and get the TDAP and flu shot.
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  • bennikkibennikki member
    edited September 2014
    Due to the time of year our LO's are due, no one handles my baby that hasn't had the flu shot and an up to date pertussis shot.  This was the rule with my first as well (born in January).  We don't know yet what the flu season is shaping up to look like, and coming from a community who lost a newborn to pertussis, I can't imagine not protecting all newborns, not just my own, from this entirely preventable illness.  How's that for guilt?

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  • With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  
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  • I fucking hate the anti-vaxxer movement. I wonder how many people's "gut" told them vaccines weren't safe or necessary before vaccine paranoia became a trendy thing?

    I think I am in the minority that I've always been cautious about vaccines....not just joining the bandwagon of the recent "anti-vaccine" movement. Probably instilled in me by my mother who did delayed vaccinations with me when I was a child. I received all vaccines, just didn't get all of them exactly when recommended. I've always been pretty healthy. I try to avoid most medications in general because I've found that the more medications I take, the worse my overall health becomes. The one time in my life that I did get the flu vaccine, I was sick so many times that year. I guess I just don't trust that the pharmaceutical companies have my best interests in mind. I am also somewhat skeptical that the CDC isn't being influenced by these companies and their skewed data. Perhaps this is all unfounded paranoia, but it's how I feel. So therefore, I don't really trust the "research" that has been done and since these recommendations are fairly new, there is little history of whether there is really a real benefit and whether that potential benefit outweighs the risks.

    I've spoken to my doctor and they just tell me that it's the current recommendation but it's up to me. They haven't really pressured me to get them, which is also why I'm thinking it's not really necessary. I guess my guilt is coming from the reading of all of the past threads here about them and the fact that most people seem to be getting them.

  • ariel06 said:

    With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  

    Because there are risks and side effects from everything and I'm not sure that the small amount of potential immunity is worth the risk of unintended consequences in this case.
  • Nicb13 said:

    Everyone pretty much covered it. Hopefully the OP actually comes back and takes some of the good advice we are giving. Unless her gut told her not to listen to us. THAT would be a mistake.

    Although I know you all are not medical professionals by any means, you all are mothers and I feel like this is a motherly instinct kicking in, giving me this "gut feeling" that this is not something I want to do. That's why I wanted to ask for opinions here. I knew I would get some harsh responses, but if I wasn't going to honestly listen and reconsider, I wouldn't have bothered asking.
  • Have you ever read through the VAERS website? It's pretty scary stuff.
  • ariel06 said:

    With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  

    Because there are risks and side effects from everything and I'm not sure that the small amount of potential immunity is worth the risk of unintended consequences in this case.
    You are kidding right? Why don't we all just stop vaxing then? Maybe when you see a 3 week old baby come into an ER with pertussis, who then later dies, you'd change your tune.





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  • I fucking hate the anti-vaxxer movement. I wonder how many people's "gut" told them vaccines weren't safe or necessary before vaccine paranoia became a trendy thing?
    Oh, and their babies, just by fate, won't die from it, it will be the ones who CANNOT get the vaccines themselves.
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  • Everyone pretty much covered it. Hopefully the OP actually comes back and takes some of the good advice we are giving. Unless her gut told her not to listen to us. THAT would be a mistake.

    Although I know you all are not medical professionals by any means, you all are mothers and I feel like this is a motherly instinct kicking in, giving me this "gut feeling" that this is not something I want to do. That's why I wanted to ask for opinions here. I knew I would get some harsh responses, but if I wasn't going to honestly listen and reconsider, I wouldn't have bothered asking.
    So, are you going to listen, then? Because by not getting the vaccination, you put that baby (and others) at risk.
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  • ariel06 said:

    With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  

    Because there are risks and side effects from everything and I'm not sure that the small amount of potential immunity is worth the risk of unintended consequences in this case.
    Alright, I'll play. I can understand - just a teeny, tiny bit - taking pause and doing some research on vaccinations. The anti-vax movement has made a lot of people second guess themselves. But the science for vaccinations is sound, and there is absolutely no doubt that having vaccines is better than not having vaccines. The 'unintended consequence' is, in this case, unnecessarily risking that you child will get pertussis when it could have been avoided. And pertussis can be deadly. Vaccinate yourself, vaccinate your child, full stop.

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  • With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  
    Because there are risks and side effects from everything and I'm not sure that the small amount of potential immunity is worth the risk of unintended consequences in this case.
    It is. What are the consequences?
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  • Let me summarize here. 

    1. Read medical information about why you should.
    2. Felt like you shouldn't - gut instinct. 
    3. Felt guilt. 
    4. Asked non-medical professionals on an online community who you don't know IRL.

    I can see that logic and reason have very little place in your life...

    1. Also read information why I shouldn't
    2. Part gut instinct and part educated decision based in my research
    3. Felt guilt because I don't know what the right decision is and I don't want to expose LO to more risk (from having or not having the vaccine)
    4. Asked non- medical professionals who I don't know after I've already asked medical professionals.

    Logic and reason play a huge part in my life, which is why I'm really struggling with this. Everything I do is based on what is most logical, but I guess I just haven't found sufficient logic to convince me to get the vaccinations...other than just blindly following "the recommendations".

  • Let me summarize here. 
    1. Read medical information about why you should.
    2. Felt like you shouldn't - gut instinct. 
    3. Felt guilt. 
    4. Asked non-medical professionals on an online community who you don't know IRL.

    I can see that logic and reason have very little place in your life...

    1. Also read information why I shouldn't 2. Part gut instinct and part educated decision based in my research 3. Felt guilt because I don't know what the right decision is and I don't want to expose LO to more risk (from having or not having the vaccine) 4. Asked non- medical professionals who I don't know after I've already asked medical professionals. Logic and reason play a huge part in my life, which is why I'm really struggling with this. Everything I do is based on what is most logical, but I guess I just haven't found sufficient logic to convince me to get the vaccinations...other than just blindly following "the recommendations".
    Except this thing, apparently.
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  • ariel06 said:

    With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  

    Because there are risks and side effects from everything and I'm not sure that the small amount of potential immunity is worth the risk of unintended consequences in this case.
    You are kidding right? Why don't we all just stop vaxing then? Maybe when you see a 3 week old baby come into an ER with pertussis, who then later dies, you'd change your tune.
    No, I'm not against all vaccines....I mostly get concerned with new recommendations...without a lot of research supporting their effectiveness.

  • Everyone pretty much covered it. Hopefully the OP actually comes back and takes some of the good advice we are giving. Unless her gut told her not to listen to us. THAT would be a mistake.

    Although I know you all are not medical professionals by any means, you all are mothers and I feel like this is a motherly instinct kicking in, giving me this "gut feeling" that this is not something I want to do. That's why I wanted to ask for opinions here. I knew I would get some harsh responses, but if I wasn't going to honestly listen and reconsider, I wouldn't have bothered asking.
    Are you going to be making all your decisions for this child based on gut feelings? Gut feeling decisions are based on how you feel about something at the moment as opposed to making an educated decision. Which is why you are now questioning your original decision, because you now feel differently.
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  • edited September 2014
    SPurp13 said:
    Snip
    Ok, calm down, because they don't have to know anything about the medical world. They have their guts to listen to, here.
    Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like I am putting people down, I hope it didn't come off that way.  It was really a reference to people like Jenny McCarthy thinking she knows more than a million medical, scientific, and public health professionals. 
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  • duckr said:




    Nicb13 said:

    Everyone pretty much covered it. Hopefully the OP actually comes back and takes some of the good advice we are giving. Unless her gut told her not to listen to us. THAT would be a mistake.

    Although I know you all are not medical professionals by any means, you all are mothers and I feel like this is a motherly instinct kicking in, giving me this "gut feeling" that this is not something I want to do. That's why I wanted to ask for opinions here. I knew I would get some harsh responses, but if I wasn't going to honestly listen and reconsider, I wouldn't have bothered asking.

    Are you going to be making all your decisions for this child based on gut feelings? Gut feeling decisions are based on how you feel about something at the moment as opposed to making an educated decision. Which is why you are now questioning your original decision, because you now feel differently.


    I guess it's really less of a gut feeling than a decision I came to after doing research. It just has started to seem illogical to me because it is the opposite of the conclusion most others have come to. That is why I am questioning my decision.
  • SPurp13 said:
    Snip
    Ok, calm down, because they don't have to know anything about the medical world. They have their guts to listen to, here.
    Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like I am putting people down, I hope it didn't come off that way.  It was really a reference to people like Jenny McCarthy thinking she knows more than a million medical, scientific, and public health professionals. 
    Oh, no, you are good. My post should be read with more sarcasm, because gut feelings>science.
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  • Let me summarize here. 
    1. Read medical information about why you should.
    2. Felt like you shouldn't - gut instinct. 
    3. Felt guilt. 
    4. Asked non-medical professionals on an online community who you don't know IRL.

    I can see that logic and reason have very little place in your life...

    1. Also read information why I shouldn't 2. Part gut instinct and part educated decision based in my research 3. Felt guilt because I don't know what the right decision is and I don't want to expose LO to more risk (from having or not having the vaccine) 4. Asked non- medical professionals who I don't know after I've already asked medical professionals. Logic and reason play a huge part in my life, which is why I'm really struggling with this. Everything I do is based on what is most logical, but I guess I just haven't found sufficient logic to convince me to get the vaccinations...other than just blindly following "the recommendations".
    1. From what sources? There is no reliable, factual, science-based source that suggests that not vaccinating is a good idea.  None.  Tell me the source and I can tell you where their science fails.
    2. What degrees do you have that make you qualified to do such "research"?  Do you even know what the term "research" means? Do you know how to read a scientific abstract, let alone paper (which you probably do not have access to)?  Do you know how to interpret the results? 
    3. Trust me, the guilt you'll feel if your child gets pertussis is worse than any guilt you may feel now.
    4. Take the advice of medical professionals throughout the country and get yourself vaccinated.
    Logic has no place here.
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  • Let me summarize here. 

    1. Read medical information about why you should.
    2. Felt like you shouldn't - gut instinct. 
    3. Felt guilt. 
    4. Asked non-medical professionals on an online community who you don't know IRL.

    I can see that logic and reason have very little place in your life...

    1. Also read information why I shouldn't
    2. Part gut instinct and part educated decision based in my research
    3. Felt guilt because I don't know what the right decision is and I don't want to expose LO to more risk (from having or not having the vaccine)
    4. Asked non- medical professionals who I don't know after I've already asked medical professionals.

    Logic and reason play a huge part in my life, which is why I'm really struggling with this. Everything I do is based on what is most logical, but I guess I just haven't found sufficient logic to convince me to get the vaccinations...other than just blindly following "the recommendations".



    1. From what sources? There is no reliable, factual, science-based source that suggests that not vaccinating is a good idea.  None.  Tell me the source and I can tell you where their science fails.
    2. What degrees do you have that make you qualified to do such "research"?  Do you even know what the term "research" means? Do you know how to read a scientific abstract, let alone paper (which you probably do not have access to)?  Do you know how to interpret the results? 
    3. Trust me, the guilt you'll feel if your child gets pertussis is worse than any guilt you may feel now.
    4. Take the advice of medical professionals throughout the country and get yourself vaccinated.


    I know you don't know me IRL....and I it probably doesn't come across through mobile bumping, but I do have a master's degree and consider myself to be educated enough to review scientific abstracts and research. I am by no means a medical professional or a professional scientist or professional researcher.

    I can't be the only educated person who doesn't believe very bit of scientific research and always accept it at face value without questioning it....or am I?
  • With how many easily preventable diseases that are making a comeback, I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to give your baby some immunity to start out with.  
    Because there are risks and side effects from everything and I'm not sure that the small amount of potential immunity is worth the risk of unintended consequences in this case.
    The small amount of potential immunity could save your baby's life. 
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  • I fucking hate the anti-vaxxer movement. I wonder how many people's "gut" told them vaccines weren't safe or necessary before vaccine paranoia became a trendy thing?
    I think I am in the minority that I've always been cautious about vaccines....not just joining the bandwagon of the recent "anti-vaccine" movement. Probably instilled in me by my mother who did delayed vaccinations with me when I was a child. I received all vaccines, just didn't get all of them exactly when recommended. I've always been pretty healthy. I try to avoid most medications in general because I've found that the more medications I take, the worse my overall health becomes. The one time in my life that I did get the flu vaccine, I was sick so many times that year. I guess I just don't trust that the pharmaceutical companies have my best interests in mind. I am also somewhat skeptical that the CDC isn't being influenced by these companies and their skewed data. Perhaps this is all unfounded paranoia, but it's how I feel. So therefore, I don't really trust the "research" that has been done and since these recommendations are fairly new, there is little history of whether there is really a real benefit and whether that potential benefit outweighs the risks.

    I've spoken to my doctor and they just tell me that it's the current recommendation but it's up to me. They haven't really pressured me to get them, which is also why I'm thinking it's not really necessary. I guess my guilt is coming from the reading of all of the past threads here about them and the fact that most people seem to be getting them.


    oh FFS

    Pharmaceutical companies do NOT decide which drugs you receive, we do NOT have a seat at the table when guidelines are established by ACOG, ASCO, EULAR, or any other professional organization that establishes treatment guidelines for a specific discipline or specialization. 

    Do you even understand the "research" that you are referencing?  or understand the clinical development process?  drug development process? drug approval process?  guideline development process? how to determine statistical significance?  the evidence that must be shown for a vaccine in order for it to be approved and made a requirement?  what about a fucking p-value??    Vaccines are one of the most difficult things to get approved and put into guidelines because they are given to healthy individuals - the trial sizes and safety databases have to be established are tremendous.

    I can't deal with these people who know nothing about medicine, science, the drug development process, and can't even properly interpret statistics or a clinical trial report/read out thinking that they're smarter or know better than all the professional involved in making these decisions.  I really can't.  

    So many people hate pharma.  Until we develop a drug that saves their life or the life of someone they love.  


    @golfingdarwinfish‌ - Are you able to point me towards some research that shows the benefits of the new recommendations to vaccinate all pregnant women (as opposed to the previous recommendation to have up to date vaccinations for all caregivers...not necessarily while pregnant)?




  • SNIP
    I know you don't know me IRL....and I it probably doesn't come across through mobile bumping, but I do have a master's degree and consider myself to be educated enough to review scientific abstracts and research. I am by no means a medical professional or a professional scientist or professional researcher.

    I can't be the only educated person who doesn't believe very bit of scientific research and always accept it at face value without questioning it....or am I?



    I get paid to be skeptical about and question scientific and medical research.  But I have many years of medical and scientific training behind me.  So, yeah, I'm a highly educated individual who doubts many pieces of scientific data.  In fact I often doubt more than I believe, but I know how to properly arrive at that doubt, which pieces of methodology/protocol/statistical analysis to doubt/question, and which analysis/animal model/in vitro/clinical tests to request in order to verify or support the data in question.

    Scientists and medical professionals do not blindly believe every in vitro/vivo finding.<\b>


    I guess I kind of feel like my doctor doesn't necessarily believe in the benefits either. Although it is being recommended, I get the feeling it is more for liability purposes, like that the practice feels it has to make me aware of the current CDC recommendations but the doctor doesn't necessarily feel strongly about me getting the vaccines during pregnancy.
  • I guess for me the risk of issues with pretty much any immunization is way less than the risk of getting pretty much any of the actual diseases or their side effects.  

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