25 June, 2010

we'll be washing our hands. a lot.

Um.

Still in a state of shock over yesterday's
reported Pertussis epidemic in the state of CA.

Information has been pouring in to me from readers in
OTHER STATES
reporting positive diagnoses of Pertussis as well. . .

bottom line:
Don't mess around.

If you have an infant,

GET YOUR FREAKING
ADULT PERTUSSIS VACCINATION.


today.

yesterday.

last week.

It is just NOT worth the risk!

When your baby dies in your arms,
you get to say things like that.

and people have to believe you.

____________________________

have a good weekend.

We'll be camping!

and washing our hands.

a lot.

xx,

me

26 comments:

Nicole said...

I was surprised the doctor wanted to be sure my daughter was vaccinated against pertussis before she even thought getting pregnant...
After reading this I understand better!
I suppose her husband should too...

Have a good holiday!

Unknown said...

I was shocked when the winter before last Pertussis was going around our community. I had my shot in the fall, and thought my kids were protected. Turns out the kids who were testing positive were mostly in 4th and 5th grade. Kids do not get the vaccine until the summer before 6th grade. I asked the pediatrician about it, and he told me the vaccine wears off about a year or two before the required booster! I was shocked! There I sat in the clinic with my sick 4th grader getting a very uncomfortable nasal swab that I could not afford, but I was doing it. The schools were freaking out and not letting any kids with any kind of cold symptoms return to school until they had a negative test or had been on meds for several days! And it took three days to get the test results! I had to miss work. She had to miss school. We had no health coverage. Her test was negative. If I had known, my kids would have gotten their vaccine before 4th grade. All that missed school and dr visits would have been totally unneeded had the vaccine schedule been different. Our community was so rattled. So many kids missed school. So many parents like me, who are struggling financially, had to miss work. So many kids got sick. It all could have been avoided with better vaccine schedules. Even kids need Pertussis boosters. Make sure they get them!
And Natalie - your story is amazing. You are amazing. Your sweet Gavin has left a legacy. Thank-you for sharing your story.
-Kerry

Sabrina said...

Do you know if you can get this when you're pregnant? I'm pregnant and I think I had it when I got my HPV vaccine in 2004, but I'm not sure, it can't help to get it again...anyone know if I can get it? My OB said she'd have to look into it.

Anonymous said...

I had no idea how serious this was until I saw it on your blog. If I had known sooner I would have had my entire family get vaccinated as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I've had to take our kids to the doctor's office a lot lately and every examining room were in had a poster warning parents about this disease. I'm so sorry for your loss, and you should be proud for what you are doing to spread the word so that others will not have to endure what you had to go through.

Ange~ said...

I would like some more info on this. Is this a shot that is standard given to adults? I got my tetanus shot, and I'm thinking it was combined with pertussis. Do you know if they are always combined?

Stef said...

Also (and I know to some this is like "duh" but for some its brand new information) Don't pass your newborn infant around! I literally get angry when I see these mommies handing off their brand new baby around to any and all their friends/family that ask "can I hold the baby?" if people are worried about being rude, just say something like "we prefer not to pass the baby around out in public - if you'd like to come over some time, you're more than welcome to!" My Mom used to say "if they're aching to hold a baby they can have one of their own" :-)
Our youngest (she's 21 months now) was born in early October and just after Thanksgiving (where we made the mistake of passing her around to ALL our family members) she came down with this horrible cold. I mean, horrible. To keep her from being hospitalized, we had to stay with her in a tented room, next to a humidifier, to keep her from getting pneumonia. It was awful and we lived like that through the entire month of December and most of January, until she was 100% healthy.
It was a hard way to learn my lesson, but I like to think I did. If we have another baby, I'm not going to hesitate saying "no" when asked.

Stef said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lyric said...

I've posted your blog on my facebook a couple of times and love how informative you have been. We found out that we're expecting and will both get ours before baby comes. Thanks for the heads up . . . You continue to be in my prayers Natalie. Love ya.

Anonymous said...

Just met an expectant first-time dad on Friday who asked for any parenting tips. Mine? Get your pertussis shot...and be consistent when the baby comes.

Land of Wild Designs said...

I got my Adult Pertussis vaccination on Monday and am encouraging everyone to do the same...I also linked to your blog. Thank you for your willingness to share and I just have to tell you that I think you are such an amazing example of faith and grace.

Huffmama said...

I am expecting my first and I am so glad I was reading your blog, since none of my doctors have said anything about the vaccine. My husband and I are getting the shot (I have to find out when I can get mine, maybe not until after I deliver). I have also let the grandparents, aunts, and uncles know that if they want to be around the baby they need to get theirs as well. Our whole family is getting it, and I thank you for your blog. I know it has to be so painful but I hope you're encouraged by all the people taking it seriously and getting vaccinated because of you. Thank you.

{ a m b e r } said...

Hi Natalie. I stumbled upon your blog a few months ago and I cannot come here now without crying. I just wanted to thank you for a few things. A simple comment doesn't seem like enough but I do want you to know that you have truly touched my life. I am a mother of three, one of them is 10 weeks old. You have inspired me to not take things for granted. To get my adult pertussis vaccination at the hospital. And on those days when parenting becomes a little overwhelming to just love my kids a little harder than I was the previous minute. I think you've showed me that I need to have greater faith in my everyday life and enjoy the everyday a little more. I hope you know what an inspiration you are and also know that you have truly blessed my life. THANK YOU!

Bethany said...

I don't know when you can get the shot....but I had my baby in September and my first appointment back my doctor talked to me about the shot and gave it to me before I left the office. I had my husband go too. My older kids all were up to date.

Natalie....you are in my prayers.

Ange~ said...

I found out some more info- if you are pregnant, unless you work with infants I believe, you are supposed to wait until after your baby is born. You need to have received the new pertussis shot that has come out in the last two years. It's combined with the tetanus, so if you've had your tetanus in the last two years, you should be fine, although I would double check.

Sabrina said...

Thanks for posting that Ange, I'm definitely going to have to get it, and I will get it as soon as the baby comes if my OB won't let me get it while I'm pregnant. I've already gotten my husband a PCM appointment to get his next week!

Anonymous said...

My doctor just told me Monday "that breastfed babies are less likely to get pertussis".
So all you new moms out there think about breastfeeding too.

Natalie. said...

dear anon,

my son was exclusively breast fed. Even in the hospital, he was fed breast milk through a tube down his nose to his stomach. . .

I am a HUGE proponent of breast feeding, however don't be fooled into believing that those natural antibodies are going to be enough to protect against a disease this contagious.

Adults, just get vaccinated and keep your baby out of the arms of people who aren't.

:)

Anonymous said...

I just saw a commercial for this on my television and thought of you. Whenever I see it, I say a little prayer for your sweet family :)

kc said...

I found your blog a while ago through Jon's, who shot our wedding 3 years ago. I love the way you write, and your perspective on life, family and God, even through a tragedy I know I can't even begin to comprehend. I had never heard of the adult pertussis vaccination until reading your story. My husband and I have a 2-week old baby, and just got vaccinated yesterday. None of my doctors had ever mentioned it, so I'm glad you did. We live in California, and you're right, it's just not worth the risk.

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

My husband and I are getting licensed to be foster care parents and yesterday when at my doctors office to get a physical, my docotor recommended I get the vaccine. Was glad he advocated the cause before I even had a chance to ask about it. Spreading the word to others too.

Kristyn said...

OK, this is going to sound like a silly question, but WHERE on earth can you get the vaccine?!? Natalie I found your blog while still pregnant myself, and of course your story has made me want to make sure my husband and I get the vaccine but when I talked to my OB about it she said they don't offer that at the office (despite having all the posters up) and she wasn't sure where I could get it! So when I was in the hospital I asked if they had it and could do it then (the OB also said I couldn't get it until after I delivered anyways), they kind of brushed it off, said they'd check, and I never heard anything. And after the meds from a repeat c-section it was amazing I even remembered to ask once. So here I am, about to take my 8 week old out for her first trip to grandma's house for a big 4th of july party full of people i don't really know and I'm not vaccinated, I can't find where to get vaccinated and her two month appt and first round of vaccines isn't until we get back!
I went to the sounds website thinking they might have a list, but no luck. Anyone know how to find how where to go to get vaccinated? I don't have a regular dr, but my hubby does and I checked with them, they don't keep it either. I suppose I should mention we live in Savannah, GA and since I'm not from here I'm allowed to say they are more than a little behind down here...
OH and FYI - I bought me a Moby after your rave reviews. I had another type of carrier, but I finally broke down and it just came in yesterday, I <3 it! Baby seems to prefer the old one still, but I'll convert her yet, it's SO much more comfortable for me and like you said, just like all the good parts of being pregnant. That ought to help keep prying hands away from her too :)

Natalie. said...

Kristyn,

You need to get in contact with your primary care physician. It's also a VERY good idea to make sure that the other adults that will likely be wanting to pass the baby around have been vaccinated as well.

All you have to do is call your primary care physician and tell them you want to come in for the adult pertussis booster shot (it is most likely combined with tetnis). I called, went it, got the shot, left. It all took about an hour start to finish.

You are a good momma for being concerned about the risk and taking action!

All my love and congratulations on your new baby!

Natalie

knappjes said...

I wanted to let you know that my Son had what seemed to be a cold but the cough never went away. We went to his Dr. 2 times before insisting on the 3rd visit to have the Petussis lab run to ease my mind after reading this post. I was called by them today with the results and it came back postitive. I think the with the vaccines the babies get the Dr. don't think about these things. Thank you for posting this as it was what made me insist on the test.
You can see my lovely 7 almost 8 month old at whereisdavid.tumblr.com.

Thank you, thank you!

Sally Jackson said...

I am almost due--any day now. Sending my family to the clinic to get their boosters. :)

BBC said...

i got my booster and scheduled my husband's booster for this friday. thank you for getting the message out. you're a wonderful mother.

Kristyn said...

Thanks Natalie, I forgot to check with her ped at the appt this week, I already checked with our PCP and they don't have it. So frustrating to live in the backwards south! But the moby worked, no passing of the baby and I think she's warming up to it :)