Monthly Archives: January 2012

Diapers and Dandelions

Diapering baby #2 has been so much fun. Fun because we are, of course, using cloth diapers. Somehow it just isn’t FUN to use disposables. Just a baby related something to be done and at least sometimes marginally unpleasant. The whole process of cloth diapering is something that most of the time brings me joy and satisfaction. It’s saving us money. Lots of money. Particularly since our kids are apparently allergic to one component or another in mainstream diapers (yes, sadly, this includes Huggies Naturals) and all of the “Organic” diapers cost a small fortune. So for us the cloth diaper savings is above and beyond what it is for the average family. Secondly, I’m a huge fan of diversity and seeing tiny bums clad in multi colored and outfit coordinating cloth is just FUN. And adorable. Especially on chubby babies. Now that I have a chubster babe I am decidedly a fan of baby rolls. The more the better.

Bean-Boy chilling in FL in Fuzzi Bunz Green One Size Fits All

Bean-Boy chilling in FL in Fuzzi Bunz Green One Size Fits All

Last time we did cloth diapering it was mostly a pre-fold and fitteds system with covers. While practical, fairly easy to “learn”, and most important of all cheap. Super cheap. It was also a bit more user challenging than some of the easier systems that exist like pockets or all-in-ones. DaMan learned the prefold+cover system but it was never easy for him which resulted in an understandable reluctance to help out with diaper changes. This time around as soon as we verified that yes, extra-white-child version 2.0 also has mega sensitive skin we decided it was totally worth it to invest in an easier diapering system upfront. And by “we” I really mean “me” since solo diapering children is not my idea of sharing the parenting load. (ahem) DaMan was relieved and happy at how simple the Fuzzy Bunz have been to use and finds it just a hair less efficient than popping disposables on.

One used lot of One Size Fits All Fuzzi Bunz later and we were in business. And yes, you read that correctly. Used. While the used factor of cloth diapers may be more than some can handle between a very hot water wash, good sunning, a vinegar wash followed by a Grapefruit Seed Extract wash followed by yet another thorough sunning I’m pretty satisfied that anything potentially detrimental to my kidlets health is adequately neutralized. And consider this, if cloth diapering is a savings at retail value imagine how much more you can save if you buy previously used???

Baby-Bean in FL

Baby-Bean in FL

This is where I get to excitedly tell you about my latest cloth diaper resource. It is a website owned by a dear friend of mine and allows you to both put up for sale and purchase in an auction type setting cloth diapers. http://www.myuseddiapers.com It’s FREE. Free to list. Free to put up pictures. Free to bid and Free to buy. So you can SAVE $ on those diapers you want to try out or bolster your stash with and purchase without having to leave your home. No sales tax, no hassle. I’ll be listing some of my gently used covers that we no longer have need for soon. I’d encourage you to check it out and if you have ANY questions about cloth diapering at all just e-mail and ask. I happen to know the lady at the other end is super knowledgeable and will bend over backwards to help if she can.

We have been staying in Orlando the past week to attend business meetings. The warm pools have been a special treat for our kids. The chubby Bean-boy bobbed happily in the water on his back with only the bare minimum of neck support/stability from a parent. The kid was born to swim, er, well, float to be more accurate.

Bean swimming for the first time

Bean swimming for the first time

One day after a bit too long in the pool the 4 year old Doodlebug and I walked back to our unit. Little tiny gnat like creatures floated in the air in front of us. “Dose are Dandy bugs” Doodles informs me casually. A little distracted trying to keep up with key-card, towels, towel wrapped baby, cell phone and water bottle I say rather absently “Dandy-bugs?” She nods gravely while slowly swishing her hand back and forth in front of her face “Dey wiv on Dandelion Fwowers and when you go poof dey fwy away. Dats cuz dey have no home aaaaaaanymore.” Still distracted I say “Hmm. Don’t see any Dandelions around here dear, maybe they are another sort of bug” Slightly indignant that I would question her bug expertise she insists “No no! Dey ARE Dandelion bugs. The alligators just poofed all dere homes away. So see? Dats why Mom” Inwardly shuddering at the reminder that we are located right on a lake, ambling down a sidewalk that borders said lake and that there is a sign just a few feet in front of us that says “Please Respect Our Wildlife” with images of a snake, turtle and Alligator on it. Feeling something a little stronger than the ‘respect’ the sign requested I walk a bit faster.

Doodles by the Lake

Doodles by the Lake

Doodles trails along slowly. “You’d better hurry or maybe the Dandelions won’t be the only thing the alligators poof away” I call over my shoulder. She stops and her little jaw drops open and lets out a small gasp. “You mean dey would poof away the Dandelions AND the Dandelion BUGS???? Dats dust so mean.” And turning to the lake that supposedly houses said alligators she hollers “You mean alligators! You ate ALL de Dandelions and now eat aaaaaalll the bugs you dust MEAN!” A couple senior citizen aged adults within ear-shot shoot me reproachful looks and I can all too easily tell what they are thinking “What in heavens name is that woman teaching her child?? Blaming Alligators for destroying Dandelions. And whats that she was saying about bugs??” I try to smile reassuringly and confidently as though it’s all part of some grand parental plan to teach an awesome object lesson but all I manage is a slightly guilty and sheepish smile and head bob their direction before we shuffle off again.

Doodles tries to say hello to unfriendly bird

Doodles tries to say hello to unfriendly bird

Finally back at our Unit I was able to laugh at her vivid imagination. Dandelion Bugs. So now you know. The Alligators ate the Dandelions then apparently declared war on the Dandelion bugs. I knew you’d want to know that.

Tomorrow we hit the road again and begin the several day travel back home to TN. We are stopping into GA to have a meet and greet with some family that haven’t met the little Bean yet. I’m off to pack up a bit more and then get some sleep.

Child-Guilt

Everyday Life, Parenting 4 Comments
Blossoms

Blossoms

There is something called Survivors Guilt that happens sometimes in individuals who have gone through a traumatic experience and lost a loved one. It can happen in war with fellow soldiers watching their comrades die and it can happen in purely civilian situations as well. For example I had a friend who had an intense and (as she freely acknowledged) irrational guilt for surviving a car wreck in which her Grandmother was killed.

Church

Church

I am not a psychologist. I have not read any professionally written literature or studies addressing the phenomenon I am about to talk about. And, maybe it’s not a big deal at all. Actually in the grand scheme of things I’m pretty sure it’s not a big deal. But it is something I have personally experienced and it’s something a couple of women have shared with me that they too have struggled with. Writing is a therapeutic way for me to process and hopefully better understand.

Among the many wonderful women I have the honor of calling friends there have been what seems like a longer than it should be list of us who have lost babies and others, who are unable to carry children or in some cases conceive at all. It has been an indescribable blessing to experience the love, listening ears, unconditional and heart-felt empathy, sympathy and encouragement among us as we have each dealt with the struggles and challenges of whatever our particular issue has been. We rejoice with those who are able to rejoice at the end of a long struggle, we grieve with those who are grieving the losses of both the children so tiny they cannot yet be seen to losing a child that they have held and loved.

Sometimes in the midst of one friends grief another one experiences the joy of a healthy, alive baby at the end of their pregnancy.  I think it is wonderful that women who are in these active “grief stages” of loss are feeling free to openly share their emotions even to the point of how the very joy their friend is experiencing is a source of pain as it is too sharp of a reminder of what they have just lost. This is normal. It’s honest. It’s healthy. In previous generations I don’t think there was as much of a freedom to express this aspect of grief and there was perhaps some sort of an unspoken code against being anything but unabashedly happy for others even in the midst of your own sharp loss or long standing weary heart-ache.

As a result of this open communication we have learned how to be more sensitive, kind and caring to those who are grieving. Those who are struggling. Those who are trying and tired of trying. To those who long deeper than they have words to say to hold a child and call it their own.

This increased  awareness has led to more than *just* a higher level of sensitivity and care to women who are struggling and grieving though. There seems to be something on the rise amongst women who effortlessly have complication free children, as many as they want. It seems like it is something akin to “survivors guilt” I have seen comments along the lines of “I love my kids and I know there are people who would give their right arm to have even one child but I am at the end of my rope today with them and would give just about anything for some peace and alone time” shortly followed by an “I am so sorry, I really am grateful for my kids. I have no right to feel this way.” And there is where the problem lies. it IS Ok for them to feel that way. It’s ok that they find where they are in life bigger and more overwhelming and staggering and hard. It’s Ok that they struggle emotionally through the baby and young child raising days.Yet, increasingly it is becoming something that many Mom’s do not feel the freedom or right to express for fear of not properly appreciating the children they have in light of the knowledge of a friends grief and hearts desires.

Women who are struggling with acute stages of grief may find honesty from exhausted Mom’s in the real life trenches of day in and day out childcare duty hurtful. It is tempting to think (and in some cases actually say) “Oh if only *I* were able to have a child (or another baby) I would be so grateful I wouldn’t get mad over something so stupid as spilled cereal all over the floor. Seriously she has no idea how grateful she should be to just have a child to clean up after” While this reaction is completely understandable I think perhaps there is temptation to not extend a similar grace and understanding to women who are experiencing their own different burdens, trials and acute struggles that we might feel justified and entitled to by our losses or disappointed hopes and expectations. It’s so easy and so tempting to think when struggles and challenges of motherhood are shared “Aren’t you lucky to have that set of problems. I’d give anything for those” The truth is that a struggle is a struggle. Exhaustion is exhaustion and emotional desires whether it be for a child to call your own or for one more ounce of patience to dole out to an excessively challenging offspring are equally challenging.

Having encouragement, grace to give to the exhausted and overwhelmed woman (who may not have planned expected or necessarily wanted 4 children in 4 years but who now may be guilted into feeling as though she is a failure if she doesn’t demonstrate excessive gratefulness for them all the time) is every bit as vital a part of our responsibility to each other in friendship as being sensitive and encouraging is to the women struggling with infertility.

I am so grateful for friends who love through thick and thin and through all the stages of life and  journey’s God is bringing us all on. As a woman who has experienced both the sharp pain of repeated losses, the wonderings and pleadings with God to be able to carry a child to term and now also deep in the throes of full time motherhood to young children while trying to juggle a job and business responsibilities I feel as though I have been given the opportunity to see the other side of a coin that I used to long for. I miss the moments of solitude. I am grateful with everything in me for our two beautiful children. There is not one day or one night that I take them for granted. But I get weary. Oh so weary. The challenges are bigger than anticipated and the tangible payoffs (at least in these young stages) less than hoped for. The fact that I find struggles to overcome at this phase of life does not negate my appreciation or joy our children bring to my life.

I just wish I had this perspective back when the pang of envy and thoughts of reproach would encroach upon my thoughts towards friends who were deep in the trenches of motherhood and daring to be honest about it. Now I’m grateful to them for being honest. For helping me not to romanticize what the reality of raising children entails. For not protecting me from their real lives just because I was currently childless.

My hope is that as a culture we can continue to grow and be sensitive to both sides of this “chasm” of different stages and pain points in life. We are all in need of love and encouragement. Thank you to all my friends in all stages of life who have been so unconditionally loving and encouraging to me through the years. It is a luxury many women never get to experience and makes me all the more grateful for you. 🙂

Stop breastfeeding because it’s….too effective?

Foods, Healthy Living and Life, Parenting, Vaccine Info and Education 4 Comments

A friend linked me to an article written by a well known alternative health “educator” I use quotes because this particular gentleman does a certain amount of fear mongering in a rather deliberate way as part of his very successfully monetizing marketing campaign. Fear for sales is not something I am a fan of. Reading his article I couldn’t help but think that this was like many other articles I have read of his…overblown with conclusions drawn that were a stretch at best. To satisfy my curiosity about whether or not researchers had actually gone on record suggesting what he said was suggested I went digging for source materials.

Interestingly enough in his “sources” he did not link to the actual source of the information from which he wrote such a disturbing article, which is a fascinating study performed by several researchers at the National Centers for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which is part of what we commonly know as the CDC. The title of this study is Inhibitory effect of breast milk on infectivity of live oral rotavirus vaccines Or, in plain English: Why breast-milk would make live oral rotavirus vaccines ineffective or less effective.

The abstract of this study can be read here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20442687

The study begins with a statement about how the Rotavirus vaccine has proven less effective among children in poor developing countries compared with middle income and industrialized countries for reasons that are not yet completely understood. The scope of the study was to determine whether the neutralizing activity of breast milk could lower the titer of vaccine virus and explain this difference in vitro.

Just incase you are wondering here’s the definition of in vitro:  In vitro comes from the Latin term “in glass” and refers to studies of biological properties that are done in a test tube (i.e. under glass) rather than in a human or animal. As opposed to in vivo (“in life”) studies which are done inside an organism. In vitro studies allow scientists to isolate specific cells, bacteria, and viruses and study them without the distractions of having to look at a whole organism.

With that clarified we’ll move onto the next section which is the methods used for the study.

Breast milk samples were collected from mothers who were breast-feeding infants 4 to 29 weeks of age (ie, vaccine eligible age) in India (N = 40), Vietnam (N = 77), South Korea (N = 34), and the United States (N = 51). We examined breast milk for rotavirus-specific IgA and neutralizing activity against 3 rotavirus vaccine strains-RV1, RV5 G1, and 116E using enzyme immunoassays. The inhibitory effect of breast milk on RV1 was further examined by a plaque reduction assay

IgA can be read about in all it’s geeky detailed glory by clicking the name.

Now onto the part that I found the most fascinating.

Breast milk from Indian women had the highest IgA and neutralizing titers against all 3 vaccine strains, while lower but comparable median IgA and neutralizing titers were detected in breast milk from Korean and Vietnamese women, and the lowest titers were seen in American women. Neutralizing activity was greatest against the 2 vaccine strains of human origin, RV1 and 116E. This neutralizing activity in one half of the breast milk specimens from Indian women could reduce the effective titer of RV1 by ∼2 logs, of 116E by 1.5 logs, and RV5 G1 strain by ∼1 log more than that of breast milk from American women.

Now, the researchers do not venture a speculation as to why this antibody action would be so much less in American women as compared to the breast milk of women from other countries. My best guess would be that it pertains to our deplorable nutrient deficient SAD diets. The lack of nutrients means a lack of reserves for a woman’s body to use to create these immune beneficial properties to then pass along to an infant via breast-milk. How’s that for motivation and encouragement to eat nutrient dense foods while we are nursing eh Mamas?

And now for the part that had my jaw hitting the floor and a feeling of incredulity washing over me.

The lower immunogenicity and efficacy of rotavirus vaccines in poor developing countries could be explained, in part, by higher titers of IgA and neutralizing activity in breast milk consumed by their infants at the time of immunization that could effectively reduce the potency of the vaccine. Strategies to overcome this negative effect, such as delaying breast-feeding at the time of immunization, should be evaluated.

Allow me a bit of incredulous reaction. We are speaking of specifically poor, developing countries. One of the things about poor countries is that well…they are poor. Poor means they don’t have much money or access to heavily refined products. Products like oh, let’s say formula for example. Most women in poor countries can neither access or afford high quality infant formula. When the researchers suggest the possibility of delaying breast-feeding at the time of immunization are they suggesting perhaps that a baby be forced to “fast” for a matter of hours during the time of the administration of the vaccine? Or for a matter of days without access to breast milk to assure the vaccines greatest opportunity to work? If it is a matter of hours you run into the potential of lactating mothers becoming engorged. Unlike their industrial country counterparts women from poor un developed countries do not have easy or affordable access to such conveniences as breast pumps. If it is a matter of days they are suggesting a lactating woman to simply “take a break” from nursing and a) find alternate means of nourishment for her baby and b) managed to maintain her milk supply without becoming engorged or having her supply disappear due to lack of demand seems utterly ludicrous to me.

As it is commonly asserted by leading immunologists infants do not have much if any immune system of their own before they are a year old. I talk about that in this post. It seems as though something these researchers are suggesting is that they think it might be a viable and perhaps even healthier choice to restrict an infants access to the nourishment that is providing it’s sole source of immunity in order to give it a live vaccine that works by stimulating the immune system. Am I the only one that sees this experiment ending with a lot of sick babies? It’s like Ok, let’s take away the one thing that is protecting these infants, perhaps a little too well, to the point that it’s messing up our standard protocol of vaccinations, and introduce a live disease element to their young bodies and expect this to provide optimal health to these children. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

I for one hope their desired followup ideas are not explored. Sounds like a miserable thing to do to nursing Mamas and Babies at best and potentially catastrophic at worst for the ‘subjects’ submitted to follow up testing.

But my takeaway point isn’t that some group of scientists that seem oblivious to the logistics involved in the real world want to try something out that seems futile…It’s the suggestion and reminder from the data that came back in the study that American’s women’s immunity they are passing to their breastfed babies is not as “potent” as that of their unrefined countries counterparts. I’m off to eat a nutrient dense, whole foods breakfast and take some basic immune support supplements. My body is my babies immune system protection right now and I’m gonna start taking that responsibility a whole lot more seriously.

I’ll close with a short message from Caleb, on behalf of all nursing babies out there. “We thank you Mamas of the world for sacrificing vanity, personal comfort, convenience and at times public approval to attempt to feed us all too often ungrateful little chubby things food manufactured from your body. Eat good food!”

"Eat Good Food Mamas!"

“Eat Good Food Mamas!”

Parenting Assumptions

Everyday Life, Parenting 1 Comment

We are currently staying in a wonderful condo in FL. We traveled down from our home in TN to attend our once per year Marketing meeting that is held here. The balcony of our first floor condo overlooks the one play-ground. This has of course delighted Doodlebug that she only has to walk all of 100 feet to have a playground and kids to play with at her fingertips.

As Doodlebugs Mom I sometimes find my heart aching on her behalf. She is an irrepressible friendly little extrovert who has never met a stranger. Having spent most of her young life as an only child getting to play with other children is a huge delight. Other kids often do not know what to make with the little curly headed blond bubbly creature who launches herself upon their space and play time. Her friendly advances are often turned down, sometimes in ways that hurt my Mama’s heart on her behalf. I want everybody to value the affection and friendliness she so selflessly pours out but life doesn’t work that way and learning that lesson is a painful process. Standing by and watching life teach her this lesson is by far one of the hardest parts of parenting I’ve come across to date.

This morning she ran onto the kid inhabited playground scene with a joyful exuberance and announces cheerfully “I’m here! Who wants to play with me??” The 6 or so kids on the playground, all of them 3+ years older than her glance at her like she’s some oddity and go back to whatever it is that they are doing. Unabashed she directly approaches two girls that look to be 8 and 10 years old who are playing with their dolls. “Hi! Do you want to play with me? I like your dolls. My name is Noelle” she says. They shift their eyes back and forth between them, clutch their dolls tighter and brush her off and move off to another part of the play-set. Still determined she heads over to a brother and sister pair, also quite a bit older than her. They occupy the swing set. “Hi! Can I swing with you??” she asks eagerly. “No, we just want to swing.” For the first time her little face starts to register disappointment and a little bit of hurt.

As I observe this scene happen I fight against my every instinct to go and intervene with the situation on my daughters behalf. She makes one more attempt to initiate playtime and is told by that pair of kids that she was too late and they are leaving. Still not giving up she goes back to the original two girls + dolls and this time is rather harshly rejected verbally with the girls following it up by turning their backs on her, clutching their dolls close, closing ranks and walking away from her rapidly. This time the tears come. Coming over to me she says “Mama nobody wants to play with me and they don’t like me” I felt angry at these self centered little kids who have hurt my daughter. Especially the two snotty little girls with baby-dolls. And I felt even more frustrated with their onlooking parents for not encouraging just a bit of kindness towards an admittedly younger child.

Giving her a hug I said “You know what Noelle? I like you. Wanna go swing with me?” With a big grin of relief she runs off and we play slides and swings together. Later we take a walk around the lake and come across two elderly Grandmother type figures with metal detectors. Doodles friendliness renewed she bounds over to them and asks if she can help. The next 40 minutes are spent helping the ladies dig through sand to spare their backs when the detectors begin to beep. She had grand fun. One of the ladies sweetly dropped a penny into Noelle’s hole when her back was turned so she could experience the delight of digging up “treasure”  As they made their way down the beach the two girls with Dolls make their way over to the hammocks on the lake shore.

Noelle looked up from her ‘treasure hole’ to see them. “Hey Mom! I’m gonna go over and play hammocks with those girls!” I wanted to say no. Honey, please no. They don’t like you. They are just going to make you cry again. They have no interest in playing with a kid half their age and they think you are annoying. Instead I just remind her “Make sure you *ask* to play with them first” I get a cheerful “Ok Mom!” As she bounds over. This time the Mom of the two girls suggests that her younger daughter can share a hammock with Noelle over the little girls obvious preference against it. Delightedly clambering into the hammock N proceeds to launch a verbal assault of friendliness against the older girls frigid restraint.

As we both stand there watching our girls I introduce myself to the Mom and we share the pertinent details of what states we are from and swap weather reports from our respective regions of the country. I find myself apologizing for my daughters insertion of her personage repeatedly into her daughters space and mention that she doesn’t meet a stranger. I expected a response along the lines of “Yeah it was pretty irritating to them” and instead she said “Well my daughters have the opposite problem. They have a very very hard time making friends or talking to other kids. Your daughter is the only kid here that has been nice to them”

I felt surprised and suddenly ashamed of my original assumptions and feelings about her girls. Her girls were not snotty. Or mean. They were painfully shy. Their Mom said “I told them, look! She’s half your age, I think you’ll be ok” We laughed together and joked that our daughters could stand to rub off on each other a bit. We stood there in companionable parenthood watching our daughters play together.

After about 10 minutes Noelle cheerfully bid her new friends farewell and went back to treasure hunting with her newfound Grandma-like friends.  I walked away realizing that I have a lot to learn from our precious little girl. It’s always the right thing to pour out a little more care. A little more effort. A little more grace even to people who hurt us. Who reject us. Who are flat out mean. Chances are they are hurt a lot more than their rejection stings, and even more probable that they are lonely in their hurt as well. And there is no “right age” for friendships. Young, old and in-between are all friend candidates.

Doodles and her Treasuring Hunting Gramma-friend

Doodles and her Treasuring Hunting Gramma-friend

Infant Immune Systems and Vaccination

Healthy Living and Life, Parenting, Vaccine Info and Education 5 Comments

I promised myself I would not start another blog post talking about how long it’s been since my last post. So. This is me NOT talking about my gross negligence as a blogger-wanna-be. 😛

DaMan and I spent a lot of time talking. Not nearly as much these days as in times past. We used to work together in the same house/space/office all day long in the early days of Beeyoutiful. This provided ample opportunity to talk through anything and everything. These days Beeyoutiful has it’s own building and he leaves in the morning and goes to work like most other men do while I attempt to work and keep up with the two kids at home. Now we try to make the  most of our evenings and weekends. Sometimes we sneak in the occasional IM conversation over the course of the day or touch base via texts. But, it just isn’t the same as the good ol’ hours long discussions that were once part of our daily lives.

 

DaMan and I

DaMan and I

Talking with him is one of my absolute favorite things to do. Part of the reason we both like to converse so much is that we rarely have the same opinion about anything. Well, that isn’t completely true. It would be more accurate to say that while we may hold many (even most) of the same opinions and positions on a variety of topics its safe to say that they are for almost totally different reasons. What he finds compelling and persuasive I find far fetched or dry or unappealing and on it goes. We’ve joked that on the topic of artists if you drop us into any art museum in the world we will instantly be drawn to different artists and radically different styles and wonder why on earth the other is so impressed with that uninspired work. This is why we were so elated to find a local artist that we both loved…We now have several of her canvases gracing our home. But I digress…

One of the topics that has received a lot of “air time” in our conversations both before marriage and after is the topic of immunizations. It’s such a complex topic. So heated and people are so adamant on both sides and instead of there being a strong “moderate” middle ground represented it’s mostly just confused people who don’t have any clue where to start in sifting through the literal MOUNTAINS of written material on this topic. And, once they do start sifting the conflicting assertions is enough to nearly drive a person batty.

Screen shot 2012-09-29 at 3.01.02 PM

It’s been a years long process but both of us have read and sifted. Sifted and read. Argued and debated. Shifted and re-shifted. Our opinions have changed and changed again the more we learned. It isn’t a topic I’ve ever written much about because honestly, I don’t like writing on topics that are charged with conflict. DaMan says it’s my uncontrollable inner compulsion to please everybody and there is probably more than a small amount of truth to that. But, I’ve come to the place where I feel like it is important to share what I consider to be one of the most *pivotal* points of information that every parent should know and understand when educating themselves on the topic of vaccines.

babymark

On a personal level I find the immunizations given to very tiny babies to be the most concerning of all of the generally recommended and accepted vaccination protocols. DaMan has heard me rant for years now the following or some variation of it “I just don’t understand…The very organizations that recommend these vaccine schedules and vaccine effectiveness also assert that young babies have no immune systems of their own until about a year old. It makes no sense to me how a vaccine can even work to be effective in an infants body if there is no immune system to be able to build immunity in the first place!” I have tried to find a logical explanation for why this has become accepted and strongly recommended practice by a group of experts who don’t even believe that is how an infants body works in the first place. If anybody has an explanation for this please share, I would truly like to understand.

Screen shot 2012-09-29 at 3.11.03 PM

I have been left with a gigantic question mark over this particular vaccine protocol. Today a friend posted a link to a very interesting post about this very long standing sticky point. It is written by Michael Gaeta, a holistic health activist and educator. He shares how he was recently at a conference of traditional health care practitioners and had the opportunity to give a presentation to them as well as listen to a panel discussion of medical experts later in the day. He posts a recording of a question posted to a PhD Immunologist about Infant Immune systems and Vaccines.

You can listen to it on his site here: Immunologist PhD answers Question about Infant Immunity 

His post in it’s entirely can be viewed here: Michael’s post about Dr.’s Conference

The Excerpt from the panel interview with the PhD Immunologist confirmed what I have long thought. The transcript of it is below:

Q. So the science seems fairly clear that for the first year of life, probably, that the immunization is not stimulating the kind of response we expect it to stimulate.

A. True.

Q. So what’s the rationale for continuing to do that if it’s not doing what it’s supposed to be [doing]?

A. The vaccines are given at pediatric wellness visits, and the idea is that you are training the parent to bring their child in at all the pediatric wellness visits, and that it’s only the year visit that actually is truly important. But that for most parents you are not going to get them to bring their kid in if they don’t come in at two months, four months, and six months. And so it’s actually more of a training thing.

It’s interesting, I was on the phone with [?] county public health last week, with one of their vaccine nurses. She was like, ‘Oh, you’re talking about vaccines? Make sure you tell them they have to do that year shot because the first three [the 2, 4 and 6 month shots] don’t work.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I know.’ [laughter].

It really speaks for itself. Assuming that vaccines work as they are theorized to do (there is a certain wing of experts who say that it doesn’t in every case but that is a separate issue in the paperwork mountain) They still will.not.work. in tiny babies. If any vaccines are to be declined in a child’s life I would highly recommend you consider making it the ones administered in that first year of life. Injecting foreign substances into perfectly healthy infants is something that I find cringe worthy on a deeply personal level. My personal squeamishness aside, I just don’t get the point of it on a purely analytical level either.

If you believe vaccinating your children is the wisest course of action, and particularly feel that adhering to the CDC’s recommended schedule is important I would implore you to consider giving your infant 1 year of life to build a very healthy immune system without any vaccines at all introduced to their very young and tiny bodies. Take lots of probiotics yourself if you are breast feeding. 6 Months on up can safely be supplemented with Colostrum, Cod Liver Oil and probiotics directly. Help your baby build a very healthy gut flora and which in turn will support a very healthy immune system. The better established and healthy an infants immune system is the more effective the future vaccines will be, assuming they do indeed work as they should.

Happy Tin Tin baby!

Happy Tin Tin baby!

To all my fellow parents out there, the fully vaccinated, the partially vaccinated and the not vaccinated at all…A big hug of encouragement from me. It takes courage these days to choose any course of action on this topic and stick with it. There will be criticisms, threats, warnings and dire prognostications from both sides and head shaking from the two extreme positions over the compromising “middle road” stance as well. Pray for wisdom, do your due diligence in research and education and go forward confident that God will have you do what is best for your particular children. I personally believe this will look different for different families and that it *should* Every circumstance and situation is so unique there is no universal one size fits all perfect protocol to be followed.