Today North and I went into his doctors office for a 12 month well-baby check. North is growing well and our time at the office was short. Reed and I decided to decline the usual 12 month shot series based upon research that we both read.
Right from the beginning, I saw North as this perfect being. He was cuddly, he wanted love and comfort; we gave it all to him. But then at his earliest doctors' visit, we changed all that with a few (try four different diseases!) pokes. Suddenly his immune system had to fight off all of this foreign matter within a period of 24 hours. To add insult to injury, his body had to fight and create antibodies without the aid of his respiratory or digestive systems, all which are key in the immune system. He was knocked off his normal behavior for days. He was grumpy and sad and confused. I didn't like the way the chemicals affected his little body. So I began talking with our friends and doing some online research.
Which was very un-helpful.
I found websites full of inflammatory articles promising great trouble if you didn't fully vaccinate...and and equal number promising great damage to your child if you did. I wasn't until I read the Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/inside_the_vaccine_book.asp that I felt comfortable with the direction we would take with North's health. We have decided to finish out the vaccine series we have started but begin no more. North will be tested for any natural immunities when he reaches the age of ten. At that time, we will begin Hep. B and possibly chicken pox.
Whew... at least we have a plan we are comfortable with now. The rest in in the hands of basic hygiene and a strong immune system.
