Vit K and other vaccinations
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Topic: Vit K and other vaccinations
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Subject: Vit K and other vaccinations
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 11:01am
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Hey all,
Just wondering what everyone else's opinion on getting these was. We're discussing it at antenatal class tomorrow and part of me says "why the heck wouldn't you want to protect your baby from as many nasties as you can?" but then I'm also trying to find out as much info about the side effects etc Ta very muchly  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Replies:
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 11:17am
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Vit K is awesome - babies bleeding to death from rare baby bleeding disease after birth is not.
Immunisations; side effects are extremely rare and generally not life threatening - the diseases that they protect the kids against - life threatening with hideous side effects. I had a teacher during High School that had had polio as a child and had lost the use of one of his arms and legs. There are countries in the world were polio is still devastating generations of young people. I feel lucky to be in NZ where we haven't had the effects of such horrible diseases for decades. I'm also in awe of the medical professionals developing vaccines against things like the human papilloma virus. Just think - by the time our daughters are 11 or 12 this vaccine may be in full circulation and reducing their chances of getting cervical cancer down to almost nothing (my grandmother died of this when my dad was 10, leaving 7 kids orphaned from ages 14 to 4 so I have a vested interest in getting rid of this yukky disease). Smallpox innoculations rid the world of smallpox. There isn't any anymore. No immunisations against that and we could still have it. Anyway - yay medicine is my response. I think that anyone making these decisions should research it themselves (using reputable studies - not just fly-by-night internet conspiracy links) and make an informed decision. Talk to Plunket, talk to your midwife, talk to your parents - just be comfortable with the decision you are making. Oh - and if you want to see the Ministry of Health information on these things - http://www.moh.govt.nz/immunisation.html ------------- |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 11:17am
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okay - I'm off my soapbox now.... ------------- |
Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 12:06pm
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Zaara had a Vit K Jab just after she was born and she had no side effects. So I'd say it is safe. As far as all the other jabs are concerned, Zaara had all of them so far and she is fine...I would say yes to all ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 12:30pm
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Maya had Vit K and is fully immunised to date. Will think carefully about the 4yr MMR as she had a nasty allergic reaction to the 15 mth one, but I think we will go with it, we'll just have it dine at Starship instead of the docs to be on the safe side. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 3:15pm
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theres some obscure research linking vit k to some cancer (not sure which or any other facts) but even more research to discount that research.
I chose not to give vit K to both my kids and they are both fine. it is given to reduce the risk of HDN - which can occur in 1 in 10000 births. instead i ate foods high in vit k and passed it on im my breast milk. i think there is a discusion or two on here already re this topic. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 3:19pm
Thanks heaps ladies. We will definitely be looking into this in depth before we make our final decision  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:02pm
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Both my kids had the vit K at birth, and are fully immunised to date (including the 4th meningecoccal(?) jab for Josiah).
As there is a 50/50 chance that each of my children could inherit my blood disorder, we wanted to make sure that they got a head-start on not bleeding! so that's why we had them given the vit K. Maree, I'm in full agreement with you about the importance of vaccinations! ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:11pm
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we were a bit iffy about vit k after reading the info about the possible link to leukaemia in the pamphlet. at the time of her birth we were still undecided but as she had a big bruise on her head from the ventousse we thought it was best to go with it.
she is absolutely fine, fully immunised to date and we will probably get this little guy injected when he's born too. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:35pm
I gave Joey Vit K orally as I wasn't too keen on having a lovely relaxed birth and then ruining it with a big needle in his hip!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:45pm
| we didnt get a choice with the vit K in the end because of kobe being prem they just did it but would have done it anyway, this baby will have it too via injection cos I would rather it was over and done with for them and they dont even notice the injection. Kobe has had all the vacinations and again this baby will to. I think you need to make informed decisions but at the same time take some responsibility. Not sure how to put it nicely and dont mean it to sound nasty but I dont see why I should put my kids through the injections and risk so someone elses kids are safe just because they are surrounded (in preschool, schools etc) by kids that have been imunised. Does that make sense? |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:51pm
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Private kindies and day care centres have the right to refuse enrolment of kiddies who are not fully vaccinated now too. ------------- |
Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:55pm
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To me the good outweighs the harm, but that's just my personal feeling on it, for both the Vit K and immunisations. ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 4:56pm
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my2angels - was that directed at me? I didn't want to come across as saying that I think injections and imm. is wrong - Joey is 100% immunised and up to date and I would have definitely allowed the vitK injection if the birth had been traumatic at all. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ErinC
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 5:27pm
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Hi
I just signed off on Vitamin K today, on my birth plan. I think its probably not necessary if the birth is perfect, but you never know. The possible link to Leukemia is not proven and, I would imagine, pretty small. I just did some reading on the other immunisations, and found a few things interesting. The article I read said that in recent outbreaks of illnesses immunised for, the majority of deaths were in children already immunised. So there is no guarantee that the immunisation works. Also there seem to be a lot of potential side effects. The article was in a set of information given to me by my midwife and was put out by a NZ organisaiton whose name I forget but can find out of anyone is interested. I actually think that when the time comes I will get my son immunised. I think I will be too scared not to, to be honest, but I dont think all the research is in favor of it. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> 
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Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 5:52pm
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ah yes, the Immunisation Awareness Society Inc - except they're not. My midwife gave me a pamphlet from them too - and they came across looney and unresearched. One of hubby's step aunts refused to immunise her kiddies - now they have to stay home from school everytime there is a community outbreak from all of the other non-immunised kiddies.
This site is pretty good - it's from the Uni of Auckland. http://www.immune.org.nz/?t=604 ------------- |
Posted By: fairsk8
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 8:27pm
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In my birth plan I specified that Xanda should only have vit K if it was needed, and as he was born via C-section and quite distressed they decided to give it to him. He is up to date with his imm jabs and absolutely loves having them done, always smiles at the nurse while she is doing them. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: lenabeanz
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 8:44pm
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Before I start Arna is fully immunised up to date (15 months) - just in case what I say comes across the wrong way!!
Immunisations, antibiotics etc all have side effects, possible cancer links, possible long term disability links etc etc but at the end of the day these medicines have only been around for a matter of a decade or 3 (some less some more) and there is no concrete links to any of the above - there can be concerns that we may give our babies the Vit K but then get leukemia, but the chances are minute and it is a world of unknown. In my opinion cancer is on the rise and I hate it but that can be put down to environment (cellphones, emissions etc) and not just solely on the medicines we use.. So in a roundabout way I think I just said that I am fully for immunsations but we have to weigh up the risks, how big they are and how precious our children are for us... Novel over (and confusion!) ------------- http://www.snugglepie.com"> 
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Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 9:40pm
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To explain a little bit more how I see / feel about it, I'll use a kind of metaphor...
Kind of like... every time you get in a car you "risk" having an accident, no matter whether you are the cause or not. ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 30 May 2006 at 11:31pm
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but you wear a seatbelt to reduce injury, right?
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Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 6:56am
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Yup, but I was meaning that most people don't avoid it altogether, and that there are risks with absolutely everything. ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 7:55am
| newmum no that was not at all directed at you or anyone, didnt mean for it to sounds like I was pointing the finger hence why I said I found it hard to explain. I just think everyone needs to make informed decisions but not just sit back and let others take the risks either. I personally think in general the side effects risk is out weighed by the risk of the actual disease and yeah kids might still get the disease they have been immunised for but how many didnt get it because they were immunised but would have if they hadnt been. Also I know Kobes preschool had to see his immunisation cert before they would let him go there and I like that because it means the other kids there have been immunised too |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 8:50am
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I am all for Vit K and immunisations. I know there are potential risks to imms and I have had two patients who had the most severe reaction possible to them (intellectually and physically very very disabled). And because of these two people I was a bit nervous about imms but the way I looked at it was that is 2 people out of all those that I know and I only know of them because of my job. For us, the benefits far outweigh the risks. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 10:54am
hehehe - this is a contentious topic - next we should move onto something sedate like politics - or religion  ------------- |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 11:13am
 What did I start here then?!?!?!? LOL
I'm reading up on the jabs now and the Vit K article on the Parents Centre site goes on about these 4 studies in the UK that looked at the injections, 2 said link to cancer was not confirmed and the other 2 said the risk increased! It also says that given orally carries a lower risk of cancers but they also can't be sure that baby gets the correct dose due to vomitting up the meds, therefore putting bubs at risk again! AND... babies that are exclusively breastfed are more at risk than bottle fed as the formula is Vit K enriched. So in conclusion each option has it's own risks if you do or if you don't! Does anyone know where you can find any statistics on what the "norm" is in NZ? By the looks of the posts on here the injections are common-ish ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 11:16am
Maree...I think we have already done that too....atleast religion was done a while back.....he he ha ha ....we are so broad minded and intelligent!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 11:30am
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This one talks more about the UK kiddie leukemia study...
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUarticles/vitk.htm and this is from the NZ Kids Health Site:- http://www.kidshealth.org.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/contentpage/pi_id/141 I couldn't find anything about the numbers, but I'm guessing it is pretty high. ------------- |
Posted By: poppit
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 11:55am
| I'm just reading through all the info on Vit K now as my MW gave me a whole lot on Monday. At this stage we are thinking the oral form if a straight forward birth, if a traumatic birth (ventouse, forceps, c-section etc) then possibly the injection form. I'm only a little over 13 week so lots of time to decide!! Just one of the many decisions to be made in the next 6 months. |
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 11:56am
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I am gonna risk all and say: Quinn had the vit K injection and is fully immunised up to 15 months BUT i won't get him the menigitis vaccine. It was a big decision for me, I did a LOT of reading, both NZ and international sources and decided that I did not want him to have it.
------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mrs frantic
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 12:01pm
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It's so confusing isnt it - my midwife referred me to 2 sites:
www.immune.org.nz and www.ias.org.nz - both say differetn things (I think that was her point)and I really cant decide at this point which way I lean... and it's such an IMPORTANT decision...oohhh I guess it's just the start of a long line of hard decisions eh? ------------- Mrs Frantic Baby Maddisyn born 28 Sept 2006 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Roksana
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 12:10pm
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Sure is Mrs Frantic......... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 12:11pm
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Anna, I respect that you did your research before deciding not to give Quinn the meningitus vaccine. I also respect that you have simply stated your decision and are not trying to influence others.
My mother decided not to get my brother and sister (both are at high school) immunised against meningitus, as she "had a bad feeling about the vaccine". She freely admitted it was just a gut reaction, but she still tried to convince Nat and myself not to give our kids the immunisations because of her "bad feeling". At the time, Kiya was already fully immunised and Josiah had one shot to go! Mum has since changed her mind, but now my sister (who's 15) doesn't want to be immunised and I think it might be because Mum bad-mouthed the vaccine for over 6 months. ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 12:22pm
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The Hep B vaccine came out when I was at primary and they did a mass-immunisation program, but Mum wouldn't let us have it then as she said it was too new and the side effects and stuff hadn't been tested long term. I chose as an adult to have the Hep B vaccine, but by that stage it had been around 10+ years and I was confident that it was ok. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: AlyAyde
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 12:28pm
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lol Emma it came out when i was at high school and i decided i didnt want it (lol scared of needles). But then i got a job in health and i had to have it as an adult. ------------- Jayde 25/12/04 Alyssa 08/04/03 http://Alyayde.bebo.com |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 31 May 2006 at 4:12pm
| Anna can I ask, and not at all questioning your decision more just out of curiosity was there anything specific that made you decide not to get the menz jab done? Im always worried I may have missed some major detail when making these sort of decision. |