Here's a vaccine that may cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but no tylenol for you!

A brief post regarding vaccines and some twisted "freedom"

Example: New York. Apparently, while the state allows religious exemptions, they require sincerity tests.

Also, many states allow personal exemptions, which is good for families who want informed consent and to be able to research and verify to what they are agreeing.

But, in California, a 12 year old can consent to vaccines for "STDs". (HPV Vaccine). Lovely.

In the same breath... they can't get tylenol from their school. So they can give their own permission (coerced? let's not go there)... for a vaccine that is controversial (especially for religious families) and has documented cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome... but that same CHILD cannot request pain relievers.

California State Law states that medication may not be dispensed by school personnel without a physician's order. Occasionally a student under medical care may continue to attend school. In these special cases, school personnel may administer medication when the parents provide the school with a Physician's Authorization for the Administration of Medicine by School Personnel/Parent Release for the Administration of Medicine form which includes name(s) of the medication, dosage, time(s) and duration that the medication is to be given to the student.Physician's instructions must be renewed each year. Any changes in medication, amount, or means of administering require new physician's instructions.The "Physician's' Authorization for the Administration of Medicine by School Personnel" and the "Parent Release for the Administration of Medicine" forms are available in the office.When a child’s physician prescribes medication to be taken during school hours, state law requires that the physician state the dosage and related information on the appropriate school district form, which is available in all school offices. Parent are required to sign a release allowing school personnel to dispense medication. For additional information on medication issues, please see sections of the California Education Code in the parental notifications handout.An information sheet about medication administration, illness and communicable diseases is distributed in all student registration packets, and is available by contacting the Main Office or click on PDF document below.

Do we have freedom? And, if so, what cost?

Where is my freedom?

I sometimes ponder what freedom really means in these United States.

All too often, I hear people wanting to come to the US because of their desire for freedom. Before I was a parent, I understood them and their desire to be here and have more rights. 

I no longer understand what freedom is in the US. I no longer believe that we have rights.

I have the freedom to choose my religion.

My husband barely has the right to not be religious.

I have the freedom to send my child to a public school to be educated.

I seem to not have the right to prevent my children from being restrained since in my state there are no regulations on restraints and seclusion.

What is happening in this free nation?

We are bombarded with media. We are indoctrinated with health messages that are really advertisements by big business.

I don't have the freedom to choose to not have genetically modified food since I have no right to know what items are modified. 

I don't have the freedom to nurse my child where I choose. We've been told that breasts are sexual and that breastfeeding, if done at all, should be done in hiding and should not be comfort and definitely not after a child can "ask" for it. After all, no one makes money off me breastfeeding.

I don't have the freedom to choose not to inject my child with known carcinogens in many places in the United States. I barely have the right to question a doctor and ask, "if vaccines work then why do we see vaccinated individuals falling to these diseases?" 

I don't have the freedom to even birth my child as I choose. Why don't I have the right to fully informed consent?

Where is my freedom and why was I so naive? 

Lip ties, clipping, surgery and head bonks

As I wrote earlier this summer, our children both have lip ties, aka maxillary labial frenulum.

Well in July, after my husband and I actually discussed possibly having our 4 year old's clipped (due to potentially causing issues with her big teeth coming in apart and she already having decay/bacteria issues with her milk teeth), we found out it wouldn't be necessary.

After a fun morning of jumping on the bed (what's the children's song?), my son's knee hit my daughter's face and instant surgery.

She no longer has a lip tie. It hurt like any "bonk" would and there was a little bit of blood, but now, some weeks later, she's fine and it did not reconnect.

Here's her at 6 months, early teeth and visual of the early lip tie.

[IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f106/vivekasphotos/2012-07-25_110919.jpg[/IMG]

And here's her "broken" lip tie.

I wonder if this attributed to some of our early latch issues, but I'll never know. Likely it did, but in the end, well, we're not yet at "that" end...

Refusal of dental treatment and "weighing" the risks

I want to preface this brief-ish post with the fact that I understand the need for good dental treatment and proper brushing. We started brushing our kid's teeth before teeth erupted, using a finger brush and xylitol. Attached parents do care about their children's health and wellness - they just often have to look a bit deeper to find a provider who talks and listens and willing to work with the needs of the child and entire family. Attachment parenting friendly dentists and doctors are sometimes hard to come by.

Early  tooth decay at around 21 months old.

When our now 4 year old was just 15 months old, we discovered that, in spite of brushing and no juice/soda, etc, her teeth were not staying bright and white :( So at 21 months, we called for a dental appointment with a highly advertised children's dentist who was also recommended by our pediatrician. This dentist had a child our age and was expecting as well (so was I at the time). When we first called for an appointment they said they wouldn't see her yet but then when we indicated she already had decay, they agreed to see her - she was around 22 months old.

My daughter is a light-weight - from her daddy, not me, that's for sure, though breastfeeding and not giving her junk food probably helps, the fact remains that she wasn't even 20 pounds and the treatment recommended included the need for her to be put under. The dentists's office had three anesthesiologists whom they worked with, but only one was willing to do it due to her weight.

After weighing the risks, costs and potential benefits, we decided against doing the treatment at the time and instead figured we would have it done on our next trip to India since the cost would be cheaper and they would be more likely to allow me in the room during treatment. So, this past year we were able to get her teeth cleaned and capped in India. The caps didn't stay, but for a while it was helpful and reassuring.

Fast forward to this year, I called to get an appointment for her to get a check up, cleaning, etc. and wasn't able to make one. I got a call back today indicating their office, after review with the dentist was refusing to keep her on as a patient because we didn't do the treatment when she was not even 2 year old, when even some of the anesthesiologists wouldn't take on the risk.

 We really liked the physical office of that pediatric dental office. For our family, we had to look at the risks/benefits and also find some place we were comfortable having service done. I did not like that for her treatment at that office I would not be able to see her throughout. In today's day of patient abuse, I'm sure most parents want to at least physically see that their child is okay, if not be with the child. I do understand that many parents may interrupt what is happening, but being able to physically see what is happening gives parents reassurance.

In the end, since I wasn't able to make an appointment right now, I called around. I wanted us to see a holistic ADA dentist who didn't use fluoride and instead uses oxygen treatments, but being out of network and the increased cost, I decided that the best bet would be a non-children's dentist.

We were happy with the cleaning we had done with a "regular" dentist last week at Stetson Village Family Dentistry. They are a new office, with a single "empty nest" dentist who moved down from small town Iowa to be more than a snowbird. The dentist's demeanor was reassuringly upbeat, his office staff nice, and he was not at all pushy. He was gentle with my daughter, allowed her to be brushed in my lap and explained everything to her so that she was comfortable. Even with her decay, he didn't chastise me. He asked how we brush and when and affirmed our belief that we are doing our best... and that we should save our nickles and dimes for potential braces later. He asked that we continue to watch that her front teeth don't begin to show signs of abscess or infection in her upper front teeth that have decay, and check around her lip tie (aka maxillary labial frenulum) and to come back if we see any signs... but if not, just to come back in 6 months for another cleaning. How reassuring!

Note: This post is not at all endorsed by any dentist group, etc. Just an FYI on our situation and view.

Right to refuse and responsibility to research medical options

In a recent post on Opposing Views post, this lovely quote came up,

"Women should not have to go armed with a lot of research when looking for a physician or pharmacist in the community," Burkhart said.”

This was in regard to being able to find morning after pills, aka Plan B, but pro-abortion groups may indicate this can be more broad, (but we all have our views, and skewing can happen either way). But, I ask, how much should a family have aligning points of views on various medical topics? How supportive MUST a medical professional be to their training?

Should this medical research requirement apply to vaccines? What about breastfeeding? Should a person be required to research which pharmacists are "Plan B friendly" like parents have to research doctors who are "delayed vax friendly" or "breastfeeding friendly"?

It is legal in almost all states to not vaccinate, even if you send your kids to public schools. Almost all states allow religious freedom exemptions (West Virginia does not), and most allow for other exemptions outside of “medical” exemptions. It is also legal to breastfeed, but not all medical doctors are supportive of infant breastfeeding, much less extended breastfeeding.

So, if both Plan B is legal AND not vaccinating is legal, should we have the same fight for medical rights? If a medical doctor believes and is trained to give out vaccines, should they be allowed to not serve a family who chooses to delay or not use vaccines? If you say yes, then pharmacists should also be allowed to not to fill a prescription. I am pro-life (pro-choice too, you choose to have sex (for the most part)), but I am torn on this topic.

I do think a religious facility should have the right to choose what they do based on religious beliefs, but I also believe a parent should research to find the best service providers, whether it is a breastfeeding friendly family doctor, a naturopath who researches and recommends a vaccine schedule based on the individual child’s medical issues, exposures as well as the vaccine brands with fewer toxins, or a medical doctor who sits down and talks through pending issues with a family.

It is sad that not all medical professionals are as gung-ho on breastfeeding as they are on vaccinations. It is sad that we have medical professionals who choose not to even breastfeed for the minimum. Of course, there is no maximum, but at least support for breastfeeding by medical professionals would be appreciated. According to the AAP, some pediatricians actually do not even recommend breastfeeding and instead prefer to recommend formula. It is one thing for a pediatrician to “be okay” with someone trying to breastfeed and then it not working and finding a formula (even though AAP and WHO recommend expressed breast milk (milk sharing) over formula), but it apparently is more difficult to find a pediatrician who would say “do not vaccinate, ever.” More on this topic later J

Medical professionals MUST remain positive to breastfeeding at minimum. According to, “Mothers were much less likely to discontinue breastfeeding at 12 weeks postpartum if they reported (during the 12-week interview) having received encouragement from their clinician to breastfeed (OR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4–0.8),” (Taveras, et al, 2003). Medical professionals also need to have breastfeeding knowledge built into their curriculum, (Feldman-Winter, 2010). More on this topic as well, soon, I promise!

Just as I believe it is a family’s right to not breastfeed, I believe it is in a family’s right to not vaccinate.  Of course an unvaccinated, non breastfed baby will not get antibodies without other exposure to the disease, the fact is that as parents, we must research and do the best for our kids. We cannot expect to be able to blindly follow one “guru.” We are in the information age and we need to look at information available and weigh risks with benefits and ensure that we decide on something that we find most appropriate.

1.    AAP recommendation on breastfeeding: “Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life‡ and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection.^{30,34,128,178–184} Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.¹⁸⁵

1.    There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer. ^{Cited by AAP as} ↵

Dettwyler KA. A time to wean: the hominid blueprint for the natural age of weaning in modern human populations. In: Stuart-Macadam P, Dettwyler KA, eds. Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine de Gruyter; 1995:39– 73

And to end Cesarean Awareness Month - doctor against medical advice, faces CPS

I've posted how my son's birth (VBAC, vaginal birth after cesarean) was both liberating and trying. I had to sign a paper indicating I understand I was going against medical advice (where the nurse went ahead and told me, in labor, that my baby could die, but failed to tell me the same risks when I requested an epidural, go figure) when I decided against staying in bed and being constantly monitored.

Could you imagine being a DOCTOR who had to go against medical advice (whose? I mean, that person is a medical doctor as well, right?). In this scenario, a mom wanted a homebirth after cesarean, legal in many states, also in AZ if you have an MD, DO or ND with you, but otherwise currently not with a homebirth midwife), but had to transfer due to other issues. In transferring to a hospital, that mom gave up many rights. And now, she and her husband are at odds with the hospital that he WORKS at and had been chief of staff, for a decision many families make, and we also made. That decision was to not use the vitamin K shot at birth. Like us, the doctor researched and determined that oral vitamin K would be better, since the shot has about 20,000 times the amount needed, assuming there is trauma in the birth, and may increase the risk of getting leukemia, among other issues.. It was something our pediatrician allowed and agreed to and neither I or my husband are medical doctors. CPS was called on this doctor for a decision he and his wife made in health for his family. If he had done the "unethical" thing of transferring care of his wife/son to him, he could have discharged them without issue. But, he went with not treating his family and got this bunch of crap put on him.

Happy Cesarean Awareness Month!

Disclaimer: Cesareans can be life saving, but there's a difference between a stat and emergency cesarean. Don't freak know the facts.

Yes I ate my placenta

Yes, I ate my placenta. No, I do not judge you for not eating yours. Placenta eating is a traditional way of preventing the baby blues and also probably the only organ a vegan can eat.

Here's the facts. Mammals eat their placentas. Whether or not you consider yourself different than or not an animal, we care for our young, so from 2nd grade science class, I'd say we're mammals. Whether kitties do it to prevent other animals from knowing there are newbies around, or because they know instinctively it is good for them, is not up for debate here. I'm merely posting this for awareness.

I did not eat the placenta from my daughter's birth. I had heard of it and thought . But two years later the story was different. I had a bit of the baby blues after my daughter's birth. I had read that many new moms have it worse the second time around. I had a friend who had a baby just a few months before I was due with #2 and she mentioned placentophagy and that even her husband had a "sip" - so I decided to look more into this forbidden topic. (For those wondering, no my husband did not consume any of my placenta). 

So here are some basics:
1) You need to plan in advance if you're having an out of home birth. Talk to your birth provider of your plans and have it cleared with them. If they give you a bunch of hassle, chances are they aren't listening to what you (the consumer, no pun intended), are saying, and you may want to find an alternative provider.

2) Determine how you want to consume it (raw, tincture, cooked, dehydrated, pill-form)

3) Determine how you'll get it home (unless you birth at home, of course)

4) Determine who will prepare it (you or someone whose been trained) - many states restrict the ability for it to be prepared outside of your home

5) Determine if you'll save some for menopause

6) Determine if you want to plant it

For us, we let our midwife know and she indicated it wouldn't be a problem at the hospital we had chosen. We were told to bring a cooler and that after the placenta was delivered, they'd check it for clots and other potential issues and if all went well, they'd double bag it as a biohazard and we could place it in our cooler with ice. It really was THAT simple.

My husband brought it home mid-day when he picked up my daughter from our friend's house and I rinsed it later that evening (we were lucky to be discharged from the hospital within 12 hours of my son's birth) and prepared it myself - really just placing it into the containers, as it was hot and I didn't have a dehydrator so using my oven was likely out. Darn Phoenix heat!

So what's IN the placenta? Iron for one. Likely tons of B-6 for energy as well. Both of which are known to help with depression.

Check out the Placenta Liberation Front for more information.

(No, I'm not a doctor, so don't consider this medical advice, Please and Thank you) 




FOUND IT

Dear Daily Mining Gazette - Articles should report the news, not be free advertisement

One of the local papers from "back home" always has "articles" that are from the local health department. Basically, they're advertisement reminders to get vaccines, which are disguised as articles. Most of the time, I write a note to whomever wrote the article via email, but I never get a response. I'm sure I'm known as the crazy who responds to their "articles" asking them to do a balanced/fair or show more than one perspective.

So, I do not have a child with autism, but I still worry about vaccines and many diseases, not just autism. Yes I know kids with autism. Yes I used to work in a direct care environment with adults with autism. No I don't know the cause of autism. Yes I am worried about the overall affect of vaccines on young children. No I don't think every doctor is out to compromise the immune system of children. Yes I do believe that major drug companies know that vaccines are not the cure all. Yes I know when drug manufacturers cause another illness, they later make money when patients need to be treated. Yes my children have received vaccinations. No I don't expect them to have full immunity. Yes I hope they work. Yes I realize that SV-40 is likely still in our polio vaccines and now most cancer has this contamination. No I don't think we'll see true freedom from medical bullying of individuals. Yes I do wish we really had true freedom to choose whether or not to jab our children with items we know have toxic chemicals (and possibly cancer) right in them. Yes I wish we had more awareness to the issues, rather than just articles in papers with quotes from people paid to talk positively about drugs. At least get someone on the other side of the stance rather than just the viewpoint that vaccines are absolutely essential and are full of benefits and immune boosters, because they aren't immune boosters - they (may or may not) help trick our body into thinking we've already had a disease so we don't get it... but we may get the disease from the vaccine, or the vaccine may damage us. Or we may be perfectly fine (or so we think). 

So here's my latest rant/email to the author of an article in the Daily Mining Gazette:

Thank you for being a source of news for the Copper Country. I do have to ask if we can get a balanced article rather than an advertisement for Merck and other drug companies.

My issue with this line from your article entitled, "Autism on the Rise," "The possibility that autism is caused by chemicals used in vaccinations has been debunked by numerous subsequent studies." is that it likely is not fully true. The "debunked" doctor actually has been un-debunked and is challenging the whole issue. http://www.naturalnews.com/034974_Andrew_Wakefield_BMJ_lawsuit.html Wakefield actually filed suit against the British Medical Journal (which has their own ties to drug companies) http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/05/andrew-wakefield-sues-bmj-mmr and no one actually has "proven false" which is actually impossible and no one gives any other REASON for these increases. Did you think to ask that question in your interview? When she indicated its been proven again and again that vaccines don't cause autism... the natural next question seems to be "well ... what does cause autism?" Right?

To make matters worse... we test primates with almost all drugs, but not the vaccines we give babies and toddlers. Want to know why? http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/05/sick-monkeys-st.html I am not saying testing primates is right or wrong, but why NOT in this case?

And for a mainstream news article... same thing. Monkeys given hep b vaccine (mostly known to be an STD, but the vaccine is given to babies at birth, even when both parents are known to be Hep B negative) http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500690_162-5369814.html develop autism-like issues...

http://vactruth.com/2012/01/13/andrew-wakefield-autism/

If you get the chance to interview the same pediatrician, perhaps ask her how much her office/hospital has made off of vaccines in the past 12 months and any bonuses they receive for having a higher rate of "compliant" families.

The typical argument is that they don't use mercury as the adjuvant any more in most vaccines, yet autism is still rising... But they still use aluminum, another neurotoxin!

I don't expect things to change with the local paper, but it sure would be nice to see an actual article... one that digs for answers rather than just advertisements that unsuspecting individuals see as fact. It just boggles me that a news article can have just one side of the story. Doesn't that just make it free advertisement?

As of today now there's now a reported link between obesity during pregnancy and autism. Hmm, well all these toxins in our body are stored in our fat, so perhaps it is "our" generation that started getting more vaccines and it is stuck in our bodies that's helping that link? Or, perhaps the women who got flu vaccines during pregnancy may that as well. Maybe that's the next study that needs to be done? Whatever the cause of autism, basic science tells us a hypothesis cannot disprove something, you can only "confirm or fail to confirm" a hypothesis. Either way we must continue to wonder and be aware of what it is we're putting into our body.

If so many non-supportive studies can be debunked for conflict of interest, why can't all these doctors who are paid kickbacks for vaccines be debunked for making statements that affect their pay? Now I'm not saying all doctors do it for the money. I'm sure they've seen babies die from the craziest of things, but I do think that we need to make sure that, as parents, we know what the potential issues are when our child has something injected in them. Do I think parents should just drop vaccinating without researching? NO! But, I do think that if you choose not to vaccinate, you better do your best to get that baby breastmilk for a year or two. If you can't breastfeed, find someone who will share milk. As much as Nestle tries to mimic breastmilk's properties... it just ain't happening. I also think if you choose not to vaccinate you should be wary of where your children go - going into a public day care, not necessarily a good idea. Really, a parent should research their decision and weigh benefits and risks.

Make their own decision... but this blog isn't research and neither is a small-town newspaper article.

Alert, Alert! Measles is encroaching...

Ask around about measles and most will either indicate it is something extremely scary or something that they aren't at all worried about. Not all know what measles actually is and how the disease is spread. I'm by no means an expert but I like to research. This is written not as any sort of advice, especially for those who may face measles on a more regular basis than those of us in the US.

With a confirmed case of measles in 'my' city, and children not vaccinated for the disease, I decided to double check some facts. According to the World Health Organization, measles is a very contagious disease "transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Initial symptoms, which usually appear 8–12 days after infection, include high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth. Several days later, a rash develops, starting on the face and upper neck and gradually spreading downwards."

Doesn't sound that bad, really, right? Of course no one really wants to get sick, and no parent wants their child to suffer.

Plus, with any disease there are potential complications. Measles has them as well (encephalitis is one and that can and even cause death (.3 percent *yes, .3, as in 3 per 1000, in the developed world, according to the always *reliable* wikipedia). One thing the WHO does not stress is how many diseases, including Measles, can be circumvented for many in the "developed" world, through sanitation, proper nutrition, and if the mother has immunity, breastfeeding. Young children/babies have immunity from their mother until around a year and a half from being in the womb.

There have been "recent" outbreaks of the disease in the US, but not all have been among unvaccinated individuals. According to research, dose of MMR vaccine produces immunity to measles (95–98%), mumps (97%), and rubella (95%). The second dose of MMR is intended to produce immunity in those who did not respond to the first dose, but a very small percentage of people may not be protected even after a second dose.

For those who choose to vaccinate, know that your child (and you) still can get measles, so still be diligent about washing up and eating properly. Also, I won't stress it again in this post... breastfeed if you can, especially if you are immune:

From the CDC: Why is MMR vaccine given after the first birthday?

"Most infants born in the United States will receive passive protection against measles, mumps, and rubella in the form of antibodies from their mothers. These antibodies can destroy the vaccine virus if they are present when the vaccine is given and, thus, can cause the vaccine to be ineffective. By 12 months of age, almost all infants have lost this passive protection."

For measles, it is important to have adequate Vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in milk fats (look for organic cow's milk, raw if you can get it and you trust your source). It is also readily available in many fresh fruits, such as cantaloupe and chard.

A few random posts from the internet, because we can trust everything we read :)

What side effects have been reported with this vaccine?
Fever is the most common side effect, occurring in 5%–15% of vaccine recipients. About 5% of people develop a mild rash. When they occur, fever and rash usually appear 7–12 days after vaccination. About 25% of adult women receiving MMR vaccine develop temporary joint pain, a symptom related to the rubella component of the combined vaccine. Joint pain only occurs in women who are not immune to rubella at the time of vaccination. MMR vaccine may cause thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) at the rate of about 1 case per 30,000–40,000 vaccinated people. Cases are almost always temporary and benign. More severe reactions, including allergic reactions, are rare. Other severe problems (e.g., deafness, permanent brain damage) occur so rarely that experts cannot be sure whether they are caused by the vaccine or not.

Can the live virus in the vaccine cause measles, mumps, and/or rubella?
Because the measles, mumps, and rubella viruses in the MMR vaccine are weak versions of the disease viruses, they may cause a very mild case of the disease they were designed to prevent; however, it is usually much milder than the natural disease and is referred to as an adverse reaction to the vaccine.

Here's a nice link regarding keeping healthy with the use of herbs.

And you, what are you doing or not doing? Is your daily life impacted at all?

Vaccines, choice, insurance and parenting

In the past few weeks we've seen a few 'hits' to a parents' choice to inject or not inject a child with vaccines. First we had the additional discredit to the MMR and Autism link via the shellacking of Dr. Andrew Wakefield. What few people realize about the anti- or tentative- vaxing parents is that this does little to our fight/plight of vaccine decision making.

But, then, we have the CNN article indicating that parents who are anti-vaccine should pay higher insurance premiums. Insurance is about risk. But there are risks associated with vaccines, one of which in the news lately is seizures.

To insurance companies risk is with the parent who decides to not vaccinate on schedule. To parents it might be the risk of issues associated with vaccines to an otherwise healthy child. To others it might be being overweight, smoking or not breastfeeding. Perhaps a pediatrician should write a CNN article about the financial risks of not breastfeeding a child?

The risks of vaccinating? Always debunked? Always not true? Now in the news are seizures in infants/children after a specific flu vaccine.

http://newyorkcity.injuryboard.com/fda-and-prescription-drugs/cdc-fda-investigating-reports-of-seizures-in-young-children-after-flu-vaccine.aspx?googleid=287752

This is something that for years many have seen with DTP vaccine as well as MMR. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC320893/ Since NIH has indicated no long-term effects, we continue to have these shots recommended. However, other countries' health boards have indicated all seizures are risky so we have to determine which risk is more risky and then allow the bean counters to determine which one is more costly, resulting in higher insurance cost.

Minor encephalitis is a common side effect that many children have to DTP vaccine. We were told to "expect" this when we had our delayed vaccine visit for our daughter - guess what, her crying for hours on end is a "minor" side effect of the vaccine. What we didn't know/realize at the time is what exactly was causing the crying/screaming that couldn't be consoled. We teetered back and forth on doing the same for our son and we did do one for him as well, he didn't scream, but before every visit to the pediatrician I wonder what to do - risk the diseases or risk the potential side effects of the shots.

And then we throw in the missing/dead scientists/microbiologists/chemists who study environment (including vaccines) and disease in the pool and then we have a few more reasons to question what real risk is....

So those are the reasons I am willing, and happily able to at this point, pay more if necessary to delay/select the vaccines for my children. Since insurance companies define risk in this instance, those who define risk in another way will be penalized. Hopefully those who will be penalized have the means to pay the difference

Perhaps I need a disclaimer at play dates that indicates that my child is not fully vaccinated, so come to play at your own risk.

Homeopathic medicines

There are various branches of madicine. Many in the US seem to consider anything other than the run of the mill allopathic "doctor" to be less reliable or less educated. However, "other" types of doctors, whether it is osteopathic, homeopathic, ayurvedic or other branches or complimentary medicine. Of course, allopathic doctors do not want you to call them that, they're just doctors, damnit!

Recently the FDA issues a stern warning when they forced the recall of Hyland's Teething Tablets. While, yes, in the US we do have standards so that we need to say what is in an item - that is good, it appears that the individual levels in the individual tablets of the Hyland's Teething tabs were not consistent, thus sparking the recall.

However you see it, the fact remains that the basis of homeopathy is that there are SUCH minute amounts of the item that is needed for balance, it is very difficult to overdose or have a negative reaction from homeopathic medicine. Homeopathy sees the need for balance of various in the body. Most of the parts we find in homeopathy are natural items, but obviously natural doesn't always mean safe. However, the minute amounts generally make the amount negligible and just enough to make an impact. For those who use homeopathic medicines, most will say it works. How, may not be explainable by science (NIH), but it shouldn't be a witch hunt, which is a fear many have with this recall.



http://www.hylands.com/news/hylands-teething-recall.php

Birth Story of our Son

Let me preface this by saying that I am 4'11 on a good day. Before the birth of my first child, I wore a 5.5 shoe. For those reading and "into" the birth scene, you'll understand why I made those first comments.