Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Great Debate...

UPDATE

Thank you so much for all of your comments. After praying about it, I really felt a strong peace about getting the shot, which I ended up getting on Thursday. I would like to get Addison vaccinated as well, but this shot is hard to find! If anyone hears/knows of where I can get a pediatric dose, please let me know. Since it takes a couple of weeks to take effect and Graham will be here in just about that time, the sooner, the better!

***************************************************

Ok, so normally I wouldn't post something like this, but desperate times call for desperate measures....

I am 36 weeks pregnant. My Dr. looked at me like I was crazy today for not having gotten the H1N1 vaccine yet. He has only a few doses left and told me I need to decide in the next day or so whether or not to get it.

I thought I had my mind made up not to get it, but now I'm all up in arms again. In order to best protect Graham when he gets here, he says not only do I need to be vaccinated, but everyone that would be around him....so that means Addison too.

He does have the Thermasol free ones available, so that makes me feel a little bit better. Aughhh! I just don't know what to do....so please, share your thoughts.

Photobucket

16 comments:

Ashley McWhorter said...

I have no idea what to tell you. Talk with Joy Ryan. She just went through all of this with herself and James. But, after the baby is born, I surely wouldn't keep everyone away from him. Just be smart. You're a great mom! :)

Callie said...

oh I wish I could tell you what to do! In my opinion, the media has truly scared the public into not getting it. I've read many reports and I have yet to see any real evidence of the vaccine being harmful. All that to say...Carson and I still haven't gotten it, but that's mainly b/c of my own laziness :)!

Mary said...

My opinion is to get it. Better safe than sorry (and an easy way for Graham to get the immunity now). But I understand your hesitation. Whatever you decide will be the best decision for y'all!! :)

Honeyman 4 said...

Vaccines made in a haste always make me weary...pray about it. :)

fleur said...

For what it's worth, I have a friend who works for Texas Childrens doing research on vaccines. That is literally all she does - she knows everything about them. She says it is totally safe and getting both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines, especially while you're pregnant, is a far better option than actually getting either of the flu's. And, getting it while pregnant will pass the immunity on to protect Graham from it for the season. Then by the next flu season he'll be old enough to get it himself. There certainly is a lot of debate out there and I was hesitant to get it for a while but I have found that the people who say to get it are the professionals and the ones that say not to get it are laypeople who are just scared. Just my opinion. I got the H1N1 shot last week and had NO side effects whatsoever. Later in the day my arm hurt for about 2 minutes and other than that it hasn't even been sore. I was much more sore from the seasonal flu shot a month before. That's just my experience/opinion. Remember it takes 2 weeks to build up the immunity after receiving the shot.

fleur said...

P.S. I was 28 weeks pregnant when I got the H1N1. After research and much prayer I felt a peace about getting it to protect both me and the baby.

Lacey said...

I could tell all over your face last night that you are nervous about it. I agree with Rachel. Pray about it and you'll make the right decision. Hope you got your goods today- you did good last night. :)

Keri DesAutels said...

Just to let you know... I got Sage the shot and Ryand and I are on a waiting list. My dad is on the board at the Baylor college of medicine and all the Doctors he talked to strongly urged us all to get it. it is a dead virus they give babies and pregnant women. Every year the vaccine for the normal flu virus changes. This shot has gone thourgh the same testing all the others have gone through.
You need to do what you feel is best. I'm know the Lord will protect you either way you decide.

sarah merriman said...

Hi lebo! I had much concern about getting h1n1 bc of how quickly they made the vaccine but I also thought it would br much worse for our 4 month old baby to get it...we always get seasonal flu vaccination...to protect baby Nolan, all 3 of us (including 3 year old grant) got flumist (obviously you can't get that but Addison can)...h1n1has been all over our area so I felt so much better taking Nolan out once we all had the vaccine....plus if another wave hits in February we are already protected...such a personal decision and I prayed about it for a long time and once we had it done I honestly felt much better...I may not have done it if we didn't have nolan but he needs all the protection he can get...just pray about the right decision for your family!! I do think the media is scaring people into not getting it!

sarah merriman said...

Sorry for such a long post! I tend to ramble...just wanted to add that I LOVE graham's name! You are going to he a great mommy of 2!!!

britt said...

I got it last week...and was really nervous about it. In the end I decided I'd rather protect Gus using me & the placenta as a filter than risk him getting it after he's here. I did not give it to Luci though...hopefully he'll gave my antibodies through the placenta & milk.

Good luck...whatever you choose will be what is right for your fam!

britt said...

meant have, not gave. And I've never even gotten the regular flu shot...so it was a big deal for me too. :)

Greg and Joy Ryan said...

Hey Melissa
I got the vaccine last Monday and basically ask my Dr what I should do. He is conservative and said I think you should get it. Of course we have a little different situation with James. You have to do what you feel comfortable doing:)

Shannon K. said...

tough one! I'm not vaccinating my kids only because the first hand counts of people I know who have had h1n1 have been been so mild. They do get the seasonal flu vaccine and the thought of two of them doesn't sit well with me. But I think that if I were pregnant and had a newborn in the midst of it I would probably have my whole family get the vaccine. Especially with older kids bringing crud home. On the other hand if you are vigilant about disinfecting and washing hands and keeping the people around the baby limited you'll be fine. Go with your instincts mama :D

The doTERRA Darling said...

i would really pray about it and just read up. we aren't getting it but i just don't feel comfortable yet even though people are saying it is safe, it is just so new. but i hesitate a LOT probably way more than I should. Like Mary said, whatever you decide will be what is best for you all. I don't know anyone who has had any negative side effects from it.

Brad, Carla, Addison, Hudson and Mason said...

Just a thought...the H1N1 vaccine testing so far has shown that it is about 80% efficacious after one dose, meaning 20% of people who get the vaccine wont generate the immune response to be protected. The majority of H1N1 cases are quite mild, however those who do get the more serious form can require ICU care and heroic measures to keep them alive. Being pregnant puts you at risk for having the more serious form of the illness. That said it is still a tough decision. Our kids have not gotten the vaccine as I am still on the fence as to whether it is worth it. I am forced to get it, but I haven't yet....good luck.