My four children have measles.

[Spidermama]

I'm almost at the end of it now.

My 7 year old got it first and was ill throughout half term. The other three have just had the week off school with it and are still loafing around on the sofas at the tail end.

We've lived like vampires in darkened rooms.
During the worst days (probably about 2 days per child) I had to carry them upstairs to the toilet, hold bottled water to their mouths to get them to drink, and DS2 didn't eat anything for four whole days.

We're on the home stretch now and they just need fattening up. It has been a very bonding, intense experience and I'm really glad they have now got natural, lifelong immunity.

I hesitated before starting this thread. I have talked about my childrens measles on the vax thread but I wondered if I could have a measles thread which didn't turn into a vax debate. I also thought the subject deserves a thread of it's own because it's a really big deal for me.

None the less this is such a full on, eminal parenting moment for me, I would hate to let it pass without sharing it with MN. It would feel somehow wrong, like concealing stuff from my family almost.

So DS3 bounced back very quickly. He was flat out and barely able to whisper one day - the next je was out on the trampoline in full gold cape superhero gear. DD1 is also bouncing back nicely. DS2 and DS4 are a bit slower but showing improvement by the hour.

DH is away by the way so I'm here on my own.

I think it sheer madness to wish your DCs actually got measles. The vax debate aside I know of two people who have died of the disease and work with a deaf woman who became deaf because of measles.

i was never vaccinated and got horredeously ill for three weeks AND now have severe allergies (wheat/gluten/cosmetics/petrol fumes....) not that prooves anything mind!

The 'family of the immuno suppressed child at my school' is likely to have made arrangements to make sure their child is immunised and I'm very glad for them that the facility is available for those who really would benefit.

I am sorry you have had a hard time spidermama. I had measles as a child which turned to encephalitis and I was in hospitalfor certainly the whole summer holiday and maybe longer. Lost the ability to walk and as a very athletic child it was a very difficult time for me.

Many immunosupressed kids can't be immunised - that is why herd immunity is a big deal.

nicky, , that is sad.

my gran lost her brother to croup when he was 2, which nowadays is actually very treatable, and mine suffer from a lot, especially DS2.

tis not even heard of now, not like measles, in that it could potentially be dangerous.

Funnily enough I've known two women who've died in childbirth and DH knows a third! In THIS country! Shocker eh. But anyway, I'm not sure how that's relevant. I grew up with lots of deaf people as my parents worked with them. Several were due to measles. I learnt sign language when I was about 4. But . Of course it's all about choices. But implying that some of the "brightest people" are being bamboozled by scurrilous misinformation is propaganda of your own. You took a risk. It worked out okay. I'm very glad about that.

Sorry nickytwotimes. I didn't mean to ignore you'd Dad's loss. It does indeed happen.

My SIL lost her mum and baby brother during childbirth. It's terribly sad, of course, but unlikely to put others off getting pregnant.

I'm equally glad that your 'risk' of exposing your children to MMR worked out for you MP.

Shame I've had to resort to such language but have been attacked so will defend in kind.

The fact is I respect other peoples choices and I resent the ill informed judgement from people who have patently obviously only read one side of the very polarised debate.

also acknowledging nickytwotimes

Nicky - apologies for overlooking your post. Sorry to hear about your half-brother.

Thanks, psycho.

I am a bit over-sensitive atm as the priest forgot my Dad's anniversary last week when he was meant to be saying masss for him. The second time in 4 years.

But that's a whole other thread...

I am seriously very gllad that Spider's wee ones are well, like I was after measles, and I do not want to get into a debate on MMR/vax. It is ultimately a personal parental choice.

Selfish and smug about it. Ugh.

..and thank you everyone else who posted while I rambled to myself there.

don't wish to get into MMR debate either but generally speaking spidermama, the jab is less risky than the disease. Statistically that is clear. I believe more research needs to be done to clarify the measles/gut disease/autistic enterocolitis issue, and those [small number] children who might be at risk, but in terms of general population and public health the jab is safer than the disease.

we were listening nicky

I am sorry for those who have lost people they loved to this, my mum says she thought she was going to lose me.

sorry nicky. my aunt died of polio.

Well it's lovely you feel supported here and of course what a relief that your children all seem to be convalescent now. I hope their recovery is swift.

However I personally would not find exposing my children to a dangerous illness, when the means to prevent it were readily at hand, to be a 'full on seminal parenting moment'. I welcome the information given on here about measles as a balance to your rather cosy illness experience.

Are you honestly surprised that other parents have regarded your decision with dismay and distrust when it puts their children at risk?

I can see how an illness can be a bonding moment, other things cease to matter and you realise how precious your children are. I am sure we would all like to bond in different circumstances though.

With the government completely untrustworthy on this matter (as on others) how can ordinary people hope to make informed decisions?

It is clear the government promote MMR. It is also clear that for some individual children MMR vaccination is NOT in their best interest. The government in any case will prioritise the greater good above the good of individuals. Parents, in my view, should prioritise the interests of their own child.

We need better information, more research, more real choices ie single vaccinations that don't cost hundreds of pounds, and a government that inspires confidence.

sorry spidermama, don't wish for you to feel attacked. If i could, i would rather my children have the disease and that i could nurse them through it as you have. But the fact that the illness is so unpredicatable is the problem, it is impossible to know what form it will take, especially with much younger children. It is great though that yours now have life long immunity, I am glad to have that myself.

spidermama, I was there with a couple of the kids today, just having a rummage.
Next time you're visiting Lewes, let me know if you like ( if you don't don't say a word!), we could rummage together 0r at least go to Bill's!

'I am sure we would all like to bond in different circumstances though.'

Yes, I prefer to bond with my children when I'm not looking for signs of meningitis in them or when they're not utterly miserable and in pain.

expat what an odd post

I find the OP just as odd, Podrick.