Injections!! What to do, what to do?

[JRWREN2110]

Hello, so my DD had her injections at 8 weeks (early Sept) and now the second lot are creeping up and I don't know whether I can do it again.

Ok, so I could deal with the heartbreak of taking her to get stabbed, I could deal with the temp, V+D, general upset/clingyness (despite the fact I cried for her and it broke my heart to see her like it).

BUT, she is only just getting back to herself, the first 2 weeks she was clingy all the time, being sick a lot more, eczema patches all over, her eyes swollen and she just wasn't the baby I took to the doctors before the jabs. The third week (this week) has been better, she seems to be ok.

Spoke to the doctor and he said that she probably picked up something as her immune system was compromised. He prescribed steroids for her eczema (I DIDN'T USE IT-he didn't even see her) She was itchy, mostly on her head so I used T-Gel and have been covering her in coconut oil which has cleared it all up. I also spoke to Doc about her injections, he obv. said get them done, maybe she is allergic the second lot will tell us more.

I am breastfeeding so she has my immunities for now!!

For the past week my baby has been seeming better and I don't think I can do this again every month for the next 2! Her injections are due next week and I have been reading up all kinds- for and against. There are links to autism, altering dna and toxins in the vaccines not to mention that the actual risk of getting most of the diseases is rare. I know the risks are great with not vaccinating...and 3 months of my life is nothing compared to a sick/dead child...but my instincts say that I shouldn't make my child suffer when she is so small. I would consider doing it when she is older....but she isn't even 3 months!

I never had this many injections as a child and here I am, alive and kicking....haven't even had a cold in 3years...3 lots of injections before 6 months seems SO excessive!

It used to be that we delayed whooping cough until it was later then it would affect the child, to save the others. We now give it early to protect the child to whom it is given. Keep breast feeding but also cross your fingers!

There is no link to autism, and that was related to the mmr. This has been totally discredited. The BBC reported yesterday that vaccination rates have dropped and in some areas so low that herd immunity (which is what the anti vacs rely on) doesn't exist as numbers aren't high enough.

It's hard, but why not have a chat to your hv, GP or practice nurse about it? My practice nurse is brilliant and very well informed. I can understand the worry about reactions, my DS has eczema and we used steroids prescribed by his dermatologist when he was 4 months old and they were brilliant. Don't be scared of them, they have a place and can work wonderfully.

I'm a children's nurse myself and will always advocate vaccinating, which is the reason we don't have these illnesses anymore. We paid for our dc to have the latest meningitis vaccinations for example. Meningitis is horrific and can kill, there's no way in the world I would risk it.

Don't forget it's easy to google and come up with wrong information. Anyone can put anything online, unless you're able to read and disseminate research from valuable resources, you could be reading some very inaccurate information posted only to scaremonger.

While it is ultimately your choice, of course, remember that a simple, familiar childhood ailment such as measles can leave your child deaf, blind or with a learning disability. DD2 had a very mild dose of measles just before she was due the MMR and she was really ill. I could not put her down at all for the better part of a week. DD1 reacted badly to injections, as she is allergic to many, many things, but she got through it. A clingy, not quite herself baby for a couple of months is nothing compared to a lifetime of worry.

Of course you can, just think how hard it will be to see her being poked and prodded in a hospital bed which could happen if she doesn't have her immunisations. Its part of being a mum having to see your child in pain but keep in mind its for her own good! You can do it! Calpol and lots of cuddles she'll be fine

I have to admit that despite being a nurse myself I did get DH to take them on occasion.

Well, you can delay it and just hope she doesn't catch any of these diseases in the meantime. It is a gamble you'll probably win, and it may be the right decision for your child. Just be under no illusion about the consequences if you do luck out.