LilSugar

Will Your Tot Be Attending a Swine Flu Party?

LilSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:00:48 -0700

Is swine flu the gift that keeps on giving? While at the park the other day, I overheard a few moms chatting about the recent announcement that the FDA approved the swine flu vaccine. The mamas were debating whether or not they were going to be vaccinating their children and one woman shocked me with an unusual way that she was planning on keeping her lil one protected.

To find out her idea, just read more.

She proudly announced that she wants her child to get the swine flu and that she would take him to an H1N1 party if she could find one. I heard of such parties back when the swine flu hit mainstream media, but I didn't think anyone would actually consider attending one. And in case you missed it, an H1N1 party is where folks seek out the milder version of the H1N1 virus by coming into contact with someone who has the 2009 version of the flu. People are fearing the potentially mutated and more deadly strain of the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends against attending or holding such parties as it's impossible to tell how the flu will affect each person, especially children. Furthermore, if someone has the virus they are urged to limit contact with other people.

I'm going to stick to teaching my tots about good hygiene and handwashing, but what do you think? Are H1N1 parties a good idea?

Would You Have Your Son Get the HPV Vaccine?

LilSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Lots of mothers have given permission for their daughters to get the Gardasil vaccine, but it may soon be available for their sons. The human papillomavirus (HPV) has become so widespread that many pediatricians are administering the preventative shots (given in three doses within six months) to their patients. According to one report:

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted Wednesday to recommend that the vaccine be made available to boys and young men aged 9 to 26 for protection against genital warts caused by HPV.

The vaccine protects against four types of HPV, and two of those are believed to be responsible for 70 percent of cervical and anal cancers, and HPV-associated penile and throat-and-neck cancers. The other two cause 90 percent of genital warts cases, researchers say.

Would get your son vaccinated?

babysugar Diaries: Vaccines

babysugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:00:25 -0700

Every parent does what they think is best for their child. With my firstborn that meant giving her vaccinations as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Perhaps two years of media got to me, or maybe it was Jenny McCarthy and all of the other parents of children with autism that made me a tad wary of vaccinations. So I will go a different route with my second babe.

To see what it is, read more.

When I met my son in the hospital, I knew I would have to make a decision pretty quickly on how to deal with his health care. As autism is more prevalent in boys, his gender certainly played a part in my thought process. I obviously want to protect my lil guy from every harmful disease while not putting him at risk for developing any other disorder. To put my mind at ease, I decided to ask my pediatrician to give my son his vaccines on an alternative schedule. While my doc agreed to my request, my pediatrician does not advise the alternative schedule because she said the child ends up getting twice the preservatives that accompany vaccines because the doses are further divided. Despite her warning, I chose to move forward with an alternative schedule. Instead of receiving six shots at his four-month check-up, my son got four and then we returned a week later to get the rest. I feel good that he is up to date on his shots even if it means extra visits to the doctor. If you want to see an alternative schedule, check out the one Dr. Sears suggests:

two-months: DTaP, Rotavirus
3-months: Pc, HIB
4-months: DTaP, Rotavirus
5-months: Pc, HIB
6-months: DTaP, Rotavirus
7-months: Pc, HIB
9-months: Polio (IPV)
12-months: Mumps, Polio (IPV)
15-months: Pc, HIB
18-months: DTaP, Chickenpox
two-years: Rubella, Polio (IPV)
two-and-a-half-years: Hep B, Hep A (start Hep B at birth if any close relatives or caregivers have Hep B)
three-years: Hep B, Measles
three-and-a-half-years: Hep B, Hep A
four-years: DTaP, Polio (IPV)
five-years: MMR
six-years: Chickenpox
12-years: Tdap, HPV
12-years, 2 months: HPV
13-years: HPV, Meningococcal

The same information is provided in the Ask Dr. Sears Vaccine Book.
Source

Five Facts About Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus

LilSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:00:14 -0800

It is rare for a child to die of tetanus in the United States, but around the world one child dies every three minutes from the completely preventable illness. The painful death can be prevented with a vaccine that costs between just five and seven cents. Caryl M. Stern, the president and CEO of US Fund for UNICEF and mother of three has made it her mission to make the number of fatalities zero. As a mom, I also believe in zero. Do you? Check out this slideshow to learn five reasons why you should. Source

View Slideshow ›

babysugar Diaries: Pertussis For Mommies and Daddies, Too

babysugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

On top of regular exams and doctor's appointments I have scheduled, I made it a point to get my flu shot last week to help prevent my unborn child and I from getting knocked out with the nasty illness. Before she gave it to me, my OB/GYN also told me that I will need a Dtap (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine soon after my delivery.

Although children are often vaccinated with the Dtap vaccine at two, four and six months of age, the shots may not take effect until the child has received one or two of them. Parents who contract pertussis, better known as the whooping cough, may not suffer too badly from it but can easily pass it onto their newborn who cannot fight it with the same adult strength. For that reason, doctors recommend both parents get the vaccine. So guess who's off to their doctor next week? You guessed it - good old hubby.
Source

Kiddie Wellness: Flu Vaccine For Infants to Eighteen-Year-Olds

LilSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:48 -0700

Most tots don't like getting shots and many parents can't bear to watch, but it seems the process will continue as federal officials are now recommending that all children between six months and eighteen years of age get the flu shot. This will protect an additional 30 million minors. A CNN article said:

The age group was expanded this year because children are two to three times more likely to contract the disease than are adults, said Dr. Renée Jenkins, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The report noted that about 36,000 Americans die each year from flu complications. Pregnant women are also advised to get the vaccine.

Do your children get an annual flu shot?

Source

Pharmaceutical Company Called About Son's Missed Shot

LilSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:00:09 -0700

I'm starting to think that the pharmaceutical company is keeping better tabs on my 20-month-old than I am. Earlier in the week, it struck me as odd when my son received a stock-printed card from a pharmaceutical company reminding him that he had missed a vaccination. As he can't read and I handle our family's medical matters, I relayed the message and meant to call our pediatrician's office to inquire about the notice, but haven't had a chance. So my jaw dropped today when I came home to hear a message on our answering machine from the pharmaceutical company reminding me once again that my lil guy was due for shot.

In addition to advising that I make an appointment, it said that none of my tot's medical information had been sold as the voicemail was simply a courtesy call. I am now debating whether I should call my doctor or just wait a few more days until the doorbell rings and a medic with a syringe arrives looking for my child.
Source

Mommy Bloggers and UNICEF Unite to Wipe Out Tetanus

LilSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:00:46 -0700

As mothers, it is our instinct to help those we see in harm's way - the fallen child on the playground, the lost lil one in the supermarket or the tot running toward traffic, but it's hard to assist those that we do not see, people who struggle just to survive. At the Pampers Mommy Blogger Event earlier this month, I had the great pleasure of meeting Caryl Stern, the President and CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF. She is both an inspiring woman and a mother of three who is committed to wiping out tetanus, which killed 140,000 babies and 30,000 mothers last year. These deaths are preventable with a vaccine that costs five cents.

Pampers has partnered with UNICEF on this cause and allowed us to screen an internal video they made for their employees. After watching this footage of Bryan McCleary (director of external relations for P&G baby care) in Angola, there was not a dry eye in the room or a blogger who wasn't committed to making a difference. We asked that Pampers release this video so we could share it with our readers and inspire them to join the movement to help fellow mothers and babies around the world. Please be warned that there is an image of a baby who contracted tetanus in the tape.
To find out how you can contribute to wiping out tetanus, read more.

Guess Who Reminded Me That My Son Missed His Vaccine?

LilSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:00:52 -0700

Like many other mamas, I am a bit weary of vaccinations. The autism argument aside, my daughter used to sleep most of the day after getting her shots. My son, on the other hand, has developed fevers after a few of his vaccinations and once had two quarter sized welts on his arms in the weeks that followed.

While I have a lot of faith in our pediatrician and have discussed the benefits and risks of vaccinations at length with him, I went with my motherly instincts and skipped my son's last shot, as he was under the weather. So it came as no surprise when I received a reminder in the mail that my lil guy had missed his vaccination. But, I was stunned that the card was not from the doctor's office - it was from a pharmaceuticals company. It also advised me to contact my provider and find out if I need to schedule an appointment.

We often hear that these companies are behind the increased number of vaccines and this notice hit me the wrong way. What's your opinion?

Source

Amanda Peet Defends Her Stance on Vaccines

babysugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Telling Cookie magazine that parents who don't vaccinate their children are parasites has brought a lot of negative press to Amanda Peet. The mother of 18–month–old Frankie denies any connection between autism and vaccines. In a star war of sorts, actress Jenny McCarthy, mother to autistic son Evan, is in the opposite camp that believes the two are linked.

Amanda's critics claim she hasn't done the research to know enough about an undeniable link, but if you listen to her Good Morning America interview, you may find she knows a thing or two. Whether you agree with her or not, that's a different story. She is set to hold a press conference with the American Academy of Pediatrics later today.

What's your take on the issue?