I probably shouldn’t even mention it…

I could go on and on and on with the many explosive things to debate in babydom these days.  On any given day, in any given playgroup, you will find these things either heatedly debated or purposely avoided like the plague.  Because there are as many different  approaches and opinions to parenthood as there are stars in the sky….at least it seems that way.

So when it came time for Lucas’s first round of shots today I have been dreading it terribly.
I can see both sides of this debate.  After all I never received this many shots and I survived somehow….right?
Check out this interesting chart

Source: drmomma.org via Tisha on Pinterest

But today came.  The dreaded 2 month.  Decision time.
Do we do it?  Do we not?
We went for the “do it” but on an adjusted schedule and put off a few shots that aren’t necessary at this point.
We did that with the first two and they have survived as well.
As my sweet PNP put it though I have a “Fall baby” and that means a whole new ball game for us.  Adam and Haley were Spring/Summer babies and we didn’t have to worry about things like RSV, pneumonia, whooping cough, flu and rotavirus at such a young age.
Heck I totally didn’t have to do the whole “wash your hands before you touch the baby” to everyone who walks in the door.
But having a very sick newborn is something no mother wants.
There is just so little they can take and they typically end up in the hospital.
NOTHING sadder

So I sucked it up and let them tackle my poor little guy with his first round.  We opted for 3 shots today.
I would have gone for two but the time of year for the illnesses in those vaccines is right now….
I will take him back in two weeks to get a few more he needs yet.
Compromising with my doc on a different schedule is the closest I can get to “ok with vaccines”.
It was one of those best of two evils.
If harm were to come to him from NOT vaccinating would I be able to not blame myself?
If harm comes to him FROM vaccinating would I be able to not blame myself?
The answer to both is that motherhood means blaming oneself for everything whether the blame really lies there or not.
It’s motherhood.

He survived…

although he is holding a grudge currently and is only on speaking terms with “boobie” right now.
Which is the benefit of the shots today.  We have been fighting thrush (yet another mommy battle…ugh) and he has not wanted to nurse this week and we have been struggling through it.  But hey….give the kid a shot and BAM…all he wants is to nurse like a champ again.

Now I show you this next picture because Daryl says I have to.  Because…it is so Lucas.
Keep in mind he is still not happy with us.  He will be up all night with me no doubt as “paybacks” …
Basically it sums up our day today beautifully.

Poor baby but I have no doubt that he will not remember today and perhaps these shots will help him one day.
The one thing I have learned from reading on both sides of the arguments on all these mothering/parenting debates is that you can find stories to back up either side of any argument.
The answers were no clearer to me after studying the issues than they were before.  As mothers/parents we do the best we can and make these hard choices and have to live with them.  Right or wrong…who really knows?
Sigh.  Onto the next big debate to weed through.
When to start feeding baby…
Fruits first vs. Veggies
Jar vs. homemade

and on and on and on.
Oh and as you can hopefully tell…I am not judgmental at all of my friends who chose to NOT vaccinate or my friends who DO.  Because I so do not know the right answer to this debate (or any for that matter).  Just one of those parenting issues every family has to decide for themselves and live with whatever comes next.