Nothing has been more stressful to me this week then the whole debate about H1N1. There is so much I don't know about this flu. But here's what I do know.
* It IS in our community. Big time.
* I DO know several people who had it, and do have it
* The doctors have visited all local schools warning kids about it
* The complications can be especially harmful to a pregnant woman/ newborns.
* I know of one young girl who potentially has it and her symptoms are so minimal. Perhaps the average healthy person is more then capable of fighting this virus on their own.
* That said, I also know of a little boy in our ward who had swine flu last week, who is now in Lethbridge with pneumonia and other complications.
It's an unpredictable virus, and perhaps that is the only thing people actually agree on.
So given the facts that I do know- I've really struggled this week about what I should do about it. How do you protect your children when the virus is everywhere? Do I keep my kids home from school, even if they feel well? Do I vaccinate them, ...No? How do you know what to do when there are so many different opinions out there.
Wait- I take that back. It doesn't seem like there are many different opinions, it seems as though there are only two very opposing opinions. 1) Vaccinate or else you put your family and loved ones at serious risk or 2) you'd be a fool to vaccinate because it is more harmful then the virus.
Most people I have talked with (and everyone is talking about this) has chosen a side, and feel strongly about their perspective.
It has been a bit frustrating to try to get answers this week, when those giving the answers are so determinedly convinced and adamant about one or the other. Both sides express their opinions with so much passion to the extreme that it is hard to see through to the real truth. I find I am equally swayed depending on who I'm listening too.
The thought of having a baby in the next couple of days and contemplating all of the people who will want to get up close and look at him, hold him, and all the kids who will want to touch him and kiss him- ewwww that has me feeling so squeamish.
The other day, I called Health Link, local nurses, and spoke with my Obgyn all of whom stressed the importance of getting myself and my family vaccinated. Not only did they stress that but they emphasized how crucial it was to be vaccinated before the baby arrives if at all possible.
So, in haste, I loaded up the kids and drove 40 minutes to a neighboring town. I stood in line, with my kids, AMIDST CONTRACTIONS for 3 hours and ensured that we all received the vaccine. After spending the entire afternoon doing this, and one speeding ticket later (I'm sure Abby will fill anyone in on this if you want details) we made it home. Home, where I sat down on the couch and asked myself- "was all of that worth it?"
I hadn't been sitting for 5 minutes before I heard on Tv, and later read from Doctors who insist the vaccine is more harmful then the virus, and that they would never NEVER give it to their children. AHHHHHH!!! By the time John arrived from work I was a mess and certain that our kids would soon become autistic or develop some other sort of autoimmune disease.
I have second guessed myself over and over again. Did I make the right decision? I don't know.
As a Mother, I go through my days trying to do the best I can for my family, making the best decisions I can, with the information that I have at that time. Isn't that All we can do?
Am I always the most rational? Maybe not.
Am I sometimes wrong? Most definately.
But my intentions are good.
I hope that once this baby FINALLY decides to grace us with his presence- I hope my nerves will settle a bit. That said, if they don't I hope others will be ok with that. I hope people won't be offended if I don't want visitors, or people holding my little guy, or kids getting close to him.
I hope that they don't take it personally and recognize that I'm simply trying to protect my family from something I know so little about.
5 comments:
Maybe I should just email you about this instead of leaving you a long post! I know many people have VERY different opinions about this, or about vaccinations in general. I actually just went and got my H1N1 shot this morning. One of my VERY best friends is a pediatrician and I honestly completely and wholey (sp?) trust her opinion....She says it is foolish to not vaccinate yourself or the kids. Why put them at risk? The vaccine is not harmful, and it is just fanatic doctors out there who put a scare in everyone's mind. She sees the patients who come in and then has to treat the sick kids in the hospital and she said if you were even to walk in and see some of these children who are sick with the swine flu, you would get the vaccination in a heartbeat! Better to be safe and get it, rather than regret it and have one of your sweet kids life at stake. ......So now that I have written you a novel...that is just my opinion! :)
I'm sure you've already read my post about this (if you, check it out...) but I just have one more thing to add. Both my sister and I are pregnant and her dr. just yesterday told her about a bunch of pregnant women who have been hospitalized (some even in the ICU) due to complications from H1N1. I definitely think you made the right choice because now your baby (who when he comes will be too young for the vaccination and is also high risk for complications) will also have the immunity. I have read from so so many credible sources that the risks of the flu far out weigh the risks associated with the vaccine. Unfortunately, there is a very vocal minority who are opposed to the vaccine, but when you read or talk to people who REALLY know what they are talking about, they all say the same thing - GET THE VACCINE! Sure there may be a few drs out there saying that they wouldn't/aren't getting the vaccine, but of course those are the ones the media wants you to see! That's news! (If you haven't read the comments on my post about this, you should read Kristin's - it's funny and speaks to this exact point!)
Don't stress yourself out about this now, you made the choice and there's nothing you can do to change it now! The last thing you need right now is extra stress right?
Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Lahni,
I've not read your post about this but I'm going to.
I know what's done is done, But I tend to second guess myself in all ways possible;)
Good luck with your pregnancy.
Hey Tanis, whether this helps or not, I think you made the right choice. :) I have been through similar feelings but I have decided that if I chose not to vaccinate my family and they got seriously sick...I would have a hard time forgiving myself. Also, in case you may have not heard, do you remember our grade 5 teacher, Miss Sandra Glanville....(or were you living in Claresholm at the time, I can't remember), she past aways yesterday from H1N1 flu. So scary and so sad.
Tanis - We also spent hours in line to get our shots and I don't regret it. I know people talk about conspiracies of rushing the drug out to make more money, etc. but I have to put my faith somewhere and I chose to put it in the health care system and people I know who are doctors who recommended it. It's difficult when both sides have such strong opinions on the subject but I think you made the right move.
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