Missed 6 to 8 week checks

[Sam524]

Hello everyone
So we decided not to get our baby vaccinated (i am for vaccinations, DH against them aa hes afraid of side effects) so we have decided to delay them. She is now 4 months old but had no checks. The health visitor cancelled last minute and sais to just take her to the clinic which i have been doing. Then i didnt hear from her for like 2 months until i rang her. Is that normal? Shes also a bit late for her 8 week examination as the gp surgery receptionist said she wouldnt need to come in if she wasnt having vaccinations. I spoke to the health visitor who said that was wrong and have mow made an appointment for next week but that means she will be 18 weeks! Will this be okay? I feel like a rubbish mum :(

You’re going to be flamed on this for being anti vac.

You know it's more rubbish not to vaccinate, don't you? That the various myths about vaccinations have been debunked? I'd be more worried about that it I were you.

As for the appointments, go to your GP asap and sort it out. You're in charge.

just take her for the check.

as for the vac thing, don't worry about it, your baby will have herd immunity from all the babies whose idiot parents did get them vaxed...:)

(yes I did hear that as an argument...)

So you think your baby should be vaccinated but decided not to do it?
Surely it's a 6 week check?

Yeah your priorities are fucked tbh. A 6-8 week check isn’t going to make any difference to your baby’s development in any way. But not vaxing might well be deadly for either your child or someone else’s immune compromised child.
You know that though. It’s just less important than goading on the Internet.

My area in the UK couldn’t do a 6 week check (the only doctor that did them was on long term sick leave). I didn’t like the idea of her not being seen so took her to a private GP instead. Maybe you could look into that? Or just wait until she’s 18 weeks for the appointment you have booked. But I wouldn’t worry if she’s regularly seeing the health visitor. HVs are medical professionals (they are midwives or nurses that do extra training) so it’s not like your baby hasn’t been seen.

Oh and you feel like a rubbish mum? I’m inclined to agree with you for not vaccinating your child.

What side effects is your husband afraid of?

They can't be any worse than actual death from things like whooping cough or meningitis, or permanent disability from polio, measles, rubella etc. These diseases aren't a 'it will never happen' situation these days. Even in the UK children are catching them and are dying or suffering lifelong implications as a result of not being vaccinated.

It's not one of those genuine parenting choices like whether to spoon feed or baby led wean which don't really matter in the long run, it's an actual decision to put your child at increased risk of horrible diseases.

I would ring the surgery again and ask if there is any chance the vaccinations can be included in the appointment you already have booked.

I'm slightly surprised that you going off the radar a bit didn't flag something up with the health visitor sooner but if they are anything like ours they are massively short staffed and running behind.

Vaccinations are completely separate to the 6-8 week check. Don’t worry about the check being late but it’s important to have it as it can pick up lots of issues that might otherwise be missed. You can always talk to the doctor at the check about the vaccinations too and they could give you some information that may put your mind at rest.

Tbh the 6 week check seemed to be more about me than DS. If you think baby should be vaccinated then you need to have a serious chat with your DH. I paid £500 to have my son vaccinated against Men B as it wasn't available on the NHS then and he has also had varicella. If the HPV virus isn't available to boys when he gets to 13 we will pay for him.to have that too. A couple if days of a grumpy baby for protection from lethal illnesses is a small price to pay.