Natural Mama NZ

Rebuttal to ‘Megan Doodle’ Pro-Vax Nurse

2018-11-09T15:52:00.000+13:00

Viral provax posts often make the rounds but this week I was motivated to respond to one. The post’s message wasn’t new, it’s a narrative based on misinformation and logical fallacies that gets rehashed year after year. What really rubbed me the wrong way was the author’s attitude - egotistical, selfish, demanding, and vindictive.

The author, a nurse named Megan Doodle (yes that’s her name, pictured above) stated:

"I think that people who don’t want to vaccinate should have the freedom to do so. If they think that 'Big pharma' is just trying to turn a profit or poison us all... they should be allowed to believe that. But the caveat to that is this: Then they should NOT be allowed go to the doctor or the hospital when they get sick, looking for treatment. That’s right."

"Big pharma makes those antibiotics we are going to pump you full of when you are about to die from sepsis. The steroids and epi we might give you to save your life from your anaphylaxis? Yep, big pharma is behind that too. That inhaler you need to treat your kid's asthma? Better pass on that as well, because ... you guessed it ... brought to you by Big P. Having a heart attack? Better break out your essential oils and get your affairs in order, because the only thing we have to offer you is medicine and procedures brought to you by the very same people who are responsible for those vaccines you insist are evil."

The basic gist of Megan’s post was, “if you don’t trust Big Pharma why use ANY of their products?” I’m happy to answer that.

First, it needs to be said that from a logical point of view Megan’s argument is a hot mess. Her most glaring ‘logic fail’ is the Fallacy of False Dilemma - when something is falsely claimed to be an "either/or" situation.

Megan is proposing that people either choose to accept ALL pharmaceutical products... or NONE. I think we can all agree this is stupidly unethical. Imagine a medical professional holding you to ransom, “either you agree to let me use ANY pharmaceutical product I want on you, or you get NONE!”

There is no all or nothing in healthcare; what’s great for one patient could mean death for another.

Let’s repeat together:

Medicine should be INDIVIDUALIZED to each patient.

Megan is also paid by US, the consumer, to provide a service. WE call the shots, WE decide if we are happy with her service, WE decide if we want the products she is pushing. We are under no obligation to agree with her opinions. The service medical staff provide varies considerably, just like in any other profession, and if we don’t feel that service is up to scratch we can find better elsewhere.

If Megan were my nurse, you can bet I’d be demanding a new nurse and laying a complaint with her superiors.

Moving on.

Megan’s second ‘logic fail’ is the Fallacy of Composition - when one infers that something is true of the WHOLE based on the fact that it’s true of some PART of the whole.

Megan is inferring that because SOME medical products are proven to be worth the risk in certain situations (eg. an epipen when someone is having an allergic reaction), that means ALL medical products, including vaccines, are worth the risk. She is lumping ALL pharmaceutical products together.

Which brings us to the next fact:

Pharmaceutical products are NOT created equal.

Each product has it’s own manufacturer, it’s own composition, it’s own use, it’s own contraindications, it’s own risks and side effects, and it’s own safety and efficacy research associated with it. This means you can’t make generalized assumptions about them as a whole.

You can’t pretend they’re all equally safe and effective. Some products have a fantastic safety and efficacy track record (eg. epipens), while others (eg. vaccines), not so much.

I can already hear the screams... “But vaccines are some of the most well tested pharmaceutical products on the market!”

No, they’re not.

No matter how many times the mantra ‘vaccines are well tested’ is repeated it won’t make it true. So I’ll repeat it again:

Vaccines are NOT well tested.

In reality, vaccines are tested with LESS scrutiny than other drugs - they’ve been given their own ‘special’ rules.

Vaccines are NOT required to undergo double-blind, inert-placebo-controlled testing.¹

Vaccines are NOT required to undergo long-term safety testing.¹ Vaccines are not required to be tested for carcinogenic, mutagenic, or fertility impairment risk (stated on vaccine package inserts), despite many of the ingredients in vaccines having carcinogenic, mutagenic, or fertility impairment risk in separate studies.^2,3,4 Vaccines even have their own special ‘vaccine court’ so vaccine manufacturers don’t have to face real litigation when their products cause adverse side effects or death.⁵ This is not the case for ANY other pharmaceutical.

This is why we can’t lump vaccines in with other medical products, pretending that they ALL have the same sterling reputation - they don’t. This is why parents may decide to pass on vaccines yet say yes to an epipen or asthma inhaler.

Ahem, what about regulatory agencies?

It’s reasonable to ask, “don’t regulatory agencies, like the FDA, ensure all pharmaceutical products are safe for the public?”

We already know that vaccine regulations are lax, but pharmaceutical regulations on the whole aren’t particularly reliable either. The FDA’s reputation is NOT stellar. They have shown time and again they favour corporate interests over public safety. The organizations apathy towards conflicts of interest has been appalling:

“The Food and Drug Administration does almost nothing to police the financial conflicts of doctors who conduct clinical trials of drugs and medical devices in human subjects, government investigators are reporting. Moreover, the investigators say, agency officials told them that trying to protect patients from such conflicts was not worth the effort.” - New York Times, 2009 ⁶

In 2014 NSNBC published an article exposing the FDA’s blatant pandering to corporate interests over public safety:

“Between 2005 and 2011, nearly half of all new drug formulations in the US were approved without companies having to demonstrate a tangible benefit, such as relieving disease symptoms, extending life, or improving someone’s ability to go about normal activities.” - NSNCB, 2014 ⁷

In the same year NSNBC wrote an even more damning piece:

“A recent study about institutional corruption of pharmaceuticals and the myth of safe and effective drugs, warns that over the past 35 years, patients have suffered from a largely hidden epidemic of side effects from drugs that usually have few, offsetting benefits.”

“The researchers warn that since 1906, commercial influence has compromised Congressional legislation to protect the public from unsafe drugs, adding that the authorization of user fees in 1992 has turned drug companies into the FDA’s prime clients, deepening the regulatory and cultural capture of the agency.”

“Part of the regulatory and cultural capture of the FDA has enabled the industry to successfully demand shorter average review times. Less time to thoroughly review the evidence, warn the researchers, has led to increased hospitalization and death.”

“The researchers warn that meeting the needs of the drug companies has taken priority over meeting the needs of the patients, adding that unless this corruption of regulatory intent is reversed, the situation will continue to deteriorate.” - NSNBC, 2014 ⁸

You’d expect this type of publicity would prompt the FDA to clean up it’s act - no such luck. The situation has actually gotten worse with Trump recently nominating Scott Gottlieb, a man riddled with conflicts of interest, to head the FDA. ⁹

Which leads us to our next revelation:

Pharmaceutical companies are not your ‘friends’

The array of pharmaceutical products we use are made by a multitude of different manufacturers, each with their own - often dubious - track record. You can’t lump them all together. Almost all major pharmaceutical companies have faced fines for misconduct, many are repeat offenders who are fined millions year after year. ¹⁰ Some have been outed by their own employees for fudging data ¹¹, while many have made clear their obligations are to their shareholders profits, not the public. ^12,13

Like ANY product you buy, whether it be a lipstick or a carseat (and especially a medical product), the manufacturers reputation makes a huge difference in whether you choose to buy their product or not, as it should. Is the manufacturer trustworthy? Have they shown that the health and safety of their consumers is their top priority? In the case of many major pharmaceutical manufacturers, the answer is consistently NO.

Yes, we should be wary. Yes, we as consumers have damn good reasons to be wary. ¹⁴

So why bother with these companies at all? As Megan so gleefully pointed out there’s times we NEED their products. Not ALL of them, not ALL the time, for many of us it’s just the odd occasion.

“Shouldn’t we be grateful for the life-saving products they provide us?” Yes, but...

We shouldn’t tolerate corruption.

Being grateful for technology available to us doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to corruption, it doesn’t mean we put up with dangerous products. We wouldn’t put up with it in any other industry and we shouldn’t put up with it in the pharmaceutical industry.

It’s important to remember that unless these products created a large profit many of these companies would not manufacture them at all. In fact vaccine manufacturers threatened to stop making certain vaccines altogether in the 1980’s because litigation from vaccine injured consumers was eating into their profit margins. As a result they coerced the US government into passing legislation to protect manufacturers from litigation - an important reason you cannot lump vaccines into the same group as other pharmaceuticals. ⁵

The drive for profit is blatantly obvious with the fact that many larger companies have stopped research into desperately needed new generation antibiotics. For them there just isn’t enough profit in it, so they focus on other drugs with higher profit margins. ¹⁵

How about the 400% price hike in epipens, for no other reason than because the manufacturing company could? ¹⁶ Desperate consumers who rely on life-saving epipens have had no other choice but to pay the 400% price hike, with some families foregoing basic necessities, so billionaire pharma executives can stuff their already bulging pockets.

Valeant pharmaceutical company CEO J. Michael Pearson said it best:

“My primary responsibility is to Valeant shareholders. We can do anything we want to do” ¹³

So let’s not forget the type of companies Megan is talking about when she tries to defend and glorify ‘Big Pharma’.

Megan continues:

"Stop being so naive. Everything has risks. Everything has side effects. Medicine is not perfect.”

Naive? Really? Parents don’t choose to not vaccinate on a whim. This isn’t a joke or a fad to them. For many non-vax parents the choice to vaccinate would come with a high likelihood of serious neurological injury or death - in their situation the benefits of vaccination very clearly DON’T outweigh the risks.

When you hear “anti-vax” think “parent of a vax-injured child”.

Parents who don’t vaccinate are very often parents of vaccine injured children, and are more aware than most of the pitfalls of medicine. They’ve witnessed their children convulsing with post-vaccination seizures and screaming in pain from brain swelling. They were left to pick up the pieces as their children regressed mentally into post-vaccination neurological impairment. They don’t need reminding that “medicine is not perfect” from an insensitive, ‘tone deaf’ nurse. Everyday they are faced with a living, breathing reminder of the devastation “imperfect” medicine can bring. ¹⁸

When Megan says, “everything has risks” she again nonchalantly lumps vaccines in with other pharmaceuticals, implying they’re on a level playing field when we know they’re NOT. The cost vs benefit of an epipen for instance bears no resemblance to any vaccine. Megan will never convince parents who’ve witnessed first hand the devastation vaccines can bring that vaccines are safe.

Her post continues:

“We advocate for vaccinating your children and yourself because science has PROVEN it's the most effective method of controlling the spread of disease and giving you and everyone around you the best chance of NOT DYING from something preventable.”

Flat out dogma. Megan advocates vaccinating our children because that’s what the health department orders her to do. She tells us vaccines are the most effective method of controlling disease because that’s what the health department orders her to say.

There’s a reason she doesn’t provide any studies to bolster her argument - because there aren’t any. There is NO proof that the overall benefits of vaccinating children outweigh the overall risks. There is no independent, fully-vaccinated vs non-vaccinated, long-term study analyzing the overall health of both groups. It doesn’t exist, and without it no person, no matter their station in life, has ANY credence insisting that vaccines are worth the risk.

The German KIGGS study was the closest we’ve come to a vaxed vs non-vaxed study, but like many others it suffered from conflicts of interest which resulted in data tampering after another researcher used the data to show the vaccinated children in the study suffered significantly higher rates of illness and disorders. This prompted the KIGGS authors to remove the relevant data, making the data pool too small for the new researcher’s results to be considered significant afterward. ¹⁹

So let’s hold off on the wishful, vaccine-worshiping dogma until we actually HAVE evidence to say one way or another just how beneficial or risky vaccines are.

The post continues:

“Believe me when I say that not vaccinating yourself or your children because you believe that big pharma only cares about profit or that the scientific medical community has been duped, is 100 percent insanity.;"

No, I don’t believe Megan. Whether Megan wants to a accept it or not…

Our medical system HAS been corrupted.

People far more educated than Megan have published thousands of scientific studies proving that the scientific medical community is riddled with conflicts of interest tied to the pharmaceutical industry, and together they are corrupting the healthcare system. In fact there’s scientific journals and conferences dedicated to the subject. ²⁰

Perhaps one of the best descriptions of how this occurs was published last year (2017) by NPR:

“The long arm of the pharmaceutical industry continues to pervade practically every area of medicine, reaching those who write guidelines that shape doctors' practices, patient advocacy organizations, letter writers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and even oncologists on Twitter, according to a series of papers on money and influence published Tuesday in JAMA Internal Medicine.” - NPR, 2017 ²¹

I believe Megan desperately wants that not to be true. ‘Big Pharma’ is an industry she’s deeply embedded in and one that she’s staked her reputation on, publicly. She has too much to lose to ever entertain the possibility that the industry she’s backing is no longer entirely honorable or ethical, and in many instances she may be causing her patients more harm than good.

The post continues:

"I personally take offense to anyone who implies that medical professionals, like myself, would ever administer anything to anyone, especially a child, that would intentionally harm them.”

No one is saying that Megan would INTENTIONALLY hurt her patients, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t unknowingly caused more harm than good by administering vaccines or other pharmaceuticals and procedures to her patients.

Modern medicine has a lot to answer for.

The research analyzing the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals and medical care is NOT kind. Each year approximately 2.2 million US hospital patients experience adverse drug reactions to prescribed medications, and 106,000 will die due to adverse drug reactions to prescribed medications (study here). ²²

A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that adverse events to prescribed drugs were almost 4 times more common than adverse events relating to the actual procedure the patients were prescribed the drugs for. ²³

A Johns Hopkins study concluded iatrogenic death - deaths directly attributable to medical care - are the third leading cause of death in the US, responsible for 250,000 deaths per year. ²⁴

The British Medical Journal published a scathing report on the safety and efficacy of conventional medicine in which they found just 13% of treatments were scientifically proven to be beneficial. ²⁵

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Megan’s unwavering faith in the pharmaceutical industry is understandable given that it is her job to administer their products. The realization that she may be causing her patients more harm than good by administering those products is a bitter pill to swallow.

In fact it’s a bitter pill I’ve seen medical staff stubbornly REFUSE to swallow even when faced point-blank with the evidence of harm the vaccine they administered caused in a patient. “Oh it can’t be the vaccine’s fault, it’s just a coincidence.” The staggering amount of times medical staff have said this to parents with vaccine injured children is unforgivable.

While Megan might tout that she’s an upstanding nurse who would never knowingly harm a patient, many of us know from experience she does NOT speak for ALL her colleagues.

I’m sorry to Megan if her fragile ego takes “offense” to the knowledge that some people in her profession DO indeed knowingly harm others, but it’s a reality she’ll have to come to grips with. For the sake of her patients, I hope she does fast.

The post continues:

“I take even more offense to anyone that would imply that a college educated professional, like myself, is incapable of 'doing the research.'"

I’ve met plenty of people like Megan who think having a degree magically means they’re always right. Sometimes we all need reminding:

Medical staff are not all-knowing gods.

Arrogance, particularly with medical professionals in my experience, is strong. They have a really hard time accepting new information from... anyone, even more experienced medical professionals.

That type of arrogant, too-proud-to-admit-I’m-wrong attitude can be dangerous in the medical field, especially given that medical staff like Megan have likely learnt very little about vaccines.

Vaccinology, immunology, or epidemiology are specialties NOT included in general medical degrees – these specialties require additional training. The article, “Vaccines: What Your Doctors Know and Don’t Know”, includes a compilation of quotes from doctors revealing what they learnt about vaccines in med school. An excerpt:

"Doctors learn a lot about diseases in medical school, but we learn very little about vaccines. … We don’t review the research ourselves. We never learn what goes into making vaccines or how their safety is studied. So, when patients want a little more information about shots, all we can really say as doctors is that the diseases are bad and the shots are good. – Dr Bob Sears”26

I was once in a discussion with a family doctor who expressed concern over an article she read which touted, “doctors spend their lives researching vaccines”. The problem she had was that this statement simply isn’t true AT ALL. The doctor explained that not only are doctors taught extremely little about vaccines in med school, they DON’T routinely do ongoing research either – they would love to but simply don’t have the time.

She went on to say that the bulk of the recommendations doctors make are dictated to them by major health organizations - doctors are told what to recommend to their patients, they generally don’t develop these recommendations after years of independent research.

You can find more interviews with a range of medical professionals describing how much medical schools actually teach about vaccines here and here.

Let’s not forget too that Megan’s implication that having a medical degree automatically means she’s right, is an example of another logical fallacy: Appeal to Authority. This is when one uses an authority's support as evidence for an argument's conclusion, instead of using reputable evidence such as an independent, high-quality study. A public persona is not enough to garner the public’s trust, we NEED cold, hard evidence. Our children’s lives depend on it.

The post continues:

"People always fire back with something like, 'well if you are vaccinated, why do you care that I’m not? If you are so sure your vaccines work, It’s not like you can catch it.' You are 100 percent right. I will probably be just fine. It’s my newborn baby who is too young to be vaccinated that I’m worried about, it’s my friend who is going through chemo, it’s a neighbor that is immune compromised, it’s my cousin who is allergic and can’t receive the vaccine. Yes, we tell you to get vaccinated to protect yourself, but it’s so much bigger than that. Vaccinate. Because it’s not just about YOU."

There’s an easy rebuttal to that:

You are NOT required to set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.

Why should someone be forced to risk their own child’s health or even life for someone else’s? How is that ethical or even logical?

My son is one of the statistics who had a severe vaccine reaction and can no longer be vaccinated. Does that mean I demand others vaccinate their kids to protect mine? NEVER in a million years would I ask that of another parent. I cannot guarantee the same reaction that happened to my child won't happen theirs. Then their child would be in the same boat as mine! To demand parents take that risk is not only unethical, it is utterly selfish.

Whenever I see a parent demanding that the rest of the population vaccinate to protect their child, I cringe. They seem completely oblivious to the risks they are demanding others to take for the sake of their child.

“But the risks of vaccinating are one in a million!”

NO, they’re not.

Only 1% of vaccine adverse reactions are estimated to be reported. An HHS funded study by Harvard Medical School tracked reporting to VAERS over a three-year period at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care involving 715,000 patients and found that “fewer than 1% of vaccine adverse events are reported.” ²⁸

Additionally, researchers still have very little idea about exactly who is at risk of vaccine reaction and there is still no routine screening to weed out those with genetic anomalies that make them more susceptible.

NO ONE has any place demanding a parent consent to a preventative pharmaceutical for their already healthy child when it has such poor safety testing and includes neurological damage and death as possible side effects. That is NOT OK, and never will be.

What I’ll never understand about people like Megan is why she is not standing beside people like myself, demanding that vaccines be made safer? We know for a fact every year kids continue to suffer severe vaccine reactions - some die. How can we condone the dismissal of so many children’s lives as “collateral damage”? Why aren’t we ALL standing up for these children, demanding manufacturers make safer vaccines?

Sources:

1. HHS Vaccine Safety Responsibilities and Notice

http://icandecide.org/white-papers/ICAN-HHS-Notice.pdf

2. Aluminium & DNA Damage

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tJEDgo6o_Ji5cKGhjcp2lNJK7rsifAoIEGlc7opKVg8/edit?usp=sharing

3. Aluminium & Cancer

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lrz95yqEtvgFa_Tb2TVrmkc8-_lON8vgbOHLWCUtqtY/edit?usp=sharing

4. Aluminium & Fertility Impairment

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v_WzBl0IJk5g12DRTPadGdHpplsvSsVhBrd5xxwdPck/edit?usp=sharing

5. NVIC Position Statement, National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986

https://www.nvic.org/injury-compensation/nvic-position-on-1986-childhood-vaccine-injury-act.aspx

6. F.D.A. Is Lax on Oversight During Trials, Inquiry Finds
Gardiner Harris. Jan 11, 2009
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/us/12fda.html?fta=y

7. Public misinformed about seal of approval from FDA
https://web.archive.org/web/20161020085131/http://nsnbc.me/2014/01/22/public-misinformed-about-seal-of-approval-from-fda/

8. Harvard Scientists warn about Epidemic of Side Effects due to Corruption
https://web.archive.org/web/20180315153655/https://nsnbc.me/2014/02/10/harvard-scientists-warn-about-epidemic-of-side-effects-due-to-corruption/

9. FDA Nominee, Paid Millions by Industry, Says He’ll Recuse Himself if Needed
Katie Thomas, March 29, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/health/fda-nominee-scott-gottlieb-recuse-conflicts.html

10. Lawsuits Against Pharma Companies
https://www.drugdangers.com/manufacturers/

11. Scientists Sue Merck: allege fraud, mislabeling, and false certification of MMR vaccine. Suzanne Humphries, MD, JUNE 25, 2012
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dqm005XdY532KGqPyDHAXvVd0GV-GOFe/view?usp=sharing

12. Pharma chief defends 400% drug price rise as a ‘moral requirement’
David Crow, Sept 12, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/48b0ce2c-b544-11e8-bbc3-ccd7de085ffe

13. Pharma CEO: We’re in Business of Shareholder Profit, Not Helping the Sick
https://www.healthfreedoms.org/pharma-ceo-were-in-business-of-shareholder-profit-not-helping-the-sick/

14. Pharma Company Corruption

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wLGVbwh8Ol0apEKIvfSryJnPZbT4fjC3kRGEqpM_K3M/edit?usp=sharing

15. Industry Corruption Studies, Articles etc.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MNxqK_QxTqbNvytB7BaYWJAb5jMkUmJNgUiIIxZPMtY/edit?usp=sharing

16. Pharmaceutical companies are backing away from a growing threat that could kill 10 million people a year by 2050. Charlotte Hu, Jul 19, 2018

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/major-pharmaceutical-companies-dropping-antibiotic-projects-superbugs-2018-7?r=US&IR=T

17. Why Did Mylan Hike EpiPen Prices 400%? Because They Could
Emily Willingham, Aug 21, 2016

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2016/08/21/why-did-mylan-hike-epipen-prices-400-because-they-could/#1c53704f280c

18. Things Doctors Say When A Child Is Vaccine-Injured
https://www.drzimmermann.org/blog-vaccines-homeopathy-autism-nutrition/things-doctors-say-when-a-child-is-vaccine-injured

Vaccine Injuries: Documented Adverse Reaction
Lou Conte, Tony Lyons, 2014
https://www.amazon.com/Vaccine-Injuries-Documented-Reactions-Vaccines/dp/1629144479/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426528016&sr=1-1&keywords=vaccine+injuries

19. Vaccine Free Children Are Healthier

https://drive.google.com/open?id=13axdgGCvuDtUKoV6X8-V0NOkiZmCX0ZH

20. From Twitter To Treatment Guidelines, Industry Influence Permeates Medicine.
CHARLES ORNSTEIN, January 17, 2017
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/17/510226214/from-twitter-to-treatment-guidelines-industry-influence-permeates-medicine

*Study found here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2598090

21. Research Integrity and Peer Review Journal

https://researchintegrityjournal.biomedcentral.com/

Journal of Medical Ethics

https://jme.bmj.com/

Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics

https://au.sagepub.com/en-gb/oce/journal/journal-empirical-research-human-research-ethics

International Congress on Peer Review and Scientific Publication

https://peerreviewcongress.org/index.html

World Conference on Research Integrity

http://wcri2019.org/

22. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Lazarou J et al. JAMA. 1998 Apr 15;279(15):1200-5.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9555760

23. Medication errors in hospitalized cardiovascular patients.
LaPointe NM1, Jollis JG. Arch Intern Med. 2003 Jun 23;163(12):1461-6.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12824096

24.Johns Hopkins study suggests medical errors are third-leading cause of death in U.S. Vanessa McMains / Published May 4, 2016

https://hub.jhu.edu/2016/05/03/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death/

25. The Mythology Of Science-Based Medicine. Huffington Post, 03/18/2010
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-larry-dossey/the-mythology-of-science_b_412475.html

26. Vaccines: What Your Doctors Know and Don’t Know

https://vactruth.com/2012/07/31/what-your-doctors-know/

27. How Much Is Taught on Vaccines In Medical School? Published March 22, 2017

https://thevaccinereaction.org/2017/03/how-much-is-taught-on-vaccines-in-medical-school/

28. Electronic Support for Public Health–Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (ESP:VAERS). Lazarus, Ross, 2011

https://healthit.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/docs/publication/r18hs017045-lazarus-final-report-2011.pdf

29. Adversomics: a new paradigm for vaccine safety and design
Jennifer A. Whitaker, et al. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2015 Jul; 14(7): 935–947.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4630804/

Hosting a Mother Blessing

2018-10-15T12:02:00.001+13:00

The Purpose of a Mother Blessing

A Mother Blessing ceremony helps mark a powerful transition in a woman’s life and prepare her mind, body and spirit for leaping into the unknown. Friends, family and loved ones, usually women, gather together to wrap the mother in love and positivity. A Mother Blessing should end with the expectant woman feeling empowered and embraced by the love and strength of her tribe. (Description adapted from Nancy Lucina)

The Roots of the Mother Blessing Ceremony

Navajo Dancer, Credit: Erin Ford

The Mother Blessing ceremony is an adaptation of an ancient Navajo ceremony called a Blessingway. Participants of a Blessingway honour, pamper, and prepare the pregnant mother for her journey through birth into motherhood. The Navajo use the Blessing Way Ceremony for many purposes, not just for pregnancy and birth. It is a ceremony performed for any event or transition that is hoped to have a positive outcome, such as menstruation, menopause, or engagement.

To honour the traditions of the Navajo, it is recommended women don’t conduct a Blessingway unless they are of Native American decent. Instead, women can adapt the traditions into their own unique ceremony - many mothers choose to use the term “Mother Blessing Ceremony”.

There are many forms of Blessingway ceremonies, and you can adapt or create rituals to fit the mother's own spiritual beliefs and lifestyle. The ceremony can be short or long, incorporating many rituals or a few. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate a pregnancy.

Individualizing the Ceremony

Guest List

You should consider the guestlist carefully. Be sure to ask the mother who she would like to attend and who she would prefer did not. It’s important the experience is entirely uplifting for her. A Mother Blessing is an intimate and spiritual affair in comparison to a baby shower where a mother may feel obligated to invite a long list people she doesn't necessarily feel positively connected with. Guests who attend do so to honour the mother, to shower her with love and support. Each word spoken is positive and filled with love, joy, and compassion. It is a place void of gossip, judgement, or fear.

Babysitting

If the mother has older children discuss with her who she would like to look after her children for the day. She may prefer to keep her kids close and even have them participate in the ceremony but have someone help when needed.

Location

Mother Blessing Space, Credit: Inken Arntzen

Ideally, a Mother Blessing is hosted somewhere other than the mother’s home. As a Mother Blessing is centered around honouring the mother, she should not feel pressured to prepare her home for or to serve guests. However, if mum is planning to have a home birth, she may want to infuse her home with the beautiful energy that the Mother Blessing brings. Speak to her and make sure to choose a location where she will feel comfortable.

Keep in mind that a Mother Blessing doesn't have to be at someone's home - a retreat or hotel room can be booked, or a beautiful park, reserve, or community garden can be utilized.

Create an Intimate Space

Create a beautiful, sacred space for guests to relax, share, and celebrate. Think about soft music the mother may appreciate, display candles, and place cushions, rugs, and blankets in an intimate circle for guests to sit. The circle is key to a Mother Blessing - it helps create a sense of unity and support.

Time Frame

Mother Blessings can last an hour, a couple of hours, or an entire day. It depends on the preferences of the mother and the chosen activities - bellycasting or henna painting can take an hour or more. You may find guests are engaging well so decide to extend the ceremony to accommodate them. You could plan an afternoon Mother Blessing that ends with a potluck dinner, or begin with a lunch before delving into the ceremony.

A sample itinerary might look like this:

2.00pm - Guests arrive: guests choose a place to sit, provide refreshments & healthy nibbles
2.30pm - Open ceremony: welcome guests, state intentions, opening prayer, guests introduce themselves, light candles, create centrepiece
3.00pm - Pamper the mother: flower crown, pedicure, manicure, braid hair, massage
4.00pm - Gift giving
4.30pm - Creative time: beaded bracelet, affirmation stones
5.00pm - Sharing time: guests share written blessings, mothering wisdom, birth stories, create help list
6.00pm - Close ceremony: thank guests for coming, hand out candles, closing prayer
6.15pm - Dinner

Photography

This is likely an event the mother will want to remember. Find out if she would like to hire a professional photographer or if she has a friend with a talent for photography who can do the honours.

Invitations

Depending on which activities you decide you’d like to do, you may decide to ask your guests to bring certain things in the invite. These may include:

A written note for a Blessing Box
An object for a centerpiece
A special bead for a bracelet or necklace
A beautiful flower for a floral crown
A gift for to include in a care package
A plate of healthy, nourishing food to share - depending on whether you're choosing to cater yourself, hire caterers, or have a pot luck

You'll also want to include a short description of the purpose of a Mother Blessing for guests who are unaware. The wording in an invite might look something like this:

As a cherished friend of Sarah please join us for a Mother Blessing

Evolving from a traditional Navajo ceremony, a Mother Blessing is a sacred gathering celebrating the upcoming birth of an expectant mother. A close group of female family and friends gather to pamper, support, and empower the mother with wisdom and confidence in preparation for childbirth and motherhood.

Graciously bring...

A beautiful flower. This will be used to create a floral crown for Sarah to wear during the ceremony.

A medium sized bead. This will be be used to create a bracelet for Sarah to wear during her labour to remind her of your support.

A blessing of love and encouragement written on the enclosed card. This can be something you've written or sourced from another author. It can be in the form a verse, prayer, special wish, quote, poem, or song lyric. We will share the blessings with Sarah during the ceremony then place them in a Blessing Box for the her to cherish.

A healthy dish to share.

If you are unable to attend the ceremony but would like to offer your support for Sarah please send your bead and written blessing to [address of host] before [date of ceremony].

Mother Blessing hosted with love by [the host]
Please RSVP to [contact details of host] by [one week before ceremony]

Mother Blessing Invitation, Credit: Green Door Handmade

Opening the Ceremony

Welcome Your Guests and State Your Intentions

Like any ceremony or gathering you should have an opening, body, and a closing. Mother Blessings are usually conducted with participants seated in a circle which symbolizes strength and unity and so that everyone can participate equally.

The ceremony should start with a welcome greeting from the host. If your guests are new to Mother Blessings, explain what your ceremony is and what you will be doing. Explain that it is meant to support the mother and positively prepare her for labor. Sample introduction:

“Welcome everyone and thank you for coming to Sarah’s Mother Blessing Ceremony."

"For those of you who don’t know what a Mother Blessing is, it is a ceremony adapted from the ancient Navajo Native American Blessingway ceremony. It involves honoring, pampering, and preparing the pregnant mother for her journey through birth into motherhood, and involves the participation of everyone."

"First we will be performing an opening ritual, after which we will be pampering Sarah by creating a flower headdress for her, giving her a pedicure, manicure, braiding her hair, and giving her a massage. Next we will each give her the gifts we have brought. After that we will be doing a range of activities, these include creating a beaded bracelet and affirmation stones. Next will be a time are sharing, we'll be sharing our blessings, prayers, poems, quotes, or affirmations we have brought for Sarah and collate them in the Blessing Box. We will be writing our pearls of wisdom in the Mothers Book of Wisdom, and sharing the things we most loved about our own births. Lastly we'll be creating a Help List for Sarah."

"Before we get started, I’d like to ask you to join hands in prayer."

Cast the Circle

The circle is meant to be a safe confidential space that allows guests to open themselves to each other. To cast the circle any form of prayer is fine, but one way you can do this is to hold hands and say together:

“Let us form this circle with clear thoughts, wise words, and kind hearts.” (Adapted from Karina Robinson)

Introductions

Each guest should have a turn to introduce themselves. A nice touch to add would be to have each guest also “introduce” her mother, grandmothers, and children by sharing their names with the group.

Lighting Candles

Credit: Vicki Hobbs

Provide a candle for each guest and have them light their candle from the central candle (the mother’s candle), then place their candle next to the mother’s as a symbol of support for the mother and their inclusion in the ceremony.

At the end of the Mother Blessing, extinguish the candles and have each guest take their candle home. When the mother goes into labour, message the guests so they can light the candle in her honor, keeping it burning until the baby is born.

Collective Centerpiece

Centerpieces can be made with flowers, stones, crystals, or other pieces of nature. Guests can also bring objects that are sacred or special to them for use in the centerpiece for the day. Ask each guest to bring an item and gather them together to form a centerpiece for the ceremony.

The Body of a Mother Blessing

Transition into your Mother Blessing ritual activities. There is no set order for conducting each ritual, so you can do them in whatever order makes sense to you. You may wish to first tell your guests which rituals you will be performing. You can play music or sing songs during each activity.

Credit: Grace Ceremonies

Pampering

Typically, grooming of the expecting mother is done first. You may choose to wash the mother's feet in warm water gently scented by essential oils, brush and braid her hair, give her a manicure, pedicure, facial, or massage.

Anointing with Oil

This is a beautiful way to endow confidence in a mother. Give each guest a slip of paper that tells them a specific body part to anoint. An example:

"I anoint your head, may your intuition guide the decisions you will make in the coming years. I anoint your chest, may your heart be filled with love, acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. I anoint your breasts, may they produce abundant milk for your baby. I anoint your hips, may they allow for an easy and empowering birth. I anoint your hands, may they cradle your baby with divine love. I anoint your feet, may they ground you and keep you centered."

Laying of Hands

Laying of hands is an especially unifying and supportive ritual - the power of touch is unmistakable. Have each guest place their hands on the pregnant woman’s belly (if she is comfortable with this) and say a blessing, prayer, affirmation, or sing a song in unison.

Laying of Hands, Credit: Brigid's Grove

Gifts

After the mother is feeling completely indulged, guests can present her with gifts.

Activities

There are a multitude of activities to choose from! You may choose to create a birthing bracelet, birthing wreath, belly cast, belly painting, affirmation stones or whatever activities you have prepared for the Mother Blessing (for a full list of activities see further down the post). You do not need to do all of these! Choose the ones that appeal the most to the expecting mother and fit into the allotted time frame. But, if you have all day, by all means try them all! “Wrist binding” can be a very nice way to end the main part of the ceremony as everyone is joined together and then cut apart.

Closing a Blessingway

Once the expecting mother has been showered with Mother Blessing rituals, you can close the ceremony by first making sure that each guest has had a chance to share what they wanted to share with the expecting mother.

To close the ceremony, a song, poem, affirmation, or prayer sung/read together while holding hands can be a nice way to bring the group together one last time. The Bracelet Binding ritual is also a lovely ritual to do at end of the ceremony (see details towards the bottom of the post).

Thank your guests for coming and for the positive energy they imbued on the celebration. If you are giving favors - such as a candle for the candle ritual - make sure to remind your guests to take one. If you are doing the candle and bracelet binding rituals also be sure to collect everyone's contact details to let them know when the mother is in labour and when the baby is born.

Open the Circle

Lastly, to open the circle ask your guests to hold hands and say together:

“Our circle is now open, but remains unbroken.”

Time to Feast

Sharing food together is traditionally a central part of the Mother Blessing. You may choose to hire caterers, cater yourself, or have each guest bring a plate of healthy, nourishing food.

Credit: The Organic Kitchen

Blessingway Activities

Make a Crown of Flowers

This is a delightful way to help the mother feel beautiful and honored. Ask each guest to bring a flower and weave the flowers into a crown using additional foliage, florist wire, and florist tape. For instructions see this post from Flowers Across Melbourne florist blog.

Flower Crown, Credit: Adelaideup

Beaded Bracelet

This is a favourite for many mothers and a nice way to get everyone - not just those attending the event - involved in supporting the mother. Have each guest bring or send a bead they have picked for the mother. The bead should be something the guest has picked with the mother in mind. At the Mother Blessing pass a piece of jewelry thread around the circle, allowing each guest to say a blessing to the mother before threading her bead. Once each guest has threaded their own bead, have them continue around the circle by threading the beads and reading the blessings of any loved ones who couldn't attend the ceremony.

The mother can then keep the beads close - during pregnancy, labor, and beyond - to remind her of her support circle. Many mothers have said that these birth beads give them strength and focus during labor.

Mother Blessing Beads, Credit: Loving a Glutenfree Life

Prayers, Poems, and Blessings

Ask each guest to bring or send something they've found or written for the mother. This can be a thought, quote, poem, song lyric, blessing, or prayer - something that endows positivity and support for the mother. In your wording you may want to consider the mothers specific circumstances. Is she a first time mother? Is she still healing from a previous miscarriage or difficult birth? Is she planning on a VBAC? Has she expressed specific concerns about birth or motherhood? You can compile the written notes into a small, beautiful Blessing Book or Blessing Box for the mother. Friends and family unable to attend can send their written messages via mail, electronically, or send audio or video recordings. You can find a great collection of birth poems here and here.

Credit: Homebirth Aotearoa

Book of Mothering Wisdom

Have mothering friends write or send gentle mothering wisdom for the pregnant mother. This could be in the form of a thought, quote, poem, song lyric, blessing, or prayer - whatever each mother wants to contribute. Have each mother take turns reading her contribution before adding it to a book. Friends and family unable to attend can send their written messages via mail, electronically, or send audio or video recordings.

Credit: Ann Landers

Share Positive Birth Experiences

Empower the mother-to-be by sharing positive birth experiences with her. Take turns going around the room telling what you most enjoyed about your births.

Credit: Maria Shytova

Centering the Mother

Help refill the mothers spiritual cup by each expressing what qualities you love about her or recounting a sweet or fun story about her.

"Blessings" by Veronica Petrie

Releasing Fear

This ritual is best done at the beginning of the Mother Blessing so that guests may release their fears and feel free to focus on the ceremony.

"The purpose of the ceremony is to identify and symbolically release old hurts, grudges, resentments, regrets, sufferings, mistakes… to release the past letting go of any thoughts, feelings or behaviors that might be holding you back." - The Compassionate Gardener

For this ritual ask each guest write down their fear on a piece of paper, then starting with the mother, each participant puts their piece of paper in a "burning bowl" where they're safely burnt. You can end the ritual by saying:

“By burning these things, we release our fears. May we now be free to focus our minds and hearts upon the present moment.”

Burning Bowl Ceremony, Credit: Michael Woods

Birthing Flags

Have guests decorate a small fabric flag with an inspirational image, phrase, affirmation, or design that relates to birthing or feeling empowered. The guests then bring or send the flags to the Mother Blessing, where they read or explain the meaning behind their flag, before connecting each piece of fabric with a cord. The expecting mother can hang the flags in her birthing space.

Credit: Hourglass Photography

Wishing Tree

This is a sweet activity commonly done at baby showers, birthdays, engagements, and weddings and which would fit in well at a Mother Blessing. Create a miniature tree from a branch and place it in a pretty pot. Have each guest write a wish for the new mother using decorative paper/cards. Tie the wishes to the tree as “leaves.” The wishes can later be collected for the mother and cherished in a "Wish Book" or "Wish Box".

Wishing Tree, Credit: Project Nursery

River Stones

Provide each guest with a smooth river stone. Ask the guests to think of a word they would like the pregnant mother to focus on before and during labor. Each guest should write her word on the stone, then everyone can share why they chose their word.

Credit: Breathe Doula Care, Portland

Belly Cast

A belly cast is a slightly messy and light-hearted activity that will bring smiles all around. It's actually fairly straight forward and each guest can take turns applying the plaster bandage. It also gives the mother a lovely keepsake of her pregnant body. Alternatively the mother can bring her premade belly cast and each participant can paint/write an affirmation or design.

Credit: Mother & Baby UK

Belly Painting

Another fun activity is to paint the mother's belly. You can use henna paints or any non-toxic (preferably natural) body paints. The mother may have a design she would like, something of special significance. You can talk it over with the mother beforehand and decide what she would like. Henna paint may work especially well because it could last until the birth, if the mother wants. A nice touch would be to henna each hand of the guests as well, symbolically connecting each participant in the circle.

Mother Blessing Henna, Credit: Healing Henna

Candle Jars

There are a multitude of beautiful ways to decorate candle jars. You may choose to use glass paint, gold leaf, colorful or patterned tissue paper, glitter, lace, ribbon etc. You can have each participant bring jars from home or provide them for your guests. If having a homebirth, candles can be lit in the jars during labor to create a beautiful glow and remind the mother of her support circle. You can find instructions for the below jars here.

Decorated Candle Jars, Credit: Rach Speed

Nature Mobile or Wreath

Ask each guest to bring something from nature (a dried flower, a crystal, foliage etc.). Incorporate the objects into a simple wreath or mobile – it can grace the mother’s birthing space and/or can be enjoyed by the new baby. Guests can also choose to tie small gifts or affirmations to the wreath.

Wreath, Credit: Terrain

Plant a Garden

For the pregnant mother who loves plants, ask each guest to bring a small perennial plant the mother can keep in her house or plant at her leisure.

Credit: El Jardin De Gaia

Embroidered Blanket

Ask each guest to write a short note or design on a plain blanket with fabric markers. Then someone with a talent for embroidery can embroider over the marker to keep the notes and designs intact.

Credit: Celeste Johnston

Decorate Baby Clothes

Ask each guest to bring a onesie or other plain cotton baby clothing to decorate. You can use freezer stencils, appliqué fabric markers, or any other simple craft ideas.

Labor/Motherhood CD

Ask each guest to send a special song that will be burned onto a CD that the mother can listen to (during labor if appropriate). Each guest can share why she chose the song. You can find a beautiful album specifically made for Mother Blessing ceremonies here (pictured below).


Blessingway Songs,by Copperwoman & the 2005 Esalen Midwives Retreat Choir

Online or Powerpoint Blessingway

Especially good for friends who cannot come to an in person ceremony, gather photos of the pregnant mother during pregnancy, with friends, etc and put them together with special words of love from the mother’s support system. Add in an appropriate piece of music, and you have a beautiful keepsake.

Care Package

Ask each guest to bring a gift to include in a care package. This could be nipple ointment, body butter, facial masks, hair oil, essential oils, scented heat pack, a selection of teas, bath salts, a voucher for a massage or manicure etc.

New Mother Care Package
Credit: Sweet Gum Botanicals

Help List

Sign up each guest for a period of housework, childcare of other siblings, and other chores in the days after the baby is born. Consider having each participant write down a meal that they are committed to bringing for the mother after her baby is born. Alternately each participant can bring a pre-made frozen meal, if the mother has space in her freezer. You or another participant can also take responsibility for organizing and overseeing the help. The mother shouldn't have to do anything. At the Mother Blessing tell her of your plans and assure her you have it all taken care of.

Freezer Meal Ideas, Credit: New Leaf Wellness

Binding Bracelet

This is a wonderful way to close the circle and to symbolize to the mother that she is supported and connected to the women in the circle. One at a time starting with the mother, a ball of yarn or cord (usually red) is wrapped around each participants wrist twice and then passed on to the woman next to her who does the same. Once all participants have bound their wrists some words can be spoken about the web of connectivity and support within the mothers circle of loved ones. An example:

"We are the flow, we are the ebb, we are the weavers, we are the web."

Each woman then takes a turn to cut the strings of the woman next to her and ties it to her wrist. The bracelets stays on until the mother births her baby.

Binding Bracelet, Credit: Paper Bluejay

Sources:
How To Conduct A Blessingway
http://snowboardmommy.com/mother-blessings/how-to-conduct-a-mother-blessing/
Blessingway Ceremonies
http://fresnodoula.com/otherServices/motherBlessing.html
Planning A Blessingway
http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/blessingway.html
Blessingway Sample Ceremony
https://blessingsbyashleigh.weebly.com/blessingway-sample-ceremony.html
30 Ideas for Mother Blessing Ceremonies
http://codenamemother.com/2011/10/26/mother-blessings/
Positive Birth Group-Davis County: Mother Blessing Ceremonies
https://myutahdoulas.com/2017/03/17/pbg-mother-blessings/
What is a Blessingway Ceremony?
https://aparaba.com/conscious-birth/blessingway-ceremony/
Blessingways
https://twincitiesmidwifery.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/blessingways/
Mother Blessing Ceremony
http://sacredpathbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/MotherBlessingCeremony-overview-1.pdf
Blessingway
http://www.mysticmamma.com/blessing-way/

Why I Don't Trust My Doctor When it Comes to Vaccination

2017-05-29T15:47:00.001+12:00

“How can you go against what your doctor recommends, don’t you trust your doctor!?”

It seems a give-in that medical professionals know more than we ‘non-medical people’ about vaccines, right? Surprisingly it’s not always the case. Vaccinology, immunology, or epidemiology are specialties not included in general medical degrees – these specialties require additional training.

The stark reality is that med students are taught very little about vaccines. This is reiterated in the article, “Vaccines: What Your Doctors Know and Don’t Know”, which is in essence a compilation of quotes from doctors revealing what they have learnt about vaccines in med school. An excerpt: [1]

“Doctors learn a lot about diseases in medical school, but we learn very little about vaccines. … We don’t review the research ourselves. We never learn what goes into making vaccines or how their safety is studied. So, when patients want a little more information about shots, all we can really say as doctors is that the diseases are bad and the shots are good. – Dr Bob Sears”

In a recent discussion I was in a family doctor expressed concern over a recent article she read that touted, “doctors spend their lives researching vaccines”. The problem she had was that this simply isn’t true at all. The doctor explained that not only are doctors taught extremely little about vaccines in med school, they don’t routinely do ongoing research either – they would love to but simply don’t have the time.

She went on to say that the bulk of the recommendations doctors make are dictated to them by major health organizations. Doctors are told what to recommend to their patients, they don’t develop these recommendations after years of independent research. If you want to know what type of education most doctors receive about vaccines, read the latest handout from the CDC. Given the minimal education doctors are given regarding vaccines it wouldn’t take long to get to the point you know more than your own doctor on the subject.

But there’s more to it than just a lack of training, a lot of people have lost trust in conventional medicine because of poor treatment. A common scenario:

Parents are told, “there is absolutely nothing to worry about”, when they express concern over vaccinating their child.
They agree to vaccinate their child, but their child goes on to suffer a severe vaccine reaction.
Their doctor refuses to acknowledge the vaccine injury.
Their doctor kicks the family out for refusing to subject their child to more vaccines.

Experiences like this destroy trust in the medical establishment. That distrust isn’t based on irrational belief, it’s based on real life experiences. If you haven’t had an unfortunate experience with conventional medicine, then great, good for you, I’m glad it has been plain sailing for you so far. But for many it’s been rough, to say the least. They’ve learnt their lesson the hard way – doctors are human, they aren’t endless sources of information, they are fallible, and sometimes they get it very, very wrong.

It’s unlikely that people who don’t blindly trust their doctors opinion on vaccination are inadvertently saying they think they know better than their doctor – though given the vast medical literature available to us today via PubMed or Cochrane that could very well be a possibility. It’s more likely that these people can’t blindly trust that the vaccine their doctor is pushing as “totally safe and absolutely necessary” really is, because experience has taught them to be skeptical. Their child’s vaccine-induced brain damage is a constant reminder that they can end up paying a very high price if they choose to have blind faith in a doctor.

Research has confirmed that skeptical patients really do have a valid reason to be wary. Larry Dossey et al wrote a scathing report on the safety and efficacy of conventional medicine in which they found:

"...when you take your sick child to the hospital or clinic, there is only a 36% chance that he will receive a treatment that has been scientifically demonstrated to be either beneficial or likely to be beneficial."

Just 13% of treatments were scientifically proven to be beneficial.[2] Taking into account those numbers, it isn’t surprising that many patients have had disappointing experiences with conventional medicine.

It’s also worth noting that not every doctor or scientist thinks that vaccines are safe and effective. There is a wide range of opinions.[3-5] Some medical professionals have taken the time to research medical literature and question the recommendations they are expected to follow. Numerous doctors have spoken out with concern over the current and past vaccine schedule. However, whether a doctor agrees with vaccination or not, they are often bound by their workplaces policy to promote vaccination. If they dare speak out against vaccination they risk losing their job. Or worse, no one wants to be “Wakefielded”.

“What makes you think your “google research” is on par with medical professionals?”

It’s important to remember when we talk about vaccines, we are talking about a range of products. The question is how well these products perform when put to the test – that knowledge is available to everyone, medical professional or not, via medical journals such as the Cochrane Library or sites that collate scientific literature such as PubMed. The public have access to the exact same studies that medical professionals are using to form their opinions (well at least the medical professionals who actually have time to research vaccines). This information isn’t reserved for the ‘medical elite’, it’s available to everyone – so let’s make use of it.

How effective or safe particular vaccines are relies on continued efficacy and safety trials, studies, and post-licence analysis. Not only are new vaccines rolled out each year, but the microbial environment in which vaccines are hoped to have an effect on is also continually changing. Hence why we are seeing rising rates of once rare strains of infection due to vaccination – strains that the current vaccines don’t currently protect from [6]. So while someone may have intricate knowledge about the immune system or diseases, there is no guarantee they have read every study published about every vaccine on the market.

If you’re new to researching medical literature and finding it difficult to interpret study findings, here’s somewhere to start:
Interpretation of Epidemiological Studies
Introduction to Statistics Part 1
Introduction to Statistics Part 2

“What makes you think you know more than the doctors, scientists, and health organisations that recommend vaccines.”

When you do decide to dig in and start reading medical literature, you’ll find not all researchers are in agreement that all vaccines are safe and effective.[3-5] Since the dawn of vaccines there has always been diverse opinions and conflicting studies published by the medical community. Medical literature as a whole paints a much darker and more complex reality than the simplistic, black/white messages about vaccines we have traditionally grown up believing.

One of the more sinister elements are the rampant conflicts of interest which pollute medical research. Researchers are often influenced by conflicts of interest that can have profound effects on how they choose to conduct their studies and what they choose to publish. Medical journals, health organisations, and governmental policy makers too commonly suffer from conflicts of interest that deeply affect their decisions.[7-12]

In fact, the vast majority of doctors involved in establishing national guidelines on disease treatment have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry that could potentially sway their recommendations and inappropriately influence thousands of other physicians.[7-12]

It’s not a matter of, “is this study author (or health organisation, policy maker etc) more knowledgeable than me?” But rather, “can I trust that this author (or health organisation, policy maker etc) is not influenced by conflict of interest?”

What it boils down to

When parents choose not take the path their doctor recommends regarding vaccination it’s not out of arrogance or ignorance. Without doubt, it is always out of genuine concern for their child’s safety. I’ve found it often comes down to these factors:

Parents know their doctor has learnt very little about vaccines and isn’t in a position to be making absolute recommendations regarding vaccine safety. Parents know they can read the scientific literature for themselves to make an informed decision.
Parents know that the vaccine recommendations they are given by their doctors are heavily biased to favour vaccine manufacturers, which puts their validity in doubt.
Parents know the risks outweigh the benefits regarding vaccinating their own children because their own children have suffered adverse reactions that outweigh the calculated risks associated with vaccine preventable diseases.
Parents no longer trust that their children will be safe if they follow traditional medical guidelines, because trusting those guidelines has let them down in the past - they have genuine reason to doubt medical opinion.

If the medical industry wants parents to vaccinate they need to take the above concerns very seriously. We want to see doctors educated more thoroughly, with knowledge of the risks involved in vaccinating, so that when parents quiz them (as they should) doctors can actually answer them properly. We want to see the vaccine manufacturers influence over vaccine recommendations removed, along with influence over safety and efficacy testing. We want to see vaccine injury taken seriously - when a vaccine causes harm, demand that manufacturers improve the formula.

Perhaps the most important of all these concerns is to re-establish trust with the patients harmed and treated so poorly by the medical industry. Without patient trust, doctors will get nowhere. Central to re-establishing trust is having the courage to take responsibility when a vaccine causes harm instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.

References:

1. Vaccines: What Your Doctors Know and Don’t Know
Jennifer Hutchinson, July 31 2012
http://vactruth.com/2012/07/31/what-your-doctors-know/

2. The Mythology Of Science-Based Medicine
Larry Dossey et al. Huffington Post. 03/18/2010
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-larry-dossey/the-mythology-of-science_b_412475.html

3. The Case Against Immunizatons
By Richard Moskowitz, M. D
http://vran.org/about-vaccines/general-issues/doctors-speak/the-case-against-immunizatons/

4. Doctors Speak
Vaccination Risk Awareness Network
http://vran.org/about-vaccines/general-issues/doctors-speak/

5.Doctors against vaccines
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nhwAXL7YINSuewcu6TJdvct2AiG3pj50/view?usp=sharing

6. Pneumococcal Strains Not Covered by Vaccine on the Rise
Mar 23,2013. By Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4506700

7. Conflict of Interest Studies
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_fOow977UVfQUw2RFFwMV9ueVE/view?usp=sharing

8. Relationships Between Authors of Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Pharmaceutical Industry. Choudhry, N.K., Stelfox, H.T., Detsky, A.S., 2002JAMA, 287: 612-617.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/287/5/612.short

9. Just how tainted has medicine become? Editorial The Lancet, 359, 9313. 2002
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2802%2908198-9/fulltext

10. Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality: systematic review. Lexchin, J., Bero, L., Djulbegovic, B. and Clark, O., 2003 British Medical Journal, 326:1167-1170
http://www.bmj.com/content/326/7400/1167.long

11. Influence of drug company authorship and sponsorship on drug trial outcomes. Tungaraza, T, and Poole, R., The British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) 191: 82-83.
http://psychrights.org/research/Digest/Science4Sale/DrugCoInfluence%282007%29.pdf

12. Spin in reports of randomized controlled trials with nonstatistically significant primary outcomes. Boutron I, et al, 2009 International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/PRC/15964

Measles: Putting the Hysteria into Perspective

2015-02-16T10:12:00.002+13:00

Growing up I thought the prevention of measles was simple - you vaccinate. Everyone did it, I did it, I had no reason to question it. It wasn't until I was plunged into parenthood with little ones depending on me that I took the time to seriously read up on the topic. There was a different opinion floating around every corner so I decided to get some definitive answers by looking at the medical research. The problem I found was the further I dug into the research, the more problematic and unsettling the topic became.

Vaccines... they don't work quite how you think
One of the more startling revelations the research revealed was that most vaccines, including the measles vaccine, don’t protect against contracting infection but will often reduce or prevent symptoms of infection [1-7].

"Many vaccines are primarily intended to prevent disease and do not necessarily protect against infection." - Andre et al. World Health Organization, 2008 [7]

Andre et al go on to state that just two vaccines, the HPV and Hep A vaccine, may have the ability to prevent infection.

This fact is NOT widely known, not only because it's virtually never mentioned publicly, but also because medical terminology can be a little deceiving. When we read that "vaccines prevent disease" we equate the word "disease" with "infection", but that's not the case in medical literature. "Disease" is defined as a state causing symptoms of ill health, however you can easily have an infection without symptoms of ill health. Disease and infection are two very different terms.

So, we can say that vaccines prevent disease, because they can (though not always) prevent the symptoms of ill health, yet they commonly don't stop infection or its transmission. We can also say that vaccines can prevent the spread of the disease, because without symptoms such as coughing the infection is less likely to spread, though it is still present in saliva and nasal secretions.

Disease prevent is NOT just about vaccines
The big issue I have with the current strong push for measles vaccination (and all vaccination), is that it's just one of the methods that reduces the symptoms (and therefore spread, of infection). There are many, many more methods of disease prevention besides vaccination that are proven in medical literature.

Breastfeeding is one such highly underrated disease prevention method that stands out. It is shown in studies to dramatically reduce the rate of symptomatic infection in babies [8]. The protection is known to continue against certain types of infections for up to 10 years [9].

But it doesn't stop there. Breastfed children are...

5 times less likely to have more than 1 illness.
*compared to infants exclusively formula fed for 5 months.

16 times less likely to have 3 or more illnesses.
*compared to infants exclusively formula fed for 5 months.

5 times less likely to need hospitalization.
*compared to formula fed babies for the first 6 months of life.

6 times less likely to be hospitalized due to infection.
*compared to formula fed babies for the first 6 months of life.

5 times less likely to have gastrointestinal illness.
*when compared to infants exclusively formula fed for the first 13 weeks of life.
*any infection of the digestive tract caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

4 times less likely to have necrotising enterocolitis.
*compared to formula fed preterm infants.
*necrotising enterocolitis is a condition where portions of the bowel undergo tissue death, it has a death rate of 20-30%.

4 times less likely to have diarrhoeal disease.
*compared to infants breastfed for 6 months or more.

4 times less likely to be hospitalized for lower respiratory tract diseases.
* compared to infants formula fed for 4 or more months
* lower respiratory tract diseases include bronchiolitis, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, empyema, and infections due to specific agents (eg, respiratory syncytial virus).

4 times less likely to have pneumococcal disease.
*compared to formula fed infants.
*pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can present as pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, middle ear infection, and sinusitis.

3 times less likely to have ear infections.
* compared to infants exclusively formula fed for six months.

2 times less likely to have conjunctivitis.
* compared to infants exclusively formula fed for six months.

7 times less likely to have thrush.
* compared to infants exclusively formula fed for six months.

(See this post for stats related to not breastfeeding and a list of references.)

Those are some serious stats showing breastfeeding has the ability to prevent not just one, but a multitude of illnesses, and without the risk of side effects.

Why the hysteria over MMR?
With that in mind, let’s look at the recent MMR vaccine publicity. The measles rates are within a normal range compared to recent years [10], there have been no measles associated deaths, and measles is well known to be a benign illness in most individuals [11]. Yet the current measles hysteria seems even worse than the recent Ebola scare.We have articles calling for non-vaccinating parents to be sued if their child infects another child, to be put in jail, their children taken away and forcibly vaccinated, and addresses of non-vaccinators to be made public. Then there's the vitriol spewed through social media with commenters labelling non-vaccinators child abusers, vile monsters, and ignorant science-deniers, along with threats of violence and death.

Are we enforcing a double standard on parents?
Let's pretend that treating non-vaccinating parents this way is acceptable for a moment (it's not). If this is the way we've decided as a society to treat parents who choose not to adopt specific disease prevention methods for their children, tell me where are the witch hunts calling for parents who refuse to breastfeed to be sued if their child infects another child, for non-breastfeeders to be put in jail, their children taken away and forcibly breastfed, or addresses of non-breastfeeders to be made public?

We know that breastfeeding reduces a myriad of infections, including pneumococcal disease which can progress to dreaded meningitis [12]. We're not talking about a little possible benefit, we're talking about real, tangible prevention of disease and death through breastfeeding. Studies show breastfed babies are 5 times less likely to be hospitalized for infection - we are talking about the prevention of hospitalization for thousands of babies [13].

Parents have been prosecuted for not vaccinating their child who consequently died from a "vaccine preventable disease" [14]. Should the same be done to parents who refuse to breastfeed, whose child consequently dies from a "breastmilk preventable disease"?

Adopting pro-vax rhetoric we could conclude non-breastfed kids are a threat to our children, and the rest of the community. They are more likely to carry disease, they could infect vulnerable newborns, elderly folks, or chronically ill patients. They should not be allowed to go to daycare or preschool, or at least must be sent home when there is an outbreak. Doctors who don’t enforce mandatory breastfeeding for their patients should lose their licence. In fact, anyone who advocates that breastfeeding shouldn’t be mandatory should be publicly shamed. Parents who don’t breastfeed are irresponsible, neglectful, stupid, and anti-science. They literally want to their child to die. (Yes, these are word-for-word comparisons of pro-vax rhetoric.)

Sounds hideous when you attack mothers about not breastfeeding doesn’t it? Something like propaganda spread by a dictatorship.

“Dictatorship, form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations… Dictators usually resort to force or fraud to gain despotic political power, which they maintain through the use of intimidation, terror, and the suppression of basic civil liberties. They may also employ techniques of mass propaganda in order to sustain their public support.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica

“Propaganda, dissemination of information—facts, arguments, rumours, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica

While we’re at it…

“Bullying, intentional harm-doing or harassment that is directed toward vulnerable targets and typically repeated. Bullying encompasses a wide range of malicious aggressive behaviours, including physical violence, verbal mockery, threats, ostracism, and rumours spread either orally or by other means of communication, such as the Internet.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica

How do you think someone who couldn’t breastfeed would feel hearing the above statements? Imagine breastfeeding (like vaccines) did have major risks, and a parent had a child who severely reacted to breastmilk resulting in permanent brain damage. The family doctor refused to admit that the breastmilk caused the reaction and insisted the child continue to be breastfed. How scared do you think the parent would feel when faced with the possibility of mandatory breastfeeding? How heartbroken and disillusioned do you think she would feel hearing someone call her “neglectful” or “stupid”?

These tactics - whether used against those who don't breastfeed or don't vaccinate - are cruel, unfair, and unethical.

Disease prevention is a lifestyle
There’s plenty of analogies that can be used for vaccination besides breastfeeding...

avoiding people when sick
washing hands
not sharing drinks or food
eating a healthy diet
getting enough exercise
not smoking
not drinking alcohol

All of these life style choices are shown in studies to have a profound impact on the immune system. Best of all these don’t carry the risks that vaccination does.

Why are these factors not gaining more attention in the fight against not just communicable disease but all disease? Why is the public not rabidly demanding that others be forced to adopt these lifestyle changes like they are for vaccination? After all if people don’t avoid others when sick, don’t wash hands, share food and drink with others, eat an unhealthy diet, get no exercise, chain smoke, and binge drink, they could well become a cesspool of disease - in theory they are a risk to the public.

So why the double standard when it comes to vaccination?

Protecting individual choice
At the end of the day we do have a responsibility to try to prevent disease in our community. But it must be recognized that there is more than one way to prevent disease - vaccination is not our only hope. The combination of prevention methods that is right for one person may be wrong for someone else. Insisting that we know what is right for others is naïve, arrogant, and dismissive of individual variability. Medicine has never been a "one size fits all" regime.

As "safe" as vaccines have been touted, we can never guarantee the benefit outweighs the risk for someone else. It won't be us (or the doctor or the pharmaceutical company) paying the price if the vaccine backfires, it will be the individual. Given the seriousness of possible consequences and lack of vaccine safety testing/monitoring, the choice to vaccinate MUST remain with the individual.

Sources:

1. Acellular pertussis vaccines protect against disease but fail to prevent infection and transmission in a nonhuman primate model. Jason M. Warfel et al. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1314688110

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/11/20/1314688110.abstract

2. Estimated susceptibility to asymptomatic secondary immune response against measles in late convalescent and vaccinated persons. Damien B, et al. J Med Virol. 1998 Sep;56(1):85-90. PMID: 9700638

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9700638

3. Investigation of a measles outbreak in a fully vaccinated school population including serum studies before and after revaccination. Matson DO et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1993 Apr;12(4):292-9. PMID: 8483623

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8483623

4. Nonclassic measles infections in an immune population exposed to measles during a college bus trip. Helfand RF et al. J Med Virol. 1998 Dec;56(4):337-41. PMID: 9829639

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829639

5. Vaccination against measles: a neverending story.

Koert J Stittelaar et al. Expert Rev. Vaccines 1(2), 151–159 (2002).

https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CGQQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Frepub.eur.nl%2Fpub%2F3869%2FEF26F9D0d01.pdf&ei=6yCtU_C1C4jtkgW6sICABA&usg=AFQjCNHAgzF5YrOamDMsBrbsZ_9UdgjQOg&sig2=gYZJb0FTlMIKPXHzrqvuww&bvm=bv.69837884,d.dGI

6. Endpoints in vaccine trials.

Michael G Hudgens, et al. Statistical Methods in Medical Research 2004; 13: 1^26

http://faculty.washington.edu/peterg/Vaccine2006/articles/HudgensGilbertSelfSMMR.pdf

7. Vaccination greatly reduces disease, disability, death and inequity worldwide.

FE Andre et al. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Feb 2008, Vol 86, Number 2, 81-160

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/2/07-040089/en/#.VDyikuvhBpA.facebook

8. Outcomes of Breastfeeding

Ginna Wall, MN, IBCLC, February 2013

http://www.llli.org/docs/cbi/outcomes_of_breastfeeding_jan_2013.pdf

9. Protective effect of breastfeeding: an ecologic study of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis and breastfeeding in a Swedish population. Silfverdal SA et al. Int J Epidemiol. 1999 Feb;28(1):152-6. PMID: 10195681

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10195681

10. Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables

MMWR / February 13, 2015 / Vol. 64 / No. 5

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6405md.pdf

11. Measles, CDC Pinkbook

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/meas.pdf

12. Risk of Formula Feeding

Natural Mama NZ

http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.co.nz/2011/06/risks-of-formula-feeding.html

13. Infectious disease hospitalizations among infants in the United States.
Yorita KL et al. Pediatrics. 2008 Feb;121(2):244-52.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245414

14. The anti-vaccine couple facing prison over the death of their toddler from meningitis

Michael E. Miller Friday 18 March 2016 16:29 GMT

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/meningitis-toddler-dead-vaccination-david-collet-stephan-canada-a6939166.html

Dismantling Vaccine Propaganda

2014-10-26T08:53:00.000+13:00

Once in a while something shared on the internet comes my way that I feel moved to write about. The below is one such internet gem, a meme shared on Facebook that is frankly, an angry, misinformed rant.

On the surface the meme can seem convincing, but if you spend a little time trying to find studies to back up these statements, it soon falls flat.

So piece by piece I’m going to break it down so that by the end of it, we’ll all have learned some valuable scientific information about vaccines, and understand why the above meme constitutes bogus, manipulative, propaganda.

So let's dig in:

“The diseases haven’t gone away. They are just held in check because sensible people vax their kids.”

While the aim of vaccines is to keep VPD's (vaccine preventable diseases) in check, the stats just don't add up. Despite extremely high and stable vaccination rates, death from infection has actually increased dramatically since the 1970’s – an era when we received over 4 times less vaccines [1-5].

Some people aren’t sensible; they don’t vax their kids. Yes, I’m looking at you, sunshine – you with the Ph.D from Google U and the post-doc from Whale.to.” “

Vaccines have the ability to cause severe, permanent injury, and death [6-8]. While some screening is recommended, infants commonly receive vaccines without any testing and minimal to no screening to verify whether they will react badly. The CDC recommends administering ALL the vaccines a child is eligible for at the same doctors visit – up to 9 vaccines at once [9,10]. This practice has never been studied for safety [11]. This is NOT sensible, it is reckless.

“Because your little cherubs are un-vaxed they are far more likely to catch the diseases. 23 times more likely for whooping cough, 35 times more measles for example.”

While it's true that unvaxed kids are more likely to show symptoms of VPD's, there's very few studies that show unvaxed kids are more likely to actually contract or transmit VPD's compared to vaxed kids.

That's because there's almost no vaccine shown to protect recipients against INFECTION. Studies show vaccines can reduce symptoms of infection in many recipients, but not ensure protection against contracting or transmitting infection. [12].

“Your kidlets are much more likely to be exposed to the diseases, because anti-vaxers like yourself hang around with other anti-vaxers.”

This is an assumption that comes with no actual data. Vaccinated individuals are still likely to contract diseases, likely from other vaccinated individuals, because when exposed they may still become infected and pass on the infection – albeit with minimal or no symptoms [12].

While there are some studies that show unvaxed kids are likely to have more VPD's (or at least show the symptoms of VPD's) it's usually in babies too young to be vaccinated anyway, so it doesn't really count in this situation. These limited studies also don't take into consideration the overall health of vaxed vs unvaxed populations, they only test for VPD's. What about all the other diseases and illnesses we face which vaccines are implicated in causing?

Non-communicable diseases including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders have now overtaken communicable diseases as greater threats to our populations health. This is why advocacy groups have been calling for an independent, saline-control, vaxed vs non-vaxed study analyzing the overall health of both groups. So we can understand once and for all whether the benefits of vaccinating outweighs the risks.

“Your little darlings then spread their vile viruses and bacteria to innocent children who are too young to be vaxed. Those innocent children get sick with killer diseases spread by people silly enough not to vax – like yourself.”

"Vile viruses and bacteria” are more likely to be found in the vaccinated population. Many outbreaks of disease occur almost entirely or exclusively in vaccinated populations. As we know, vaccinated kids are still likely to contract and pass on infections to vulnerable individuals because most vaccines DON'T protect from contracting or transmitting VPD's. [12]

Additionally, vaccine recipients can spread disease when shedding vaccine viruses after being vaccinated with live vaccines [12]. Vaccinated kids are a danger to vulnerable individuals, just as unvaccinated kids are.

“No vaccine is 100% effective; some vaxed kids will also catch your revolting diseases. We need high vax rates for herd immunity.”

"Revolting diseases" don't belong to unvaxed kids anymore than they belong to vaxed kids. The only difference between a vaxed and unvaxed child is that when the vaxed child contracts a "revolting disease" they likely won't show symptoms. But it doesn't mean they don't have the infection lurking inside them, unknowingly spreading it everyone around them - which makes them possibly even more dangerous than an unvaxed child. At least when unvaxed kids get a VPD they'll likely show symptoms so their parents know to keep them at home.

Also, we've had extremely high and stable vaccination rates for over a decade, it has not stopped epidemics [1,2]. If a vaccine isn't effective enough, the answer isn't forcing EVERYONE to get the vaccine, risking side effects possibly even worse than the VPD the vaccine was trying to protect from. The answer is to make the vaccine more effective, and safer while you're at it.

It's also worth repeating that death from infectious disease has increased dramatically since the 1970’s – an era when we received over 4 times less vaccines.

“Infect enough children and some of them will die, more of them will suffer permanent disability, and all of them will have experienced an unnecessary and unpleasant disease.”

What about death, permanent disability and unnecessary and unpleasant experiences caused by VACCINE INJURY? Because the necessary studies comparing the overall health of non-vaccinated vs vaccinated populations have not been done, whether the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks is still unknown. Forcing parents to take that gamble is totally unethical.

“All of that suffering will be YOUR fault for not vaxing your rugrats.”

No, it won't. Trying to blame non-vax parents for the fall-out of ineffective, dangerous vaccines is truly despicable. If you want someone to blame, the blame lies squarely and solely with vaccine manufacturers.

References:

1. National Immunization Survey (NIS) - Children (19-35 months)
CDC, September 2, 2014
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/nis/child/index.html

2. Nationwide vaccination coverage among children age 19-35 months, 2002-2012
CDC, Morb. Mortal. Wkly.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_fOow977UVfaTBKYlBZOEZfV2M/edit?usp=sharing

3. Deaths Due to Infectious & Parasitic Diseases https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_fOow977UVfMU0xSVZEamVDNHc/view?usp=sharing

4. The Development of the Immunization Schedule
The History of Vaccines
http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/development-immunization-schedule

5. CDC Mandatory Vaccine Schedule: 1983 vs 2014
Monday, January 17, 2011
http://www.drmomma.org/2011/01/cdc-mandatory-vaccine-schedule-1983-vs.html

6. Virus in the system
Natasha Bita,THE AUSTRALIAN, MAY 28, 2011
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/virus-in-the-system/story-e6frg8h6-1226063484330

7. Little girl died in cot after flu jab
Jamie Walker, THE AUSTRALIAN, APRIL 26, 2010
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/little-girl-died-in-cot-after-flu-jab/story-e6frg6nf-1225858118518

8. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
https://vaers.hhs.gov/data/data

9. General Recommendations on Immunization
Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
The Pink Book: Course Textbook - 12th Edition Second Printing (May 2012)
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/genrec.html

11. The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence and Future Studies. Institute of Medicine Committee on the Assessment of Studies of Health Outcomes Related to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press 2013. pg 11
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13563&page=11
“Although each new vaccine is evaluated in the context of the overall immunization schedule that existed at the time of review of that vaccine, elements of the schedule are not evaluated once it is adjusted to accommodate a new vaccine. Thus, key elements of the entire schedule—the number, frequency, timing, order, and age at administration of vaccines—have not been systematically examined in research studies.”

12. The Implausibility of Vaccine-Based Herd Immunity
Natural Mama NZ
http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/the-implausibility-of-vaccine-based.html
A collection of over 100 studies about the inability of most vaccines to prevent infection.

The Vaccine Debate: Insults, Lies, & Hypocrisy

2014-09-23T17:26:00.000+12:00

It’s been 10 years since I first delved into the topic of vaccination. With hopes of finding definitive answers, I combed through thousands of studies and articles written by a wide spectrum of authors – some heavily pro, some deeply against, and many in between.

Ten years on I’ve learnt a lot, knowing there is always so much more to learn, but I find myself disillusioned with what should be a straight forward, logical topic. I know many others feel the same. I’ve found I can’t enter into the topic of vaccination without being inundated with insults, lies, and hypocrisy (hence the title of this post).

While I’ve seen people on all sides of this debate guilty of it to varying degrees, the majority of it seems to stem from the staunchly pro-vax camp. I’m not talking about the average parent who feels vaccinating is best for their family, more power to you.

I’m talking about the rabid pro-vaccine advocate who believes they have the right to FORCE each and every one of us to vaccinate. They believe vaccination is a black and white topic, they believe those who disagree with their opinions are the enemy, and they believe you shouldn’t get to choose what is injected into your own or your children’s bodies.

One thing’s for sure, I’m sick of hearing and seeing it; it needs to end. Here's a taste of what I'm talking about:

People use pictures and stories of sick or dead children to expose the reality of the diseases we vaccinate for, but they downplay or dismiss pictures and stories of children who become sick or die due to vaccine injury, calling them ‘scare tactics’.

Baby Ian's reaction to Hep B Vaccine

It's mind boggling that it has to be said: no death or injury, whatever the cause, should ever be callously disregarded. When parents are told by their family GP, “vaccines are perfectly safe, your child will be fine”, only to have their child injured or die as a result of vaccination, the trauma is particularly painful. The trust they invested in the medical profession is destroyed.

The anguish is made worse when medical professionals refuse to even acknowledge the vaccine they administered was the cause. Instead of being comforted in their time of need, these families feel shunned. Imagine being in that position, hearing people disregard your child's injury or death?

Hear this well: our children’s lives aren’t anyone else's to expend as collateral damage for ‘the greater good’. Those who think they are should be utterly ashamed. No one gets to force anything into us or our children, ever.

People herald parents who speak out about their child’s sickness or death due to the diseases we vaccinate for as brave heroes, but they disbelieve and insult parents who speak out about their child’s sickness or death due to vaccine injury, labelling them ‘liars’, ‘scum’, ‘anti-science’, etc.

Nurse Julie speaking out in the #hearthiswell campaign

The cruelty in this debate is both heartbreaking and enraging. There is much, much worse said to these parents I won’t mention here [1-3]. Grieving parents of sick or dead children no matter the cause, who speak out in the hopes of saving others the misery they had to endure, deserve a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on; not insults and ostracism. Any human being should inherently understand this, but somehow this debate turns usually decent people into vicious assholes at the flick of a switch.

Hear this well: no one else gets to tell parents what did or did not happen to their child; we didn't witness it, we don’t know their children. Have some respect.

The above two examples are the two that irk me the most, more so because my own son suffered a severe vaccine reaction. But there’s plenty more…

People call parents who choose not to vaccinate due to fear of adverse reaction ‘uneducated’ and ‘irresponsible’, but these same people choose to vaccinate their own children due to fear of adverse reactions to diseases we vaccinate for.

Fear of injury or death is the common denominator driving the decision to vaccinate or not vaccinate, so if one side is deemed ‘irresponsible’ for letting fear for their children’s lives determine their decision, then so must the other. It boils down to: what poses a greater risk to my child, vaccinating or not vaccinating?

There is a wealth of evidence in support for both. For our family, the experience of brain injury our son suffered after vaccination made it abundantly clear vaccines posed a greater risk than the extremely small risk of disease complications he faced [4-22]. I cannot guarantee another family will not suffer the same fate our family did, or worse, because there is so little recognition of vaccine injury [23-26] or research regarding which children are most susceptible to vaccine injury [27].

In contrast, there has been abundant research regarding who is most susceptible to the diseases we currently vaccinate for. We know what makes people more likely to suffer complications of infectious diseases (eg. poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, immune deficiencies, chronic diseases, multiple simultaneous illnesses, excessive stress, not breastfeeding, smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to toxins and pollutants, obesity, lack of physical activity, unsanitary or overcrowded living conditions, age very young or very old, etc [28-50]).

People proclaim vaccine injury is extremely rare and not reason enough to avoid vaccination, but they promote extremely rare complications from the diseases we vaccinate for as a reason to vaccinate.

The fact that vaccine injury is grossly under-reported is ignored [51], along with the fact that doctors often refuse to acknowledge vaccine injury, never mind report it [23-26]. Vaccine injury is often missed or passed off as coincidental by parents and GP’s. When concerned parents ring their doctors office to report their child has a high-pitched, prolonged cry indicating encephalitis – a brain injury that can result in chronic seizures, mental retardation, and death [52-54] - they are told this reaction is normal!

It might be such a common vaccine reaction that today’s medical staff now consider an encephalitic cry ‘normal’, but the reality is encephalitis is a serious, life threatening reaction, often resulting in permanent neurological impairments. I shudder to think how many children whose parents were told their child’s reaction was, “normal and nothing to worry about”, went on to suffer neurological and developmental disorders.

If only these children had been medically tested and treated for encephalitis, just maybe the severity of permanent injury could have been reduced. If only more research was done to determine which children are more susceptible to vaccine injury, maybe the vaccine injury could have been completely avoided altogether.

People claim that there is ‘abundant’ evidence to show that ‘vaccines are safe’, but they ignore the fact that the vaccine schedule in its entirety, or vaccines in their various combinations, have NEVER been tested for safety [55], nor has there ever been a safety study comparing unvaccinated children with vaccinated children.

The only survey of unvaccinated children with vaccinated children was done by Generation Rescue in 2007 which found that, “vaccinated boys had a 155% greater chance of having a neurological disorder like ADHD or autism than unvaccinated boys”. [56]

People claim to have done ‘extensive scientific research’ on vaccination, but they go on to state the only study linking vaccines to autism was, “that one fraudulent Wakefield study”, and they only share information from biased websites.

There have been numerous studies since Wakefield associating vaccines with autism, but you won’t find them on websites whose sole purpose is to promote vaccination [57-77]. We can’t claim to know everything on a topic by only reading material from one sided sources, in fact we can never claim to know everything on any topic. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about the vaccination debate it’s that there’s always more to learn and nothing is written in stone. Always be ready to change your mind and be proven wrong.

People promote heavily flawed research funded by pharmaceutical companies, and organisations that have been exposed by their own employees for manipulating data [79-89], but they call any research showing the harms of vaccination ‘junk science’ authored by ‘quacks’.

Neuroscientist Russell Blaylock is one example of a study author who has found evidence of harm due to vaccines [59]. Because his research was critical of vaccination he is disregarded by many vaccine advocates without any evidence to justify it at all. Unlike many CDC or pharmaceutical industry study authors you won’t find evidence of fraud or twisting of data in Blaylocks research, but for the sake of keeping their beliefs about vaccination intact people pretend researchers like Blaylock aren’t worth listening to.

People present only research that backs their personal opinion, then ignore all other research presented to them that contradicts their own narrow research, dismissing it as nothing more than ‘cherry picked studies’.

They think their own ‘cherry picked studies’, however, are all they need to form a scientifically sound opinion. Tossing out contradictory evidence to keep their own beliefs intact.

People dismiss research showing a link between vaccines and injury, claiming, “correlation does not equal causation”, but they go on to claim the correlation between vaccination and disease decline is evidence of causation.

They ignore the fact that historical records show disease rates were already declining when vaccines were introduced, many by more than 90%, due to improved sanitation, nutrition, housing etc [90]. Instead of acknowledging these time-tested methods of disease reduction, they attribute the decline of disease entirely to vaccination! How can a vaccine that wasn't invented yet be responsible for a 90% decline in disease and mortality?

As for vaccine injury, many vaccine injuries are documented by VAERS, with 83% of those reports coming from doctors and pharmaceutical company employees, not the actual victims [90a]. However, VAERS states these reports are greatly under-reported [90a]. We truly don’t know the real number of serious, debilitating, sometimes fatal vaccine reactions that have occurred. Additionally, because pharmaceutical companies refuse to test their vaccines with a proper control population (a group of individuals who only receive a saline injection and has never been vaccinated, compared with a group who receives a vaccine) it becomes more difficult to conclusively pin down vaccines as a cause of injury.

Many people are happy to refute reports of vaccine injury as 'coincidence', but any other report of a drug that someone reacts to is taken much more seriously. Pharmaceutical companies have marketed vaccines so successfully that they seem to be considered by many as untouchable, beyond criticism.

Nobody dares criticize or even hint that vaccines have the ability to cause injury, or they'll be deemed an 'antivaxxer' and an 'enemy of the people' in a very Stalin-esque manner.

For those unwilling to change their minds, no amount of evidence will ever be enough to prove causation; for them all evidence that contradicts their beliefs will forever be considered ‘correlation’.

People promote the use of vaccination to try to prevent disease despite the risk of adverse reaction, but completely ignore other scientifically proven disease prevention methods that DON'T carry any risk of adverse reaction.

Credit: Shutterstock

These include healthier diets, monitoring and correction of nutritional deficiencies, reducing exposure to toxins and pollutants, reducing stress, reducing poverty, unsanitary living conditions, and overcrowding in homes, higher breastfeeding rates, not smoking, reducing alcohol intake, losing weight if obese, more education about prevention, monitoring, and treatment of illness, and stricter disease testing and quarantining in airports [28-50][91-93].

People claim that an unvaccinated child is a risk to their child, but they ignore the fact that their child is statistically more likely to be infected by themselves or a member of their own immediate family [94].

They ignore the fact that most vaccines DON'T stop infection, they only reduce symptoms, making vaccine recipients silent disease carriers [95]. They ignore the fact that their vaccinated child poses a threat to those around them when their child receives live vaccines that can shed and replicate to full strength, causing disease epidemics instead of preventing them [95].

People claim disease epidemics have returned because of low vaccination rates, but they ignore the fact that vaccination rates are at an all time high and have remained stable over the last decade [96-97].

US Vaccination Rates

The logic is lost on them, or wilfully ignored. Any increased rates of disease obviously have little to do with the tiny percentage of people who don’t vaccinate, and everything to do with vaccine failure.

People tell us they were vaccinated as children and they’re ‘fine’ as if it’s proof vaccines are safe, but they scoff when someone else says they had a disease we vaccinate for as a child and they’re ‘fine’ too.

Often people ignore the fact they were likely injected with half the amount of vaccines that children are injected with today; their childhood experience with vaccines is not an appropriate comparison to the vaccine schedule today [98-99]. They also ignore the fact that a lot of us AREN'T ‘fine’. In the US 1 in 6 people now suffer from autoimmune disease [100], 1 in 5 children have a developmental and/or behavioral disability [101], and 1 in 42 boys have autism [102] – all of which are documented as adverse reactions to vaccination . That’s NOT a great definition of ‘fine’.

People claim that children are no longer exposed to mercury from vaccines, but they ignore the fact that pregnant mothers are now recommended flu shots containing mercury [103], inadvertently exposing fetuses who are the most susceptible to mercury toxicity of any population.

Additionally, childhood vaccines that are supposed to contain no mercury have tested positive for mercury contamination [104]. They ignore the fact that multiple vaccines containing the neurotoxin aluminium have been added to the childhood schedule, with levels grossly exceeding EPA guidelines [105-106]. Meaning the risk of neurological injury that was once posed by mercury laden vaccines, has now been replaced by aluminium laden vaccines.

I could keep going, it doesn’t end there. Jessica over at the Gianelloni Family blog has written an excellent piece called ‘Dear parents, you are being lied to’ that I also recommend reading:
http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/dear-parents-you-are-being-lied-to/

Bottom line: don’t take anything at face value. If someone makes a statement about vaccines verify it by researching the studies to prove it, or disprove it – whatever the evidence ends up being. I wish I could say that after years of research I knew all the answers and that I felt at least something in this debate was proven 100%. But sadly the research that desperately needs to be done just hasn’t been done.

Unless we fiercely demand that the required research be done (ie. independent non-vax vs vax studies), it's likely no government agency will ever do it of their own accord. It’s up to us to bring it to the forefront of the media, the public, and our politicians.

References:

1.Blog Bullies & Hate Messages

http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/blog-bullies-hate-messages/

2.The Dirty, Filthy Unvaccinated

http://vaccinelinks.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/the-dirty-filthy-unvaccinated/#comment-72

3.Bombshell TV Show About HPV Vaccines Reveals Cruel Nature of Vaccine Pushers

http://vactruth.com/2014/01/29/truth-about-vaccine-pushers/

4.Disease Risk: Measles

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=54

5.Disease Risk: Mumps

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:disease-risk-mumps

6.Disease Risk: Rubella

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=54

7.Disease Risk: Pertussis

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=54

8.Disease Risk: Rotovirus

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86&Itemid=54

9.Disease Risk: Hib meningitis

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=54

10.Disease Risk: Pneumococcal disease

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83&Itemid=54

11.Disease Risk: Influenza

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=54

12.Disease Risk: Varicella

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=54

13.Disease Risk: Tetanus

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=54

14.Disease Risk: Polio

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=54

15.Disease Risk: Hepatitis A

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=54

16.Disease Risk: Hepatitis B

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=54

17.Disease Risk: Diphtheria

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=54

18.Risk-Benefit Analysis: Measles, Mumps and Rubella

http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/03/28/risk-benefit-analysis-m-m-and-r/

19.Risk-Benefit Analysis: Pneumoccocal, HPV, Meningococcal

http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/04/18/risk-benefit-analysis-pneumoccocal-hpv-meningococcal/

20.Risk-Benefit Analysis: Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus

http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/04/04/risk-benefit-analysis-diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis/

21.Risk-Benefit Analysis: Chicken Pox, Hib, Flu

http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/04/11/risk-benefit-analysis-chicken-pox-hib-flu/

22.Risk-Benefit Analysis: Hep A, Hep B, Rotavirus

http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/04/25/risk-benefit-analysis-hep-a-b-and-rotavirus/

23.Lioness Arising Mother Series

http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/category/lioness-arising-mothers/

24.Parents Voice: Children’s Adverse Outcomes Following Vaccination (huge list)

http://www.followingvaccinations.com/

25.Stories of vaccine-injured children (huge list)

Raising a Sensitive Child

http://crystalchild.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/vaccine-injury-blog-list/

26.My child's vaccine reaction

https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-childs-vaccine-reaction/372638272814622

27.The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence and Future Studies. Institute of Medicine Committee on the Assessment of Studies of Health Outcomes Related to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press 2013. pg 11

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13563&page=11

“The committee found that evidence assessing outcomes in subpopulations of children, who may be potentially susceptible to adverse reactions to vaccines (such as children with a family history of autoimmune disease or allergies or children born prematurely), was limited and is characterized by uncertainty about the definition of populations of interest and definitions of exposures or outcomes.”

28.How to boost your immune system

http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.htm

29.Vit C studies. Vitamin C function and status in chronic disease.

Nutrition in clinical care : an official publication of Tufts University.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12134712

30.Vitamin C and human health--a review of recent data relevant to human requirements.

International journal for vitamin and nutrition research.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8698541

31.Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10357726?dopt=Abstract

http://www.ajcn.org/content/69/6/1086.long

32.Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ajcn.org/content/91/5/1255.long

33.Ample evidence exists from human studies that vitamin D reduces the risk of selected bacterial and viral infections. Experimental Biology and Medicine

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1258/ebm.2010.010c01?journalCode=ebmb

34.Vitamin D-Mediated Induction of Innate Immunity in Gingival Epithelial Cells▿

Journal of Infection and Immunity

http://iai.asm.org/content/79/6/2250

35.1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Treatment Shrinks Uterine Leiomyoma Tumors in the Eker Rat Model. Journal of Biology of Reproduction

http://www.biolreprod.org/content/early/2012/02/01/biolreprod.111.098145

36.Prevalence of eczema and food allergy is associated with latitude in Australia.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674912000796

37.The Global Burden of Disease study and applications in water, sanitation and hygiene

World Health Organisation

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/iwachap3.pdf

38.Estimating the burden of disease from water, sanitation, and hygiene at a global level.

World Health Organisation

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240845/

39.Sickness behavior induced by endotoxin can be mitigated by the dietary soluble fiber, pectin, through up-regulation of IL-4 and Th2 polarization. Journal of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159110000425

40.Does tomato consumption effectively increase the resistance of lymphocyte DNA to oxidative damage? The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ajcn.org/content/69/4/712.full

41.DNA damage and repair activity after broccoli intake in young healthy smokers

UK Environmental Mutagen Society

http://mutage.oxfordjournals.org/content/25/6/595.full.pdf+html

42.Watercress supplementation in diet reduces lymphocyte DNA damage and alters blood antioxidant status in healthy adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ajcn.org/content/85/2/504.full.pdf+html

43.A randomized trial of isonitrogenous enteral diets after severe trauma. An immune-enhancing diet reduces septic complications. Annals of Surgery

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1235418/

44.Upper respiratory tract infection is reduced in physically fit and active adults

British Journal of Sports Medicine

http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2010/09/30/bjsm.2010.077875.abstract

45.Risks of Formula Feeding

Natural Mama NZ

http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Formula%20feeding%20risks

46.People at High Risk of Developing Flu–Related Complications

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , September 9, 2014

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm

"Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old, Adults 65 years of age and older, Pregnant women, American Indians and Alaskan Natives, People who have medical conditions including: Asthma, Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury, Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis), Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease), Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease), Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus), Kidney disorders, Liver disorders, Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders), Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids), People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index, or BMI, of 40 or greater)."

47.Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia diagnosed by general practitioners in the community. Farr BM1, et al. Respir Med. 2000 May;94(5):422-7. PMID: 10868703

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868703

“…these data suggest that cigarette smoking is the main avoidable risk factor for community-acquired pneumonia in adults.”

48.Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Samokhvalov AV1, Irving HM, Rehm J. Epidemiol Infect. 2010 Dec;138(12):1789-95. PMID: 20380771. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20380771

“…alcohol was found to be a risk factor for pneumonia with a clear statistical association, and a monotonic dose-response relationship.”

49.Who Is at Risk for Pneumonia? National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pnu/atrisk.html

“Your risk (of Pneumonia) also goes up if… you're exposed to certain chemicals, pollutants, or toxic fumes.”

50.Psychosocial factors and susceptibility to or outcome of acute respiratory tract infections.

Falagas ME et al. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010 Feb;14(2):141-8. PMID: 20074403

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20074403

“Most of the relevant studies show a significant relationship between psychosocial factors and the onset or progression of acute respiratory tract illness.”

51. Electronic Support for Public Health–Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (ESP:VAERS)

https://healthit.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/docs/publication/r18hs017045-lazarus-final-report-2011.pdf

52.MENINGITIS AND ENCEPHALITIS

JAMES F. BALE JR, MD. Current Management in Child Neurology, Third Edition 2005

http://web.squ.edu.om/med-Lib/MED_CD/E_CDs/CHILD%20NEUROLOGY/docs/ch79.pdf

“Young infants with encephalitis often have nonspecific signs, such as inactivity, poor feeding, irritability, “fussy” behavior, and “high-pitched” cries.”

53.Encephalitis. National Institutes of Health

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001415.htm

“Symptoms in newborns and younger infants may not be as easy to recognize:… Irritability and crying more often (these symptoms may get worse when the baby is picked up)… If brain function is severely affected, interventions like physical therapy and speech therapy may be needed after the illness is controlled… The outcome varies. Some cases are mild and short, and the person fully recovers. Other cases are severe, and permanent impairment or death is possible. Permanent brain damage may occur in severe cases of encephalitis. It can affect: Hearing, Memory, Muscle control, Sensation, Speech, and Vision.”

54.Effects Of Encephalitis. The Encephalitis Society

http://www.encephalitis.info/information/effects-of-encephalitis/

55.The Childhood Immunization Schedule and Safety: Stakeholder Concerns, Scientific Evidence and Future Studies. Institute of Medicine Committee on the Assessment of Studies of Health Outcomes Related to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press 2013. pg 11
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13563&page=11

“Although each new vaccine is evaluated in the context of the overall immunization schedule that existed at the time of review of that vaccine, elements of the schedule are not evaluated once it is adjusted to accommodate a new vaccine. Thus, key elements of the entire schedule—the number, frequency, timing, order, and age at administration of vaccines—have not been systematically examined in research studies.”

56.Cal-Oregon Unvaccinated Survey. Generation Rescue, June 26, 2007

http://www.generationrescue.org/resources/vaccination/cal-oregon-unvaccinated-survey/

57.A Case Series of Children with Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting with Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorders. D A Geier et al. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 May 15;70(10):837-51. http://www.bhare.org/Geier2.pdf

58.A comprehensive review of mercury provoked autism. D.A. Geier et al. Indian J Med Res 128, October 2008, pp 383-411 http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2008/october/1004.pdf

59.A possible Central Mechanism in Autism Spectrum disorders, Part 1,2 & 3. Russell L Blaylock. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Nov-Dec;14(6):46-53. http://www.mpwhi.com/autism_part_1.pdf

http://www.mpwhi.com/autism_part_2.pdf

http://www.encognitive.com/files/A%20POSSIBLE%20CENTRAL%20MECHANISM%20IN%20AUTISM%20SPECTRUM%20DISORDERS.pdf

60.Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism.
Singh VK et al. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64. PMID: 12145534
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12145534

61.Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use, measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, and autistic disorder: the results of a parent survey.
Schultz ST, et al. Autism. 2008 May;12(3):293-307.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18445737

62.Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. Shaw CA, et al. J Inorg Biochem. 2013 Jul 19. pii: S0162-0134(13)00177-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23932735

63.Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity. Shaw CA, et al. Immunol Res. 2013 Jul;56(2-3):304-16. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12026-013-8403-1

64.Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning.

Sallie Bernard et al. Medical Hypotheses (2001) 56(4), 462–471

http://abcmt.org/A%20Novel%20Form%20of%20Mecury%20Poisoning.pdf

65.Case Control Study of Mercury Burden in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. James Adams, PhD [Arizona State University]. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeon, 2003. http://www.progressiveconvergence.com/A%20Case-Control%20Study%20of%20Mercury%20Burden%20in%20Children%20with%20Autistic%20Spectrum%20Disorders.pdf

66.Cultured lymphocytes from autistic children and non-autistic siblings up-regulate heat shock protein RNA in response to thimerosal challenge. Neurotoxicology. 2006 Sep;27(5):685-92. Walker SJ, Segal J, Aschner M. http://www.genome-explorations.com/images/pdfs_publications/10-Cultured%20lymphocytes%20from%20autistic%20children%20and%20non-autis.pdf

67.Detection and Sequencing of Measles Virus from Peripheral Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease and Autism. HISASHI KAWASHIMA et al. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Vol. 45, No. 4 (April 2000), pp. 723–729 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1005443726670#page-1

68.Detection of Measles Virus Genomic RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Three Children with Regressive Autism: a Report of Three Cases. J.J. Bradstreet et al. J Am Physicians & Surgeons Vol 9 no.2 2004.
http://icdrc.org/documents/bradstreet.pdf

69.Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?

Lucija Tomljenovic et al. J Inorganic Biochemistry Vol 105, Issue 11, 2011, Pg 1489–1499

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22099159

70.Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism. Singh VK, Jensen RL. Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Apr;28(4):292-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12849883

71.Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure. Stephanie Seneff, et al. Entropy, November 7, 2012

http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/11/2227

https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CEwQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mdpi.com%2F1099-4300%2F14%2F11%2F2227%2Fpdf&ei=VCUuUpukB-O1iAfE24GQAQ&usg=AFQjCNFLoF1cmsF_bdJ_5ZycOsYL6c72mercury&sig2=9Pr7FaroU6kJ-ZAKJA9UFg&bvm=bv.51773540,d.aGc

72.Hypothesis: conjugate vaccines may predispose children to autism spectrum disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21993250

73.Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study. Hewitson L t al. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2010;70(2):147-64.Author information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20628439

http://www.ane.pl/pdf/7020.pdf

74.Phenotypic expression of autoimmune autistic disorder (AAD): a major subset of autism. Singh VK. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2009 Jul-Sep;21(3):148-61. Brain State International Research Center. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19758536

75.Risk of neurological and renal impairment associated with thimerosal containing vaccines

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

http://www.safeminds.org/government-affairs/foia/VSD_VerstraetenJune2000.pdf

76.Increased risk of developmental neurologic impairment after high exposure to thimerosal-containing vaccine in first month of life. Thomas M. Verstraeten, R. Davies, D. Gu, F DeStefano. Division of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Vaccine Safety and Development Branch, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1999.

http://mercury-freedrugs.org/docs/00mmdd_EISAbstractSubmission_IncreasedRiskOfDevelopmentalNeurologicImpairmentAfterHighExposureToThimerosal-containingVaccine_.pdf

77.Hepatitis B Vaccination of Male Neonates and Autism. CM Gallagher, MS Goodman. Annals of Epidemiology , Vol. 19, No. 9 ABSTRACTS (ACE), September 2009: 651-680, p. 659

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21058170

78.Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination timing and autism among young african american boys: a reanalysis of CDC data. Hooker BS. Transl Neurodegener. 2014 Aug 8;3:16.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25114790

79.CDC Whistle-Blower Reveals Cover-up Of Vaccine & Autism Link Data

August 27, 2014 by Lisa Bloomquist.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/08/27/cdc-whistle-blower-reveals-cover-up-of-vaccine-autism-link-data/

80.Is Big Pharma Addicted To Fraud? Erika Kelton, 7/29/2013, Forbes.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikakelton/2013/07/29/is-big-pharma-addicted-to-fraud/

“Glaxo is accused of using a Shanghai travel agency to funnel at least $489 million in bribes.”

81.Home Pharma Recent 6 ‘Big Pharma’ frauds China 6 August 2013 Analysis

By Sheetal Sukhija, China 6 August 2013

http://www.biospectrumasia.com/biospectrum/analysis/192973/worlds-big-pharma-frauds/page/1#.UxrfdvmSySp

“Each year big pharma giants end up spending billions of dollars in paying for fraud, misrepresentation of data and other such corruption allegations leveled out against them. In the last three years, global pharma giants have paid fines to the tune of $11 billion for criminal wrongdoing, including withholding safety data and promoting drugs for use, beyond any licensed condition. While GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) paid $3 billion, the biggest fine ever after pleading guilty on three criminal counts in US, Novartis ended up paying $420 million and Pfizer paid $2.3 billion in related scandals. “

82.Scientists Sue Merck: allege fraud, mislabeling, and false certification of MMR vaccine.

Suzanne Humphries, MD, JUNE 25, 2012

http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2012/06/25/scientists-sue-merck-allege-fraud-mislabeling-and-false-certificaion-of-mmr-vaccine-suzanne-humphries-md/#sthash.BcER8GHP.dpuf

“This is the story of the MMR vaccine and two Merck scientists who filed a lawsuit in 2010 over Merck’s efforts to allegedly “defraud the United States through Merck’s ongoing scheme to sell the government a mumps vaccine that is mislabeled, misbranded, adulterated and falsely certified as having an efficacy rate that is significantly higher than it actually is.” Merck allegedly did this from 2000 onwards in order to maintain its exclusive license to sell the MMR vaccine and keep its monopoly of the US market.

83.Pharmaceutical Industry Criminal and Civil Penalties: An Update

Sammy Almashat, Sidney Wolfe, September 27, 2012

http://www.citizen.org/documents/2073.pdf

“A total of 74 additional settlements, totaling $10.2 billion in financial penalties, were reached between the federal and state governments and pharmaceutical manufacturers between November 2, 2010 and July 18, 2012, with the first half of 2012 alone already representing a record year for both federal ($5.0 billion) and state ($1.6 billion) financial recoveries. Since 1991, a total of 239 settlements, for $30.2 billion, have now been reached (through July 18, 2012) between federal and state governments and pharmaceutical companies.”

84.How Corporations Corrupt Science at the Public's Expense (2012)

Union of Concerned Scientists. February 2012

http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/center-science-and-democracy/promoting-scientific-integrity/how-corporations-corrupt-science.html

85.Harvard Scientists warn about Epidemic of Side Effects due to Corruption

http://nsnbc.me/2014/02/10/harvard-scientists-warn-about-epidemic-of-side-effects-due-to-corruption/

86.Public misinformed about seal of approval from FDA

http://nsnbc.me/2014/01/22/public-misinformed-about-seal-of-approval-from-fda/

87.‘All Trials’: because no test should go unheralded

http://nsnbc.me/2013/12/08/all-trials-because-no-test-should-go-unheralded/

88.SafeMinds Authored Commentary, Critiques & Presentations

https://safeminds.org/research-now/safeminds-authored-commentary-critiques-presentations/

89.Studies critiqued by VACCINES AND AUTISM –WHAT DO EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES REALLY TELL US? Coalition for SAFE MINDS

http://www.rescuepost.com/files/vaccines-and-autism-epidemiology-rebuttal.pdf

90.Vaccines Did Not Save Us – 2 Centuries Of Official Statistics

http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/graphs/

90a. VAERS FAQS
http://vaers.hhs.gov/about/faqs

91.Development of an infection screening system for entry inspection at airport quarantine stations using ear temperature, heart and respiration rates. Sun G, et al. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2013;2013:6716-9. PMID: 24111284.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24111284

“We tested the system on 13 influenza patients and 33 normal subjects. The sensitivity of the infection screening system in detecting influenza were 92.3%, which was higher than the sensitivity reported in our previous paper (88.0%) with average facial skin temperature.”

92.Development of a non-contact screening system for rapid medical inspection at a quarantine depot using a laser Doppler blood-flow meter, microwave radar and infrared thermography. Matsui T, et al. J Med Eng Technol. 2009;33(5):403-9. PMID: 19440915

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19440915

“In order to conduct fast screening of passengers with infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or pandemic influenza at a quarantine depot, we developed a non-contact screening system with a self-produced program to conduct a human screening within five seconds, via a linear discriminant function from non-contact derived variables, i.e. palmer pulse derived from a laser Doppler blood-flow meter, respiration rate determined by a 10-GHz microwave radar, and facial temperature measured by a thermography … The proposed system appears promising for future application in fast screening of infection at a quarantine depot.”

93.Epidemiological trends and the effect of airport fever screening on prevention of domestic dengue fever outbreaks in Taiwan, 1998-2007. Kuan MM et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2010 Aug;14(8):e693-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20656647

“Our results show that airport fever screening had a positive effect on partially blocking the local transmission of imported dengue cases.”

94.Infant Pertussis: Who Was the Source? Bisgard, Kristine M. et al. Ped Infectious Disease J: Nov 2004 - Vol 23, Iss 11, pp 985-989

http://journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstract/2004/11000/Infant_Pertussis__Who_Was_the_Source_.2.aspx

95.The implausibility of vaccine-based herd immunity

Natural Mama N Z

http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/01/the-implausibility-of-vaccine-based.html#.VCDpZ_mSzzM

96.National Immunization Survey (NIS) - Children (19-35 months)

CDC, September 2, 2014

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/nis/child/index.html

97.Nationwide vaccination coverage among children age 19-35 months, 2002-2012

CDC, Morb. Mortal. Wkly.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_fOow977UVfaTBKYlBZOEZfV2M/edit?usp=sharing

98.CDC Mandatory Vaccine Schedule: 1983 vs 2014

Peaceful Parenting, Monday, January 17, 2011

http://www.drmomma.org/2011/01/cdc-mandatory-vaccine-schedule-1983-vs.html

99.The Development of the Immunization Schedule

http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/development-immunization-schedule

100.Autoimmune Statistics

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

http://www.aarda.org/autoimmune-information/autoimmune-statistics/

“We at AARDA say that 50 million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease.” US population in 2014 is 317 million people, meaning that 1 in 6 people suffer from autoimmune disease, or about 15%.

101.Identification of Developmental-Behavioral Problems in Primary Care: A Systematic Review

R. Christopher Sheldrick et al. PEDIATRICS Vol. 128 No. 2 August 1, 2011 pp. 356 -363

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/2/356.full

“Estimates indicate that at least 1 in 5 children has a developmental and/or behavioral disability.”

102.Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2010

Jon Baio. Surveillance Summaries March 28, 2014 / 63(SS02);1-21
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6302a1.htm?s_cid=ss6302a1_w

“Approximately one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls living in the ADDM Network communities were identified as having ASD.”

103.Influenza Vaccines — United States, 2014–15 Influenza Season

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/vaccines.htm

Table displaying amount of mercury in each flu vaccine. Flu vaccines that mercury include Afluria, FluLaval, Fluvirin, and Fluzone.

104. Mercury in vaccines from the Australian childhood immunization program schedule.

Austin DW, et al. Toxicol Environ Health A. 2010;73(10):637-40. PMID: 20391108

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20391108

"Eight vaccines administered to children under the age of 5 yr were assessed for Hg content via a DMA-80 direct mercury analyzer. Seven of the 8 vaccines contained no detectable levels of Hg (less than 1 ppb); however, 1 vaccine (Infanrix hexa) tested positive for mercury at 10 ppb. The result was confirmed and validated by retesting the original sample. Follow-up testing was conducted on three additional samples of Infanrix hexa (one from the same production lot and two from a different lot). All three tested positive for mercury (average of 9.7 ppb).... the results of this study reveal that inaccuracies exist in public health messages, professional communications, and official documentation regarding Hg content in at least one childhood vaccine."

105.Childhood Vaccination: Aluminum. Natural Mama NZ.

http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/childhood-vaccination-aluminum.html

106A.S.P.E.N. Statement on Aluminum in Parenteral Nutrition Solutions

P. Charney, The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Aluminum Task Force, Nutrition in Clinical Practice 19 (August 2004): 416-417

https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutritioncare.org%2FWorkArea%2Flinkit.aspx%3FLinkIdentifier%3Did%26ItemID%3D1372&ei=IfsUU6qJE4PJiAeNsIHwBA&usg=AFQjCNGhzGK4aOrDjb7qB6D8xl4D2S_oDg&sig2=r-W8_765vRUS0llWJ5UAwA&bvm=bv.62286460,d.aGc

107.Dear parents, you are being lied to. Gianelloni Family. POSTED ON APRIL 7, 2014

http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/dear-parents-you-are-being-lied-to/

Disease Increases: Has the West's Health Really Improved?

2014-03-04T19:48:00.001+13:00

CDC Wonder is an interesting tool to play with. It's an online US data base that collects data on the environment, population heath, births, and deaths. You can create tables or graphs, specifying by year, age, location etc. For instance, using this tool you can ascertain the mortality rate of certain diseases, and get an idea of how those diseases have risen or fallen over time. Which is exactly what I did. What I found was huge growth in particular of mortality for neurological or autoimmune diseases. These are usually chronic diseases, that progressively get worse over a period of years, as opposed to a sudden onset infection that can kill within days or weeks. The results were very startling, and my mind raced to think of all the different factors that have changed over time that could account for this huge rise in disease. My first thought was neurotoxic substances such as aluminium, mercury, fluoride. Make of it what you will.

Straight From the Mama's Mouth: Advice on Fussy / Gassy Babies

2014-01-26T19:42:00.000+13:00

Very often women bring up gassy / fussy baby issues on Beautiful Breastfeeding's Facebook page (Natural Mama NZ's sister site). Mothers pour in with helpful advice, sharing what has worked for them personally. For me this is the best advice and it's one of crowning achievements of motherhood support pages on Facebook. Because gassy / fussy baby issues keep coming up on Beautiful Breastfeeding and other motherhood pages I thought I'd collate some of the great advice shared through various threads into a blog post. Enjoy...

Check the Latch

"Have you had your latch checked? It's more likely a latch issue than a milk issue; if your latch is slightly off he may be swallowing large amounts of air and he will get very uncomfortable from this."

Burp More Often

"Burp your baby mid-feed. Makes a world of difference with gassy barfy babies."

"Burp more throughout day not just around feedings. Also try burping before feeds. Check out Dunstan baby language."

Try Different Positions

"If you walk around with them tummy down on your forearm, head resting in the nook of your arm. I found this position helped them get through it. And sucking makes their guts move so nurse him. Even if he’s fighting it and cranky...it will help it move through."

"Holding upright after feeding helps, as does gas drops and gripe water. The best thing I've found are what I call “fartercise”. Bicycling wasn't enough I have to gently stretch his legs up until his feet touch his face. GENTLY I stress. And I start with knees bent and gentle pressure towards his tummy and work my way up. It was the only way I could get him some relief. Now he giggles the whole time I do it but as he's getting older he is able to take care of most of it himself."

"I had gassiness / fussiness problems with my daughter, what I did was to hold her up for an hour or more after each breast feed! Now she's two months and she is better, baby needs time to adjust with everything."

Baby Massage

"Before cycling baby’s legs get some lotion and do the "I love you" massage (google it) and instead of doing JUST his legs lift his body up and slowly roll it back down, like you would do if you were stretching your back. Doing that gets so much more gas out."

"Along with bicycling baby's legs, I would do infant massage on tummy. Worked like a charm with mine."

Babywearing

"Carrying in a sling/wrap close to you is worth trying."

"My little guy had similar issues, so I would burp him after 10 min or so. I also wore him everywhere, and the movement helped him a lot. In the Moby wrap I would bounce-walk and it would calm him down when he was screaming in pain."

"I wear my baby in a Sleepywrap for most of the day and he is so comfortable, he just sleeps, and wakes when he's hungry."

Probiotics

"You can give your baby their own probiotics. It's the only thing that helped my daughter when she had gassiness / fussiness around the same age. We used BioGaia."

"Probiotics helped my son so much. We used Flora Baby."

"I give my baby probiotics! Works great! You can get it at any health food store!"

"You can buy Florajen probiotics for baby."

"I highly recommend probiotics for your baby too! I started giving them to my baby girl when she was 8 weeks for gassiness / fussiness and they worked very fast. I've been giving them to her ever since and she's never had any GI problems. They're very good for immunity and overall health (I've been working on probiotic research in different diseases for the last 8 years). Hope he feels better soon!"

Change Your Diet

"Could be what you are eating... when I made some changes in my diet I saw a wonderful improvement in my baby."

"Write down what eat! I found out I can't have pepperoni at all my daughter gets gas and stomach ache so bad."

"I chose to cut out many things and it works for me. Some are ok with onions, garlic, soy, dairy, gassy veggies, corn and red meat, some are not. In order to know, you have to cut it out COMPLETELY for a couple of weeks."

"I had to cut all dairy and gluten and it made a HUGE difference."

"My youngest had an issue with me consuming any caffeine."

"Hot sauce hurt my little guy's tummy too."

"What about broccoli? Gave mine gas something fierce."

"I had to eliminate caffeine, peppers, and dairy from my diet."

"Cutting out dairy and other "gassy" foods completely was the only thing that helped us. My baby did grow out of it by about three months except for large amounts of dairy. Goodluck!"

"Try the elimination diet. It takes at least 3 weeks of total elimination from your diet for diary to get out of your system and see results that are consistent."

"If diary is the problem ALL dairy has to be avoided if it is supposed to work. Any dairy will elicit an adverse response in an infant that is allergic or sensitive to dairy (even hidden diary like casein). Same goes for soy and wheat. Please read this: http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/food-sensitivity/ Also, if you consider cutting dairy altogether, this list may be helpful: http://www.godairyfree.org/dairy.../dairy-ingredient-list-2 See also here: http://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/gassybaby/ Take care x"

"Have you tried cutting all soy out of your diet? Could be egg allergy, too."

"Watch the onions, garlic, peppers, beans, broccoli and cabbage. I know it's tricky getting your feet on solid ground, but you will get there! And it's SO worth it!"

"Gluten could definitely be a culprit. Cut gluten containing foods front your diet (pay as much as you can attention to all products labels, it can hide anywhere) just for few days and see what' s new in his status. Take care!"

"Watch out for certain seasonings too. All I can eat is salt on my food. Only veggies are corn and squash too. It's worth it as no screaming baby! Oh and no soy either, even soy oil or lecithin... which is in chocolate!"

"My daughter was like this and it turns out she is cows milk protein intolerant. This meant I couldn't have any dairy or soya in my diet - none at all. It takes a month to get out of your system so you have to be patient, but it definitely worked for us. She's now 20 months and still has a dairy and soya free diet. Could be worth a try."

Foremilk / Hindmilk Imbalance

"What are his poops like? If green and lettuce like, you may have a foremilk/hind milk imbalance....baby may not be getting the full day milk that comes toward the end of a feeding session."

"It may be a foremilk and hindmilk imbalance, try to make sure he feeds at least 25 mins both sides. Lots of good energy, you can do it!"

"We had this issue ourselves! For us it had nothing to do with what we were eating, or when I breastfed. My baby was getting too much of the start of the breast milk that is like skim milk, and not enough of the cream at the end of the feeding. If this is your issue, feed on one side until that breast is completely empty. Even if the baby stops because it's full, start again on that same side the next time until it is empty. This way the baby gets all the digestive enzymes that are in the thicker milk to help them digest the skim. We fixed that problem in 24 hours doing that. We sure had a lot of crap advice to the contrary though. Hang in there!"

"How long is your baby nursing on one side?...If he is a quick nurser he could be getting too much foremilk. Foremilk has a lot of lactose in it when that lactose mixes with his little intestines it is painful. And creates a colicky acting baby. Try nursing on one side for a block if time. Each time in that block baby nurses go to the same side, don't switch. When the block is over do the same on the other side. Good luck!"

"Try feeding on one side only. My little guy was getting horrible gas from too much foremilk. Once I started nursing him on just one side it helped tremendously. I pumped out the other to keep my supply up. Around eight weeks it all changes a lot anyway. Stick it out mama! You're doing a great job!"

Forceful Letdown

"When my daughter had that problem our issue ended up being my letdown was too much for her to handle and caused her to take in air. We switched nursing positions to one where she sat upright while nursing and this worked out great for us."

Reflux

"It may be reflux. My son has it. He just takes reflux medication and keeps on breastfeeding."

"You could ask your doctor to give you acid reflux meds and if the problem is reflux it will all go away within days. It worked for all 3 of my children. After weeks of crying with my first. Acid reflux is common in children whether breastfed or bottle fed. So if the problem is reflux, changing to formula will not fix this problem at all, the baby will still be fussy and upset."

"Might be acid reflux, try Ranitidine. Get it from your doc. That is what my baby had and it worked. He had the same symptoms."

It Gets Better With Time

"Time will solve it, some babies are gassy and colicky but this won't last forever!
Don’t give up because it is just a stage!"

"My pediatrician said baby’s guts "wake up" at around 4-6 weeks and they are just fussy and gassy for a little while."

"Some babies might just have a rougher time getting their digestion up and running smoothly. Baby will make it promise."

"Gas starts going away around 2 months old. My baby just smiles and farts now when it was so bad at first."

"We went through gassiness / fussiness with my daughter (now nearly 8mo). It was a rough 6 weeks but after that she was much better."

"ALL my babies (4) went and are going (3weeks old) through a period of gassiness / fussiness. I honestly think it is just their guts adjusting to life on the outside. I nursed them all until after 2 years old including my 21 month old I am still nursing along with the 3 week old."

"Both my babies always seemed in pain with gas, grunted, cried, and struggled...but breast feeding helped them push through it. It does and will pass as he grows, it may seem like it takes them forever to do so, but it will happen. Keep on breast feeding!"

"It will go away, mine went through a gassy phase at 6 weeks and it was gone around 8 weeks or so."

"My son had colic for the first three months of his life. He was our first baby and it broke our hearts to see him in such pain. He cried constantly and so did I. Everyone I knew (and didn't know) commented on his colic and many insisted I switch to formula. I refused and nursed him for the first three years of his life. I have absolutely no regrets about this decision. He was a very high needs baby who was and still is super sensitive but today he is an amazing 5 year old."

"I nursed, held and wore him constantly as a baby and I truly believe this attachment parenting created the foundation for a remarkable and confident young boy. Good luck to you, follow your heart and try to remain positive. His colic will decrease with age and you too can experience an incredible relationship together particularly with breast feeding."

"Both my babies were gassy in the beginning. What I can say is that by 12 weeks it disappeared completely, it's just that until then their tummies are incapable of digesting properly. Hang in there, I promise it passes."

Medication

"They say breastfed babies don't get colic but mine did, it was awful, but once we started colic drops it settled down."

"Baby Gerber Colic Drops. I didn’t believe in it til I tried the drops."

"Simethicone is good - it gathers all the air in the tummy just ingested with a feed, and it all gets burped up in one glorious burp! After a day of this, the colic settles down a lot as those tiny air bubbles never made it into the intestines. My son is 12 weeks and had a lot of colic. I started giving him simethicone a few weeks ago and it's made a difference."

"Mylicon works for my son."

"I had to give my baby Levsin (Hyoscyamine) and it worked wonders!"

"I used to use Infacol drops before each feed which helped."

"My baby was really gassy the first month or so too. I used the target brand gas drops. It worked better than the gripe water. And it tastes way better."

"Colief definitely."

"Try Little Remedies: Little Tummies. Both of my kids used it."

"My son is 7 weeks old and went through this the first 6 weeks. He has reflux and now is on a PPI medication and I give him gas drops Colic Calm he is a whole different baby! It’s truly trial and error! good luck momma!"

"I got stuff called Colic Calm at Walgreens and I'll tell you what IT WORKS! Invest in some!

"Try a product called Iberogast it's an amazing herbal product that is great for wind, colic and reflux."

"My son was very gassy and the only thing that worked was Ovol."

My daughter responded well to a little chamomile tea! I'd breastfeed then give her a couple tablespoons of tea...big burp, big fart and she was happy. Good luck mama"

"Try cooled fennel tea or homeopathic chamomilla. My boy was the same and they really helped. Health food shops stock chamomilla granules especially for tiny ones."

"My baby had issues with gas and my pediatrician suggested an ounce of prune juice mixed with an ounce of water once a day. Helped my little guy out tons!"

"Buy some carroway seeds and make a tea out of it, you and the baby should drink some, it will help the gas get out!"

Check For Anatomical Problems

"Just make sure that your baby does not have lip or tongue tie that would cause the baby to have a poor latch and get more air when eating. Look at www.kiddsteeth.com to get information about how to check. If you think this is a problem, you can PM me. Good luck! This probably isn't the issue, but I just wanted you to rule it out because it does affect 3-5% of babies."

Chiropractic Care

"My son was diagnosed with GERD and given Zantac. It helped for a few months but he started presenting similar symptoms again. We took him to a chiropractor that diagnosed him with a hiatal hernia. He's been so much better ever since! I suggest looking into a reputable chiropractor that works on infants. And they don't adjust infants the same as adults. My son was on my lap the entire time. Good luck!"

"Chiropractor works miracles for babies! Highly recommend, we dealt with the same issue with my youngest and nothing else helped but the chiropractor. Good luck!"

Try to Avoid Formula

"Worst possible idea is to switch to formula - it will only make things worse as formula is a lot harder on an infant's gut than breast milk. Even just a bottle can cause severe damage to the natural Ph level of his gut. My son was the same, very colicky. I just persisted and he is now 5 months, still breastfeeding and very happy! Don't supplement his milk with anything, and just hang in there. http://www.health-e-learning.com/articles/JustOneBottle.pdf"

"Formula actually gave my daughter much worse gas."

"We tried formula and it made no difference with gas! Only made him constipated."

Helpful Books

"It may have nothing to do with his stomach or the milk. Colic is not always caused by stomach issues. My baby had colic for the first 4.5 months and it was so difficult but I was given a book called "Happiest Baby on the Block". Seriously this book is a must read for mothers of colicky or fussy babies, it saved our sanity. He will grow out of it and the book gives real solutions for calming him in the meantime that work. Good luck and don't give up yet."

The Implausibility of Vaccine-Based Herd Immunity

2014-01-07T21:51:00.000+13:00

The phrase "herd immunity" is tossed a lot these days. I've often seen it used as ammunition against parents who choose not to vaccinate, with something along the lines of, "the only reason your unvaccinated child is so healthy is because those of us who vaccinate are keeping disease rates down". Is this really true? I decided to dig deeper to find out.

Natural Herd Immunity vs Vaccine Herd Immunity

Herd immunity requires the assurance that a large percentage of the ‘herd’ (population) is immune and therefore unable to pass on disease. The theory is based on natural immunity, which provides lifelong or long term immunity. [1] Whether vaccination can be substituted for natural immunity when considering herd immunity, is an entirely different question.

Just how effective a vaccine is at providing immunity isn't easy to gauge. Vaccination provides essentially a half-hearted immune response to infection. It may often provide a strong antibody reaction, but unfortunately provides a very poor innate immune response. [2] Despite this, traditionally vaccine effectiveness has been based on measuring antibody levels produced by the body in response to the vaccine, and the fact that vaccines illicit a poor innate immune response has largely been ignored.

However, recent research has put the traditional theory that antibodies are required for immunity into question. It is now known that antibody levels cannot accurately predict immunity. A person can have high levels of antibodies but still become infected, and conversely a person can have low levels of antibodies but not become infected. In fact, in 2012 Moseman et al revealed that antibodies were not even required to gain immunity and that antibodies elicited by vaccines could not by themselves provide adequate immunity. [3]

Pollard et al (2009) noted that children vaccinated with the Hib conjugate vaccine still suffered from Hib disease despite the presence of B-cell immunological memory:

"These children mount a memory immune response to infection but still suffer from Hib disease, which supports our view that the presence of immunological memory does not guarantee protection. These observations strongly suggest that B-cell memory (the kind of immune memory induced via vaccination) might not be as important as longlasting antibodies (T-cell memory cells induced via natural infection) for long-term protection against a rapidly invasive pathogen." [3a]

The immune system as a whole needs to work together, as it does in response to natural infection; something vaccines have unfortunately been unable to achieve.

Despite this, vaccine manufacturers continue to use antibody testing to rate their products effectiveness. As inadequate as antibody-based immunity conferred by vaccines is, it is further subject to rapid decline soon after vaccine administration, in some cases even after numerous boosters.

In 2012 Klein et al studied the waning effect of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine and discovered:

“The risk of pertussis increased by 42% each year after the fifth DTaP dose.” [4]

In stark contrast, in 2009 Wearing et al determined that , on average, whooping cough immunity lasts at least 30 years and perhaps as long as 70 years after natural infection. [5]

It's no surprise then that vaccines are often demonstrated to be ineffective in real world situations. For example numerous outbreaks of measles, mumps, whooping cough, chicken pox, influenza, and polio have been documented in highly vaccination populations. [6-23, 24-27, 28-35, 36-40, 41-62, 63-64]

Asymptomatic infection after vaccination

The whooping cough vaccine in particular has been one of the most problematic in terms of effectiveness. In 2009 researchers Witt et al. examined whooping cough incidence in California:

"Our data suggests that the current schedule of acellular pertussis vaccine doses is insufficient to prevent outbreaks of pertussis." [65a]

Likewise, in 2013 researchers Sala-Farré et al. studied whooping cough incidence in Vallès with similar conclusions:

"Despite high levels of vaccination coverage, pertussis circulation cannot be controlled at all. The results question the efficacy of the present immunization programmes." [65b]

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control has admitted that unvaccinated people are not the cause of recent whooping cough incidence:

"Even though children who haven't received DTaP vaccines are at least 8 times more likely to get pertussis than children who received all 5 recommended doses of DTaP, they are not the driving force behind the large scale outbreaks or epidemics...We often see people blaming pertussis outbreaks on people coming to the US from other counties. This is not the case. Pertussis was never eliminated from the US like measles or polio, so there's always the chance for it to get into a community. Plus, every country vaccinates against pertussis." [65c]

Dr. Anne Schuchat, the director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases further explains the recent increase in whooping cough incidence:

“Better diagnosis and reporting of whooping cough may be contributing to the increased numbers, along with the fact that the disease tends to peak and wane in cycles. It does not appear that anti-vaccination sentiment among parents has contributed…” [65d]

The problem isn't just that the whooping cough vaccine admittedly doesn't work well - it gets more complicated. The current acellular whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine was shown by researchers Warfel et al. to create the illusion of immunity by exhibiting no symptoms in the vaccine recipient, when in fact the recipient was infected and spreading the infection to those around them - a phenomenon known as asymptomatic infection. [65]

Even though vaccine recipients had adequate levels of antibodies to be considered ‘immune’ by vaccine standards, it did not stop the infection persisting in the host or spreading it to others. [65] The researchers concluded:

"The observation that acellular pertussis, which induces an immune response mismatched to that induced by natural infection, fails to prevent colonization or transmission provides a plausible explanation for the resurgence of pertussis and suggests that optimal control of pertussis will require the development of improved vaccines." [65]

The risks associated with the acellular whooping cough vaccine, which has been in use since 1991 [68], have been known as early as 2000, yet no recall of the vaccine was made. [69] This is a major problem that should have been caught in preliminary trials, before the vaccine was licensed to begin with.

But wait, there's more

The whooping cough vaccine isn't alone. The measles vaccine shares similar problems.

Damien et al (1998) found that people who are traditionally considered immune to measles (have produced sufficient amounts of antibodies) can still harbour the measles virus without showing outward symptoms and theoretically spread it to others. This phenomenon is known as an asymptomatic secondary immune response. It applies to both those who have acquired immunity through natural infection or through vaccination, however those who are vaccinated are 5-8 times more susceptible to this response:

"Among measles vaccinated high school children, 22.2-33.2% respectively, were considered susceptible to secondary immune response (asymptomatic measles infection). A second vaccination did not seem to lower this incidence." [102]

After an investigation of a measles outbreak in a highly vaccination school population, Matson et al (1993) found that even after revaccination of school children who did not develop antibodies to their initial measles vaccination, susceptibility to measles infection still remained high (albeit without the appearance of a rash):

"Revaccination appeared to reduce the portion of all students with neutralization titers predicting susceptibility to measles illness with rash from 7.9% to 3.0% and left the portion predicted to be susceptible to illness without rash unchanged (45%)." [104]

Wu et al (1996) studied children exposed to measles in a primary school and found the rate of asymptomatic measles infection despite vaccination to be similar:

"The rate of subclinical infection of the three classes was between 18.5%-75.0%, with an average of 45.1%. " [104a]

Helfand et al (1998) examined the effects of a measles outbreak in a highly vaccinated school population and concluded:

"Mild or asymptomatic measles infections are probably very common among measles-immune persons exposed to measles cases and may be the most common manifestation of measles during outbreaks in highly immune populations." [104b]

Huiss et al (1997) studied a population of vaccinated adults and found evidence measles was able to circulate amongst them despite the absence of outward symptoms:

"In a secluded population of seropositive vaccinees, most experienced an increase in measles titre several years after vaccination. In the absence of clinically overt measles, this suggested that the virus circulated also in healthy vaccinated individuals who could potentially transmit disease to seronegative people." [105]

Stittelaar et al (2002) get straight to the point in their study, "Vaccination against measles: a neverending story":

"...the current vaccine protects against measles but not necessarily against MV infection."[105a]

Hudgens, et al (2004) reiterate the point in their study, "Endpoints in vaccine trials":

"...vaccines for rubella, mumps, measles, and polio have been shown to prevent disease, but not infection."[105b]

The World Health Organization also state:

"Many vaccines are primarily intended to prevent disease and do not necessarily protect against infection." [105c]

They go on to state that just two vaccines, the HPV and Hep A vaccine, possibly have the ability to prevent infection.

These results are not surprising given that vaccines that are injected, such as the MMR, do not stimulate mucosal immunity.[2] However the mucosa is precisely where the majority of infections reside.[106] So while vaccine recipients are usually protected from severe symptoms such as a rash or fever, many are still susceptible to infection, and will pass the infection on to those around them.[102]

Vaccine-Induced Infection

Other vaccines have also proven to be problematic. The chicken pox (varicella) and rotavirus vaccines have been documented numerous times causing infection in vaccine recipients and spreading the infection to others. The chicken pox vaccine has also been documented multiple times causing herpes zoster, a related virus with 3 times the morbidity and 5 times the mortality of varicella, in vaccine recipients. [69-93, 94-100]

The measles vaccine may also suffer from a similar problem to the chicken pox and rotavirus vaccines. Researchers Valsamakis et al (1999) studied how the vaccine-based measles virus changed over time when allowed to replicate for an extended period of time in human tissue. They discovered that it grew in strength, evolving back to a strength similar to that of the wild-type measles virus from which it was derived. The researchers warned that individuals with immune deficiency may suffer adverse outcomes if vaccinated, as they may be unable to clear the original, weakened, vaccine-based measles virus, allowing the virus to replicate for an extended period of time and grow to full strength. [101]

Rota et al (1995) found that the measles virus was shed in 14 of the 16 measles vaccine recipients tested:

"Measles virus RNA was detected in 10 of 12 children during the 2-week sampling period. In some cases, measles virus RNA was detected as early as 1 day or as late as 14 days after vaccination. Measles virus RNA was also detected in the urine samples from all four of the young adults between 1 and 13 days after vaccination." [103]

Bottom line

This evidence completely shatters any illusion that at least these particular vaccines can provide herd immunity. It implicates the current whooping cough, chicken pox, rotavirus, and possibly the mesasles vaccines as a cause of disease resurgence. The fact that antibodies alone have been shown unable to confer adequate immunity to pathogens calls into question the use of vaccination as a whole, as vaccine based immunity is primarily based on antibody production.

For these reasons, it is my opinion, that vaccination cannot in good conscience be used in the context of herd immunity. Until safer and more effective vaccines become available it seems a gamble to assume that vaccine recipients are truly immune.

Sources:

1. Herd immunity and measles.

Fox JP. Rev Infect Dis. 1983 May-Jun;5(3):463-6.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6879000

2. Vaccine immunology

Claire-Anne Siegrist

http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf

3. B cell maintenance of subcapsular sinus macrophages protects against a fatal viral infection independent of adaptive immunity. Moseman EA et al. Immunity. 2012 Mar 23;36(3):415-26.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3359130/

3a. Maintaining protection against invasive bacteria with protein–polysaccharide conjugate vaccines

Andrew J. Pollard et al. Nature Reviews, Immunology Volume 9, MARCH 2009, 213

http://fbae.org/2009/FBAE/website/images/pdf/imporatant-publication/Immunity_through_prtoein-polysaccharide_conjugate_vaccines.pdf

4. Waning Protection after Fifth Dose of Acellular Pertussis Vaccine in Children

Nicola P. Klein et al. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1012-1019September 13

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1200850#t=articleDiscussion

5. Estimating the Duration of Pertussis Immunity Using Epidemiological Signatures.

Wearing et al. PLoS Pathogens, 2009; 5 (10): e1000647

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Physical Preparation for Childbirth

2013-11-28T12:30:00.000+13:00

I’ve often heard touted that nothing can prepare the body for childbirth or that nothing we do can possibly make the physical experience any different. It’s a common misconception. While it’s true that there’s few experiences that come near to the physical intensity of childbirth, there are indeed a range of techniques that can help prepare the body for the physical requirements of childbirth.

Muscles of the Pelvic Floor
The birthing process requires the coordinated effort of different muscles, in particular the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor is made up of several muscles that support the pelvic organs like a hammock. These muscles are under voluntary control, meaning you decide when to contract or relax them.

During labour the pelvic floor muscles are supposed to relax allowing the baby to descend as surges (contractions) nudge baby down further and further until born. While the pelvic floor muscles are relaxing, muscles of the abdomen also contract to help push the baby out during the decent stage.

Women who are anxious during labour tend to contract instead of relax the pelvic floor muscles, meaning when baby nudges downward with the force of surges or voluntary abdominal muscle contraction, baby is effectively pushing against an unyielding muscular wall. When a labouring woman experiences pelvic pain, this may cause her to involuntarily tighten her pelvic floor muscles, creating a cycle of ongoing pelvic pain and increased pelvic floor muscle tension.

The major muscles of the pelvic floor are the levator ani, puborectalis, pubovaginalis, and spincter urethrae (pictured below).

Promoting Pelvic Floor Relaxation

Exercise 1: The Elevator
This exercise is done to gain full control of the pelvic floor muscles, increase flexibility, and develop awareness of tension/relaxation, which is important for labour.

This exercise may be done in any position, although one that eliminates the forces of gravity, such as lying down, is easier.
Imagine you are riding in an elevator. As you ascend to each floor, try to draw up the perineal muscles a little more until you reach complete tension. When you reach your limit, don't let go.
Now descend, floor-by-floor, gradually relaxing the muscles. When you arrive at the ground floor (no tension), take the muscle group to the basement with a gentle blowing out breath through pursed lips. This should feel as if the perineum is bulging. This is very gentle bulging of the pelvic floor, bearing down too strongly can be counterproductive.
Complete the exercise by lifting up the muscle back to the ground floor level.
Repeat the entire exercise and remember to breathe normally as you tighten the pelvic floor muscles. To start with, do 5 in a series, holding each muscle contraction for 5 seconds, then releasing. Try to gradually build up to a series of 50.

Practice this exercise everywhere! This exercise can be done without anyone being aware of what you are doing. Some ideas: At red traffic lights, while cooking or brushing teeth, during commercials on TV, during sexual intercourse, anytime you are waiting, especially while standing, when coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, climbing stairs, straining, or squatting.

Exercise 2: Pelvic Floor Relaxation
This is a relaxation exercise which should not only help to relax your muscles but also relax your mind.

Source: http://www.michellealva.com

Lie down on a comfortable surface on your back.
Place the soles of your feet together and open up your hips.
Extend your arms straight out form your sides.
Take a deep breath in through the nose into the pit of your stomach focusing on relaxing your pelvic floor muscles. Breath into your diaphragm.
Exhale slowly while maintaining focus on relaxing your muscles.
Visualise your pelvic floor muscles relaxing and warmth pouring into the pelvic floor region.
A warm pack placed over the pubic area or lower abdomen can assist pelvic floor relaxation if desired.
Try to relax for about 20 minutes.

Exercise 3 : Easy Pelvic Floor Stretch
This stretch will give you a pleasant stretch to your pelvic muscles as well as giving your muscles a chance to relax.

Source: slism.com

Warm up with some light stretches to get your blood moving.
Lie Flat on your back in a comfortable spot or yoga/exercise mat.
Place a folded over pillow (foam rollers, and other semi-firm shaped objects can be used) under your buttocks or upper thighs.
Spread your arms directly out to your sides or stretching out above your head flat on the floor for a more intense stretch.
Hold this position and breathe deeply focusing on relaxing your pelvic floor muscles.
You should find as you take a deep breath into your diaphragm that you pelvic floor muscles will naturally relax, also relax your anus and surrounding muscles if you are prone to hold tension in these areas.
Do this exercise for 10-15 minutes a day to help promote relaxation in your pelvic floor muscles.

Note: Always consult your physical therapist or doctor before performing any new exercises. This exercise can put a bit of strain on your lower back and abdominals so please take it easy and start with a smaller pillow and work your way up.

The KEY to this exercise is to have your pelvic bone as the highest point to not just relieve the pressure of the weight of your body bearing down on your pelvic muscles but to help produce an effective stretch.
The video below will also help you in loosening those tight hip rotators in order to perform the pelvic floor relaxation easier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BW1tskfu7cI

Exercise 4 : Pelvic Floor Massage - The Tennis Ball
Massage can be a very useful tool in fighting pelvic floor tightness. When used to loosen tight muscles before a stretching session you should experience better range of movement and a more intense stretch. The muscle we are primarily trying to target here is the perineum which for women between the vagina and anus. This is a common exercise used by dancers to push blood through the pelvic floor muscles and encourage the pelvic muscles to relax.

Warm up before this exercise, either with a quick jog on the spot or heat pad on the perineum just to warm up the muscles before massage.
Sitting on a chair or on the floor, place the tennis ball under your perineum and gently ease your body weight onto it.
Breathe deeply and relax into the ball focusing on relaxing your perineum and surrounding muscles.
You may feel involuntary contractions try to focus and prevent these from occurring.
Stop after 3-5 minutes.

Vaginal Dilator Therapy
Vaginal dilators (shown below) are designed with progressively increasing length and/or diameter, and are used to help a woman become accustomed to vaginal penetration and to help train pelvic floor muscle relaxation. Vaginal dilators are usually used in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

The Epi-No vaginal dilator is designed to prepare the vagina and pelvic floor for childbirth and to restore after-birth muscle tone. It consists of a silicone balloon and a hand pump with an integrated Biofeedback pressure gauge to monitor muscle-tone improvement of the pelvic floor muscles.
The German Epi-No Trial (Schuchardt et al. 2000) measured Anxiety, Analgesic Use, Length of Second Stage Labour, Perineal Outcomes and Apgar Scores after 1 and 5 minutes. The Trial found that..." with daily EPI-NO training it is possible to reduce the anxiety of birth significantly. By reducing anxiety of birth it is also possible to shorten the second stage of labour as well as the analgesics requirements. By a slower, more gentle pre-expansion of vulva and vagina regulated by the woman herself, it has been possible to reduce injuries to the vulva as well as the vagina significantly." You can buy the Epi-No here: http://www.epino.de/en/epi-no.html

Biofeedback
Pelvic floor relaxation can be practiced with specialized physical therapy known as biofeedback. Biofeedback helps to improve a woman’s pelvic floor muscle sensation and coordination. There are various effective techniques used in biofeedback. The most effective technique uses a small probe placed in the vagina (the Epi-No pictured above is one such device) or electrodes placed on the surface of the skin around the opening to the vagina and on the abdominal wall. These instruments detect when a muscle is contracting or relaxing and provide visual feedback of the muscle action. This visual feedback helps the individual understand muscle movement and aids in improving muscle coordination. Approximately 75% of individuals experience significant improvement with biofeedback. For more information on biofeedback for pelvic floor relaxation see the following links:
Pelvic floor biofeedback video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=731f9aDlG5Y
Study on pelvic floor biofeedback: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19966605
Detailed instructions: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/Documents/Digestive_Disease/woc-spring-symposium-2013/biofeedback-for-pelvic-floor-muscle-reeducation.pdf

Other Manual Therapy for the Pelvic Floor Muscles
A trained pelvic floor physiotherapist may use specific methods to promote pelvic floor relaxation and to re-educate the correct activation of these muscles. Pelvic floor physiotherapists are highly trained and skilled in manual therapy techniques for the pelvic floor. These methods are usually progressed gradually over time and may involve:

Desensitising the pelvic area to touch (using physical touch or vaginal dilators)
Identifying specific areas of pelvic tension
Pelvic floor stretches
Massage techniques
Treating concurrent conditions which may present along with pelvic floor tightness such as problems with pelvic joints (SIJ joints), tailbone problems and low back problems.
Progressive strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles only when appropriate.

A Few Points to Remember About the Pelvic Floor

The article ‘How to Relax Your Pelvic Floor Muscles - Pelvic Floor Dysfunction’ offers some great points to remember:

Always be conscious of your pelvic floor muscles, if you find yourself contracting them. Relax and let them release their tension. Train your body and your mind to relax these muscles fully.
Pelvic floor relaxation is important but always remember whenever you are lifting anything heavy or performing vigorous exercises your pelvic floor muscles are required to contract strongly and tense in order to hold all your organs securely and support your body weight. Reteach your muscles to relax and contract when required.
During colder weather you may find your pelvic floor muscles are sometimes impossible to relax, use hot baths or steam rooms to help you fight the cold tight muscles.
Please be aware of your posture, don't lean on one leg or have your feet pointed outwards or two far in. All these types of things will put undue stress on pelvic floor muscles as they try to compensate for poor posture.

Strengthening the Abdominals
Why would you strengthen your abdominals during pregnancy you may ask? During the decent (or ‘pushing’) stage of labour strong abdominals play a major role in pushing baby out. Strong abdominals also support the exaggerated curve of the spine that occurs during pregnancy, and decreases the chances of the rectus abdominus (the 6 pack muscles) from separating (a condition called ‘diastasis’). Keep in mind that there is always a balance between strength and flexibility. Any muscle that is too toned, may lose its ability to stretch properly.

Is There a Right or Wrong Way to Push?

A common phrase in labour wards is to "hold your breath for 10 seconds, bear down, and push" (also called ‘purple pushing’, ‘closed glottis pushing’, or the ‘Valsalva Manuever ‘) . This puts a lot of pressure and strain on the pelvic floor muscles, possibly contributing to incontinence and hemorrhoid issues. Purple pushing can contribute to increased blood pressure, stress to the baby and popping blood vessels. As a reflex response the amount of blood pumped by the heart decreases. Death has been known to occur in cases where the blood pressure rises enough to cause the rupture of an aneurysm or to dislodge blood clots. In releasing the breath blood pressure falls; this, coupled with standing up quickly, commonly results in the incidence of blackouts. Women do not need to hold their breath. Breathing is much more effective and safe.

A More Effective Way to Use Your Muscles
Women who learn how to contract their abdominals and breathe out at the same time during labor, will get the most effective push possible. The pelvic floor muscles need to be relaxed during pushing in order to ‘let baby through’, which is easier to do if you are breathing out. Relaxed pelvic floor muscles also mean less stress will be put on those pelvic muscles, reducing the risk of incontinence and hemorrhoids.

Most Important Muscles
The deep transversus abdominis is the innermost abdominal muscle. It encircles your trunk like a corset and involuntarily contracts when you sneeze, exhale, or pull your belly in.

The action of this muscle compresses the abdominal cavity, and yes, it can also help you push during labor. During the decent stage of labor, you ideally draw in the deep transversus abdominis muscle and relax the pelvic floor to let the baby out. This mode of action will allow you to more effectively push your baby out rather than relying on pressure and tension from the rest of your body (eg. face, jaw, shoulders, arms, and legs).

Celeste from Mom Bod Fitness blog offers an interesting analogy (though she originally used a ketchup bottle for this analogy):

Picture a 1/2 full toothpaste tube. If you turned it upside down and wanted to get all of the toothpaste out, you wouldn't squeeze near the cap, you could barely get anything out. This is what happens when women try to push a baby out with their pelvic floor muscles. But if you squeeze the bottle up higher, from behind the bulk of the toothpaste, you will be more effective at getting it all out! When women use their transverse abs (up higher) they can do a much better job pushing the baby out. Just like the base at the bottom of the toothpaste tube should be open and relaxed, so should the pelvic floor muscles.

Toning the Abdominals
Transverse abdominus muscles can be toned using an exercise involving deep slow exhalations of the breath.

Get into a position either lying flat on your back on the floor, on your hands and knees, or upright with your back against a wall. You might like to place a palm on your belly while you do this exercise.
While trying to maintain a flat back, inhale deeply and release the muscle tone of the belly. Exhale deeply contracting the transverse. Imagine that with each exhalation you are tightening a corset around your middle and drawing their baby closer to your spine.
You could also imagine that you have a 30cm ruler next to you. As you contract the abdominal wall, try to bring the belly into the 20cm mark on the ruler.
Each time the belly is drawn in, count out loud. 1-2-and so forth. You can start by just counting up to 20 and throughout time maybe move up to 75 or 100.

Preventing Diastasis
Beyond understanding how to strengthen the abdominal region, it is important to understand how not to exasperate the diastasis. While it is normal to have some separation of the rectus abdominus muscles during pregnancy, more extreme diastasis can be prevented from just a few mindful movements.
Be mindful about movements like:

The way a woman gets in and out of bed or a chair, and how she lifts things can often increase separation.
“Kicking up” to seated from a reclined position or pushing up to standing when seated.
Moving from an upright position to a supine position without either using their arms to lower herself. Ideally they should be rolling to their side and then onto their back
Lifting heavy objects (or small children) incorrectly
Navasana which tends to “bulge the belly.”

All of these movements can be detrimental, as these actions usually cause a woman to push her belly out. That pushing out of the belly can in fact push the rectus abdominus apart can also cause extreme separation, as it can force the uterine wall to push between the rectus abdominus, increasing the separation between them.

Sources:
http://expectus.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Relax-Your-Pelvic-Floor-Muscles-Pelvic-Floor-Dysfunction#
http://www.med.umich.edu/bowelcontrol/patient/teaching/Bowel%20Function.pdf
http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/pelvic_floor_dysfunction/
http://www.fitpregnancy.com/exercise/prenatal-workouts/ready-set-push
http://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/your-abdominal-muscles-can-help-you-push-your-baby-out/
http://exerciseandpregnancy.blogspot.co.nz/2011/10/using-right-muscles-to-push-during.html

What Childbirth Feels Like

2013-10-29T11:30:00.000+13:00

Pain level during childbirth is different for every woman, depending on many different factors ranging from health conditions, nutrient deficiencies, to stress level. Childbirth does however have some distinctive sensations:

Wavelike uterine tightening
Contractions occur when the vertical uterine muscles contract. Like your bicep muscle when you flex it, your uterine muscles shorten and thicken during each contraction, gently nudging baby further down the birth canal.
Not surprisingly, many women describe contractions as a tightening, pulling, or cramping sensation in the belly lasting for about 60 seconds during active labor, then releasing at the cessation of each contraction. The tightening is wavelike. It grows steadily in strength, reaching a peak, before receding back down. The tightening sensation can be dull or sharp feeling, and will usually radiate from the uterus traveling around the back and pubic area during the contraction.
During contractions it’s important to relax the muscles in the pelvic area. This will lessen the tightening sensation, and allow the labor to progress more efficiently.

Back pain
We tend to think of labor pain as occurring in the belly, but for those birthing with a posterior positioned baby, the back pain can be more intense than the contractions. This back pain can also be more constant than the periodical pain of contractions, as the baby may constantly press on the mothers spine throughout the birth.
There are many effective techniques for managing back labor. These focus on either repositioning baby in a more comfortable position for the mother, relieving pressure on the mothers spine, or massaging and relieving her sore muscles.

Recommended position for alleviating back-pain
during "back-labour" (posterior positioned baby)

Pain in other areas
Because childbirth can last a long time other areas of the body, especially those that aren’t usually used, may ache from over use. In particular legs, hips, and the rectal areas may begin to ache. This is another reason why relaxation is essential in childbirth. Muscle tension due to stress wears out muscles, providing no benefit, unlike the beneficial muscular contractions of the uterus. By relaxing muscles, birthing women are able to conserve much needed energy for the uterus, where it is really needed.
Staying well nourished and hydrated is also crucial to efficient muscle function. Without important nutrients such as water, sugar, salt, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, muscles begin to fatigue, then inflame, resulting in pain. Providing birthing women with a nourishing drink such as ‘Laborade’ is an excellent way to ensure muscles have the nutrients to go the distance.

Rectal pressure
As baby descends you will feel strong rectal pressure, like you need to pass a stool. Many women may go to the toilet at this stage thinking that they need to pass a stool, only to find there is none. Instead the rectal pressure continues to get stronger and stronger as baby descends, until finally the baby emerges. So if you feel like you need to poop, it‘s a great sign baby is descending well.

Bearing down
During the second stage of labor, when baby’s head has fully passed through the cervix, you’ll begin to feel an instinctive urge to bear down. Many women describe bearing down as a relief, providing some measure of control and alleviating the pain of contractions. The realization that baby is almost out is very exciting, the atmosphere in the room really livens up at this stage.

Stretching and burning
When baby is crowning it is typical to feel a stretching and burning sensation around the opening of the vagina. Tearing the perineum is a common concern for birthing women, but ironically it’s that fear experienced during crowning that may cause the perineum to tear. It‘s crucial during crowning to fully relax the pelvic muscles to avoid tearing or restricting baby’s oxygen supply.

Euphoria
During childbirth the body produces massive amounts of oxytocin and endorphins, hormones that typically dull pain and make you feel euphoric and sedated. As birth progresses the body produces increasing amounts of these hormones, resulting in an experience known as a ‘birth high’. This ‘high’ helps the mother cope with pain, and when baby is finally born, helps mother and baby to bond. The hormones can sometimes make women feel a little out of control, while other women sink into the experience and describe feeling very centered. It’s important for women to relax and know that this experience is normal and beneficial.

Exhaustion
It’s well known that birth can be physically exhausting, with a large chunk of that exhaustion attributed to stress related tension. With the onset of a contraction a common reaction is to tense in preparation for the pain, which ironically increases the sensation of pain and uses up vital energy reserves in the process. When bearing down in the second phase of labour, again a common reaction is to tense and strain muscles. While the second phase may be slightly shortened by this mode of action, it increases the risk of tissue trauma, fetal hypoxia, and most definitely contributes to exhaustion. To counteract the tendency to tense muscles, techniques that focus on relaxing muscles can be used. Water birth is well known to relax muscles, along with hypnotherapy, positive affirmations, massage, and acupressure. Creating a calm, stress free environment is also key.
Birthing women may also experience mental exhaustion. It can take extreme amounts of mental effort to consciously relax tensed muscles, or focus the mind on something other than the pain. The tears and smiles when baby is born aren’t just about the beautiful baby, they’re also prompted by relief, knowing the mammoth task is finally over. Like physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion can be reduced by practicing relaxation techniques, such as hypnotherapy and positive affirmations, throughout pregnancy and birth. Supporters can help a birthing mother by giving her abundant encouragement and praise, guiding her through her relaxation techniques, reassuring her when she becomes doubtful, and ensuring the atmosphere in the room remains calm and stress free.

by Amanda Greavette

The beauty of birth
For many women birth is the most painful experience they’ve been through, but also the most amazing and beautiful experience. It has been described as “the most beautiful pain ever felt”. A birthing woman’s body provides her with painkilling hormones, giving her the ability to experience both intense pleasure and pain at the same time. When baby finally emerges, the pain subsides and she is left with a cocktail of hormones, a euphoric birth high, imprinting her baby’s face in her memories forever. The experience is passionate, instinctive and powerful.

Vaccines & Autism: The Evidence

2013-09-22T18:05:00.000+12:00

It’s a familiar cry, “vaccines do not cause autism”. But what is the assertion based on, and what does the scientific evidence have to say? Below is a collection of study excerpts that show vaccines are indeed implicated in autism. The mechanisms involve:
- An abnormal immune response to the vaccine-derived measles virus
- Aluminium sourced from vaccines
- Acetaminophen (paracetamol) subsequent to MMR vaccine
- Mercury sourced from vaccines
- Conjugated vaccines
- The 1994-1999 US vaccine schedule is shown to induce brain changes identical to those of autism

This post is lengthy, but if you're interested in the causes behind autism, you'll find it fascinating. To make this scientific literature easier to understand I've included additional text in italics.

An abnormal immune response to the vaccine-derived measles virus is implicated in autism
“This report on children with both autistic encephalopathy (brain injury) and intestinal pathology (disease) associated with measles virus persistence describes the detection of measles virus in the cerebrospinal fluid of such children. None of the cases (autistic children studied) or controls (non-autistic children studied) had a history of measles exposure other than MMR vaccination. Serum (blood samples) and cerebrospinal fluid samples were also evaluated for antibodies to myelin basic protein (myelin basic protein is a substance essential for proper functioning of the nervous system, autoantibodies to myelin basic protein mean that body attacks the myelin basic protein, creating inflammation, damage, and cell death). Serum anti-myelin basic protein autoantibodies were detected in all children with autistic encephalopathy (brain injury). Findings are consistent with both a measles virus etiology (cause) for the autistic encephalopathy (brain injury) and active viral replication in these children. They further indicate the possibility of a virally driven cerebral (brain) immunopathology (immune system disease) in some cases of regressive autism. The data support the growing perception that a subset of children with autistic encephalopathy (brain injury) exhibits a complex systemic pathology (disease) consistent with an etiological (causative) role for measles virus (found in the MMR vaccine).” [1]

“Analysis revealed the presence of an unusual MMR antibody in 60% of autistic sera (blood samples) but not in control sera (non-autistic blood samples). The MMR antibody in autistic sera (blood samples) detected measles hemagglutinin protein (a substance found in the measles virus as part of the MMR vaccine that causes the clumping together of red blood cells), which is unique to the measles vaccine. Furthermore, over 90% of MMR antibody-positive autistic sera (blood samples) were also positive for myelin basic protein autoantibodies (myelin basic protein is a substance essential for proper functioning of nervous system, autoantibodies to myelin basic protein mean that body attacks the myelin basic protein, creating inflammation, damage, and cell death), suggesting a strong association between MMR and central nervous system autoimmunity in autism (autoantibodies to myelin basic protein is found in other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and traverse myelitis). Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis (cause) of autism.” [2]

“Virus-induced autoimmunity may play a causal role in autism. To examine the etiologic (causative) link of viruses in this brain disorder, we conducted a serologic (blood sample analysis) study of measles virus, mumps virus, and rubella virus. The level of measles antibody, but not mumps or rubella antibodies, was significantly higher in autistic children as compared with normal children or siblings of autistic children. Autistic children have a hyperimmune response to measles virus, which in the absence of a wild type of measles infection might be a sign of an abnormal immune reaction to the vaccine strain or virus reactivation.” [3]

“Autoimmune markers were analyzed in the sera (blood samples) of autistic and normal children, but the cerebrospinal fluid of some autistic children was also analyzed. Autoimmunity was demonstrated by the presence of brain autoantibodies, abnormal viral serology (blood tests), brain and viral antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid, a positive correlation between brain autoantibodies and viral serology (blood tests), elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute-phase reactants (substances involved in widespread inflammation), and a positive response to immunotherapy (medical treatment of the immune system). Many autistic children harbored brain myelin basic protein autoantibodies and elevated levels of antibodies to measles virus and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Measles might be etiologically linked to autism because measles and MMR antibodies (a viral marker) correlated positively to brain autoantibodies (an autoimmune marker)--salient features that characterize autoimmune pathology (disease) in autism. Autistic children also showed elevated levels of acute-phase reactants--a marker of systemic inflammation. The scientific evidence is quite credible for our autoimmune hypothesis, leading to the identification of autoimmune autistic disorder (AAD) as a major subset of autism. Autoimmune autistic disorder can be identified by immune tests to determine immune problems before administering immunotherapy. The author has advanced a speculative neuroautoimmune (NAI) model for autism, in which virus-induced autoimmunity is a key player.” [4]

“A new syndrome has been reported in children with autism who exhibited developmental regression and gastrointestinal symptoms (autistic enterocolitis), in some cases soon after MMR vaccine. In order to characterize the strains that may be present, we have carried out the detection of measles RNA in peripheral mononuclear cells. The sequences (samples) obtained from the patients with ulcerative colitis (gastrointestinal dysfunction) and children with autism were consistent with being vaccine (MMR) strains. In this study, the persistence of measles virus in peripheral blood was conﬁrmed in some patients with chronic intestinal inﬂammation. It was conﬁrmed that both vaccine and sporadic virus could be persistent.” [5]

“MMR vaccination may increase risk for autism via an autoimmune mechanism in autism. MMR antibodies are significantly higher in autistic children as compared to normal children, supporting a role of MMR in autism. Autoantibodies to myelin basic protein, neuron-axon filament protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein are significantly increased in autistic patients (myelin basic protein, neuron-axon filament protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein are crucial to proper nervous system function, if the body creates autoantibodies to these substances it means the body attacks them, creating inflammation, damage, and cell death). Increase in Th2 may explain the increased autoimmunity (overactivation of Th2 is associated with autoimmune diseases). The possibility of its involvement in autism cannot be ruled out.” [12]

Aluminium sourced from vaccines is implicated in autism
“Dysfunctional immunity and impaired brain function are core deficits in autism spectrum disorders. Aluminium, the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin (damages or kills nerve cells) and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant aluminium has the potential to induce neuroimmune disorders. When assessing adjuvant toxicity in children, two key points ought to be considered:
(i) children should not be viewed as “small adults” as their unique physiology makes them much more vulnerable to toxic insults; and
(ii) if exposure to aluminium from only few vaccines can lead to cognitive impairment and autoimmunity in adults, is it unreasonable to question whether the current pediatric schedules, often containing 18 aluminium adjuvanted vaccines, are safe for children?
By applying Hill's criteria for establishing causality between exposure and outcome we investigated whether exposure to aluminium from vaccines could be contributing to the rise in autism spectrum disorders prevalence in the Western world. Our results show that:
(i) children from countries with the highest autism spectrum disorders prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to aluminium from vaccines;
(ii) the increase in exposure to aluminium adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in autism spectrum disorders prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades and
(iii) a significant correlation exists between the amounts of aluminium administered to preschool children and the current prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in seven Western countries, particularly at 3–4 months of age.
The application of the Hill's criteria to these data indicates that the correlation between aluminium in vaccines and autism spectrum disorders may be causal. Because children represent a fraction of the population most at risk for complications following exposure to aluminium, a more rigorous evaluation of aluminium adjuvant safety seems warranted.” [6]

“Our previous studies of autism spectrum disorder has demonstrated a correlation between increasing autism spectrum disorder rates and aluminium adjuvants in common use in paediatric vaccines in several Western countries. We have now sought to provide an animal model to explore potential behavioural phenotypes (characteristics) and central nervous system alterations using subcutaneous injections of aluminium hydroxide in early postnatal mice. Injections of a "high" and "low" aluminium adjuvant levels were designed to correlate to either the U.S. or Scandinavian paediatric vaccine schedules vs. control saline-injected mice. Male mice in the "high aluminium" group showed significant changes in light-dark box tests (increased anxiety and reduction in exploratory behaviour) and in various measures of behaviour in an open field (shorter distances moved, slower movement, less time in overall movement, and decreased rearing frequency). These current data implicate aluminium injected in early postnatal life in some central nervous system alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology (cause) of autism spectrum disorder.” [7]

“We have examined the neurotoxicity (ability to damage or kill nerve cells) of aluminum in humans and animals under various conditions, following different routes of administration. The literature demonstrates clearly negative impacts of aluminum on the nervous system across the age span. In adults, aluminum exposure can lead to apparently age-related neurological deficits resembling Alzheimer's and has been linked to this disease and to the Guamanian variant, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism-dementia complex. Similar outcomes have been found in animal models. In addition, injection of aluminum adjuvants in an attempt to model Gulf War syndrome and associated neurological deficits leads to an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotype in young male mice. In young children, a highly significant correlation exists between the number of pediatric aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines administered and the rate of autism spectrum disorders. Many of the features of aluminum-induced neurotoxicity may arise, in part, from autoimmune reactions, as part of the autoimmune / inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) syndrome. [8]

“Autism is a condition characterized by impaired cognitive and social skills, associated with compromised immune function. The incidence is alarmingly on the rise, and environmental factors are increasingly suspected to play a role. This paper investigates word frequency patterns in the U.S. CDC Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database. Our results provide strong evidence supporting a link between autism and the aluminum in vaccines. A literature review showing toxicity of aluminum in human physiology offers further support. Mentions of autism in VAERS increased steadily at the end of the last century, during a period when mercury was being phased out, while aluminum adjuvant burden was being increased. Using standard log-likelihood ratio techniques, we identify several signs and symptoms that are significantly more prevalent in vaccine reports after 2000, including cellulitis, seizure, depression, fatigue, pain and death, which are also significantly associated with aluminum-containing vaccines. We propose that children with the autism diagnosis are especially vulnerable to toxic metals such as aluminum and mercury due to insufficient serum sulfate and glutathione. A strong correlation between autism and the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is also observed.” [9]

“It is known that with priming (stimulation) of brain microglia (specific immune cells within the brain and spinal column), repeated episodes of systemic immune activation can trigger a chronic, exaggerated brain immune response. It has now been shown that chronic microglial activation (activation of specific immune cells in the brain and spinal column) is present in autistic brains from age 5 years to age 44 years. It may be that mercury and aluminium from vaccines as well as other sources, by accumulating in the brain, are acting as the innate (immune) trigger. It has been shown that both of these metals can trigger microglial activation and neurodegenerative (damage and death of nerve cells) effects. By accumulating in the brain, they may act as chronic immune stimulants. The competency of the central nervous systems protective mechanisms, especially the antioxidant systems, DNA repair enzymes, and other cellular mechanisms of protection, determines, to a large extent, the final outcome. The competency of the immune system is also a major determinative factor.” [14]

Vaccination with subsequent acetaminophen (paracetamol) administration is implicated in autism
“A study of the ability of children with the autism diagnosis to dispose of paracetamol found that the ratio of paracetamol-sulfate to paracetamol-glucuronide in the urine of children with severe autism following acetaminophen administration was significantly lower than that measured for normal controls (non-autistic children). This result strongly suggests an impaired ability to metabolize toxic substances via a sulfation pathway. If the MMR vaccine is administered simultaneously with DTaP, an aluminum-containing vaccine (as is often the case), then the acetaminophen would likely interfere with the child’s ability to dispose of the aluminum (a potent neurotoxin).” [9]

“This paper investigates word frequency patterns in the U.S. CDC Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database. There were a total of 1840 adverse reactions mentioning fever in the MMR set. This suggests to us that the acetaminophen connection may be correct―that the fever associated with MMR exposure is treated with acetaminophen, which then becomes toxic to the brain of the child predisposed toward autism, because of their inability to dispose of it. Acetaminophen would also deplete sulfate needed to detoxify aluminum in any concurrent aluminum-containing vaccine such as DTaP.” [9]

“The present study was performed to determine whether acetaminophen (paracetamol) use after the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination could be associated with autistic disorder. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was significantly associated with autistic disorder when considering children 5 years of age or less (autistic children were over 6 fold more likely to have received acetaminophen after MMR vaccination). After limiting cases to children with regression in development (the likelihood was 4 fold), and when considering only children who had post-vaccination sequelae (damage due to vaccination)(the likelihood was 8.2 fold). This preliminary study found that acetaminophen (paracetamol) use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was associated with autistic disorder.” [10]

Mercury sourced from vaccines is implicated in autism
“Exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioural dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism, and the similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry. Thimerosal, a preservative added to many vaccines, has become a major source of mercury in children who, within their first two years, may have received a quantity of mercury that exceeds safety guidelines. A review of medical literature and US government data suggests that:
(i) many cases of idiopathic autism are induced by early mercury exposure from thimerosal;
(ii) this type of autism represents an unrecognized mercurial syndrome; and
(iii) genetic and non-genetic factors establish a predisposition whereby thimerosal’s adverse effects occur only in some children.” [11]

“It is clear that while genetic factors are important to the pathogenesis (cause) of Autism Spectrum Disorders, mercury exposure can induce immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. A case series of nine patients who presented to the Genetic Centers of America for a genetic/developmental evaluation are discussed. Eight of nine patients (one patient was found to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder due to Rett's syndrome)…
(a) had regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders;
(b) had elevated levels of androgens;
(c) excreted significant amounts of mercury post chelation challenge;
(d) had biochemical evidence of decreased function in their glutathione pathways;
(e) had no known significant mercury exposure except from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations; and
(f) had alternate causes for their regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders ruled out.
There was a significant dose-response relationship between the severity of the regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders observed and the total mercury dose children received from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho (D)-immune globulin preparations. Eight of nine patients examined were exposed to significant mercury from Thimerosal-containing biologic/vaccine preparations during their fetal/infant developmental periods, and subsequently, between 12 and 24 mo of age, these previously normally developing children suffered mercury toxic encephalopathies (brain injury) that manifested with clinical symptoms consistent with regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders. Evidence for mercury intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis as contributing to some regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders.” [12]

“Emerging evidence supports the theory that some autism spectrum disorders may result from a combination of genetic/biochemical susceptibility, specifically a reduced ability to excrete mercury, and exposure to mercury at critical developmental periods. Elemental/inorganic mercury is released into the air/water where it becomes methylated and accumulates in animal tissues. The US population is primarily exposed to methyl-mercury by fish consumption. Many pharmaceuticals have been, and some continue to be, a ubiquitous (abundant) source of danger because they contain mercurials. Mercurials may be found in drugs for the eye, ear, nose, throat, and skin; in bleaching creams; as preservatives in cosmetics, tooth pastes, lens solutions, vaccines, allergy test and immunotherapy solutions; in antiseptics, disinfectants, and contraceptives; in fungicides and herbicides; in dental fillings and thermometers; and many other products. mercury has been found to cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioural dysfunctions similar to traits defining/associated with autism spectrum disorders, and that these similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry. Furthermore, a review of molecular mechanisms indicates that mercury exposure can induce death, disorganization and/or damage to selected neurons in the brain similar to that seen in recent autism spectrum disorder brain pathology studies, and this alteration may likely produce the symptoms by which autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed. Finally, a review of treatments suggests that autism spectrum disorder patients who undergo protocols to reduce mercury and/or its effects show significant clinical improvements in some cases. In conclusion, the overwhelming preponderance of the evidence favours acceptance that mercury exposure is capable of causing some autism spectrum disorders.” [13]

“A careful review of autism spectrum disorder cases discloses a number of events that adhere to an immuno-excitotoxic mechanism (by which cells are over stimulated to the point of cell damage or death). This mechanism explains the link between excessive vaccination, use of aluminum and ethylmercury in vaccines, food allergies, gut dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance of the gut), and abnormal formation of the developing brain. It has now been shown that chronic microglial activation (activation of specific immune cells in the brain and spinal column) is present in autistic brains from age 5 years to age 44 years. Any insult to the brain (such as infection, aluminium, or mercury exposure due to vaccination) can trigger rapid activation of microglia. A considerable amount of evidence, both experimental and clinical, indicates that repeated microglial activation can initiate an exaggerated microglial response that can be prolonged. It is also known that one form of microglia activation can result in an outpouring of neurotoxic (nerve damaging) levels of the excitotoxins (substances that can overstimulate, damage and kill cells) glutamate and quinolinic acid. Studies have shown that careful control of brain glutamate levels is essential to brain pathway development and that excesses can result in arrest of neural migration, as well as dendritic and synaptic loss (dendritic cells act as immune system messengers and synapses are the junctions across which nerve impulses pass). It has also been shown that certain cytokines interact with glutamate receptors to enhance the neurotoxic (nerve damaging) reaction. To describe this interaction I have coined the term immunoexcitotoxicity.” [14]

“In this section, I explore the effects of mercury and inflammation on trans-sulfuration reactions, which can lead to elevations in androgens (male hormones), and how this might relate to the male preponderance of autism spectrum disorders. It is known that mercury interferes with these biochemical reactions (trans-sulfuration) and that chronically elevated androgen (male hormone) levels also enhance the neurodevelopmental effects of excitotoxins (substances that over stimulate cells to the point of cell damage or death). Both androgens and glutamate alter neuronal and glial calcium oscillations, which are known to regulate cell migration, maturation, and final brain cytoarchitectural (cell) structure. Studies have also shown high levels of DHEA and low levels of DHEA-S in autism spectrum disorders, which can result from both mercury toxicity and chronic inflammation. Chronic microglial (specific immune cells in the brain and spinal cord) activation appears to be a hallmark of autism spectrum disorders. Peripheral immune stimulation, mercury, and elevated levels of androgens can all stimulate microglial activation. Linked to both trans-sulfuration problems and chronic mercury toxicity are elevations in homocysteine levels in autism spectrum disorders patients. Homocysteine and especially its metabolic products are powerful excitotoxins. Intimately linked to elevations in DHEA, excitotoxicity and mercury toxicity are abnormalities in mitochondrial function. A number of studies have shown that reduced energy production by mitochondria greatly enhances excitotoxicity.” [14]

“There are reports suggesting that some autistic children are unable to mount an adequate response following exposure to environmental toxins. This potential deficit, coupled with the similarity in clinical presentations of autism and some heavy metal toxicities, has led to the suggestion that heavy metal poisoning might play a role in the etiology (cause) of autism in uniquely susceptible individuals. Thimerosal, an anti-microbial preservative previously added routinely to childhood multi-dose vaccines, is composed of 49.6% ethyl mercury (thimerosal is still an ingredient in the Fluzone multidose, Fluvirin multidose, and Afluria multidose pediatric vaccines currently in use). Based on the levels of this toxin that children receive through routine immunization schedules in the first years of life, it has been postulated that thimerosal may be a potential triggering mechanism contributing to autism in susceptible individuals. One potential risk factor in these individuals may be an inability to adequately up-regulate metallothionein (a protein that binds heavy metals and helps protect the body from toxin damage) biosynthesis in response to presentation of a heavy metal challenge (exposure). To investigate this hypothesis, cultured lymphocytes from autistic children and non-autistic siblings were challenged with either 10 microM ethyl mercury, 150 microM zinc, or fresh media (control). Cells challenged (treated) with thimerosal responded by up-regulating numerous heat shock protein transcripts (proteins that are expressed when the body is under stress), but not metallothionein transcripts (proteins that bind heavy metals and help protect the body from toxin damage). The differences in expression profiles between those cells treated with zinc versus thimerosal were dramatic.” [15]

“Emerging epidemiologic evidence and biologic plausibility suggest an association between autistic spectrum disorders and mercury exposure. This study compares mercury excretion after a three-day treatment with an oral chelating agent in children with autistic spectrum disorders and a matched control (non-autistic) population. Overall, urinary mercury concentrations were significantly (3 fold) higher in children with autistic spectrum disorders than in normal (non-autistic) controls. Additionally, vaccinated cases showed a significantly (6 fold) higher urinary mercury concentration than did vaccinated controls. The observed urinary concentrations of mercury could plausibly have resulted from thimerosal in childhood vaccines, although other environmental sources and thimerosal in Rh (D) immune globulin administered to mothers may be contributory.” [16]

Conjugate vaccines are implicated in autism
“The first conjugate vaccine was approved for use in the US in 1988 to protect infants and young children against the capsular bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Since its introduction in the US, this vaccine has been approved in most developed countries, including Denmark and Israel where the vaccine was added to their national vaccine programs in 1993 and 1994, respectively. There have been marked increases in the reported prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children in the US beginning with birth cohorts in the late 1980s and in Denmark and Israel starting approximately 4-5 years later. Although these increases may partly reflect ascertainment biases, an exogenous trigger could explain a significant portion of the reported increases in autism spectrum disorders. It is hypothesized here that the introduction of the Hib conjugate vaccine in the US in 1988 and its subsequent introduction in Denmark and Israel could explain a substantial portion of the initial increases in autism spectrum disorders in those countries. The continuation of the trend toward increased rates of autism spectrum disorders could be further explained by increased usage of the vaccine, a change in 1990 in the recommended age of vaccination in the US from 15 to 2 months, increased immunogenicity of the vaccine through changes in its carrier protein, and the subsequent introduction of the conjugate vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae. The potential effects of conjugate vaccines on neural development merit close examination. Conjugate vaccines fundamentally change the manner in which the immune systems of infants and young children function by deviating their immune responses to the targeted carbohydrate antigens from a state of hypo(lowered)-responsiveness to a robust B2 cell mediated response (which promotes the production of antibodies; carbohydrate antigens are bacterial-based polysaccharides and glycocojugates that evoke antibodies, many are found in vaccines such the Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Salmonella typhi vaccines). This (biologically normal) period of hypo(lowered)-responsiveness to carbohydrate antigens coincides with the intense myelination process in infants and young children (myelination is a crucial process in the nervous system; problems with myelination are involved in autoimmune diseases), and conjugate vaccines may have disrupted evolutionary forces that (would have normally) favored early brain development over the need to protect infants and young children from capsular (polysaccharide) bacteria.” [17]

The entire 1994-1999 US vaccine schedule is implicated in autism
"In this pilot study, infant macaques receiving the recommended pediatric vaccine regimen from the 1990’s displayed a different pattern of maturational changes in amygdala volume and differences in amygdala-binding of opioid antagonist diprenorphine following the MMR/DTaP/Hib vaccinations between T1 (4 months) and T2 (6 months) compared with non-exposed animals (the amygdala is a part of the brain that plays a primary role in the processing of memory, decision-making, and emotional reactions).... Volumetric analyses identified significantly greater total brain volume in exposed compared with unexposed animals at both measured time points. These results raise the possibility that multiple vaccine exposures during the previous 3-4 months may have had a significant impact on brain growth and development... Interestingly, a rapid increase in total brain volume between 6 and 14 months is generally considered to be a consistent finding for many children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ( Piven et al. 1995, Courchesne et al. 2001, Sparks et al. 2002)... An enlarged brain volume may be due to a failure in programmed cell death or ‘neuronal pruning’, a process which rids the brain of abnormally functioning neural connections and optimizes coordinated neural functioning (Huttenlocher and Dabholkar 1997). When pruning fails to function, as may be the case in ASD, brain size will increase and neural connectivity will be decreased (Hill and Frith 2003).
In the present study, amygdala volumes were significantly increased in the vaccine exposed animals relative to the unexposed animals at T2 (6 month time point)... Neuropathological and neuroimaging studies of individuals with an ASD, a condition in which social functioning is often severely impaired (Schultz 2005), have provided growing evidence of a central role for the amygdala (Amaral et al. 2008, Kleinhans et al. 2009). Cross-sectional studies that have stratified individuals with ASD by age and behavioral phenotype have shown that the amygdala is enlarged in younger children compared with neurotypical controls, rapidly achieves adult size in childhood, and therefore does not undergo the growth pattern observed during normal male adolescence (Schumann et al. 2004). Several studies have also demonstrated an increase in amygdala volume in young children, with the amygdala typically enlarged by approximately 15% relative to age-matched control subjects (Sparks et al. 2002, Schumann et al. 2004, Mosconi et al. 2009, Schumann et al. 2009).
The data suggest that vaccine exposure may be associated with significant disturbances in central opioidergic pathways in this model. An important role for opioid ligand–receptor interactions in neuro-ontogeny and behavior is recognized during pre- and post-natal development (Zagon and McLaughlin 1985). It has been proposed that the presence of endorphines and exorphines - the latter of dietary origin - may contribute to some behavioral symptoms reported in ASD (Reichelt et al. 1981, Gillberg 1995). Neonatal assessments of this same cohort of primates previously identified significant delays in the acquisition of neonatal reflexes (Hewitson et al. 2010a) and behavioral deficits in tests of cognitive function between 5-8 months of age (Hewitson et al. 2010b) in exposed animals when compared with controls." [18]

Numerous studies that claim to disprove a link between vaccines and autism are highly flawed
Safe Minds has published a 92 page document detailing serious methodological limitations, design flaws, conflicts of interest or other problems related to 16 studies commonly used to justify the safety of vaccines. Fourteen Studies also does a great job of critiquing the autism/vaccine studies often used to promote vaccine safety:
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/studies_thimerosal.html
http://www.fourteenstudies.org/studies_mmr.html

References:

1. Detection of Measles Virus Genomic RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Three Children with Regressive Autism: a Report of Three Cases. J.J. Bradstreet et al. J Am Physicians & Surgeons Vol 9 no.2 2004

http://icdrc.org/documents/bradstreet.pdf

2. Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism.

Singh VK et al. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64. PMID: 12145534

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12145534

3. Elevated levels of measles antibodies in children with autism.

Singh VK, Jensen RL. Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Apr;28(4):292-4.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12849883

4. Phenotypic expression of autoimmune autistic disorder (AAD): a major subset of autism.

Singh VK. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2009 Jul-Sep;21(3):148-61. Brain State International Research Center, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19758536

5. Detection and Sequencing of Measles Virus from Peripheral Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease and Autism. HISASHI KAWASHIMA et al. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Vol. 45, No. 4 (April 2000), pp. 723–729

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1005443726670#page-1

6. Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?

Lucija Tomljenovic et al. J Inorganic Biochemistry Vol 105, Issue 11, 2011, Pg 1489–1499

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22099159

7. Administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in vaccine-relevant amounts is associated with adverse long term neurological outcomes. Shaw CA, et al. J Inorg Biochem. 2013 Jul 19. pii: S0162-0134(13)00177-3.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23932735

8. Aluminum in the central nervous system (CNS): toxicity in humans and animals, vaccine adjuvants, and autoimmunity. Shaw CA, et al. Immunol Res. 2013 Jul;56(2-3):304-16.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12026-013-8403-1

9. Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure

Stephanie Seneff, et al. Entropy, November 7, 2012

http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/11/2227

10. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use, measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, and autistic disorder: the results of a parent survey. Schultz ST, et al. Autism. 2008 May;12(3):293-307.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18445737

11. Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning

Sallie Bernard et al. Medical Hypotheses (2001) 56(4), 462–471

http://abcmt.org/A%20Novel%20Form%20of%20Mecury%20Poisoning.pdf

12. A Case Series of Children with Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting with Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorders. D A Geier et al. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 May 15;70(10):837-51.

http://www.bhare.org/Geier2.pdf

13. A comprehensive review of mercury provoked autism

D.A. Geier et al. Indian J Med Res 128, October 2008, pp 383-411

http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2008/october/1004.pdf

14. A possible Central Mechanism in Autism Spectrum disorders, Part 1,2 & 3

Russell L Blaylock. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Nov-Dec;14(6):46-53.

http://www.mpwhi.com/autism_part_1.pdf

http://www.mpwhi.com/autism_part_2.pdf

http://www.encognitive.com/files/A%20POSSIBLE%20CENTRAL%20MECHANISM%20IN%20AUTISM%20SPECTRUM%20DISORDERS.pdf

15. I Cultured lymphocytes from autistic children and non-autistic siblings up-regulate heat shock protein RNA in response to thimerosal challenge.

Neurotoxicology. 2006 Sep;27(5):685-92. Walker SJ, Segal J, Aschner M.

http://www.genome-explorations.com/images/pdfs_publications/10-Cultured%20lymphocytes%20from%20autistic%20children%20and%20non-autis.pdf

16. Case Control Study of Mercury Burden in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

James Adams, PhD [Arizona State University]. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeon, 2003.

http://www.progressiveconvergence.com/A%20Case-Control%20Study%20of%20Mercury%20Burden%20in%20Children%20with%20Autistic%20Spectrum%20Disorders.pdf

17. Hypothesis: conjugate vaccines may predispose children to autism spectrum disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21993250

18. Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study.

Hewitson L t al. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2010;70(2):147-64.Author information

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20628439

http://www.ane.pl/pdf/7020.pdf

The Critic Obsessed Blogger

2013-03-17T16:41:00.001+13:00

Through my years blogging I've come witness to a confusing, though all too familiar phenomenon - bloggers who have a severe intolerance, and at times raving obsession, with anyone who disagrees with their opinion, on any given subject. The fleeting mention of even a hint of dissent from a commenter and the oversensitive blogger hits delete and ban faster than their ego hits the floor. Then inevitably come the bloggers sorrowful cries about being tormenting by 'bullies and trolls' (aka dissenters). Some are so obsessed with their critics, they will trawl the internet in search of any mention of themselves, no matter how petty or minute, if only to proclaim to their followers more tales of 'bullying' or 'stalking'. They can't stop looking for a reason to get riled, or emotionally come to terms with the prospect that within the blogosphere sometimes others may disagree with them or dislike them. Why someone would behave this way is beyond the scope of this blogpost and is best left to a psychologist or psychiatrist. But despite the psychological implications of this behaviour, there are some fundamental realities about blogging that these critic-obsessed bloggers could benefit from remembering.

You need to have a thick skin. Deciding to have a public, online blog isn't something to be taken lightly. By creating a public blog you're venturing beyond conversation with known and agreeable friends, and opening yourself up to an endless spectrum of opinions on your chosen subject from potentially millions of strangers around the world. So unless you actually want to be publicly disliked, you need to have a certain degree of likeability regardless of whether someone disagrees with you or not; you need to be friendly, amicable, and civil. If you do not, you will very quickly develop a poor reputation that reaches deep into all corners of the blogosphere.

Naturally blogs attract commenters with opposing opinions; this is to be expected when you voice any opinion, some will agree, some won't. It is a normal part of blogging that we accept. In life, some people just won't like us or won't agree with us, but that doesn't make them terrible people. They're not psychotic trolls trying to make you kill yourself as one dramatic blogger tried to put it. If we took a step back to think about the situation, it could very well be that we are in the wrong and those questioning us are right. Or that we have behaved horribly and those that dislike us actually have very good reasons to do so. Or, it may not be the case. Either way the manner in which we engage with critics has a drastic impact on their subsequent opinion of us and our message.

For example, by verbally attacking those that disagree with us or those who don't seem to like us (as apposed to taking the time to civilly explain our stance) we reinforce to others that we aren't nice, we aren't likeable, and our opinion isn't valid. Unfortunately I've witnessed some bloggers doing this over and over; and by doing so, each time they reinforce their antagonistic, negative reputation. I've seen repeated attacks by bloggers on commenters who simply voiced differing (though often polite) opinions. Commenters end up feeling confused, hurt, and attacked. To add insult to injury readers comments are often deleted, and they are banned from further commenting.

Sadly it doesn't stop there, these readers, once blocked from commenting, are often hit with a barrage of name-calling and accusations by the spiteful blogger. Because the readers are blocked they have no ability to challenge the accusations, which are often exaggerated or sometimes completely fabricated. This really is the twist of the knife that hurts readers the most. For a blogger to continue to smear and lie about readers without giving readers a chance to respond, is truly an unfair and dishonest tactic.

If you post about a controversial topic, expect some heated comments. This should be a no brainer, but many bloggers feel they can say whatever they want without repercussions. Wrong. Topics like vaccination, birth, circumcision, formula feeding, breastfeeding, or parenting in general are delicate issues. There's a wide range of opinions on these topics, and a lot of passionate readers. These issues often strike a nerve, especially for parents, particularly if a post dares to insinuate blame, or point out that a parenting technique is wrong or harmful. Alternatively readers may feel the blogger is dishing out wrong or harmful information. Even if a blogger feels their content is insignificant, blogging is a enormous platform for publicity, and their content most certainly does have the ability to change minds (especially if you're a good writer). So if someone feels the bloggers content is wrong or harmful, you can bet they're going to speak up with good conscience. Removing readers comments responding to a controversial post because they are aggressive, contradict your opinion, prove you wrong, or make you look bad is totally disingenuous and unwarranted. If you poke the bear, expect to get swiped, and don't complain about it.

Lately there is not a day that goes by that I haven't seen certain bloggers delete comments over slight but polite disagreement, block dissenters from further commenting, then insult them with labels such as 'troll', 'psychotic', 'obsessed', 'stalker', 'sick', or 'stupid'. Is treating your readers this way a smart idea? No, ofcourse not, any mildly intelligent person would know that. Even if you don't want people with varying opinions as readers, you will develop an extremely poor online reputation behaving this way. As years of mistreated readers mount up, some bloggers in particular have ended up with an enormous collection of unhappy readers, to the point Facebook pages are created where disappointed readers can voice their experiences and opinions (such as this page created in response to the blogger of The Feminist Breeder).

The questions we are left with are why create a blog if only to treat readers maliciously? Why publish controversial or inflammatory posts and not expect people to respond with passion or anger? Why fabricate stories about readers being mean and obsessed when they did nothing more than politely disagree? Again I won't pretend I have the credentials to answer these questions, a psychologists or psychiatrists input would offer some valuable and interesting insights here.

Here's hoping we as bloggers can learn to respect and value our readers, and appreciate the diversity of opinion that they offer; because without differing opinions we learn nothing. Diversity of opinion spurs discussion, helps us clarify our own stance, introduces new ideas, and gets us thinking. As my grandmother once said "everyone has something we can learn from".

Mama Websites

2013-03-17T14:50:00.002+13:00

	API International Through education, support, advocacy and research, our principal goal is to heighten global awareness of the profound significance of secure attachment - not only to invest in our children's bright futures, but to reduce and ultimately prevent emotional and physical mistreatment of children, addiction, crime, behavioral disorders, mental illness, and other outcomes of early unhealthy attachment.
	API Speaks API Speaks is the blog version of API International. All contributors to API Speaks, as with so many of API's staff, are volunteers who donate their time and energy to promote Attachment Parenting world wide.
	La Leche League International Our Mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
	Kelly Mom This website was developed to provide evidence-based information on breastfeeding, sleep and parenting. I am the mother of three lovely children, and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I hope that my articles are helpful and encouraging.
	The Connected Mom The Connected Mom is a pro-AP and natural parenting blog. It's all about breastfeeding, co-sleeping, babywearing, eco-friendly living and more. My name is Jenn and I started Connected Mom as a personal blog. In July 2010, I'm welcoming a number of new authors to the site to further it's goal to encourage, inspire, and connect with parents all over the world.
	Breastfeeding Moms Unite! The purpose of this blog is to create a community where breastfeeding moms come to read, ponder and discuss a myriad of topics related to breastfeeding and to give and receive support from other moms. You will find that I more often write about the "Why" and "What" of breastfeeding rather than the "How To."
	Lactivist Lactivist net is a centre for all like minded lactivists. It is a space for people who promote breastfeeding in anyway to share information and news. Lactivist.net is the offspring of www.lactivist.co.uk, a site that sells t-shirts and accessories that promote breastfeeding. www.lactivist.co.uk was started in 2003 by Lisa Cole as a reaction to negative comments about her breastfeeding her small son in public. There is also www.lactivistbling.co.uk a site devoted to breastfeeding jewellery.
	Giving Birth with Confidence Giving Birth with Confidence is an online community, created by Lamaze International, written for and by real women (and men) with a variety of trustworthy, timely and appealing stories, articles and tips related to pregnancy, birth and parenting. Our goal is to help women achieve healthy pregnancies and safe, satisfying births by offering a meeting ground to obtain information and support from other women, Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educators and knowledgeable experts.
	Your Green Baby We provide a variety of services to meet the nutritional needs of mom, baby and toddler. We help guide your preconception, pregnancy and postnatal nutritional care and provide nutritional care to your baby and toddler. We offer support and guidance through personal one-on-one consultations and dynamic, interactive workshops and cooking classes. Your Green Baby is passionate about living a healthy natural lifestyle for both mom and baby.

Vaccination: Hep B Vaccine

2013-02-19T13:27:00.000+13:00

Vaccinating infants for hepatitis B is a controversial topic. Vaccinating each infant for hepatitis B involves injecting 3 separate shots. Newborns in NZ are routinely vaccinated at 6 weeks, then again at 3 months, and 5 months.1 Newborns in the US are routinely vaccinated at birth, than again at 2 - 3 months, and 6 - 15 months.2

How necessary is this vaccine?
The A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia states: 3

"Risk factors for hepatitis B infection include:
- Being born, or having parents who were born in regions with high infection rates (including Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean)
- Being infected with HIV
- Being on hemodialysis
- Having multiple sex partners
- Men having sex with men."

"Infection can be spread through:
- Blood transfusions (not common in the United States)
- Direct contact with blood in health care settings
- Sexual contact with an infected person
- Tattoo or acupuncture with unclean needles or instruments
- Shared needles during drug use
- Shared personal items (such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers) with an infected person."

Does this include your child? No? Then it's safe to say your child is NOT at high risk of contracting hepatitis B and vaccinating your child is NOT a necessity.

Does the benefit of its use outweigh the risks?
On May 18 and 19, 1999, the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources held a hearing chaired by Mica (R-FL),

“Hepatitis B Vaccine: Helping or Hurting Public Policy?” According to testimony by Jane Orient, MD, executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, “Children younger than 14 are three times more likely to die or suffer adverse reactions after receiving hepatitis B vaccine than to catch the disease.”

An independent analysis confirmed that in 1996 there were 827 serious adverse events in children under 14 associated with hepatitis B reported to the VAERS. During that same period there were only 279 reported cases of hepatitis B in children under 14.

Studies have continued to demonstrate that the Hepatitis B vaccine is associated with serious side effects, in particular autoimmune disorders:

"Hepatitis B vaccination was associated with a number of serious conditions and positive re-challenge or significant exacerbation of symptoms following immunization. There were…
• 415 arthritis
• 166 rheumatoid arthritis (immune mediated degradation of joints)
• 130 myelitis (immune mediated degradation of the spinal cord)
• 4 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (immune mediated degradation of healthy tissue - skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs)
• 100 optic neuritis (immune mediated degradation of the optic nerve in the eye)
• 101 Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (immune mediated degradation of nerves)
• 29 glomerulonephritis (immune mediated degradation of kidneys)
• 283 pancytopenia/thrombocytopenia (immune mediated degradation of blood cells)
• 183 Multiple sclerosis (MS) (immune mediated degradation of protective coating on nerves)
…events reported following Hepatitis B vaccination." 4

"This analysis revealed that hepatitis B vaccination has been associated both in the VAERS database and in the scientific literature with a number of cases of serious conditions, positive re-challenge or significant exacerbation of symptoms, and adverse events in identical twins following immunization." 4

"One would have to consider that there is causal relationship between Hepatitis B vaccination and serious autoimmune disorders among certain susceptible vaccine recipients in a defined temporal period following immunization." 4

"The combination of thimerosal, aluminum hydroxide, yeast (and other extraneous proteins) and the hepatitis B surface antigen, may work synergistically to produce severe adverse reactions insusceptible hepatitis B vaccine recipients." 4

Adults receiving HBV had significantly increased odds ratios (likelihood) for…
• arthritis 2 fold
• rheumatoid arthritis 18 fold (immune mediated degradation of joints)
• multiple sclerosis 5.2 fold (immune mediated degradation of protective coating on nerves)
• optic neuritis 14 fold (immune mediated degradation of the optic nerve in the eye)
• vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) 2.6 fold
• alopecia 7.2 fold (immune mediated degradation of hair)
• lupus erythematosus 9 fold (immune mediated degradation of healthy tissue - skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs)
• thrombocytopenia 2.3 fold (immune mediated degradation of blood cells)
….in comparison to the TCV (control) group. 5

"Hepatitis B vaccine contains yeast, aluminium, thimerosal and hepatitis B surface antigen epitopes, which may result in hepatitis B vaccine being associated with autoimmune diseases among susceptible adult vaccine recipients." 6

"The odds ratios (likelihood) of CNS inflammatory demyelination (central nervous system, inflammatory-related, degeneration of the outer layer of neurons, resulting in loss of nerve function) associated with Hepatitis B vaccination were estimated. Hepatitis B vaccine exposure more than 3 years before index date (the date that CNS inflammatory demyelination occurred) was associated with an increased trend (increased likelihood of 50%), essentially from the Engerix B vaccine (increased likelihood of 74%). The odd ratio was particularly elevated for this brand in patients with confirmed multiple sclerosis (increased likelihood 2.8 fold)." 7

"The attributable risk of chronic arthritis following adult rubella vaccine ranged from 32 to 53 and from 5.1 to 9.0 following adult hepatitis B vaccine in comparison to the adult vaccine control groups. This study revealed that adult rubella and adult hepatitis B vaccines were statistically associated with chronic arthritis which persisted for at least one year." 8

"Hepatitis B vaccination was statistically associated with gastrointestinal reactions including: hepatitis, gastrointestinal disease and liver function test abnormalities." 9

"Autoimmune inflammatory polyneuropathy (PN) can be triggered by vaccination (polyneuropathy is the simultaneous malfunction of numerous nerves). We report 3 such cases:
• It is likely that in the first 2 cases, an autoimmune reaction against some axonal (nerve fiber) or neuronal (nerve cell) components was triggered by the Hep B vaccination. It induced an acute sensory ataxic (loss of body control) polyneuropathy (simultaneous malfunction of numerous nerves) in case 1 and an acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) (degeneration of nerve fibers resulting in loss of body control) in case 2.
• The third patient had a chronic inflammatory demyelinating (degeneration of the outer layer of neurons) polyneuropathy (simultaneous malfunction of numerous nerves), likely triggered by yellow fever vaccination."10

Hepatitis B vaccine is shown to induce immune reactivity (autoimmunity) against specific proteins, called MOGs, that are important in the process of myelination of nerves in the central nervous system. Myelination involves coating nerves in a protective, fatty layer that is essential for proper nerve function. Loss of this layer is a hallmark of neurodegenerative autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Bogdanos et al (2005) found that 60% of those administered the Hepatitis B vaccine showed reactivity against these specialized MOGs. While a small portion of the people vaccinated lost this reactivity 6 months later, the majority did not, and were still reactive against this important protein when tested 6 months later.15

"Hepatitis B vaccinated children had an unadjusted odds ratio of 2.57 and age-adjusted odds ratio of 1.53 for liver problems compared with non-hepatitis B vaccinated children in the 1994 National Health Interview Survey dataset."16

Hernán et al (2004) report that those who had developed multiple sclerosis were over 3 times more likely to have been vaccinated for Hepatitis B in the previous 3 years. They concluded, "These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that immunization with the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis."17

In New Zealand the HBvaxPRO is used for primary vaccination of infants, children and adults.18 The Engerix-B is a privately purchased vaccine for those aged 18 years and over who do not meet the eligibility criteria for funded HBvaxPRO.19

However for the majority of infants the hep B vaccine is combined with five other vaccines into one combined vaccine, which has the brand name Infanrix Hexa. As opposed to the side effects above which list longer term disorders, more immediate side effects are listed on the Infanrix Hexa data sheet:

Events are listed within body systems and categorised by frequency according to the following definitions:
Very common events: ≥10% (more than 100 per 1000);
Common events: ≥1% and <10% (100-10 per 1000);
Uncommon events: ≥0.1% and <1% (1-10 per 1000);
Rare events: ≥0.01% and <0.1% (1 per 10.000 - 1 per 1000);
Very rare events: <0.01% (less than 1 per 10,000).

Injection site:
Very common: pain, redness, local swelling at the injection site ≤ 50mm*
Common: injection site mass, local swelling at the injection site >50mm*, injection site reactions, including induration, fever > 39.5 oC.
Uncommon: diffuse swelling of the injected limb, sometimes involving the adjacent joint*

Body as a whole:
Very common: fatigue
Common: unusual crying, restlessness
Rare: rash
Very rare: allergic reactions (including pruritus**) and anaphylactoid reactions (including dermatitis and urticaria**)

Central Nervous System:
Common: nervousness
Uncommon: somnolescence (excessive drowsiness or sleepiness)
Very rare: convulsions (with or without fever)

Gastrointestinal system:
Common: diarrhoea, vomiting, enteritis (inflammation of the intestine), gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines),
Uncommon: abdominal pain, constipation

Metabolism and nutrition disorders:
Very common: loss of appetite

Resistance mechanism:
Common: upper respiratory tract infection

Respiratory system:
Common: bronchitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes, in the lungs), rhinitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose)
Uncommon: bronchospasm (spasm of bronchial smooth muscle, producing narrowing of the bronchi, in the lungs), laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx, in the throat), stridor (high-pitched wheezing noise when breathing), cough**

Vision:
Uncommon: conjunctivitis
*During clinical trials, it has been observed that children primed with acellular pertussis vaccines are more likely to experience swelling reactions after booster administration in comparison with children primed with whole cell vaccines. These reactions resolve over an average of 4 days.

Post marketing experience

During post marketing surveillance, other reactions have been reported in temporal association with INFANRIX hexa. None of the reactions were reported with a frequency higher than 0.01% (1 per 10,000 people). Note that exact incidence rates cannot be calculated under post-marketing experience.

Administration site conditions:
Very rare: injection site mass, extensive swelling reactions, swelling of the entire injected limb, vesicles at the injection site.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders:
Very rare: lymphadenopathy (disease affecting the lymph nodes), thrombocytopenia (immune mediated degradation of blood cells).

Body as a whole:
Very rare: allergic reactions (including anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions).

Neurological disorders:
Very rare: convulsions (with or without fever), collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic -hyporesponsiveness episode (abnormally low muscle tone - lack of responsiveness)).

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:
Apnoea** [see Precautions for apnoea in very premature infants (≤28 weeks of gestation)]

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
Angioneurotic oedema (skin swelling)**
** observed with other GSK DTPa-containing vaccines

Experience with hepatitis B vaccine: Paralysis, neuropathy (damage or disease involving nerves), Guillain-Barré syndrome (immune mediated degradation of nerves), encephalopathy (damage or disease involving the brain), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes which surround the brain and spinal cord) have been reported during post-marketing surveillance following GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' hepatitis B vaccine in infants < 2 years old. The causal relationship to the vaccine has not been established.

The really damning evidence
A report on the Infanrix Hexa vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline discloses that within a two-year period, a total of 36 infants died after receiving the 6-in-1 vaccine, Infanrix Hexa. The 1271 page document reveals that GlaxoSmithKline received a total of 1,742 reports of adverse reactions between October 23, 2009, and October 22, 2011, including 503 serious adverse reactions and 36 deaths.14

Do HepB Vaccines contain aluminum?
Yes they do, alot infact. HBvaxPRO contains 500mcg of aluminium.18 Engerix-B contains 250mcg - 500mcg for either the 0.5ml or 1ml dose.19 Infanrix-hexa however contains 820mcg of aluminium.12 The amounts in all these vaccines are well over recommended levels for infants, but especially the Infanrix-hexa. Aluminum is a well known neurotoxin, see this post for more info. A 2004 statement by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), a group that monitors oral and injectable nutritional products for safety and side effects, states the daily limit of aluminum is 5 mcg per kilogram of body weight. 13

Using the ASPEN recommendations, for an average 6 week old infant, the daily allowable limit of injectable aluminum is 22.5mcg. A 6 week old infant receiving the Infanrix Hexa vaccination as per NZ schedule, will receive 820mcg of aluminum in one sitting. This grossly exceeds the daily allowable limit 36 times over. This will be repeated at 3 months with a final dose at 5 months, adding up to a total 2460mcg of aluminum. Ofcourse this dosen't take into consideration the other aluminum containing vaccines that a child on the NZ vaccine schedule would also receive, often at the same time. See this post for a copy of the NZ vaccine schedule and a list of NZ vaccines that contain aluminum.

At the end of the day we need to ask the question: does the benefit of this vaccine outweigh the risk? In this instance, it doesn't seem to be the case.

Sources:

1. New Zealand Immunisation Schedule, Ministry of Health NZ

http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/new-zealand-immunisation-schedule

2. Immunization Schedules Birth to 15 months, CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html

3. Hepatitis B, A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001324/

4. A case-series of adverse events, positive re-challenge of symptoms, and events in identical twins following hepatitis B vaccination: analysis of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database and literature review.

Geier MR, Geier DA.

The Genetic Centers of America, MedCon, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland 20905, USA.

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2004 Nov-Dec;22(6):749-55.

http://www.autismtreatmentclinics.com/uploads/ClinExpRheumatol2004_1.pdf

5. A case-control study of serious autoimmune adverse events following hepatitis B immunization.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

MedCon, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA.

Autoimmunity. 2005 Jun;38(4):295-301.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16206512

6. A review of hepatitis B vaccination.

Geier MR, et al, 2003

The Genetic Centers of America, 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA. mgeier@erols.com

Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2003 Mar;2(2):113-22.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12904111

7. Hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of CNS inflammatory demyelination in childhood.

Mikaeloff Y, et al. Neurology. 2009 Mar 10;72(10):873-80.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843097

8. A one year followup of chronic arthritis following rubella and hepatitis B vaccination based upon analysis of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database.

Geier DA, Geier MR.

MedCon, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2002 Nov-Dec;20(6):767-71.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12508767

9. Hepatitis B vaccination and adult associated gastrointestinal reactions: a follow-up analysis.

Geier DA, Geier MR.2002

Genetic Centers of America, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

Hepatogastroenterology. 2002 Nov-Dec;49(48):1571-5.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12397738

10. Postvaccinal inflammatory neuropathy: peripheral nerve biopsy in 3 cases.

Vital C, Neuropathology Department, Victor Segalen University, Bordeaux, France. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2002 Sep;7(3):163-7.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12365564

11. Infanrix Hexa, GlaxSmithKline

http://www.gsk.com.au/resources.ashx/vaccineproductschilddataproinfo/409/FileName/0FD94C27068AFB01C6EA060995A8E1EC/Infanrix_Hexa_(Preservative_free)_v4_0_clean_PDF.pdf

12. Vaccine ingredients, Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) NZ

http://www.immune.org.nz/sites/default/files/resources/ConcernVaccineIngredients20111028V12Final.pdf

13. P. Charney, The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Aluminum Task Force, "A.S.P.E.N. Statement on Aluminum in Parenteral Nutrition Solutions," Nutrition in Clinical Practice 19 (August 2004): 416-417.

14. Infanrix hexa Summary Bridging Report, GlaxoSmithKline

http://ddata.over-blog.com/3/27/09/71/2012-2013/confid.pdf

15. Antigen and Myelin Mimics . Dimitrios-Petrou Bogdanos, et al. Clin Dev Immunol. 2005 September; 12(3): 217–224. PMCID: PMC2275415

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2275415/

16. Hepatitis B vaccine and liver problems in U.S. children less than 6 years old, 1993 and 1994.

Fisher MA, Eklund SA. Epidemiology. 1999 May;10(3):337-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10230847

17. Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of multiple sclerosis, A prospective study

Miguel A. Hernán, et al. Neurology September 14, 2004 vol. 63 no. 5 838-842

http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/CausalSpecific/HepatitisBVaccineMS.pdf

18. HBvaxPRO® Data Sheet

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/h/HBvaxPROinj.pdf

19. ENGERIX-B Data Sheet

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/e/Engerix-Binj.pdf

A Few Key Pieces of Info You Need to Know Before Giving Birth

2013-01-18T16:51:00.000+13:00

Realise that knowing the benefits of natural birth will be invaluable during birth.

When you hit a wall of doubt in your ability during birth – which most women do – knowing what you're working for will give you the motivation needed to push through. Natural birth means avoiding the risks and complications associated with interventions such as induction, pethidine, epidurals, and cesareans.

Let's look at an the risks associated with an epidural for instance. An epidural literally works to inhibit labor, your body can no longer feel what it's doing. Natural oxytocin levels drop 1,2,3, increasing the risk of needing synthetic oxytocin, opening up a whole new set of risks associated with synthetic oxytocin such as the fetal distress, uterine rupture, hemorrhage, and cesarean.4 An epidural also restricts your own movement, it increases the risk of malpresentation of the baby 4 fold, and is associated with a 5.6 fold increase in dystocia.5,6, 7

The end result being a 4.2 fold increased risk of forceps and vacuum delivery, and a 2.4 - 3.7 fold increased risk of needing a cesarean for dystocia, each of which carry their own set of substantial risks to both mother and baby. 5, 8

It's worth researching the risks associated with these procedures so you can truly appreciate the merits of working for a natural birth. See this post for more info.

Realise that birth will be extremely intense.

A good analogy would be that the pain will be like the worst stomach cramps you've ever felt, multiplied by five... or ten. We are talking serious pain. It will come in waves (contractions), gradually building in intensity, length, and frequency as the hours pass. Because birth comes on slow and builds over a matter of hours, you will have time to get used to the sensations. Your body will respond to the pain by gradually releasing increasing amounts of endorphins (painkilling hormone) and oxytocin (euphoric hormone) to help you cope with the sensations. 9, 10, 11

During labor women often ask, "how much worse is the pain going to get" and "how long is it going to last". Unfortunately no one can answer that question. We can't say with certainty how much stronger your contractions will get, how long they will continue for, or how well you will cope. You won't know until you get there, and that's something you need to accept and be at peace with. What we can say is that there are a host of natural pain relieving methods that do effectively reduce the sensation of pain and make the birthing process more enjoyable.

The best advice is to utilize those methods and remember to take one contraction at a time.

Realise you CAN control the sensations you feel.

No you are not completely helpless and at the mercy of the birthing process. Through consciously relaxing your mind and body you are able to effectively reduce the intensity of the contractions and quicken baby's descent. Pain is interpreted in the brain once the brain decides that the sensations felt are harmful. This is where you have some element of control - by consciously telling your brain that the sensations you are feeling during birth are harmless. You can see how positive affirmations and hypnosis that help to reframe the birthing process as positive fit into the picture.

There are a host of relaxation and natural pain relieving techniques you can utilize, some of them you can start implementing before birth even begins. You are not helpless, take charge, take responsibility for the central role in your birth. Make the contractions work for you, work with your contractions, don't fight them, embrace them.

Realise that you will need an extreme amount of focus and perseverance to mentally and physically cope with the contractions.

Just be aware of it and ready for it. Our natural reaction when we feel pain is to tense our muscles, especially in the area where the pain is located. However tensing your pelvic floor muscles intensifies the pain of the contraction! Tense pelvic floor muscles create a wall that your uterus must try to push baby through, it's like pushing against a closed door. This will greatly slow baby's descent, reducing the efficiency of contractions, serving only to tire you out. Stress during labor is known to prolong or even halt the process of labor, and reduce blood flow to both the uterus and baby – not good.

During birth a goal should be to reduce stress and counteract the tendency to tense your muscles in reaction to the pain. This can be a lot harder than it sounds, especially when the sensations get more intense. You need to continually prompt yourself to relax despite the magnitude of the stress your body is undergoing. It's a little like trying to meditate in the middle of a busy construction site, while the noisy activity around you gets louder and louder. The temptation to be distracted is strong, and gets stronger as birth progresses.

But fear not, help is at hand. Practicing cognitive reframing, positive affirmations, visualization, meditation, or hypnosis during pregnancy all help train the mind to focus and relax on cue, ready for the big day. Just be aware it takes months of daily practice to really get the full benefit. So get started now!

Realise that it's all about muscle function.

Your uterus is a giant set of smooth muscles that form a sac encasing your baby. There are three layers of uterine muscle, with the first vertical layer being the most important. During each contraction these vertical muscles contract, shortening and thickening. But unlike a skeletal muscle, like for instance a bicep muscle, when the uterine muscles shorten and thicken with each contraction they don't return to the same resting state they previously were. Their resting state continues to contract tighter and tighter with each contraction, little by little. In this way birth can only progress forward, there is no going backwards. With each contraction the muscles nudge baby down further and further, provided your cervix (the opening of the uterus into the vagina) is fully dilated (open).

So what causes the pain during a contraction? Well it's similar to a having a muscle cramp – during muscle contraction the body lacks the required nutrients or blood flow to continue functioning properly, causing it to inflame, resulting in pain. Based on each person's blood flow or nutrient level, the muscle can only cope with a certain level of contraction intensity before exhausting itself. When a muscle contracts it squeezes blood out of the blood vessels running through the muscle. You can imagine that the more intense the contraction is, the more blood will be squeezed out, the more reduced blood and nutrient flow to the muscle, and the more muscle fatigue, inflammation, and pain.

So how can we reduce the pain of contraction while preserving their important function of nudging baby down and out the birth canal? When you are stressed during labor you tend to tense your body, in particular your pelvic floor muscles. The problem with this is that with each contraction the baby is trying to descend down through this area, but if this area is tensed and constricted it makes it a lot harder for baby to pass through. The contractions will still push baby down against those muscles, and when that happens the muscles are compressed by baby's head, squeezing ever more blood out of tissue that is already lacking blood flow. This, ofcourse, results in a more intense, painful contraction. The answer to reducing this over-compression? Relax your pelvic muscles ofcourse! Which is so much harder in reality than it sounds in writing. Relaxation really is a high priority during birth, if you can master that, you've got it sorted. So get to work researching and practising a range of relaxation methods in preparation for birth!

There's one more element to muscle function that is integral – nutrient supply, namely water, sugar, salt, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Without these nutrients muscles will fatigue and cease to function. B vitamins are also crucial for energy. Ensure you have an abundant supply of these nutrients in the weeks leading up to birth, and throughout birth.

Realise that birth is extraordinarily emotional, hormonal, and even spiritual.

Women who've taken acid describe natural birth as similar to an acid trip, with the peak right at the end when baby is born. Be aware that you won't behave like your normal 'you' when you give birth, you will literally be 'high' in a way you've never been before. You'll make strange noises you've never made before, and think strange thoughts you've never thought before. You will experience a rollercoaster ride of emotions, an epic journey, a lifetime of experiences condensed into one day. Just go with it, don't hold back, and don't be afraid.

During birth your body will be brimming with hormones at heightened levels you will never experience again. As labor progresses these birthing hormones will continue to increase, helping you cope. By the time baby is born these hormones will have reached incredibly high levels, and once baby is out and the pain is gone, you'll be left with a 'birth high'. The birth high serves to imprint baby in your memory and bond the two of you together. Decades later you will still be able to recall the moment you first looked into your baby's eyes. The birth high can, however, be negatively affected by birth interventions such as synthetic oxytocin, epidurals, or cesareans. These interventions may reduce the body's ability to produce the hormones needed for naturally coping with pain, birth progression, bonding, and breastfeeding.

Remember the contractions, and the sensations that go along with them, are all part of the process of building up the hormones needed for coping with pain, birth progression, bonding, and breastfeeding. As much as you might abhor them, they are VERY beneficial.

Painting by Amanda Greavette

Sources:

1. Effects of intrapartum oxytocin administration and epidural analgesia on the concentration of plasma oxytocin and prolactin, in response to suckling during the second day postpartum. Jonas K et al 2009
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210132

2. Effects of lumbar epidural analgesia on prostaglandin F2 alpha release and oxytocin secretion during labor. Behrens O et al 1993
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8484013

3. Plasma oxytocin levels in women during labor with or without epidural analgesia: a prospective study. Rahm VA et al 2002
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12421171

4. Pitocin Side Effects
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/pitocin-side-effects.html

5. Side Effects of Epidurals: Research Data
http://transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/foreducators/ceinfo/Side%20Effects%202.htm

6. Changes in fetal position during labor and their association with epidural analgesia.
Lieberman E et al, 2005
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15863533

7. Obstetric risk indicators for labour dystocia in nulliparous women: A multi-centre cohort study
Hanne Kjærgaard et al, 2008
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569907/

8. Epidural analgesia and risks of cesarean and operative vaginal deliveries in nulliparous and multiparous women.
Nguyen US et al. 2010
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19760498

9. Pain in Labour: Your hormones are your helpers
http://www.sarahbuckley.com/pain-in-labour-your-hormones-are-your-helpers/

10. Pain and plasma beta-endorphin level during labor.
Räisänen I et al, 1984
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6095156

11. Corticotrophin-releasing hormone and beta-endorphin in labour.
McLean M et al, 1994
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8075786

Postpartum Hemorrhage

2012-04-18T16:16:00.005+12:00

Severe postpartum hemorrhage (blood loss of more than 1000mls) occurs in approximately 2% of spontaneous vaginal births, and many hemorrhages are predictable 1,2. Accurate measurement of blood loss in most births is seldom possible, but average blood loss for vaginal birth is approximately 500 mls, and 1000 mls for cesarean birth 1.

Primary PPH is defined as excessive blood loss (1000ml or more) from the genital tract up until 24 hours following birth. Secondary PPH is defined as excessive blood loss from the genital tract after 24 hours following birth, until six weeks post birth 4.

In industrialized countries, PPH usually ranks in the top 3 causes of maternal mortality, along with embolism and hypertension. Mortality from PPH in industrialized countries is approximately 12 per 100,000 live births 3.

Major cause:

Uterine atony

The major cause of postpartum hemorrhage is uterine atony. This is defined as a loss of tone in uterine muscle. Normally, contraction of the uterine muscle compresses the vessels and reduces flow after baby and the placenta have been born. This increases coagulation and prevents bleeding. Thus, lack of uterine contraction can cause hemorrhage. Clinically, 75-80% of postpartum hemorrhages are due to uterine atony 5,6. Possible causes for uterine atony include:

Overdistended uterus , causes include:

multiple gestation 4.5 fold increase 2
large fetus (over 4000 grams) 3.5 fold increase 2
excess amniotic fluid 7

Fatigued uterus, causes include:

prolonged third stage of labor 7.5 fold increase 8
prolonged labor
rapid labor
induction of labor 2 fold increase 8
infection/chorioamniotitis (bacterial infection of the amniotic membranes)
use of uterine tocolytics—drugs used to stop labor or pre-term labor 7

Obstructed uterus, causes include:

retained placenta tissue 20 fold increase 2, 18
placenta accrete (deeply attached placenta unable to detach)
full/swollen bladder 7

Other causes:

Trauma

emergency cesarean after induction and previous cesarean 7.8 fold increase 8
emergency cesarean 6 fold increase
prelabor cesarean 3 fold increase 8
instrumental delivery 2 fold increase 7
tears and lacerations 2 fold increase 8
episiotomy 70% - 5 fold increase 7
need for perineal sutures 66% increase 2
uterine rupture 4
uterine inversion (placenta pulls the uterus lining with it as it exits) 4

Other risk factors

pre-eclampsia (hypertension and protein in urine) 5 fold increase 7
previous postpartum hemorrgage 3.5 fold increase 7
vaginal birth after previous cesarean 2 fold increase 8
previous uterine surgery 17
analgesia or anesthesia
hyperthermia
severe anemia (worsens effect of hemorrhage) 10
first pregnancy 13% increase 8
more than 5 pregnancies
mother over 35 years old 10
uterine fibroids 17
hereditary blood clotting abnormalities 4
endometriosis 11

Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage:

Active Management of 3^rd stage of birth

Active management of the third stage of birth involves administering uterotonics (substances that induce the uterus to contract) and cord traction to help expel the placenta quickly and contract the uterus, thereby reducing risk of hemorrhage 12. Research shows that in high risk women a 66% reduction in risk of primary hemorrhage (blood loss of 1000ml within the first 24 hrs after birth) is seen using active management.

In low risk women however there is no difference. Active management results in significant increases in maternal diastolic blood pressure, vomiting after birth, after-pains, use of analgesia, headaches, dissatisfaction with the 3rd stage of labor, more women returning to hospital with bleeding, and a decrease in the baby's birthweight due to the lower blood volume from early cord clamping 13.

The controlled cord traction involved in active management requires the immediate clamping of the umbilical cord, which increases the risk of infant anemia 14,15. Cord traction also carries the risk of breaking the cord, or causing hemorrhage if not performed strictly according to protocol. Research shows cord traction is not needed in the prevention of hemorrhage and can safely be left out of the active management procedure, leaving medical attendants to instead focus on administration of uterotonics, while leaving the cord intact so the newborn can transfuse the placental blood 16. Mothers should discuss with their care givers their desire to exclude cord traction from active management, should it be needed during birth.

In New Zealand active management is not routine midwifery practice, but is recommended to be implemented upon signs of hemorrhage.

Other preventive measures: 12

Before birth

Detect and treat underlying causes/risk factors (anemia, pre-eclampsia, hereditary blood clotting disorders, infection)
Distribute uterotonic Misoprostol to high risk pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy in case they give birth without a skilled birth attendant

During birth

Limit intervention unless absolutely necessary (induction, augmentation, episiotomy, forceps, vacuum or cesarean)
Do not encourage pushing before the cervix is fully dilated
Do not use fundal pressure to assist the birth of the baby or the placenta
Do not massage the uterus prior to delivery of the placenta
Do not perform cord traction unless absolutely necessary
If using cord traction a uterotonic drug must be administered first, and counter-traction must be used to support the uterus

After birth

Inspect genitals for lacerations
Inspect the placenta and membranes for completeness
Evaluate if the uterus is well contracted
Massage the uterus, and check for vaginal bleeding and uterine hardness every 15 minutes for the first two hours after birth
Teach the mother to massage her own uterus to keep it firm
Encourage the mother to keep her bladder empty during the immediate postpartum period

Sources:

1.Postpartum Hemorrhage
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/275038-overview

2.Risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage in vaginal deliveries in a Latin-American population.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19461428

3.Obstetric Hemorrhage
http://www.obfocus.com/high-risk/bleeding/hemorrhagepa.htm

4.Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/puarticles/mpph.htm

5.Active versus expectant management in the third stage of labour.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000007/abstract

6.Uterine atony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_atony

7.Postpartum Hemorrhage in Emergency Medicine
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/796785-overview

8.Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage: Managing the Third Stage of Labor
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0315/p1025.html

9.Effects of onset of labor and mode of delivery on severe postpartum hemorrhage
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937809006279

10.Post-partum haemorrhage--a risk factor analysis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20395927

11.Prevalence and risk factors for obstetric haemorrhage in 6730 singleton births after assisted reproductive technology in Victoria Australia
http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2009/11/07/humrep.dep376.full

12.Postpartum hemorrhage
http://www.pphprevention.org/pph.php

13.Active versus expectant management for women in the third stage of labour.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22071837.1

14.Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on maternal and neonatal outcomes
http://apps.who.int/rhl/pregnancy_childbirth/childbirth/3rd_stage/cd004074_abalose_com/en/index.html

15.Late vs Early Clamping of the Umbilical Cord in Full-term Neonates
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/297/11/1241.short

16.Active management of the third stage of labour with and without controlled cord traction: a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60206-2/abstract

17.The midwife confronts postpartum hemorrhage
http://www.sapienspublishing.com/pph_pdf/PPH-Chap-43.pdf

18.Postpartum haemorrhage in nulliparous women: incidence and risk factors in low and high risk women. A Dutch population-based cohort study on standard (> or = 500 ml) and severe (> or = 1000 ml) postpartum haemorrhage.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15262350

When Journalists Attack Non-Vax Parents

2012-03-24T22:12:00.008+13:00

About a week ago I came across an article that was so full of incorrect information and prejudices against non-vaccinating parents I had to comment. It was the same old misinformation you often see touted across the internet, but this time it was expressed with such arrogance and rudeness, I was motivated to write this blogpost, correct the misinformation, and speak up for the non-vaccinating parents.

The article was written by Mia Freedman, a renown provax advocate, and published in the Herald Sun. Below is the article in dark red:

"THERE isn't enough room in this newspaper to list all the things I don't know. There's not even enough room in Wikipedia, which - if it were an actual book - would take you 123 years to read. Recently, though, there's been an explosion of people with a wildly inflated sense of their own intelligence. Suddenly, everyone's an expert. Me, not so much. I understand how little I know about lots of things. For example, I know less about science than scientists. I know less about medicine than doctors."

Mia sounds humble here, but later insists she knows more about vaccines than highly experienced scientists and doctors who speak up about the risks associated with vaccination. Mia doesn't have respect for the knowledge and experience experts have - she simply cherry picks and uses whatever expert opinion that bolsters her own personal views, and disregards the rest.

Given that Mia has never researched vaccination and refuses to do so, who is she to be disregarding any expert opinion? Her opinion seems to be based on... nothing; she doesn't cite any studies or data.

While I agree with the implication that we need to respect the expertise of doctors, expertise does have limits. When Mia speaks about doctors she doesn't seem to realise that when it comes to specialties such as vaccination, the majority of doctors are NOT expertly trained and are not 'experts' on the topic.

In reality doctors are taught extremely little about vaccines in med school, many may learn only a few hours worth on the topic. There's also no guarantee they've done any independent research in their own time. Because new vaccines are continually rolled out and new vaccine studies are published each year, unless they have done their own, up to date, independent research, many doctors may know even less about vaccines than you.

"I know less about tax than my accountant, less about cooking than Donna Hay and less about animals than Bondi Vet. There's no shortage of genuine experts who have degrees, qualifications and years of experience in their fields. Having access to Google does not make you an expert, nor does having a website or watching a YouTube video."

No one is saying that it does. Mia is debating statements no one has actually said (a fallacy known as a Straw Man). NO ONE has said that having access to Google makes anyone an expert - but it doesn't stop Mia going to town on this imaginary argument.

Having access to studies about vaccination found through Google (along with online medical research databases like PubMed) can provide readers with ACCESS to the expert opinion of others. That does not make the reader an expert, but it provides much needed knowledge in a hotly debated topic such as vaccination.

"These things simply make you someone with an internet connection.What on earth could make a civilian believe his Google "research" is superior to decades of science?"

No one is saying that it does (I have to write that a lot in this post). The research that 'civilians' do often DOES involve researching 'decades of science'. It's Google and other databases that provide the 'decades of science' for the public and the medical community to read. It's not a Google vs Science situation.

It's thanks to these databases like Google that we have the opportunity to read the science first hand, so we don't to have rely on slanted, shoddy opinion pieces that have no basis whatsoever like the one I'm commenting on.

"Everyone's an expert today," confirms social researcher Neer Korn, "partly because we feel we need to be. We receive kudos for proclaiming our definitive knowledge to others and we compete to be the first to share facts, articles and videos."

This may be true for hack journalists who compete with each other, but for parents their main priority, and the driving force to seek out new info, is the safety and protection of their children, that's an honorable trait.

"But reading some articles doesn't put you on par with a scientist and here's where it can become dangerous."

No one is saying that it does. An article (especially opinion pieces like Mia's) are on a completely different level to the scientific literature you might find through Google. Articles like Mias that cite no studies or data are on their own are worth very little. You need to get to the source of the info – the studies. But it doesn't stop there, you need to make sure the study itself is not spun and confirm that the funding and authors of the study are in no way involved with the company whose product is being studied.

Research sponsored by the drug industry is more likely to produce results favouring the product made by the company sponsoring the research, than studies funded by other sources. The results apply across a wide range of disease states, drugs, and drug classes, over at least two decades and regardless of the type of research being assessed.7

Adding to the controversy, organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), who are responsible for "providing leadership on global health matters" including vaccination recommendations, employ vaccine researchers and advisers who are also under the payroll of vaccine manufacturers. This is a massive conflict of interest that potentially undermines vaccine safety on a global scale. 115

"A few years ago, I worked with a lovely guy who had left school at 16."

Why the need to mention he left school at 16? Quite a spiteful little dig at her co-worker.

"When his wife had their first child, he "did his research" and they decided not to vaccinate their daughter.At the time, everyone around him insisted it was safe (and vital), but he was adamant."

It's more likely that just Mia thought vaccination was safe. It's possible this lovely guy had support from others who also chose not to vaccinate.

""I've read a lot about this and I watched this amazing video," he insisted."

Good for him for reaching out, getting informed, and getting involved in his child's health.

"Vaccinations are just a way for big companies and the government to make money."

We're talking billions. In 2018 the global vaccine market revenue was worth over $49 billion dollars, set to reach $59 billion by 2020.114 Compare this to one of the markets biggest selling drugs, Viagra, which is expected to reach USD 3.2 billion by 2022.114a

Former Merck Employee and whistleblower Brandy Vaughan spoke out: “What we have with vaccines is the highest profit margin pharmaceutical drug on the market. Drug companies make more money off vaccines than they do any other pharmaceutical drug, in terms of profit margin.”114b

Indeed, the profit margin of vaccines (25-30%) is double that of pharmaceuticals in general (12.5-14%).117 Likely due to the fact that vaccines require LESS testing than other pharmaceuticals with no inert placebo controls or long-term safety trials required before release.

To ensure this revenue is protected, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-660) gives vaccine manufacturers (and doctors) complete immunity from any legal liability if your child is harmed by their vaccines. No other industry enjoys this level of protection from a product that could injure a child. 116

"Where do you start arguing the extreme lack of logic in that? Not here; I'd need more space and a wheelie bin full of Rescue Remedy."

First this journalist should watch the video or read the info her friend has seen or read to get a sense of what he's talking about in order to make a comment on it, as you would expect from any decent journalist. It could well be that his info is sourced from reputable studies. In which case she should thank him for passing on some great info. But it seems research is beyond this journalists scope of journalism.

It can seem shocking to someone like Mia - who's never read anything about the pharmaceutical industry - to hear that pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, are primarily a money making venture. Pharmaceutical company executives have made it very clear, publicly, that their loyalties lie with their shareholders, not their consumers:

“My primary responsibility is to Valeant shareholders. We can do anything we want to do.” - J. Michael Pearson, CEO of Valeant Pharmaceuticals 116a

“I think it is a moral requirement to make money when you can . . . to sell the product for the highest price” and said he was in “this business to make money”. - Nirmal Mulye, Nostrum Laboratories chief executive 116b

Pharmaceutical companies are not our 'friends'. While their products have saved and helped many, their products are also responsible for millions of deaths. Each year approximately 2.2 million US hospital patients experience adverse drug reactions to prescribed medications, and 106,000 will die due to adverse drug reactions to prescribed medications.116c

A 2016 study by Johns Hopkins concluded iatrogenic death - deaths directly attributable to medical care - are the third leading cause of death in the US, responsible for 250,000 deaths per year.116d

"Because, while I accept my former co-worker was a thoughtful person who meant well, I'm floored by the extraordinary assumption that he knew better than every scientist in the world - not to mention Bill and Melinda Gates, who are spending hundreds of millions of their own dollars funding vaccine programs in Third World countries to eradicate killer diseases."

First, I can guarantee Mia's former co-worker DID NOT assume he knew better than every scientist in the world. We can be fairly sure Mia made that up like she's made up other statements in her article. We also know Mia doesn't know the opinion of every scientist in the world, in fact I doubt anyone knows the opinion of every single scientist in the world.

However we do know that NOT every scientist in the world believes vaccines are safe, nor does every scientist vaccinate their children. 10 - 13

Truth be known, the vast majority of doctors involved in establishing national guidelines on disease treatment have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry that could potentially sway their recommendations and inappropriately influence thousands of other physicians (and these physicians are taught barely anything about vaccines to start with). 5 – 9

Further, whether a doctors agrees with vaccination or not, they are often bound by their workplaces policy to promote vaccination. If they dare speak out against vaccination they risk losing their job. 1,2,3

Lastly, why would anyone care what Bill and Melinda Gates think of vaccination? They're not vaccine experts, they're computer software moguls.

"What on earth could make a civilian believe his Google "research" is superior to decades of science?"

No one is saying that it does. People use Google to access the 'decades of science'. It's not Google vs 'decades of science'.

"Is it arrogance?"

This journalist claims her friends research is null and void but hasn't bothered to investigate what information he read. Then she has the gall to call him arrogant?

""The internet has made expertise a mouse click away," Korn says. And a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Just ask any GP who has to contend with self-diagnosing patients, determined they can identify their prognosis and treatment. They address them more as colleagues than patients, because they place their internet search on par with the doctor's years of expertise."

GPs constantly use the internet, including Google, to research ailments! GPs are not an endless source of information, they are human, treat them as such. If a GP is unable to answer questions from a patient it's a sign they need to do a little more study. Medical research is constantly evolving and GPs must evolve with it.

"Doctors really do live this every day. Says one of my friends who is a medical specialist: "You find yourself getting into these exhausting debates with patients who insist they've read something that goes against what you're telling them. Unless you're highly experienced, it can be extremely difficult to judge the credibility of the information you find online.""

I agree with this medical specialist that it can be difficult for someone new to vaccine research to judge the credibility of information on line. You need to decifer opinion from fact by researching sources, verifying studies are reliable, and finding more reliable studies to back up the findings. But this is not reserved for the "highly experienced", any mildly intelligent person can learn to do this.

As for specialists dealing with a patients inquisitiveness – they can deal with it, they are providing a service and charging big prices for it.

"Which brings me to the Australian Vaccination Network which, despite its official-sounding name, is a group of civilian self-styled "experts" who campaign vigorously and at times misleadingly (according to findings by the Health Care Complaints Commission) against vaccination on its website and in the free talks its members give around Australia, sometimes to expectant parents at pre-natal classes."

The Australian Vaccination Network makes no mention of being "experts". From the AVN site:

"The AVN was founded in 1994 by a group of parents and health professionals who were concerned about protecting the rights of Australians to make free and informed health choices. Since its inception, this organisation has been run on a volunteer-basis though it currently has two part-time employees who work in administration."

"While publicly pedaling its anti-vaccination message, the AVN cleverly makes it sound like there are "two sides" to the vaccination debate.In fact, there aren't two sides and there is no debate."

In fact, there's a wide range of differing opinions on vaccination within the medical community. 10 - 13

"On one hand there is science and there is no other hand."

Yes, in this debate there should only be science, not shoddy articles with no sources like the one I'm commenting on.

"Because no link between vaccination and autism has ever been found. None."

Really… says who, this hack journalist? The same journalist who earlier claimed to know nothing about vaccination, and who provides no sources of proof for any statements, but now decides to make definitive expert claims? Ironically Mia is doing exactly what she is accusing those who question vaccines of doing. In the real world 'decades of science' show there is a clear link to autism, and unlike Mia I have the studies to prove it.

An abnormal immune response to the vaccine-derived measles virus is implicated in autism

“This report on children with both autistic encephalopathy (brain injury) and intestinal pathology (disease) associated with measles virus persistence describes the detection of measles virus in the cerebrospinal fluid of such children. None of the cases (autistic children studied) or controls (non-autistic children studied) had a history of measles exposure other than MMR vaccination. Findings are consistent with both a measles virus etiology (cause) for the autistic encephalopathy (brain injury) and active viral replication in these children. The data support the growing perception that a subset of children with autistic encephalopathy (brain injury) exhibits a complex systemic pathology (disease) consistent with an etiological (causative) role for measles virus.” 14

“Analysis revealed the presence of an unusual MMR antibody in 60% of autistic sera (blood samples) but not in control sera (non-autistic blood samples). Furthermore, over 90% of MMR antibody-positive autistic sera (blood samples) were also positive for myelin basic protein autoantibodies (myelin basic protein is a substance essential for proper functioning of nervous system, autoantibodies to myelin basic protein mean that body attacks the myelin basic protein, creating inflammation, damage, and cell death), suggesting a strong association between MMR and central nervous system autoimmunity in autism (autoantibodies to myelin basic protein is found in other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and traverse myelitis). Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism.” 15

Aluminium sourced from vaccines is implicated in autism

“We investigated whether exposure to aluminium from vaccines could be contributing to the rise in autism spectrum disorders prevalence in the Western world. Our results show that:
(i) children from countries with the highest autism spectrum disorders prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to aluminium from vaccines;
(ii) the increase in exposure to aluminium adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in autism spectrum disorders prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades and
(iii) a significant correlation exists between the amounts of aluminium administered to preschool children and the current prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in seven Western countries, particularly at 3–4 months of age.” 16

“Our results provide strong evidence supporting a link between autism and the aluminum in vaccines. A literature review showing toxicity of aluminum in human physiology offers further support. Mentions of autism in VAERS increased steadily at the end of the last century, during a period when mercury was being phased out, while aluminum adjuvant burden was being increased. We propose that children with the autism diagnosis are especially vulnerable to toxic metals such as aluminum and mercury due to insufficient serum sulfate and glutathione. A strong correlation between autism and the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is also observed.” 17

Vaccination with subsequent acetaminophen (paracetamol) administration is implicated in autism

“The present study was performed to determine whether acetaminophen (paracetamol) use after the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination could be associated with autistic disorder. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was significantly associated with autistic disorder when considering children 5 years of age or less (autistic children were over 6 fold more likely to have received acetaminophen after MMR vaccination). After limiting cases to children with regression in development (the likelihood was 4 fold), and when considering only children who had post-vaccination sequelae (damage due to vaccination)(the likelihood was 8.2 fold). This preliminary study found that acetaminophen (paracetamol) use after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination was associated with autistic disorder.” 18

Mercury sourced from vaccines is implicated in autism

“Exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioural dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism, and the similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry. Thimerosal, a preservative added to many vaccines, has become a major source of mercury in children who, within their first two years, may have received a quantity of mercury that exceeds safety guidelines. A review of medical literature and US government data suggests that:
(i) many cases of idiopathic autism are induced by early mercury exposure from thimerosal;
(ii) this type of autism represents an unrecognized mercurial syndrome; and
(iii) genetic and non-genetic factors establish a predisposition whereby thimerosal’s adverse effects occur only in some children.” 19

“It is clear that while genetic factors are important to the pathogenesis (cause) of Autism Spectrum Disorders, mercury exposure can induce immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. A case series of nine patients who presented to the Genetic Centers of America for a genetic/developmental evaluation are discussed. Eight of nine patients (one patient was found to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder due to Rett's syndrome)…

(a) had regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders;
(b) had elevated levels of androgens;
(c) excreted significant amounts of mercury post chelation challenge;
(d) had biochemical evidence of decreased function in their glutathione pathways;
(e) had no known significant mercury exposure except from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations; and
(f) had alternate causes for their regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders ruled out.
There was a significant dose-response relationship between the severity of the regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders observed and the total mercury dose children received from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho (D)-immune globulin preparations. Eight of nine patients examined were exposed to significant mercury from Thimerosal-containing biologic/vaccine preparations during their fetal/infant developmental periods, and subsequently, between 12 and 24 mo of age, these previously normally developing children suffered mercury toxic encephalopathies (brain injury) that manifested with clinical symptoms consistent with regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders. Evidence for mercury intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis as contributing to some regressive Autism Spectrum Disorders.” 20

Conjugate vaccines are implicated in autism

“It is hypothesized here that the introduction of the Hib conjugate vaccine in the US in 1988 and its subsequent introduction in Denmark and Israel could explain a substantial portion of the initial increases in autism spectrum disorders in those countries. The continuation of the trend toward increased rates of autism spectrum disorders could be further explained by increased usage of the vaccine, a change in 1990 in the recommended age of vaccination in the US from 15 to 2 months, increased immunogenicity of the vaccine through changes in its carrier protein, and the subsequent introduction of the conjugate vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Conjugate vaccines fundamentally change the manner in which the immune systems of infants and young children function by deviating their immune responses to the targeted carbohydrate antigens from a state of hypo(lowered)-responsiveness to a robust B2 cell mediated response (which promotes the production of antibodies; carbohydrate antigens are bacterial-based polysaccharides and glycocojugates that evoke antibodies, many are found in vaccines such the Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Salmonella typhi vaccines). This (biologically normal) period of hypo(lowered)-responsiveness to carbohydrate antigens coincides with the intense myelination process in infants and young children (myelination is a crucial process in the nervous system; problems with myelination are involved in autoimmune diseases), and conjugate vaccines may have disrupted evolutionary forces that (would have normally) favored early brain development over the need to protect infants and young children from capsular (polysaccharide) bacteria.” 21

"Ever"

There has been a link to autism since early 2000 when the CDC first investigated the link, and the link has continued to strengthen as studies continue. 22 For more studies linking autism to vaccines see this post.

"What has been proven is that, while they are not 100 per cent perfect, vaccines are the best and only way to protect babies and children from diseases such as whooping cough that can kill them."

More madeup opinion from a self-confessed non-expert who refuses to even look at studies on vaccination. Can I get a citing study with that? Not likely. Vaccines are certainly not the only way to protect babies from illness – studies show the protection of breastmilk, vitamin C and D, fresh water, sunshine, healthy diet and cleanliness all play a major role in immunity. 23 - 40

Long before vaccinations were in wide spread use the major diseases responsible for the bulk of mortality in the late 19th and early 20th century had declined dramatically, almost entirely due to improvements in living conditions. 118 The US Center for Disease Control explains:

"The 19th century shift in population from country to city that accompanied industrialization and immigration led to overcrowding in poor housing served by inadequate or nonexistent public water supplies and waste-disposal systems. These conditions resulted in repeated outbreaks of cholera, dysentery, TB, typhoid fever, influenza, yellow fever, and malaria."

"By 1900, however, the incidence of many of these diseases had begun to decline because of public health improvements, implementation of which continued into the 20th century. Local, state, and federal efforts to improve sanitation and hygiene reinforced the concept of collective "public health" action (e.g., to prevent infection by providing clean drinking water)."

"By 1900, 40 of the 45 states had established health departments. The first county health departments were established in 1908 (6). From the 1930s through the 1950s, state and local health departments made substantial progress in disease prevention activities, including sewage disposal, water treatment, food safety, organized solid waste disposal, and public education about hygienic practices (e.g., foodhandling and handwashing)."

"Chlorination and other treatments of drinking water began in the early 1900s and became widespread public health practices, further decreasing the incidence of waterborne diseases. The incidence of TB also declined as improvements in housing reduced crowding and TB-control programs were initiated. In 1900, 194 of every 100,000 U.S. residents died from TB; most were residents of urban areas. In 1940 (before the introduction of antibiotic therapy), TB remained a leading cause of death, but the crude death rate had decreased to 46 per 100,000 persons."

"Animal and pest control also contributed to disease reduction. Nationally sponsored, state-coordinated vaccination and animal-control programs eliminated dog-to-dog transmission of rabies. Malaria, once endemic throughout the southeastern United States, was reduced to negligible levels by the late 1940s; regional mosquito-control programs played an important role in these efforts. Plague also diminished; the U.S. Marine Hospital Service (which later became the Public Health Service) led quarantine and ship inspection activities and rodent and vector-control operations. The last major rat-associated outbreak of plague in the United States occurred during 1924-1925 in Los Angeles. This outbreak included the last identified instance of human-to-human transmission of plague (through inhalation of infectious respiratory droplets from coughing patients) in this country." 119

"And the personal choice argument? Well, it's a bit like arguing that driving your car drunk is a personal choice."

We could say that vaccinating a child is like choosing to drive drunk – we don't know what reaction the child will have to a vaccine or when it will manifest itself. Will the child die, will they be severely brain damaged, will they have autism, ADD, allergies or autoimmune disorders? It's a risk we take when we choose to vaccinate. 14 – 22, 41 – 50

Likewise there is risk to not vaccinating – will a child contract a disease and die, will they be left permanently injured by a disease?

But driving drunk is not a valid comparison to either side at all, it's just insulting. Whether parents decide to vaccinate or not vaccinate, you can rest assured they've taken the decision very seriously and have their childrens best interests at heart.

The question at the end of the day is: do the benefits of vaccination outweigh the negatives? With the prevalence of disorders such as autism, allergies, and other autoimmune disorders that have ballooned to epidemic proportions and are linked to vaccination, I don't believe vaccination is worth it – it is simply exchanging one set of illnesses for another. For those who choose not to vaccinate this isn't a viable trade off.

In 1996 it was estimated that 3% of the US population had at least one autoimmune disease. In 2005 estimates of autoimmune disease prevalence increased to 5-8% of the US population. 113 The below graph shows the rise in autism:

"You see, the lives of babies too young to be vaccinated depend on herd immunity in the rest of the community."

The concept of herd immunity relies on the fact that those who are immune are unable to spread the disease to others. Unfortunately I couldn't find ANY studies demonstrating that current injected vaccines actually stop recipients contracting the infections they are vaccinated for - mainly because the design of almost all vaccine studies do not include testing all study subjects for infection. Instead, studies show that vaccines often effectively reduce the symptoms of infection (eg. coughing, fever, spots etc). But that does not ensure the recipient does not have a subclinical infection (infection without showing symptoms) with which to spread the infection to those around them.

For instance, the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is shown in studies to create the illusion of immunity in the vaccine recipient (minimal or no symptoms) when in fact they are infected and spreading the virus to those around them. 52 This was demonstrated recently when a newborn was hospitalized for whooping cough after contracting it from her fully vaccinated older sister. 51

Other vaccines are also implicated. Regarding the measles vaccine, Stittelaar et al (2002) state, "...vaccine failures may, at least in part, be attributed to an inadequate vaccine-induced mucosal immunity – the current vaccine protects against measles but not necessarily against measles virus infection." Likewise, Hudgens et al (2004) state, "...vaccines for rubella, mumps, measles, and polio have been shown to prevent disease, but not infection."

The varicella (chicken pox) vaccine has been documented numerous times causing infection in the vaccine recipient and spreading the infection to others. It's also known to cause herpes zoster, a related virus with 3 times the morbidity and 5 times the mortality of varicella, in vaccine recipients. 60-85

This completely shatters any illusion that at least these particular vaccines can provide herd immunity, and even implicates the varicella vaccine as a possible cause of outbreaks. Additionally, it shows that without studies that test each individual for infection, whether they show outward symptoms or not, we can't jump to the conclusion that vaccines can provide herd immunity.

We also need to take into consideration the fact that vaccines are often ineffective. Even if everyone were vaccinated, and even if vaccines could protect recipients from infection (and we know many don't), there would still be a large chunk of the population in which the vaccine simply won't work. For example multiple outbreaks of whooping cough, chicken pox, and influenza have been documented in highly vaccination populations. 53-58, 86-90, 91-112 If we are unable to guess who the vaccine will not work on, then it's a gamble putting anyone – vaccinated or not – near a newborn. For more information on the pitfalls of vaccine-based herd immunity, see this post.

On a side note, one of the most effective ways of protecting an infant from illness is to exclusively breastfeed. Breastmilk helps protect against almost every commonly known pathogen including whooping cough, rotavirus, and even polio. 59

At least when a non-vaccinated person does contract an illness they usually show outwards signs (eg. coughing, runny nose), and know to stay away from vulnerable individuals such as newborns or those with immune disorders. Additionally a non-vaccinated person is given life long, or long term immunity to the illness after contracting it, something vaccination has never been able to achieve.

"So the choice made by that guy I worked with didn't just affect his family. His well-intentioned yet ill-informed decision has the potential to harm my family. And yours."

Firstly, as we know this journalist has no idea whether her co-worker is 'ill-informed' because she never bothered to investigate the information he read.

Secondly, we know that for the majority of current vaccines, vaccine-based herd immunity simply does not exist. Mia's co-worker's decision not to vaccinate does not affect Mia's family or yours, any more than Mia's decision to vaccinate does. Mia is not stopping the spread of disease by vaccinating, though she ignorantly thinks she is, and like many pro-vaccine advocates, she tries to lord the mistaken belief over those who choose not to vaccinate.

Thirdly, forcing a parent to vaccinate their child – potentially harming or killing their child – with the belief that your child will benefit, is ETHICALLY WRONG Though one persons child may not have been injured through vaccination, we can not guarantee another child will not.

For instance, are you willing force another child to get vaccinated, causing that child to develop developmental delays, just so your child can avoid getting chicken pox, only to find your child's vaccine didn't work and your child gets chicken pox anyway? The hypothetical scenario is made even worse by the fact that forcing another child to get the chicken pox vaccine is unlikely to help protect your child from contracting chicken pox anyway. If exposed to the wild virus the child will still contract the virus and spread it, albeit likely without showing symptoms. They also risk contracting chicken pox or herpes directly from the chicken pox vaccine, and spreading it on to you. 60-85

It's not ethical, and it's not a viable tradeoff.

"Watching (or even producing) a YouTube video with some cherry-picked statistics set to rousing orchestral music is not the same as having a uni degree or having your research findings peer reviewed."

No one is claiming that it is.

"I'm baffled by this growing sense that everyone has the right - indeed the obligation - to challenge facts that have been established scientifically, independently and repeatedly over years, even decades."

The fact that autism and other injuries can be caused by vaccines has been established scientifically, independently and repeatedly over years, even decades. While people like Mia who have never bothered to read them think they have the right – indeed obligation – to challenge these facts.

Which is fine, if she can produce a sound study to challenge it with – that's what science is all about. But the scientific community hasn't produced sound studies to challenge the studies showing vaccines cause autism and other illnesses / injuries.

"Do your research!" is the common faux clarion call of so-called "experts".

Yes we most definitely SHOULD bother to research reliable studies, especially if you're a journalist.

"These exhortations are usually accompanied by a helpful list of links to skewed, scientifically baseless articles that back up their claims."

Articles on vaccination should always be cited, take note Mia, and the sources investigated to verify the validity of the study. The majority of websites about vaccination DO cite studies, but seeing Mias aversion to research she probably never bothers to investigate them.

"It's easy to mislead people with random graphs and alarmist statements."

This is what Mias article (and provax propaganda in general) is packed full of – alarmist, false, or misleading statements without ANY hard facts. Again, finding the studies from which the graphs or statements are sourced is key.

"I'M not suggesting we become a flock of sheep or suspend critical thought.But I don't need to "do my research" before I vaccinate."

A giant oxymoron if ever I heard one. How do you develop critical thought without the freedom or desire to investigate unanswered questions?

"Or before I accept that the Earth is round and that gravity exists.Scientists far smarter than me have already done that research and the verdict is unanimous, thanks."

Yes scientists are smarter than this journalist and have done the research, this journalist just hasn't read it. And the results are anything but unanimous.

It can be easier for some folks to dismiss those who disagree with their decision in order to maintain the belief they've done what's best for their child. What would be the alternative? The realization that their choice to vaccinate is causing more harm than good?

For Mia it's easier to block her ears and sing la la la, refuse to research vaccination, and instead write an article smearing non-vaccinating parents to make herself feel better about her own decision.

But what's alarming about Mias article is that it expresses an attitude that, judging by the comments, is common. It lacks almost any hard facts and is based on snippits of dramatised press, but it's full of anger and arrogance.

Vaccination has been marketed so intensely that parents often feel attacked for any vaccination choice they make, and it can make the best of us lash out at others when we feel our decision is under attack.

WE ALL care deeply about our children's welfare no matter what our decision.

Journalists like Mia would have us believe the safety of vaccination has been unanimously agreed upon, but in reality it couldn't be further from the truth. Which is why for many of us, our children's lives are far too precious to not bother investigating vaccination.

Update: Mia's article has been removed from the Herald Sun.

Sources

1. Vaccines: What Your Doctors Know and Don’t Know
Jennifer Hutchinson, July 31 2012
http://vactruth.com/2012/07/31/what-your-doctors-know/

These Nurses are Silently Speaking Out Against Vaccines - Find Out Why

https://web.archive.org/web/20160611125344/http://www.dinnerforthought.com/vaccine-awareness/these-nurses-are-silently-speaking-out-against-vaccines-find-out-why

How Much is Taught on Vaccines in Medical School?

http://www.thevaccinereaction.org/2017/03/how-much-is-taught-on-vaccines-in-medical-school/

2. PENN MEDICINE INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION POLICY

Vaccine Ethics

http://www.vaccineethics.org/files/Penn_Influenza_Policy_1.pdf

3. Vaccine Policy Statement

Primary Care, Haverford

http://www.chop.edu/locations/primary-care-haverford/vaccine-policy

4. Why Are Doctors Silent? Vaccines Uncensored

https://web.archive.org/web/20160102044428/http://www.vaccinesuncensored.org/doctors.php

5. Choudhry, N.K., Stelfox, H.T., Detsky, A.S., 2002: Relationships Between Authors of Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Pharmaceutical Industry, JAMA, 287: 612-617.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/287/5/612.short

6. No Author Listed, 2002: Just how tainted has medicine become? Editorial The Lancet, 359, 9313.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2802%2908198-9/fulltext

7. Lexchin, J., Bero, L., Djulbegovic, B. and Clark, O., 2003: Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship and research outcome and quality: systematic review British Medical Journal, 326:1167-1170

http://www.bmj.com/content/326/7400/1167.long

8. Tungaraza, T, and Poole, R., 2007: Influence of drug company authorship and sponsorship on drug trial outcomes, The British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) 191: 82-83.

http://psychrights.org/research/Digest/Science4Sale/DrugCoInfluence%282007%29.pdf

9. Boutron I, et al, 2009: Spin in reports of randomized controlled trials with nonstatistically significant primary outcomes, International Congress on Peer Review and Biomedical Publication.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/PRC/15964

10. Doctors, Nurses and Scientists on Protecting Your Child and Yourself

International Medical Council on Vaccination

http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2011/02/13/vaccines-get-the-full-story/

11. The Case Against Immunizatons

By Richard Moskowitz, M. D

http://vran.org/about-vaccines/general-issues/doctors-speak/the-case-against-immunizatons/

12. Doctors Speak

Vaccination Risk Awareness Network

http://vran.org/about-vaccines/general-issues/doctors-speak/

13. Doctors against vaccines

Vaccine Truth

http://vaccinetruth.org/doctors-against-vaccines.html

14. Detection of Measles Virus Genomic RNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Three Children with Regressive Autism: a Report of Three Cases. J.J. Bradstreet et al. J Am Physicians & Surgeons Vol 9 no.2 2004

http://icdrc.org/documents/bradstreet.pdf

15. Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism.

Singh VK et al. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64. PMID: 12145534

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12145534

16. Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?

Lucija Tomljenovic et al. J Inorganic Biochemistry Vol 105, Issue 11, 2011, Pg 1489–1499

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22099159

17. Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure

Stephanie Seneff, et al. Entropy, November 7, 2012

http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/11/2227

18. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) use, measles-mumps-rubella vaccination, and autistic disorder: the results of a parent survey. Schultz ST, et al. Autism. 2008 May;12(3):293-307.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18445737

19. Autism: a novel form of mercury poisoning

Sallie Bernard et al. Medical Hypotheses (2001) 56(4), 462–471

http://abcmt.org/A%20Novel%20Form%20of%20Mecury%20Poisoning.pdf

20. A Case Series of Children with Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting with Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorders

D A Geier et al. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2007 May 15;70(10):837-51.

http://www.bhare.org/Geier2.pdf

21. Hypothesis: conjugate vaccines may predispose children to autism spectrum disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21993250

22. Risk of neurological and renal impairment associated with thimerosal containing vaccines

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

http://www.safeminds.org/government-affairs/foia/VSD_VerstraetenJune2000.pdf

23. How to boost your immune system

http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.htm

24. Vit C studies

Vitamin C function and status in chronic disease.

Nutrition in clinical care : an official publication of Tufts University.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12134712

25. Vitamin C and human health--a review of recent data relevant to human requirements.

International journal for vitamin and nutrition research.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8698541

26. Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10357726?dopt=Abstract

http://www.ajcn.org/content/69/6/1086.long

27. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ajcn.org/content/91/5/1255.long

28. Ample evidence exists from human studies that vitamin D reduces the risk of selected bacterial and viral infections.

Experimental Biology and Medicine

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49695739_Ample_evidence_exists_from_human_studies_that_vitamin_D_reduces_the_risk_of_selected_bacterial_and_viral_infections

29. Vitamin D-Mediated Induction of Innate Immunity in Gingival Epithelial Cells▿

Journal of Infection and Immunity

http://iai.asm.org/content/79/6/2250

30. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Treatment Shrinks Uterine Leiomyoma Tumors in the Eker Rat Model

Journal of Biology of Reproduction

http://www.biolreprod.org/content/early/2012/02/01/biolreprod.111.098145

31. Prevalence of eczema and food allergy is associated with latitude in Australia.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology,

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674912000796

32. The Global Burden of Disease study and applications in water, sanitation and hygiene

World Health Organisation

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/iwachap3.pdf

33. Estimating the burden of disease from water, sanitation, and hygiene at a global level.

World Health Organisation

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240845/

34. Sickness behavior induced by endotoxin can be mitigated by the dietary soluble fiber, pectin, through up-regulation of IL-4 and Th2 polarization

Journal of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159110000425

35. Does tomato consumption effectively increase the resistance of lymphocyte DNA to oxidative damage?

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ajcn.org/content/69/4/712.full

36. DNA damage and repair activity after broccoli intake in young healthy smokers

UK Environmental Mutagen Society

http://mutage.oxfordjournals.org/content/25/6/595.full.pdf+html

37. Watercress supplementation in diet reduces lymphocyte DNA damage and alters blood antioxidant status in healthy adults

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

http://www.ajcn.org/content/85/2/504.full.pdf+html

38. A randomized trial of isonitrogenous enteral diets after severe trauma. An immune-enhancing diet reduces septic complications.

Annals of Surgery

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1235418/

39. Upper respiratory tract infection is reduced in physically fit and active adults

British Journal of Sports Medicine

http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2010/09/30/bjsm.2010.077875.abstract

40. Risks of Formula Feeding

Natural Mama NZ

http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Formula%20feeding%20risks

41. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)

Since 1990, the U.S. Government has collected reports of adverse health events that follow the administration of vaccinations. This database, called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is available for anyone to search or download.

http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/index.php

42. 'ASIA' - autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

Journal of Autoimmunity

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/16063327/1999502348/name/ASIA2.pdf

43. HPV Vaccine Policy: At Odds With Evidence-Based Medicine?

Medscape

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/757789

44. Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States.

Journal of Manipulative Physical Therapy

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10714532

45. Early childhood infection and atopic disorder

THORAX: An International Journal of Respiratory Medicine

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1745117/?tool=pubmed

46. A case-control study of risk factors for asthma in New Zealand children.

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11297301

47. Atopy in children of families with an anthroposophic lifestyle.

The Lancet

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10232315

48. Pertussis vaccination and asthma: is there a link?

JAMA

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8057511

49. Vaccination and Allergic Disease: A Birth Cohort Study

American Journal of Public Health

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448377/

50. Childhood Vaccinations and Risk of Asthma: Discussion

Medscape

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/439840_4

51. Deadly whooping cough warning - Sadly this article has since been removed.

52. Acellular pertussis vaccines protect against disease but fail to prevent infection and transmission in a nonhuman primate model. Jason M. Warfel, et al. 10.1073/pnas.1314688110

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/11/20/1314688110.abstract

53. The 1993 epidemic of pertussis in Cincinnati. Resurgence of disease in a highly immunized population of children. Christie CD et al. N Engl J Med. 1994 Jul 7;331(1):16-21. PMID: 8202096. Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8202096

54. Outbreak of pertussis in a fully immunized adolescent and adult population.

Mink CA, et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994 Feb;148(2):153-7. PMID: 8118532

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8118532

55. Pertussis infection in fully vaccinated children in day-care centers, Israel.

Srugo I et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2000 Sep-Oct;6(5):526-9. PMID: 10998384. Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10998384

56. Infant pertussis epidemiology and implications for tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination: King County, Washington, 2002 through 2007.

Hanson MP et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011 Jul ;165(7):647-52. PMID: 21727277. Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21727277

57. A field survey carried out on the confirmation of a pertussis case in a village of Kirikkale Province, Turkey. Coplü N, et al. Mikrobiyol Bul. 2007 Apr;41(2):175-83. PMID: 17682703

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17682703

58. Author Insights: Higher Pertussis Rates in Children Vaccinated With Newer Pertussis Vaccine

Bridget M Kuehn. JULY 31, 2012

http://newsatjama.jama.com/2012/07/31/author-insights-higher-pertussis-rates-in-children-vaccinated-with-newer-pertussis-vaccine/

59. The Immunologic Significance of Breast Milk

Susan Orlando, RNC, MS. Infectious Diseases, Volume 24, Number 7, September 1995

http://www.eatsonfeets.com/docs/The_Immunolofic_Significance_of_Breastmilk.pdf

60. Acyclovir-resistant chronic verrucous vaccine strain varicella in a patient with neuroblastoma.

Bryan CJ, rt al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Oct;27(10):946-8. PMID: 18776818

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18776818

61. Development of Resistance to Acyclovir during Chronic Infection with the Oka Vaccine Strain of Varicella-Zoster Virus, in an Immunosuppressed Child - full text

Myron J. Levin et al. J Infect Dis. (2003) 188 (7): 954-959.

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/188/7/954.long

62. Chickenpox attributable to a vaccine virus contracted from a vaccinee with zoster.

Brunell PA et al. PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 2 August 1, 2000 pp. e28

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/2/e28.long

63. Disseminated varicella infection due to the vaccine strain of varicella-zoster virus, in a patient with a novel deficiency in natural killer T cells. Levy O, et al. J Infect Dis. 2003 Oct 1;188(7):948-53.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14513412

64. DNA sequence variability in isolates recovered from patients with postvaccination rash or herpes zoster caused by Oka varicella vaccine. Loparev VN, et al. J Infect Dis. 2007 Feb 15;195(4):502-10.

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/195/4/502.long

65. Herpes zoster after varicella-zoster vaccination

Fahlbusch M, et al. Hautarzt. 2013 Feb;64(2):107-9. PMID: 23358727

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23358727

66. Genetic Profile of an Oka Varicella Vaccine Virus Variant Isolated from an Infant with Zoster

Andreas Sauerbrei et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. December 2004 vol. 42 no. 12 5604-5608

http://jcm.asm.org/content/42/12/5604.full

67. Herpes zoster and meningitis due to reactivation of varicella vaccine virus in an immunocompetent child. Han JY, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Mar;30(3):266-8. PMID: 20844461

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20844461

68. Herpes zoster and meningitis resulting from reactivation of varicella vaccine virus in an immunocompetent child. Iyer S, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 2009 Jun;53(6):792-5. PMID: 19028409

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19028409

69. Herpes zoster by reactivated vaccine varicella zoster virus in a healthy child

Barbara Uebe, et al. European Journal of Pediatrics 2002, Vol 161, Issue 8, pp 442-444

http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00431-002-0981-1.pdf

70. Herpes zoster due to Oka vaccine strain of varicella zoster virus in an immunosuppressed child post cord blood transplant. Chan Y, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2007 Oct;43(10):713-5.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17854459

71. Herpes zoster with skin lesions and meningitis caused by 2 different genotypes of the Oka varicella-zoster virus vaccine. Levin MJ, et al. J Infect Dis. 2008 Nov 15;198(10):1444-7.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18826373

72. Live attenuated varicella vaccine use in immunocompromised children and adults.

Gershon AA, et al. Pediatrics. 1986 Oct;78(4 Pt 2):757-62.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3020495

73. Rashes occurring after immunization with a mixture of viruses in the Oka vaccine are derived from single clones of virus. Quinlivan ML, et al. J Infect Dis. 2004 Aug 15;190(4):793-6. PMID: 15272408

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/190/4/793.long

74. Secondary transmission of varicella vaccine virus in a chronic care facility for children.

Grossberg R, et al. J Pediatr. 2006;148: 842– 844

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16769402

75. Severe Varicella Caused by Varicella-Vaccine Strain in a Child With Signiﬁcant T-Cell Dysfunction

Patrick Jean-Philippe et al. PEDIATRICS Volume 120, Number 5, November 2007

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/e1345.full.pdf

76. The incidence of zoster after immunization with live attenuated varicella vaccine. A study in children with leukemia. Varicella Vaccine Collaborative Study Group.

Hardy I, et al. N Engl J Med. 1991 Nov 28;325(22):1545-50.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1658650

77. Transmission of vaccine strain varicella-zoster virus from a healthy adult with vaccine-associated rash to susceptible household contacts. LaRussa P, et al. J Infect Dis. (1997) 176 (4): 1072-1075.

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/176/4/1072.long

78. Transmission of Varicella Vaccine Virus, Japan

Taketo Otsuka et al, Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 October; 15(10): 1702–1703. PMCID: PMC2866412

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866412/

79. Transmission of varicella-vaccine virus from a healthy 12-month-old child to his pregnant mother.

Salzman MB et al. Homeopathy. 2009 Apr;98(2):77-82. PMID: 9255208. Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9255208

80. Transmission of varicella-zoster virus from a vaccinee with leukemia, demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction.

A Hughes P, et al. J Pediatr. 1994 Jun;124(6):932-5.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/8201480/

81. Vaccine Oka Variants and Sequence Variability in Vaccine-Related Skin Lesions

Judith Breuer et al. J Infect Dis. (2008) 197 (Supplement 2): S54-S57.

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/197/Supplement_2/S54.long

82. Vaccine Oka Varicella-Zoster Virus Genotypes Are Monomorphic in Single Vesicles and Polymorphic in Respiratory Tract Secretions. Mark A. Quinlivan et al. J Infect Dis. (2006) 193 (7): 927-930.

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/193/7/927.long

83. Vaccine-associated herpes zoster opthalmicus and encephalitis in an immunocompetent child. Chouliaras G et al. Pediatrics. 2010 Apr;125(4):e969-72. Epub 2010 Mar 1. PMID: 20194287. Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20194287

84. Virus Variant Isolated from an Infant with Zoster

Andreas Sauerbrei, et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2004, 42(12):5604.

http://jcm.asm.org/content/42/12/5604.full.pdf

85. The Case against Universal Varicella Vaccination

Gary S. Goldman. International Journal of Toxicology, 25:313–317, 2006

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/VaricellaGoldmanOct06.pdf

86. Chickenpox outbreak in a highly vaccinated school population.

Tugwell BD, et al. Pediatrics. 2004 Mar;113(3 Pt 1):455-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14993534

87. Younger age at vaccination may increase risk of varicella vaccine failure.

Galil K, et al. J Infect Dis.2002;186 :102– 105

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=jinfdis&resid=186/1/102

88. Outbreak of varicella at a day-care center despite vaccination.

Galil K, et al. N Engl J Med.2002;347 :1909– 1915

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/external-ref?access_num=000179735800002&link_type=ISI

89. An elementary school outbreak of varicella attributed to vaccine failure: policy implications.

Lee BR, et al. J Infect Dis.2004;190 :477– 483

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=jinfdis&resid=190/3/477

90. Vaccine Effectiveness During a Varicella Outbreak Among Schoolchildren: Utah, 2002–2003

Maryam B. Haddad et al. PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 6 June 1, 2005. pp. 1488 -1493

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/115/6/1488.long

91. Effectiveness of inactivated influenza vaccines varied substantially with antigenic match from the 2004-2005 season to the 2006-2007 season.

Belongia EA, et al. J Infect Dis. 2009 Jan 15;199(2):159-67.PMID: 19086915.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19086915

92. Effectiveness of the 2003-2004 influenza vaccine among children 6 months to 8 years of age, with 1 vs 2 doses. Ritzwoller DP, et al. Pediatrics. 2005 Jul;116(1):153-9.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15995046

93. Effectiveness of influenza vaccine during pregnancy in preventing hospitalizations and outpatient visits for respiratory illness in pregnant women and their infants.

Black SB, et al. Am J Perinatol. 2004 Aug;21(6):333-9. PMID: 15311370

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15311370

94. Effectiveness of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in influenza-related hospitalization in children: A case-control study. Authors: Joshi, Avni Y et al, Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 33, Number 2, March/April 2012 , pp. e23-e27(5)

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ocean/aap/2012/00000033/00000002/art00003?token=004c18a26994051d573d257025702c23792f7c4038762c3a797c4e75477e4324576b642738cd

95. Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Osterholm MT et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2012 Jan;12(1):36-44.PMID: 22032844.

Study Type : Meta Analysis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22032844

96. Evidence of bias in estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness in seniors

Lisa A Jackson et al. Int. J. Epidemiol. (April 2006) 35 (2): 337-344.

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/2/337.short

97. Further Evidence for Bias in Observational Studies of Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness: The 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic

Michael L. Jackson et al. Am. J. Epidemiol. (2013)

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/08/23/aje.kwt124.abstract

98. Impact of influenza vaccination on seasonal mortality in the US elderly population.

Simonsen L et al. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Feb 14;165(3):265-72. PMID: 15710788.

Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15710788

99. Impact of maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy on the incidence of acute respiratory illness visits among infants.

France EK, et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Dec;160(12):1277-83.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17146026

100. Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy: A Critical Assessment of the Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

David M. Ayoub, M.D., F. Edward Yazbak, M.D, Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 11 Number 2 Summer 2006

http://www.jpands.org/vol11no2/ayoub.pdf

101. Influenza vaccination for healthcare workers who work with the elderly. Thomas RE et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010(2):CD005187. PMID:20166073. Study Type : Meta Analysis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20166073

102. Influenza vaccination for healthcare workers who work with the elderly.

Thomas RE et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 ;3:CD005187. Epub 2006 Jul 19. PMID:16856082. Study Type : Meta Analysis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16856082

103. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children 6 to 59 months of age during 2 influenza seasons: a case-cohort study. Szilagyi PG,et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008 Oct;162(10):943-51. New Vaccine Surveillance Network. Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18838647

104. Influenza Vaccine: Review of Effectiveness of the U.S. Immunization Program, and Policy Considerations

David A. Geier, B.A., et al. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 11 Number 3 Fall 2006. Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc.

http://www.ids-healthcare.com/Common/Paper/Paper_172/Influenza%20Vaccine.pdf

105. Influenza-related mortality in the Italian elderly: no decline associated with increasing vaccination coverage. Rizzo C et al. Vaccine. 2006 Oct 30;24(42-43):6468-75. PMID: 16876293. Study Type : Human Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16876293

106. Interim within-season estimate of the effectiveness of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine--Marshfield, Wisconsin, 2007-08 influenza season.

CDC. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008 Apr 18;57(15):393-8. PMID: 18418344

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18418344

107. No effect of 2008/09 seasonal influenza vaccination on the risk of pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza infection in England. Pebody R, et al. Vaccine. 2011 Jan 31. Epub 2011 Jan 31. PMID: 21292008.

Study Type : Meta Analysis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21292008

108. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults

Tom Jefferson et al, 2010, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4/full#CD001269-bbs2-0169

109. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children.

Jefferson T et al. Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Sep-Oct;15(5):44-6. PMID: 18425905.

Study Type : Meta Analysis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18425905

110. Vaccines for preventing influenza in people with cystic fibrosis.

ArtiStudy Type : Meta Analysis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19821281

111. Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20166072

112. What, in Fact, Is the Evidence That Vaccinating Healthcare Workers against Seasonal Influenza Protects Their Patients? A Critical Review.

Zvi Howard Abramson et al, Int J Family Med. 2012; 2012: 205464.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3502850/

113. Progress in Autoimmune Diseases Research Report to Congress

National Institutes of Health. THE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES COORDINATING COMMITTEE. 2005

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/autoimmune/documents/adccfinal.pdf

114. Global vaccine market revenues from 2014 to 2020 (in billion U.S. dollars)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/265102/revenues-in-the-global-vaccine-market/

114a. Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market Worth $3.2 Billion By 2022

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-erectile-dysfunction-drugs-market

114b. Big Pharma and Big Profits: The Multibillion Dollar Vaccine Market

https://www.globalresearch.ca/big-pharma-and-big-profits-the-multibillion-dollar-vaccine-market/5503945

115. Swine-Flu Bribe Fever!

Chelsea Schilling, 2009

http://www.wnd.com/2009/12/118262/

116. National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/index.html

116a. Pharma CEO: We’re in Business of Shareholder Profit, Not Helping the Sick
https://www.healthfreedoms.org/pharma-ceo-were-in-business-of-shareholder-profit-not-helping-the-sick/

116b. Pharma chief defends 400% drug price rise as a ‘moral requirement’
David Crow, Sept 12, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/48b0ce2c-b544-11e8-bbc3-ccd7de085ffe

116c. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Lazarou J et al. JAMA. 1998 Apr 15;279(15):1200-5.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9555760

11d. Johns Hopkins study suggests medical errors are third-leading cause of death in U.S.
https://hub.jhu.edu/2016/05/03/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death/

117. Vaccines are among big pharma’s best-selling products
https://www.ft.com/content/93374f4a-e538-11e5-a09b-1f8b0d268c39
The Average Profit Margin of Pharmaceuticals
https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/average-profit-margin-pharmaceuticals-20671.html

118. United States Mortality Rates

http://childhealthsafety.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/us-deaths-1900-1965.gif?w=468&h=310

119. Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999: Control of Infectious Diseases. 1999

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4829a1.htm

Watch Your Language

2012-03-22T11:06:00.000+13:00

By Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC

The lactation consultant says:

You have the best chance to provide your baby with the best possible start in life, through the special bond of breastfeeding. The wonderful advantages to you and your baby will last a lifetime.

And then the mother bottlefeeds. Why?

In part because that sales pitch could just as easily have come from a commercial baby milk pamphlet. When our phrasing and that of the baby milk industry are interchangeable, one of us is going about it wrong...and it probably isn't the multinationals. Here is some of the language that I think subverts our good intentions every time we use it.

Best possible, ideal, optimal, perfect.
Are you the best possible parent? Is your home life ideal? Do you provide optimal meals? Of course not. Those are admirable goals, not minimum standards. Let's rephrase. Is your parenting inadequate? Is your home life subnormal? Do you provide deficient meals? Now it hurts. You may not expect to be far above normal, but you certainly don't want to be below normal.

When we (and the artificial milk manufacturers) say that breastfeeding is the best possible way to feed babies because it provides their ideal food, perfectly balanced for optimal infant nutrition, the logical response is, "So what?" Our own experience tells us that optimal is not necessary. Normal is fine, and implied in this language is the absolute normalcy--and thus safety and adequacy--of artificial feeding. The truth is, breastfeeding is nothing more than normal. Artificial feeding, which is neither the same nor superior, is therefore deficient, incomplete, and inferior. Those are difficult words, but they have an appropriate place in our vocabulary.

Advantages.
When we talk about the advantages of breastfeeding--the "lower rates" of cancer, the "reduced risk" of allergies, the "enhanced" bonding, the "stronger" immune system--we reinforce bottlefeeding yet again as the accepted, acceptable norm.

Health comparisons use a biological, not cultural, norm, whether the deviation is harmful or helpful. Smokers have higher rates of illness; increasing prenatal folic acid may reduce fetal defects. Because breastfeeding is the biological norm, breastfed babies are not "healthier;" artificially-fed babies are ill more often and more seriously. Breastfed babies do not "smell better;" artificial feeding results in an abnormal and unpleasant odor that reflects problems in an infant's gut. We cannot expect to create a breastfeeding culture if we do not insist on a breastfeeding model of health in both our language and our literature.

We must not let inverted phrasing by the media and by our peers go unchallenged. When we fail to describe the hazards of artificial feeding, we deprive mothers of crucial decision-making information. The mother having difficulty with breastfeeding may not seek help just to achieve a "special bonus;" but she may clamor for help if she knows how much she and her baby stand to lose. She is less likely to use artificial milk just "to get him used to a bottle" if she knows that the contents of that bottle cause harm.

Nowhere is the comfortable illusion of bottlefed normalcy more carefully preserved than in discussions of cognitive development. When I ask groups of health professionals if they are familiar with the study on parental smoking and IQ (1), someone always tells me that the children of smoking mothers had "lower IQs." When I ask about the study of premature infants fed either human milk or artificial milk (2), someone always knows that the breastmilk-fed babies were "smarter." I have never seen either study presented any other way by the media--or even by the authors themselves. Even health professionals are shocked when I rephrase the results using breastfeeding as the norm: the artificially-fed children, like children of smokers, had lower IQs.

Inverting reality becomes even more misleading when we use percentages, because the numbers change depending on what we choose as our standard. If B is 3/4 of A, then a is 4/3 of B. Choose A as the standard, and B is 25% less. Choose B as the standard, and A is 33 1/3% more. Thus, if an item costing 100 units is put on sale for "25% less,"the price becomes 75. When the sale is over, and the item is marked back up, it must be marked up 33 1/3% to get the price up to 100. Those same figures appear in a recent study (3), which found a "25% decrease" in breast cancer rates among women who were breastfed as infants. Restated using breastfed health as the norm, there was a 33-1/3% increase in breast cancer rates among women who were artificially fed. Imagine the different impact those two statements would have on the public.

Special.
"Breastfeeding is a special relationship." "Set up a special nursing corner." In or family, special meals take extra time. Special occasions mean extra work. Special is nice, but it is complicated, it is not an ongoing part of life, and it is not something we want to do very often. For most women, nursing must fit easily into a busy life--and, of course, it does. "Special" is weaning advice, not breastfeeding advice.

Breastfeeding is best; artificial milk is second best.
Not according to the World Health Organization. Its hierarchy is: 1) breastfeeding; 2) the mother's own milk expressed and given to her child some other way; 3) the milk of another human mother; and 4) artificial milk feeds (4). We need to keep this clear in our own minds and make it clear to others. "The next best thing to mother herself" comes from a breast, not from a can. The free sample perched so enticingly on the shelf at the doctor's office is only the fourth best solution to breastfeeding problems.

There is a need for standard formula in some situations. Only because we do not have human milk banks. The person who needs additional blood does not turn to a fourth-rate substitute; there are blood banks that provide human blood for human beings. He does not need to have a special illness to qualify. All he needs is a personal shortage of blood. Yet only those infants who cannot tolerate fourth best are privileged enough to receive third best. I wonder what will happen when a relatively inexpensive commercial blood is designed that carries a substantially higher health risk than donor blood. Who will be considered unimportant enough to receive it? When we find ourselves using artificial milk with a client, let's remind her and her health care providers that banked human milk ought to be available. Milk banks are more likely to become part of our culture if they first become part of our language.

We do not want to make bottlefeeding mothers feel guilty.
Guilt is a concept that many women embrace automatically, even when they know that circumstances are truly beyond their control. (My mother has been known to apologize for the weather.)

Women's (nearly) automatic assumption of guilt is evident in their responses to this scenario: Suppose you have taken a class in aerodynamics. You have also seen pilots fly planes. Now, imagine that you are the passenger in a two-seat plane. The pilot has a heart attack, and it is up to you to fly the plane. You crash. Do you feel guilty?

The males I asked responded, "No. Knowing about aerodynamics doesn't mean you can fly an airplane." "No, because I would have done my best." "No. I might feel really bad about the plane and pilot, but I wouldn't feel guilty." "No. Planes are complicated to fly, even if you've seen someone do it." What did the females say? "I wouldn't feel guilty about the plane, but I might about the pilot because there was a slight chance that I could have managed to land that plane." "Yes, because I'm very hard on myself about my mistakes. Feeling bad and feeling guilty are all mixed up for me." "Yes, I mean, of course. I know I shouldn't, but I probably would." "Did I kill someone else? If I didn't kill anyone else, then I don't feel guilty." Note the phrases "my mistakes," "I know I shouldn't," and "Did I kill anyone?" for an event over which these women would have had no control!

The mother who opts not to breastfeed, or who does not do so as long as she planned, is doing the best she can with the resources at hand. She may have had the standard "breast is best" spiel (the course in aerodynamics) and she may have seen a few mothers nursing at the mall (like watching the pilot on the plane's overhead screen). That is clearly not enough information or training. But she may still feel guilty. She's female.

Most of us have seen well-informed mothers struggle unsuccessfully to establish breastfeeding, and turn to bottlefeeding with a sense of acceptance because they know they did their best. And we have seen less well-informed mothers later rage against a system that did not give them the resources they later discovered they needed. Help a mother who says she feels guilty to analyze her feelings, and you may uncover a very different emotion. Someone long ago handed these mothers the word "guilt." It is the wrong word.

Try this on: You have been crippled in a serious accident. Your physicians and physical therapists explain that learning to walk again would involve months of extremely painful and difficult work with no guarantee of success. They help you adjust to life in a wheelchair, and support you through the difficulties that result. Twenty years later, when your legs have withered beyond all hope, you meet someone whose accident matched your own. "It was difficult," she says. "It was three months of sheer hell. But I've been walking every since." Would you feel guilty?

Women to whom I posed this scenario told me they would feel angry, betrayed, cheated. They would wish they could do it over with better information. They would feel regret for opportunities lost. Some of the women said they would feel guilty for not having sought out more opinions, for not having persevered in the absence of information and support. But gender-engendered guilt aside, we do not feel guilty about having been deprived of a pleasure. The mother who does not breastfeed impairs her own health, increases the difficulty and expense of infant and child rearing, and dismisses one of life's most delightful relationships. She has lost something basic to her own well-being. What image of the satisfactions of breastfeeding do we convey when we use the word "guilt"?

Let's rephrase, using the words women themselves gave me: "We don't want to make bottlefeeding mothers feel angry. We don't want to make them feel betrayed. We don't want to make them feel cheated." Peel back the layered implications of "we don't want to make them feel guilty," and you will find a system trying to cover its own tracks. It is not trying to protect her. It is trying to protect itself. Let's level with mothers, support them when breastfeeding doesn't work, and help them move beyond this inaccurate and ineffective word.

Pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages.
Breastfeeding is a straight-forward health issue, not one of two equivalent choices. "One disadvantage of not smoking is that you are more likely to find secondhand smoke annoying. One advantage of smoking is that it can contribute to weight loss." The real issue is differential morbidity and mortality. The rest--whether we are talking about tobacco or commercial baby milks--is just smoke.

One maternity center uses a "balanced" approach on an "infant feeding preference card" (5) that lists odorless stools and a return of the uterus to its normal size on the five lines of breastfeeding advantages. (Does this mean the bottlefeeding mother's uterus never returns to normal?) Leaking breasts and an inability to see how much the baby is getting are included on the four lines of disadvantages. A formula-feeding advantage is that some mothers find it "less inhibiting and embarrassing." The maternity facility reported good acceptance by the pediatric medical staff and no marked change in the rates of breastfeeding or bottlefeeding. That is not surprising. The information is not substantially different from the "balanced" lists that the artificial milk salesmen have peddled for years. It is probably an even better sales pitch because it now carries very clear hospital endorsement. "Fully informed," the mother now feels confident making a life-long health decision based on relative diaper smells and the amount of skin that shows during feedings.

Why do the commercial baby milk companies offer pro and con lists that acknowledge some of their product's shortcomings? Because any "balanced" approach that is presented in a heavily biased culture automatically supports the bias. If A and B are nearly equivalent, and if more than 90% of mothers ultimately choose B, as mothers in the United States do (according to an unpublished 1992 Mothers' Survey by Ross Laboratories that indicated fewer than 10% of U.S. mothers nursing at a year), it makes sense to follow the majority. If there were an important difference, surely the health profession would make a point of staying out of the decision-making process. It is the parents' choice to make. True. But deliberately stepping out of the process implies that the "balanced" list was accurate. In a recent issue of Parenting magazine, a pediatrician comments, "When I first visit a new mother in the hospital, I ask, 'Are you breastfeeding or bottlefeeding?' If she says she is going to bottlefeed, I nod and move on to my next questions. Supporting new parents means supporting them in whatever choices they make; you don't march in postpartum and tell someone she's making a terrible mistake, depriving herself and her child." (6)

Yet if a woman announced to her doctor, midway through a routine physical examination, that she took up smoking a few days earlier, the physician would make sure she understood the hazards, reasoning that now was the easiest time for her to change her mind. It is hypocritical and irresponsible to take a clear position on smoking and "let parents decide" about breastfeeding without first making sure of their information base. Life choices are always the individual's to make. That does not mean his or her information sources should be mute, nor that the parents who opt for bottlefeeding should be denied information that might prompt a different decision with a subsequent child.

Breastfeeding.
Most other mammals never even see their own milk, and I doubt that any other mammalian mother deliberately "feeds" her young by basing her nursing intervals on what she infers the baby's hunger level to be. Nursing quiets her young and no doubt feels good. We are the only mammal that consciously uses nursing to transfer calories...and we're the only mammal that has chronic trouble making that transfer.

Women may say they "breastfed" for three months, but they usually say they "nursed" for three years. Easy, long-term breastfeeding involves forgetting about the "breast" and the "feeding" (and the duration, and the interval, and the transmission of the right nutrients in the right amounts, and the difference between nutritive and non-nutritive suckling needs, all of which form the focus of artificial milk pamphlets) and focusing instead on the relationship. Let's all tell mothers that we hope they won't "breastfeed"--that the real joys and satisfactions of the experience begin when they stop "breastfeeding" and start mothering at the breast.

All of us within the profession want breastfeeding to be our biological reference point. We want it to be the cultural norm; we want human milk to be made available to all human babies, regardless of other circumstances. A vital first step toward achieving those goals is within immediate reach of every one of us. All we have to do is...watch our language.

If you found this article of interest, you may desire to ensure you regularly receive your own copy of the Journal of Human Lactation(JHL). Taking out membership in the International Lactation Consultant Association(ILCA)includes the benefit of four issues of the JHL a year. See www.ilca.org for how to join.

Reprinted from the Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1996

References: 1. Olds D. L., Henderson, C. R. Tatelbaum, R.: Intellectual impairment in children of women who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy. Pediatrics 1994; 93:221-27.2. Lucas, A., Morley, R., Cole, T.J., Lister, G., Leeson-Payne, C.: Breast milk and subsequent intelligence quotient in children born preterm. Lancet 1992; 339 (8788): 261-64. 3. Fruedenheim, J.L., Graham, S., Laughlin, R., Vena, J.E., Bandera, E., et al: Exposure to breastmilk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer. Epidemiology 1994, 5:324-30. 4. UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO: Facts for Life: A Communication Challenge. New York: UNICEF 1989; p. 20. 5. Bowles, B.B., Leache, J., Starr, S., Foster, M.: Infant feeding preferences card. J Hum Lact 1993; 9: 256-58. 6. Klass, P.: Decent exposure. Parenting (May) 1994; 98-104. to kayhh's Breastfeeding page

Parenting Advice: Straight from the Mamas Mouth

2012-03-11T13:56:00.008+13:00

You can read all the parenting books you like, but sometimes the best advice is from real mothers with experience. I asked my friends and members of Facebook pages I'm involved in what advice they had for other mothers, some of the best are listed here below. Have you got any advice you'd like to pass on?

Never listen to Comparison Parents. Don't listen to those parents who tell you, "well at that age my child was already doing this". All children are different and you will go insane thinking your child isn't developing fast enough. You know your child. They'll do their thing in their own time. No need to have a pissing contest, because no one really wins those.

Every kid develops at their own pace. Don't try to make them advance when they aren't ready, just because someone elses kid is doing something new. Don't even compare your kids to each other.

Kids have their own personalities. Embrace them instead of trying to make them conform to a "norm".

While a parent shouldn't stress if their kid is doing things slower than others, a parent should listen to their gut if they think something's wrong or "off" with those delays. I knew something was off with Corbin since he was first born but I let other's convince me he was fine. Now, he's needing therapy in 4 areas. I should have listened to my mommy senses. I guess that's my advice… when your mommy senses tingle... listen.

That's the best advice, I think: Trust yourself. Always, always trust your gut and trust your baby, (s)he knows what (s)he needs. Trust your body and your baby and go with your gut even if everyone else is telling you something else! I always wished I wouldn't have listened to anyone else.

Expect the unexpected and let go of your preconcieved ideas of how you thought everything would work. Do not get too hung up on how you THOUGHT everything was going to be or how you were going to do things. It's great to be prepared and have a good idea of what you'd like to do, but kids are still people with their own minds and preferences and just because you wanted to cosleep or babywear doesn't mean they're going to cooperate if they don't like it.

Don't waste time reading a million parenting books, just do what feels right. Authors just want to make money, and babes really just want their moms/dads. (I don't mean don't research the important stuff, like vaccines and circumcision, etc). Learn the art of being assertive so you don't get too much unwanted advice. HA!

Don't bother getting into debates, it's not worth it, do your research.

Don't believe hyped up parenting articles in the media. The media will over dramatize and spin any piece of info they get their hands on (whether parenting related or not). Do your own research, investigate the sources, read the studies or info yourself, and form your own opinion.

Be truly informed on all of those big decisions. My biggest regrets come from wishing I knew the things I know now. Not a lot of people know about delayed cord clamping, amber teething necklaces, and of course the big decisions like BFing and all of that stuff. I was just thinking about that today.

I wish I had been better educated about breastfeeding. I thought I knew enough but when I was faced with a low supply I had no idea what to do. My mom nursed my brother and I for about 4 years total so it never registered I wouldn't be able to as well. I wish I never would have let the nurse in the hospital coax me into giving some formula. I know she meant well especially since she gave me an SNS to do it but I should have trusted my body and just nursed every 20 min if that's what it took. I wish I would have know BF babies gain slowly and weigh less generally and not believe my former pedi when she said I needed to supplement after every feeding.

The time you invest in on demand breastfeeding in the first few weeks is time well spent on building your supply longterm.

Eat more than you think you need when you start nursing.

Always have a cup of water by you when you sit down to nurse.

I really wish someone would have recognized that I had PPD symptoms so I could have enjoyed those first months.

Take help if it's offered by people you trust. It's okay to accept help when you bring your baby home. I wanted everyone to go away because I felt like I wasn't good enough if I accepted help. When the second came along, everyone was too busy when I really did want the help.

Have an on call support system that is willing to be there 24/7 if a partner is not. One single phone call of venting will save your sanity. I promise!

Get your church or your friends or parents to cook you a few meals and bring them round to your house ready and complete a few nights in your first few weeks with a new born. It's a life saver to have a nice meal you can both enjoy at the end of a chaotic day. Organise that for friends who are having babies in return. At our church we do that for the first two weeks every evening for EVERY new family regardless if it's first baby or third!

Freeze enough meals to last the first couple of weeks. Homemade frozen pizzas, hot dishes, even fruits and vegetables.

Stay in your bed for the first few weeks. Although I didn't do it, I look back now and wished I had. I didn't know about growth spurts like I do now. I can promise with my next baby, every single time I hear a wimper, they will get the breast ;-).

Don't make your house perfectly quiet when baby sleep or he/she will always have to be perfectly quiet when sleeping!

My first few months were saved by A SOUND MACHINE AND SWADDLING till she was almost 6 months. She didn't fit the swaddles anymore and refused it. She was a huge reflux baby. It was so hard. But her Rock and play saved our ass til she was 10 months.

Sleep when your baby sleeps or you'll get nothing.

I wish I'd understood that co-sleeping was safe and that it was way more dangerous to try and sit up feeding my son three times a night. I wish I would have left her in our bed, I used to ball because she didn't want to sleep alone and I worried about co-sleeping being unsafe.

Don't bother buying crib sheet sets. You end up using a fitted sheet and swaddling blanket or lightly blanketing the baby. Those EXPENSIVE sets are a waste!

Teething tablets...saved our lives!

Kiddie-lock every cupboard, room or door that contains non-kid stuff.

Rearranging the house entirely so everything is out of reach of little hand, it will keep you from nagging when they're too little to understand that they're doing anything wrong or could get hurt.

Kiss the battery covers from your remote controls goodbye. Also, kiss your remote controls goodbye.

Have a pack or two of wipes in every room, every crevice, everywhere. Kids are sticky...very, very sticky. You will need a "preparing for possible nuclear armageddon" quantity of baby wipes.

Get used to poop… quick.

Buy dark or patterned clothing for kids, especially boys. Whether it's food, drink, dribble, spit up, dirt, grass stains, pee or poop, your kids clothes are going to take a beating and stains are inevitable.

Make sure you put a plastic protector over your childs mattress as soon as you buy it. Add one for your bed too unless you KNOW you can keep your kids out of it. All the kid beds in this house have mattress protectors so guess which one has the big old pee stain in it.

Splurge and get the stain guard on that new couch you bought before you had kids.

Accept that you don't get to have nice things right now. I'm hoping we can own a couch that hasn't been peed on in maybe 4 or 5 more years.

Buy a house with wooden flooring rather than carpet, babies and kids are VERY messy, they'll spit-up, throw food, trod mud, pee and poo on the floor, and a wooden or tiled floor is a lot easier to clean than carpet. Not to mention dust mites that live in carpet can irritate kids allergies.

Make sure you own a handheld vacuum! I never owned one before and it never occurred to me to get one until my boy started walking. Walking + finger foods = random piles of crumbs in the oddest of places. Why pull out the big vacuum for 1 little patch of madness? It's the greatest purchase I've made as a parent.

You can never have enough bibs! They are always useful!

Forget the little "burp cloths", invest in receiving blankets, LOTs of receiving blankets! We used them for EVERYTHING except wrapping the baby...:-)

Those battery power snot sucker things are one of few examples of frivolous gadgets that are actually pretty awesome.

Always bring at least one change of clothes for the little one (even if they're potty trained).

Consignment stores / hand-me-downs are your friends! Young kids clothes do not wear out, and most things aren't worth full price when they only wear them for 3 months tops (or about 6 times an outfit). Not counting receiving blankets, they are worth their weight in gold!

Cut your baby's or children's fingernails when they're asleep.

Take quiet activities for your kids when you go places that your kids will be expected to be quiet and semi-still (like restaurants).

If you pick a toy for your kid, make sure you can stand the music/voice/whatever. If it's a gift and you can't handle the noise, make the batteries disappear.

Choose your battles carefully! With small children - no reasonable request refused!

Don't freak out over every little thing your child does. Three rules for your child can suffice; respect yourself, respect others, and respect possessions. Chances are, if it's not breaking one of those 3 rules, it's really not that big of a deal.

To cut down on the toddler 'NO!s' don't let 'no' be an option. Don't dictate to your children, give them options. Peas or carrots? Boots or Tennis shoes? Brush your teeth in the kitchen or the bathroom? This piece of advice is definitely the all time best piece of advice I've gotten.

Always have some way to reach snack/meal. I made my own baby food, but used organic biscuits and healthy stuff to placate them until they got food.

The book 'Super Baby Food' was a lifesaver. I made so many great meals because of that book. I kind of credit it for my kids loving vegetables. A warning: no one should ever be as anal retentive as the author, unless it has to do with our ANUS.

I wish I would have known that making baby food was not only healthier, but cheaper in the long run.

Add an hour onto the amount of time you'll need to get ready. If you have to be anywhere at a certain time, think of how much time you need to get ready....then add an hour to that and you'll get there on time.

Don't buy everything people tell you that you need.

Take more pictures than you could ever think of. Not just pictures but videos too!!

Don't feel bad about the crappy days (they will happen). Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start. WE ARE NOT PERFECT. No parent is.

It's okay to just not like your kids sometimes or even entertain the brief fantasy of running away or leaving them somewhere. You're not a bad parent unless you actually act on it.

Space your pregnancies at least 3 years apart. We ended up with 3 boys 1 ½ years apart each, and it's chaos! For your own sanity space pregnancies apart at a manageable level.

Try to enjoy your babies, they won't be little very long! No matter how hard it is just remember "this too shall pass" and it will, QUICKLY!

Don't keep your kid isolated from the world when they're babies, kids need exposure to the world and other people.

You don't have to entertain or occupy your child at all times. Giving them independent play time is important for their development AND your sanity!

Take time off from your kids. Let the grandparents or friends take your kid if they offer. Your child will be fine.

Have Nana (or another major caregiver) look after baby once a week or more just for a few hours, right from birth. We did this with our first born Alex, and he developed such a strong, close relationship with his Nana, was very comfortable as baby going to her house, and as he got older pined to go stay with her. Make it a routine though, the same everytime, babies love a routine where they know what'll happen next. If you want to increase the hours they stay with their caregiver do so slowly, gradually increasing the length they stay by the hour.

Talk to your parents before baby is born and set boundaries! Be firm about visitor guidelines.

Your spouse/significant other can do things differently than you and it will not harm the baby. Just because you feed/burp/change the baby a certain way does not mean that is the only way to do it. If you insist on stepping in every time to "correct" what s/he is doing you are either going to quickly find yourself without any help or (as in my case) get a "talking to" about being a little less of a control freak.

Just because your friends parent differently or have different rules, does not mean you need to step in and correct them (unless they are truly being negligent and/or abusive). I had a friend tell me I was doing everything wrong everytime I saw her, and that I needed to have kids when she said I needed to have kids.

If one parent feels EXTREMELY passionate about something safety related, the other parent pretty much concedes. ie: in my husbands family, it's tradition to get a photo of the grandpa with the infant 'standing' on his hand, arm outstretched. Since we all know how good 5 or 6 month old babies are on their feet, I said that was NOT happening with my kids. I had to tell them no so many times and still caught my FIL trying it once. I said if he let go of her waist and went against my wishes, it would mean me losing trust for him and he would never get it back. He didn't let go. My husband talked to him about it again afterwards. They are stubborn, stubborn people. Hubby feels this way about infant ear piercing. Not until she is old enough to understand what it is and that it will hurt. Fine. No problem.

It's totally okay to try something and then decide it's not really for your family. We did cloth for a while, but different changes made it harder and harder for us to keep up with it.

For the dads: If you sit on your ass and watch the kids' mother struggle to feed, bathe, put to bed as the house devolves into an indoor landfill, don't turn to her at the end of it and put the moves on her or ask if she's up for it. It ain't happening and you're lucky if you don't end up with a kick to the balls.

No birth control!!! Use condoms instead. You don't need more hormones and crap going on afterward. You got enough going on.

Make a habit of reading to your kids right from birth. Feedings are an excellent time for reading. They don't care what you read. It can be a magazine, a cereal box, a children's book, or just whatever you are currently reading. They need to hear your voice and reading to them helps develop their early grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

Talk to your kids like they're actual human beings. Don't dumb down your language, please don't baby talk to them!

Let them make mistakes over and over again without doing it FOR them but being there with them guiding them. I am notorious for saying, "here, let me get that for you" for example, buttoning his pants, pouring juice, etc. And I saw Leslie mention it earlier, but the control freak is a big issue - if there is conflict in parenting styles there will be conflict in how the kiddo responds, and I know this first hand as well. 5 years into it, and I am just learning to not doubt my husband and "correct" him in front of our dude.

Apologize to your kids when you do something wrong. I don't know why, but I feel like this is important. It's a way of treating your kids with respect.

It is very important early on to teach your child a strong sense of self worth. Let them know that the only opinions about them that matter are those that come from within themselves.

When you look at your child, really SEE them. Look them in the eyes. Smile genuinely at them. It is easy for us to focus on managing our children instead of interacting with them. I'm not perfect at this but I try to remind myself of it daily.

Did you find this helpful? What advice do you have?

Increasing Milk Supply: Straight From the Mamas Mouth

2012-02-17T13:57:00.005+13:00

Very often women bring up low milk supply issues on Beautiful Breastfeedings Facebook page (Natural Mama NZs sister site). Mothers pour in with helpful advice, sharing what has worked for them personally. For me this is the best advice and it's one of crowning achievements of motherhood support pages on Facebook. Because supply issues keep coming up on Beautiful Breastfeeding and other motherhood pages I thought I'd collate some of the great advice shared through various threads into a blog post. Enjoy...

Increase suckling

Just keep constantly reminding your babe that s/he wants to nurse--offer, offer, offer. And you wouldn't have to pump every hour, just maybe a few times a day if there's really no nursing going on, to replace the missed feedings. Try finding a quiet room a couple times a day with little in the way of distractions to help keep the focus on your breasts, and also try wearing an eye-catching necklace that your babe can play with while nursing. Another thing is, if you co-sleep and can nurse all the night long, you'll keep your supply up. Then you have to manage getting enough sleep, but if you're able to sleep through the night time nursings you'll be in great shape.

Its supply and demand which is the best way. Night feeds are very important.

Offer breast for anything and everything.

Take a nursing vacation. Stay in bed for the weekend having skin to skin with the baby.

What's very important is that you get as much rest as you can and skin contact is very important. Let your husband take care of the household, crawl into bed with your baby, wear as little clothes as possible and just let your baby nurse as often as he/she would like. Do this for a couple of days and your milk supply should be 'in sync' with what your baby needs.

Babywearing works wonders too (I'm a big fan of ring slings). Bed-sharing is another great thing to do.

I'd suggest going to bed for a day and just feeding, babywearing topless for loads of skin to skin, and a pregnancy multi vitamin and loads of water.

Nurse on demand

If you are nursing on demand your milk will not stop unless there is a hormonal reason (new pregnancy, birth control pills), or unless you slow down/stop nursing. Is baby peeing and pooping? Sleeping and growing? Then things are fine.

Pumping

Number one way to increase supply is more stimulation. So, if you don't have time to pump every hour, try to add a few pumping sessions per day, right after you feed baby. Toss all your parts into a ziplock bag and toss in the fridge, then just wash once per day.

To increase supply, I pumped for 5-10 minutes after each feeding. This will stimulate your breasts to produce more milk. You can then feed the baby the pumped milk as extra if the baby is still hungry, or have your partner take a feeding for a break!

If you don't want to add extra pumping sessions you can nurse on one side and pump on the other. Then switch the pump when you switch the baby. This developed my supply so I could pump 12 ounces in a sitting to donate. Just do this twice a day.

I would pump and then as soon as the baby was done eating I pumped. I know a lot of breastfeeding "purists" discourage from pumping but I love to have a stash of breastmilk in the freezer, especially now that my 7 month old is eating cereal and I can mix the breastmilk with the cereal and if I need to run to the store alone my husband or parents can give the baby a bottle, since she WILL NOT take formula for anything.

I had a dip in supply when my daughter was 2 months (as well again around 8 months - she's 11 mo now). I started pumping one side while she nursed the other and fed in demand. At the 8 month mark I was back at work so I made sure I pumped at least 2x a day (as well as continued feeding on demand and bed sharing.) It's true about supply and demand - your body makes what your baby "demands".

Brewers Yeast

Brewers yeast helped me a ton! You can bake with it or sprinkle it on your food. Tastes a bit bitter but it's worth it to keep your supply up! Make sure you stay hydrated too.

I used to make a strawberry milkshake with Brewers Yeast, it helped almost immediately.

Brewers yeast made a HUGE difference for me! 1-2 Tbsp in a glass of orange juice was what I found most palatable.

Fenugreek and other herbs

I took Fenugreek (got it at GNC), and it worked within a couple of days. It made it to where I didn't have to supplement with formula, and I was so happy!

I've had success with fenugreek.

Basil, fenugreek, water... Avoid tea, coffee, mint, sage... and maybe one or two days only nursing skin to skin.

Blessed thistle and fenugreek.

Fenugreek works for me too, 2 capsules 3 x a day.

Keep in mind that you CANNOT take Fenugreek while pregnant, and Domperidone is contraindicated, too. I was referred to a company, Motherlove, that makes things that help supply, and the More Milk Two product is good for lactating pregnany moms. I have found that it has REALLY helped my supply since I got it on Monday. You can get it cheaper thru Amazon, and if you have Prime, shipping is free.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal always amped up my supply, but really, the only way to increase output is to nurse more.

I never had a supply issue but I ate oatmeal everyday like it was my job, lol!

Eat oatmeal, drink lots of water, actually nurse baby as much as possible and believe in yourself!

Big bowl of oatmeal topped with maple syrup.

Here's what has worked for me: steel-cut oats in the morning, granola for snacks later -- as much oats as you can stand.

Beer?

My lactation consultant said that if I know I have at least an hr then to drink a beer. Full of yeast I guess! Anyway pizza and beer at his longest nap and I was full and almost hurting by the time he'd wake up!

Dr sears say drinking non- alcoholic beer helps.

ONE Guinness or other low-alcohol content DARK beer (imported is best, or so I've heard) in the evening before nursing (or pumping) -- per my midwife, this is okay. They actually PRESCRIBE Guinness in the UK for milk supply, pregnant or not.

While it is safe to consume in reasonable amounts, alcohol does not actually increase supply.
http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/

Lactation Cookies

Lactation cookies you can go on http://www.whattoexpect.com and search it.

Lactation cookies are a good way to bump up your supply... you use brewers yeast.

Best lactation cookies, here you go: http://www.drmomma.org/2010/08/major-milk-makin-lactation-cookies.html

I made lactation cookies, with oats, nuts, flax, craisins, and a bottle of beer I boiled down with honey (makes it thick and boils out the alcohol). So good and really helped me out.

Drink lots of water

Drink loads of water and try feeding little bits more often.

Drinking water and eating all day is also very important. Snack healthy: fruits, nuts, cheese...

Don't stress and get lots of sleep

Don't stress too much that will drop your supply.

Drink plenty of water and relax, stress never helps.

Get as much rest as you can and try not to stress.

Get lots of sleep and nap nurse as often as possible.

Take note of growth spurts

It may be the perfect time for a classic growth spurt age, where baby wants to nurse almost continuously for about 48 hours, acting like he is starving the whole time. Then, suddenly will go back to normal once he has doubled your supply by adding so much demand, and he'll suddenly grow.

Are you positive its slowing? Breastfed babies tend to feed a LOT with the growth spurt, and the amount you express isn't always a sign of supply.

Remember you aren't going to pump as much after he is done eating cause he is getting a good amount out.

My baby seemed very unsatisfied between 7 and 8 weeks, but he was still growing and had plenty of wet diapers. So we pushed through it, although I took a pumping break, and then things settled down quite a bit!

Soft breasts don't always mean low milk supply

Drying up out of the blue is pretty rare. If baby is draining you properly, your breasts *should* be soft and not engorged. Engorgement means your supply has nowhere to go. Soft boobs = ample supply.

If your breasts aren't enlarged it doesn't mean you are losing supply.... its supply and demand... if your son is getting full at every feeding then your making enough.

Take note of your menstrual cycle

It is normal in times of illness or menses to see a drop in production. Nourish yourself well and rest plenty.

I noticed a drop with my first cycle post partum (which was at 11 months pp). Every other cycle since hasn't caused such a drop. We are now at 14 months EBF.

I always have lower milk during / leading up to my period.

‎1000 mg of calcium and 500 magnesium help hormonal dips.

I take an extra calcium magnesium supplement during my period for this reason.

Check for Thyroid Disease

Something similar happened with my first and I found out much later that I had thyroid disease. My suggestion would be to check for an underlying health issue.

Check for Anemia

I barely had any milk at all with my youngest, and nobody could tell me why. After she self weaned at 10 months (we supplemented every day), someone finally said to me, "are you anemic?" yup. Just a thought, but maybe try some iron.

Prescription Medication

Domperidone is supposed to help greatly to increase milk supply. Here is a link with some info: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/domperidone.shtml

You can get a prescription for motillium/domperidone to boost supply.

Motilium!! (Domperidone) Doubled my sis in laws milk supply! But you have to get it from canada or something. But worth it not to stress!

I have been on domperidone for 11 months...it saved my breastfeeding...no side effects.

Helpful websites

Check out Dr. Jack Newman's website. He is breastfeeding guru in Canada, and has tons of great info on everything from increasing your milk supply to thrush.

Don't forget KellyMom.com!

Call the professionals

Call La Leche League for advice.

Facebook's Misogyny Needs to End Now

2011-11-30T09:32:00.002+13:00

Facebook censorship of breastfeeding photos has been a long standing issue with hundreds of photos being removed over the years Facebook has been active, along with entire pages and profiles removed, many had thousands of followers. The site 'Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding is not Obscene' has been created to document many of the photos removed, though this is said to be a fraction of what may have been removed over the years.

Beautiful Breastfeedings Facebook page has recently come under fire from FB censors, who warned that the breastfeeding photos used on the page were "sexually inappropriate". Eight photos were removed and the page administrator banned for a short period of time. Facebook censors warned that if any more photos were reported, the page would be removed.

Like the Beautiful Breastfeeding blog, the FB page is filled with hundreds of beautiful photos and artworks of breastfeeding women and animals from around the world. Below are a sample of the photos removed.

These photos are not 'sexually inappropriate', these women are feeding their children, not performing a sexual act, or provoking sex. Lets remember too that breastfeeding is the most important evolutionary purpose of breasts, and standards for dress are different all around the world. Facebook argues that these photos are classed as 'nudity'. Why then are mens chests not classified as nudity, why are women singled out, particularly when women need to use their breasts so often to breastfeed their children? Logically womens breasts should remain bare, free to feed children as often as required. And in many countries they are, as evidenced in the above photos. So why not us here in Western countries?

In Western societies breasts have become a sexual icon, womens breasts have been 'fetishized', prompting women to cover their breasts so they don't appear sexually provocative. Is this fair? Shall we expect all women to cover their feet as well so we don't get potential foot fetishists all hot and bothered? No we don't cater to foot fetishists. So should we cater to breast fetishists? Many of our men have been taught that it's OK to oggle at breasts, it's OK to plaster pictures of breasts on their walls, they've been taught that objectifying breasts to the point of obsession is OK. This breast obsessed culture has been hundreds, if not thousands of years in the making. But it's not OK.

Let's get one thing clear, this is not about prudishness, this is about respect and fairness. All of us, men and women, need to respect a womans body, it's not fair to make a woman feel objectified, judged or embarrassed of an essential body part that she may one day use as a necessary tool to feed her child. The price of sexualizing breasts has been the inhibition to breastfeed. As a society our priorities are revealed by the fact we have put sexual gratification above the needs of women to breastfeed their children. We are content to perpetuate a breast obsession, while women feel too inhibited to breastfeed and children go without breastmilk.

No, this is NOT OK. The only way it will end is when we, both men and women, stand up and refuse to participate in the objectification of womens breasts; when we create nudity laws that treat men and women equally; when we as a society respect and embrace the necessity of breastfeeding.

I'm asking you to join us in changing our society, so we can free women from this objectification. Please share this blog post or write your own on the issue, or send an email to Facebook administrators, telling them their misogyny needs to end now. Tell them breastfeeding is not 'sexually provocative', tell them bare breasts are not 'nudity' just as a mans chest is not classed as 'nudity' either.

One of our goals is to change Facebook policy, to allow all breastfeeding photos to be exempt from removal for reasons of being 'sexually inappropriate' or 'nudity'. So please join us in bombarding FB administrators with your disapproval of current FB policy that discriminates against breastfeeding women.

Mark Zuckerbergs official FB profile where you can send him a private message (he is the founder and chief executive at FB):
http://www.facebook.com/zuck

Chris Cox FB profile where you can send him a private message (he is the vice president of product at FB):
http://www.facebook.com/chris.cox

Facebooks official FB HQ page where you can comment:
http://www.facebook.com/facebookhq?sk=wall&filter=2

You can also sign a petition to exempt non-sexual breastfeeding images on Facebook from removal for nudity:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protect-breastfeeding-on-fb/

And another petition to stop removing breastfeeding support pages and pictures:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-facebook-to-stop-removing-breastfeeding-support-pages-and-pictures

This is the message I've sent to Facebook, feel free to copy, paste and send (insert your own name):

Dear Mark / Chris / Facebook Censors,

Are you aware of the misogyny and female discrimination that goes on within your company? Photos of breastfeeding women are constantly being removed from FB, being labeled by your staff as "sexually inappropriate" and "nudity". US federal law states that breastfeeding, in whatever fashion, is NOT classified as nudity. I implore you to please align FB policy with US federal law and exempt breastfeeding photos on FB from classification as nudity. Breastfeeding is in no way sexual, it is how all mammals feed their young. Breastfeeding mothers have a hard enough time establishing and maintaining breastfeeding, without having to deal with judgment and condemnation from their community. Please help our breastfeeding moms and show that you are supportive of them by allowing their lovely photos breastfeeding their children, that they are so proud of, to be allowed on FB.

Sincerely,
Cherie
Beautiful Breastfeeding

The Rights of Childbearing Women

2011-11-24T10:43:00.001+13:00

It's not uncommon to hear nasty stories from mothers who had their birthing rights violated (and often don't even know it). Whether it be a medical professional who performed an episiotomy after being expressly told by the birthing mother she did not want one, a medical professional who never informed the birthing mother of the risks and consequences of a certain procedure, or the birthing mother being restricted from food or movement during labor by a medical professional. It's clear that in some situations unless you know your rights and are determined to enforce them, your rights as a birthing mother will be violated.

Below is a list of birthing rights from The Birthing Connection website, where a PDF version is available for download.

* At this time in the United States, childbearing women are legally entitled to those rights.
** The legal system would probably uphold those rights.

Every woman has the right to health care before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth.
Every woman and infant has the right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks.* Practices that have been found to be safe and beneficial should be used when indicated. Harmful, ineffective or unnecessary practices should be avoided. Unproven interventions should be used only in the context of research to evaluate their effects.
Every woman has the right to choose a midwife or a physician as her maternity care provider. Both caregivers skilled in normal childbearing and caregivers skilled in complications are needed to ensure quality care for all.
Every woman has the right to choose her birth setting from the full range of safe options available in her community, on the basis of complete, objective information about benefits, risks and costs of these options.*
Every woman has the right to receive all or most of her maternity care from a single caregiver or a small group of caregivers, with whom she can establish a relationship. Every woman has the right to leave her maternity caregiver and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care.* (Only second sentence is a legal right.)
Every woman has the right to information about the professional identity and qualifications of those involved with her care, and to know when those involved are trainees.*
Every woman has the right to communicate with caregivers and receive all care in privacy, which may involve excluding nonessential personnel. She also has the right to have all personal information treated according to standards of confidentiality.*
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that identifies and addresses social and behavioral factors that affect her health and that of her baby.** She should receive information to help her take the best care of herself and her baby and have access to social services and behavioral change programs that could contribute to their health.
Every woman has the right to full and clear information about benefits, risks and costs of the procedures, drugs, tests and treatments offered to her, and of all other reasonable options, including no intervention.* She should receive this information about all interventions that are likely to be offered during labor and birth well before the onset of labor.
Every woman has the right to accept or refuse procedures, drugs, tests and treatments, and to have her choices honored. She has the right to change her mind.* (Please note that this established legal right has been challenged in a number of recent cases.)
Every woman has the right to be informed if her caregivers wish to enroll her or her infant in a research study. She should receive full information about all known and possible benefits and risks of participation; and she has the right to decide whether to participate, free from coercion and without negative consequences.*
Every woman has the right to unrestricted access to all available records about her pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum care and infant; to obtain a full copy of these records; and to receive help in understanding them, if necessary.*
Every woman has the right to receive maternity care that is appropriate to her cultural and religious background, and to receive information in a language in which she can communicate.*
Every woman has the right to have family members and friends of her choice present during all aspects of her maternity care.**
Every woman has the right to receive continuous social, emotional and physical support during labor and birth from a caregiver who has been trained in labor support.**
Every woman has the right to receive full advance information about risks and benefits of all reasonably available methods for relieving pain during labor and birth, including methods that do not require the use of drugs. She has the right to choose which methods will be used and to change her mind at any time.*
Every woman has the right to freedom of movement during labor, unencumbered by tubes, wires or other apparatus. She also has the right to give birth in the position of her choice.*
Every woman has the right to virtually uninterrupted contact with her newborn from the moment of birth, as long as she and her baby are healthy and do not need care that requires separation.**
Every woman has the right to receive complete information about the benefits of breastfeeding well in advance of labor, to refuse supplemental bottles and other actions that interfere with breastfeeding, and to have access to skilled lactation support for as long as she chooses to breastfeed.*
Every woman has the right to decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home, based on their conditions and circumstances.**

Copyright 1999, 2006 Childbirth Connection

Our Sources
The following sources, in their present or earlier editions, helped guide the development of this statement of rights:

American Hospital Association. The Patient Care Partnership: Understanding Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities, 2003.

Annas, G..J. A national bill of patients' rights. New England Journal of Medicine 1998;338(10):695-699.

Annas, G. J. The Rights of Patients: The Authoritative ACLU Guide to the Rights of Patients, third edition. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2004.

The Boston Women's Health Book Collective. Sections on "Childbearing" and "Knowledge is Power." In: Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005;417-524, 699-758.

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS). The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative, 1996.

Enkin, M., Keirse, M. J. N. C., Neilson J., Crowther, C., Duley, L., Hodnett, E. and Hofmeyr, J. A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth, third edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

International Childbirth Education Association, Inc. The Pregnant Patient's Bill of Rights. Minneapolis: ICEA, 1975.

President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. Appendix A: Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. In its Quality First: Better Health Care for All Americans.

United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

Thank you to George Annas, professor and chair of Health Law at the Boston University School of Public Health, for clarifying the legal status of the individual rights.
Most recent page update: 11/21/2011
Related Links
Informed Consent, Informed Refusal
© 2011 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.

Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families.

Childhood Vaccination: Aluminum

2011-11-11T13:38:00.003+13:00

Aluminium Hydroxide

Aluminum is a metal used in small quantities in childhood and adult vaccines, usually in the form of Aluminium phosphate or Aluminium hydroxide. Aluminum's role in vaccination is to be an adjuvant - a substance that stimulates the immune system to react.

"The success of aluminium as a vaccine adjuvant is due to its potent stimulatory eﬀects on the immune system. In fact, with the exception of attenuated viruses (eg. MMR), in the absence of aluminium most antigenic compounds (eg. viral or bacterial compounds used in vaccines) fail to launch an adequate immune response, suggesting that a signiﬁcant part of the immuno-stimulatory eﬀects of vaccines may be driven by the aluminium adjuvant itself." - Tomljenovic et al 2012 [1]

"The use of adjuvants enables the use of less antigen (eg. viral or bacterial compounds) to achieve the desired immune response, and this reduces vaccine production costs. With a few exceptions, adjuvants are foreign to the body and cause adverse reactions." - Scheibner 2000 [2]

Aluminum is not a 'safe' substance
Despite Aluminum being one of the most abundant metals on earth, Aluminum is by no means 'safe'.

"Aluminum is an 'excitotoxin', a substance that damages neurons". - Bernardo et al 2012 [3] (Excitotoxins bind to certain receptors and may cause neuron cell death. [4])

"Excitotoxicity may be involved in spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss (through noise overexposure or ototoxicity) and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such asmultiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, alcoholismor alcohol withdrawal and Huntington's disease."[5]

"We emphasize the DNA damaging potential by aluminium. Aluminium acts as a pro-oxidant in the cells. Aluminium induces DNA damage in the human peripheral blood lymphocytes (a type of immune cell) at a concentration of 10 mcg/ml". - Bharathi et al 2008 [6] (The Infanrix-hexa vaccine contains an aluminium concentration of 1640 mcg/ml, surpassing the threshold for DNA damage 164 times over) [7]

"Aluminum in various forms can be toxic to the nervous system. The widespread presence in the human environment may underlie a number of central nervous system disorders. The continued use of aluminum adjuvants in various vaccines for children as well as the general public may be of significant concern. In particular, aluminum presented in this form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences." - Tomljenovic et al 2011 [8]

"Aluminum was determined to stand out among all the ions studied for its remarkable ability to induce reactive oxygen species (which promotes cell death), even compared with mercury and lead. Aluminum induced a response that was a factor of seven higher than that of mercury and a factor of three higher than that of lead. Since aluminum is a known neurotoxin, there is no safe level. The central nervous system is particularly susceptible to the deleterious effects of aluminum." - Seneff et al 2012 [9]

Aluminum has been used numerous times in past scientific experiments with animals (monkeys, rabbits, and cats) specifically to induce chronic epileptic seizures (Rogozea et al 1976; Wyler et al 1978; David 1982; Bostantjopoulou et al 1990). [10-13]

Symptoms of Aluminum toxicity

Musculoskeletal disorders - Muscle pain and weakness, macrophagic myofasciitis (pain and inflammation of muscles). Bone pain and weakness, premature osteoporosis (thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density), arthritis, fractures (particularly of the ribs and pelvis), bone deformity - due to the increased rate of growth and remodeling usually involving the epiphyseal plates (ie, femur, wrist), thoracic (rib) cage abnormalities, lumbar scoliosis (curving of the spine sideways), kyphosis (curving of the spine leading to a hunchback), rickets (softening of bone leading to bone deformities), craniosynostosis (premature ossification of the skull and obliteration of the sutures in infants).
Neurological disorders - Encephalitis (acute inflammation of the brain), dementia (loss of brain function affecting memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior), difficulty learning, inability to concentrate, lack of co-ordination, confusion, disorientation, extreme nervousness, speech impairment, mutism (in infants and children), seizures, multiple sclerosis (degradation of the central nervous system), Guillain-Barré syndrome ( paralysis and loss of reflexes), transverse myelitis (erosion of spinal cord), facial palsy
Iron anemia - Due to the interference of aluminum with iron metabolism
Liver and kidney disorders - Decreased liver and kidney function, liver and kidney disease
Gastrointestinal disorders - Nausea, flatulence, heartburn, stomach and intestinal ulcers, intestinal colic, gastrointestinal disease.
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders - Idiopathic thrombocytopenia
Immune System Disorders - Anaphylaxis and/or other generalized hypersensitivity reactions, inflammatory arthritis/arthralgia, fever, and dermatologic reactions such as erythema, systemic lupus erythematosus
Cardiac Disorders - Cardiac arrhythmias
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders - Asthma
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders - Angioedema, erythema

Infants are significantly more vulnerable to neurotoxins, such as Aluminum, than adults

"During prenatal and early postnatal development the brain is extremely vulnerable to neurotoxic insults. Not only are these highly sensitive periods of rapid brain development in general but also, the blood brain barrier (BBB) is incomplete and thus more permeable to toxic substances during this time. Further, immune challenges during early development, including those induced by vaccines, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of nervous and immune system function. Additionally, the immature renal system of neonates signiﬁcantly compromises their ability to eliminate environmental toxicants. For all these reasons, children are at much greater risk of adverse reactions from aluminium adjuvants than adults." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [14]

The artificial immune response created by aluminium is likely too potent for an infant

"Immune stimulation induced by vaccinations may be much greater in magnitude than that resulting from natural infections. The main reason for this is that early-life immune responses (before 6 months of age) are weaker and of shorter duration than those elicited in immunologically mature hosts. Thus, to provoke and sustain an adequate B-cell immune response (the principal function of B-cells is to make antibodies against viruses, bacteria etc) in neonates, strong immune adjuvants such as aluminium, as well as repeated closely spaced booster doses are needed. In contrast, during the course of natural infections, children are in most cases exposed to one pathogenic agent at a time (i.e., measles only as opposed to measles, mumps, and rubella all at once). This allows for a more subtle priming of the immature immune system, as well as brain recovery from the potential neuroimmune challenge." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [14]

The level of Aluminum in pediatric vaccines is well over the threshold for toxicity
A 2004 statement by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), a group that monitors oral and injectable nutritional products for safety and side effects, states the daily limit of aluminum is 5 mcg per kilogram of body weight (Charney et al. 2004). [15]
An average 6 week old weighs 4.5kg, measures 55cm in length, and has just 400mL of blood. For an infant of this size, the daily allowable limit of injectable aluminum is 22.5mcg. A 6 week old infant receiving the Infanrix and Synflorix vaccinations as per NZ schedule, will receive 1320mcg of aluminum in one sitting, grossly exceeding the daily allowable limit of 22.5mcg aluminum for a 6 week old, 59 times over. This will be repeated at 3 months, again 5 months, and at 15 months a final 4th dose of Synflorix will be administered. Following the NZ Immunization Schedule, by the time an infant has reached 15 months old, he or she will have received 6260mcg of aluminum. [16,17]

New Zealand Immunisation Schedule 2011
*Age*	Diseases covered and Vaccines
6 weeks	Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae type b 1 injection (INFANRIX®- hexa) Pneumococcal - 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
3 months	Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae type b 1 injection (INFANRIX®- hexa) Pneumococcal 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
5 months	Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae type b 1 injection (INFANRIX®- hexa) Pneumococcal - 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
15 months	Haemophilus influenzae type b - 1 injection (Act-HIB®) Measles / Mumps / Rubella - 1 injection (MMR® II) Pneumococcal - 1 injection (Synflorix®)*
4 years	Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough / Polio - 1 injection (INFANRIX-IPVTM) Measles / Mumps / Rubella - 1 injection (M-M-R® II)
11 years	Diphtheria / Tetanus / Whooping Cough - 1 injection (BoostrixTM)
12 years girls only	Human Papillomavirus - 3 doses given over 6 months (GARDASILTM)
45 years	Diphtheria / Tetanus - 1 injection (ADTTM Booster)
65 years	Diphtheria / Tetanus - 1 injection (ADTTM Booster) Influenza 1 injection (annually)
*Synflorix will be available when existing stocks of Prevenar are used up.
Source: http://www.moh.govt.nz

Aluminum Levels in NZ Childhood Vaccines 2011
Vaccine Name	Aluminum type	Amount
Infanrix®-hexa	Aluminium hydroxide Aluminium phosphate	500mcg 320mcg
Synflorix®	Aluminium phosphate	500mcg
Prevenar®	Aluminium phosphate	500mcg
Infanrix®-IPV	Aluminium hydroxide	625mcg
Boostrix®	Aluminium hydroxide & aluminium phosphate	390mcg
Gardasil®	Amorphous aluminium hydroxyphosphate sulphate	225 mcg
Prevenar 13®	Aluminium phosphate	570mcg
ADT™ Booster	Aluminium hydroxide (hydrated)	500mcg
HBvaxPRO®	Amorphpus aluminium hydroxyphosphate sulphate	250mcg
IPOL	Aluminium	0mcg
Hiberix®	Aluminium	0mcg
Act-HIB™	Aluminium	0mcg
M-M-R® II	Aluminium	0mcg
Source: http://www.immune.org.nz

For more information on US vaccination schedules and vaccine ingredients:

Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 6 Years, or 7 Through 18 Years —United States 2011
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/0-6yrs-schedule-pr.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/7-18yrs-schedule-pr.pdf

Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary, Part 1 & 2 - CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-1.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf

Package Inserts and Manufacturers for some US Licensed Vaccines and Immunoglobulins
http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/package_inserts.htm

Aluminum in the NZ vaccine schedule has increased 5.5 fold
In the 1980's the amount of aluminum in the NZ vaccine schedule was 1120mcg. Today, in 2013, the amount is 6150mcg. Perhaps most alarming was the year 2006 when the schedule included a whopping 10105mcg aluminum. This was largely due to the inclusion of the Meningcoccal group B vaccine, a three dose regimen that included 6600mcg aluminum. [18,19]

Additional Aluminum is leached into vaccines via glass vials

"Based on concerns that the mercury in thimerosal (used as a preservative in vaccines) might be contributing to autism, the industry made an effort to significantly reduce the amount of mercury present in vaccines beginning in the late 1990's. In parallel, they began storing the vaccines in individualized glass vials—to avoid the ostensible need for a preservative to reduce the danger of contaminating repeated invasions of multidose vials. However, this raises another concern, as aluminum can be leached out of the glass vial and the rubber stopper during storage. Glass contains aluminum oxide at levels ranging from 1.9% to 5.8%. Leaching from a container is an ongoing process until the product is used." - Seneff et al 2012 [9]

If the body is overloaded with Aluminum it will deposit it in various organs

"Approximately 95% of aluminum in the body becomes bound to transferrin (plasma protein that transports iron through the blood to the liver, spleen and bone marrow) and albumin (main protein in human blood) in blood vessels and is then excreted via the kidneys. If a significant load exceeds the body's excretory capacity, the excess is deposited in various tissues, including bone, brain, liver, heart, spleen, and muscle. This accumulation causes morbidity and mortality through various mechanisms." - Bernardo et al. 2012 [3]

Once inside the body, Aluminum can take years to be cleared

"The elimination half-life of aluminum from the human brain is 7 years, this can result in cumulative damage via the element's interference with neuron transport and assembly." - Bernardo et al. 2012 [3]

"Aluminium accumulates in the brain with age and exposure is associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases." - Exley & Vickers 2014 [22]

"In patients with macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) Aluminum was shown to persist at the site of injection from several months up to 8 years following vaccination. Patients were found to suffer from diffuse arthromyalgias, chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and in some cases, multiple sclerosis. Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) has been specifically attributed to aluminum adjuvants in recipients of hepatitis A and B and tetanus toxoid (Td) vaccines. MMF Electron microscopy and microanalytical analysis showed that the appearance of MMF lesions was due to long-term persistence of aluminum adjuvants at the site of injections and concomitant ongoing local immune reactions." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [8]

Even minimal exposure to Aluminum through vaccines can provoke autoimmune disorders

"Experimental evidence shows that simultaneous administration of as little as two to three immune adjuvants, or repeated stimulation of the immune system by the same antigen, can overcome genetic resistance to autoimmunity." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [15]

"Aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form (from vaccines) carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [8]

"Vaccines can induce the appearances of autoantibodies, enigmatic inﬂammatory condition, and overt autoimmune disease. Of which, non-speciﬁc manifestations such as arthritis, neuronal damage, fatigue, encephalitis and vasculitis were frequently described." - Shoenfeld et al, 2010 [23]

"A variety of conditions encompassed by the 'Autoimmune/inﬂammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants' (ASIA) have been linked to exposure to aluminum (Al) vaccine adjuvants. These conditions include: Siliconosis, the Gulf war syndrome (GWS), the macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome (MMF), and post-vaccination phenomena. Furthermore, these four diseases share a similar complex of signs and symptoms: Myalgia (muscle pain), myositis (inflamed, damaged muscles) or muscle weakness, arthralgia (pain in joints) and/or arthritis (inflammation of joints), chronic fatigue, un-refreshing sleep or sleep disturbances, neurological manifestations (especially associated with demyelination (degeneration of nerves)), cognitive impairment, memory loss, pyrexia (fever), dry mouth, appearance of auto-antibodies or antibodies directed at the suspected adjuvant, irritable bowel syndrome, evolvement of an autoimmune disease (i.e. Multiple Sclerosis)." - Tomljenovic et al. 2011 [24]

"Recently, autoantibody, production was studied in 92 healthy medical workers after influenza vaccination. For subjects with autoantibodies before vaccination, increased titers were documented 1 and 6 months post-vaccination in 11% and 13% of them respectively. Moreover 4 participants developed de novo (new) autoantibodies 6 months after vaccination, one of them with very high titers alluding to a possible long-lasting effect. In addition to the appearance of autoantibodies, clinical presentations or mild exacerbations of an autoimmune disease were occasionally observed following vaccinations. Autoimmune diseases develop in individuals who are genetically susceptible after their immune system is triggered (i.e., by infection or vaccine). Avoiding such a triggering stimulus may allow an individual to remain asymptomatic throughout his or her life." - Agmon-Levin 2009 [25]

"The increased risk of autoimmunity among recipients of a certain vaccine may stem not only from its antigenic-mediated responses but also from other constituents of the vaccine, such as yeast, adjuvant and preservative. For example adjuvants have been added to vaccines to improve their immunogenicity. However, alongside their supportive role they were found to themselves inflict an illness of autoimmune nature, defined as "adjuvant disease". - Agmon-Levin 2009 [25]

"Influenza vaccine, like most human vaccines, is capable of inducing immune responses and includes also an adjuvant and other components that can increase its autoimmune pathogenicity (ability to cause harm). Thus, for the minority of individuals who are probably genetically susceptible, as well as for patients with active Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease, the influenza vaccine, among others, may trigger an overt autoimmune disease." - Agmon-Levin 2009 [25]

"The latency period between immunization and autoimmunity ranges between days to years. An individuals susceptibility (for example, relating to genetic factors) might have an important role in vaccine–autoimmunity interactions." - Agmon-Levin 2009 [26]

"Aluminum has a range of mechanisms inwhich it causes inflammation:

Aluminum is a pro-oxidant (induces oxidative stress) which inturn induces an inflammation response.

Aluminum induces an inflammation response known as NALP3 inflammasome (associated with autoimmune disease).

Aluminum itself can be antigenic (elicits the response of antibodies)." - Exly et al, 2010 [27]

"Aluminum (found in vaccines) is a potential factor for the induction of inflammation in Crohn's disease (chronic inflammation of the intestines), and its immune activities share many characteristics with the immune pathology of Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease mucosa is confronted with numerous inappropriate bacterial components adsorbed on the aluminum compound surface, constituting a pro-inflammatory supra-adjuvant. Aluminum fits the diagnostic criteria of the newly described autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)." - Lerner 2012 [28]

Other studies correlating Aluminum with illness

Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is characterized by specific muscle lesions with long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide at the site of previous immunization. Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions show an ongoing local immune reaction, and are detected in patients with systemic symptoms which appeared subsequently to vaccination. Affected patients mainly complain of arthromyalgias (joint and muscle pain), chronic fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. One-third of patients with macrophagic myofasciitis develop autoimmune disease. [29,30,31]

In preterm infants, prolonged intravenous feeding with solutions containing aluminum is associated with impaired neurologic development. We estimate that for infants receiving full intravenous feeding (approx 180ml per kilogram every 24 hours) with a mean aluminum intake of 45μg per kilogram per day, the expected reduction in the Bayley Mental Development Index (a score of 50 to 150) would be, on average, one point per day of intravenous feeding. The former (infants who received an intravenous feeding solution with higher amounts of aluminum) were significantly more likely (39 percent, vs. 17 percent of the latter group; P = 0.03) to have a Mental Development Index of less than 85, increasing their risk of subsequent educational problems. [20] (The Infanrix-hexa vaccine contains an aluminium concentration of 1640 mcg per dose. Using the above calculation in which an infant receiving 45ug (equivalent to mcg) per day would lose one point per day in the Bayley Mental Development Index, a 6 week infant weighing 4.5kg receiving the infanrix-hexa would suffer brain damage equivalent to the loss of 36.4 points.) [7]

Young, male colony CD-1 mice were injected with the (aluminum) adjuvants at doses equivalent to those given to US military service personnel. Subsequent testing showed:

Motor deficits expressed as a progressive decrease in strength (50%).

Significant cognitive deficits in water-maze learning (4.3 vs 0.2 errors per trial).

Significant motor neuron loss in the lumbar spinal cord (35%).

Significantly increased numbers of astrocytes (cells that are expressed when the nervous system is injured and needs repair) in the lumbar spinal cord (350%).

Significantly increased activated caspase-3 (protein that promotes programmed cell death) labeling in lumbar spinal cord (255%) and primary motor cortex (192%).

The findings suggest a possible role for the aluminum adjuvant in some neurological features associated with Gulf War Illness (GWI). [32]

Vaccine-exposed and saline-injected control infants (macaques) underwent MRI and PET imaging at approximately 4 and 6 months of age, representing two specific timeframes within the vaccination schedule. Maturational changes in amygdala (part of the brain involved in processing and expressing emotions) volume was significantly altered in infant macaques receiving the vaccine schedule (the complete US vaccine schedule that was given in 1994-1999). [33]

We conclude that exposure of Hepa1-6 cells (mouse liver cells) to a low dose of (aluminum) adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine leads to loss of mitochondrial integrity, apoptosis (programmed cell death) induction, and cell death. [34]

Studies show Aluminum is also correlated with Autism

Aluminum (Al), the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant Al has the potential to induce neuroimmune disorders. Our results show that:

(i) children from countries with the highest ASD prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to Al from vaccines;
(ii) the increase in exposure to Al adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in ASD prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades (Pearson r = 0.92, p < 0.0001); and
(iii) a significant correlation exists between the amounts of Al administered to preschool children and the current prevalence of ASD in seven Western countries, particularly at 3–4 months of age (Pearson r = 0.89–0.94, p = 0.0018–0.0248).
The data indicates that the correlation between Al in vaccines and ASD may be causal. [35]

Our results provide strong evidence supporting a link between autism and the aluminum in vaccines. We propose that children with the autism diagnosis are especially vulnerable to toxic metals such as aluminum and mercury due to insufficient serum sulfate and glutathione. A strong correlation between autism and the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is also observed, which may be partially explained via an increased sensitivity to acetaminophen administered to control fever. [9]

The higher the proportion of children receiving recommended vaccinations, the higher was the prevalence of autism or speech or language impairment. A 1% increase in vaccination was associated with an additional 680 children having autism or speech or language impairment. The aluminum in vaccines has been associated with disorders in the central nervous system as well as with autism. Combining mercury and aluminum magniﬁes the toxicity of each. Both metals also are known to suppress the immune system; thus, a susceptible person may not be able to mount an effective immunological response to the live viruses found in certain vaccines. [36]

The correlation between autism spectrum disorder rate and aluminium adjuvant amounts appears to be dose-dependent and satisfies 8 of 9 Hill criteria for causality. These current data implicate aluminium injected in early postnatal life in some central nervous system alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder. [37]

In young children, a highly significant correlation exists between the number of pediatric aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines administered and the rate of autism spectrum disorders. Many of the features of aluminum-induced neurotoxicity may arise, in part, from autoimmune reactions, as part of the ASIA syndrome. [38]

Ingested Aluminum is not a valid comparison to injected Aluminum.

In healthy subjects, only 0.3% of orally administered aluminum is absorbed via the GI tract and the kidneys effectively eliminate aluminum from the human body. It is only when the GI barrier is bypassed, such as intravenous infusion or in the presence of advanced renal dysfunction, that aluminum has the potential to accumulate. As an example, with intravenously infused aluminum, 40% is retained in adults and up to 75% is retained in neonates. [3]

Additionally...

Although the half-life of aluminum consumed through the diet is short (approx 24hr) the same cannot be assumed for aluminum in vaccines because the molecular size of most aluminum in vaccines (24-83 kDa) is higher than what the human kidney or other bodily filtering systems can process (18 kDa). [38]

Aluminum has never been tested by the FDA for safety
Aluminum has been exempted from testing for safety by the FDA and has been classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe). It has never been tested by the FDA for its safety. Yet, there are numerous studies confirming the adverse effects of aluminum. This means vaccine manufacturers can technically say Aluminum is 'safe', even though it's a neurotoxin. There are no enforceable regulations on Aluminum. Agencies such as the EPA or FDA cannot enforce any organization to comply with their recommendations. [39,40]

Aluminum does not have to be used in vaccines

Calcium phosphate adjuvant has been used for simultaneous vaccination with diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, BCG, yellow fever, measles and hepatitis B vaccines and with allergen. The advantage of this adjuvant has been seen to be that it is a normal constituent of the body and is better tolerated and absorbed than other adjuvants. It entraps antigens very efficiently and allows slow release of the antigen. Additionally, it elicits high amounts of IgG-type antibodies an much less of IgE-type (reaginic) antibodies. [2]

While having similar properties to alum salts, calcium phosphate has the advantage that it is a natural compound to the human body and is therefore exceptionally well tolerated. It has a reasonable capacity to adsorb antigens, induces high levels of IgG antibodies and does not increase IgE production. Neurological reactions to pertussis vaccines adsorbed to calcium phosphate are rare. [41]

Last updated: 6/9/13

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Birth: It’s not a competition

2011-10-20T08:50:00.001+13:00

On a friends facebook page recently I came across an angry statement from a young mother:

"It's rather sad that you feel like you need a pat on the back for giving birth vaginally. If you highlight the fact that you gave birth vaginally without pain meds whenever recounting your birth story, and if the only way you can "recover" from your "traumatic" other births is by shoving a baby out your vag, then yes, it's pathetic. Other people have actual accomplishments. But I get it, everyone needs a trophy in the mommy race."

Another mother on the thread likened giving birth vaginally to a child learning to take a crap in a potty, she believed vaginal birth deserved no more recognition.

Where does this animosity come from? What drives someone to write such nasty comments? While these comments are more on the bitchy end of the spectrum, this attitude, albeit toned down, is seen far more than you'd expect. It's not uncommon to read something like this in a discussion about natural birth:

You are no better than me because you had a natural birth and I had an epidural. The only difference is I didn't have to feel pain.

What stands out to me is a feeling of defensiveness and resentment, along with a misunderstanding of why women might feel proud of their natural births. I'm also guessing there's a lack of knowledge about the physiological and emotional aspects of natural birth, the potential benefits of a natural birth, and the potential detriments of certain interventions.

Natural birth is one of those things that unless you've personally experienced you probably won't understand what it's like. Natural birth is different for each woman, and it's not universally loved by all women who undertake it. For most it's very intense and exhausting, both physically and mentally, requiring immense focus. Towards the end, many women go into a trance-like state, becoming less aware of what's going on around them and focusing solely on giving birth. It's also a process of learning to let go emotionally and physically, learning to trust your body, instead of fighting against the pain of contractions. This may sound airy fairy to those who've never experienced it, but I'm trying to be as matter of fact as possible. The truth is, natural birth is very emotional, the body is literally taken over with huge surges of hormones you've never felt before. For many it's a strange, painful, intense and exhilarating experience like nothing they've ever experienced.

Having been through this intense, exhausting experience, having done it all by myself... yes, I did feel proud as punch. I love the quote, "happiness is self sufficiency", and it definitely applies to natural birth. But according to some, I don't deserve to feel proud of my birth, apparently it's no more significant than taking a dump. Last I heard we don't beg for epidurals when passing a stool (no your haemorrhoids are nothing in comparison), or spend 24 hours passing one giantic stool the size of a large watermelon. For many women natural birth was the most painful experience of their lives, why try to deny that a woman overcame that? Why piss all over her hard work, trying to convince her that her pain and effort was worthless and insignificant?

No one likes to think that their birth was any less of an accomplishment than someone else's. Many who opted for an epidural or cesarean may wonder why a woman who had a natural birth should be congratulated or feel proud for putting herself through unnecessary pain? This is where knowledge about the negative effects of birth interventions comes into play. See this post here for a large list of risks associated with common interventions such as epidurals, cesareans and inductions.

For instance one important reason to avoid interventions, such as epidurals, inductions, cesareans, and pain medication, is that they lower naturally occurring birth hormones. These hormones are needed for birth progression, bonding, and breastfeeding. Provided hormones are left intact, women will usually experience massive surges of hormones causing a 'birth high' when baby is born, promoting a very memorable and happy time after birth. This helps explain why women often remember their natural births with such excitement and enthusiasm.

Besides the risks associated with unnecessary intervention, many women who opt for a natural birth do so simply because they CAN - their bodies are capable of doing so and the feeling of accomplishment and self sufficiency is fantastic. It may not seem practical to some, just like I don't see the practicality of climbing a mountain when you could helicopter to the top, but the exhilaration the mountaineer feels at the top of that mountain is like nothing we can imagine. Just like the accomplishment of giving birth to your offspring, all by yourself, is like nothing you can imagine.

So to answer a commenter angry at women for expressing their pride in their natural birth:

Women don't choose to have natural births to feel superior to those who don't.
The reasons a woman may choose a natural birth are unique to each woman, for instance she may have faith in the natural way in which our species procreates and wishes to follow suit, or she has knowledge of the negative consequences of unnecessary intervention in an uncomplicated pregnancy and wishes to avoid them.
A woman who gave birth naturally may feel and express pride because she was glad she was able to avoid unnecessary or possibly detrimental interventions. Maybe it was simply because the experience was amazing, birth hormones surged through her body imprinting memories of intense feelings of love and happiness in the moments after birth. And of course she may also be proud because she accomplished something huge, it was a mammoth task, and she did it all by herself.

She was self sufficient, and in self sufficiency there is happiness.