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Jenny McCarthey "autism" books: Any good?
Hi y'all... I'm thinking about buying the Jenny McCarthey book about preventing autism... has anyone read it? Any opinions?
I have a healthy 4 year old boy and a brand new baby boy and I'm curious about the different things that I can do to prevent autism for my baby (like vaccines and diet and stuff)... any truth to it?
I welcome any and all your feedback!
I have a healthy 4 year old boy and a brand new baby boy and I'm curious about the different things that I can do to prevent autism for my baby (like vaccines and diet and stuff)... any truth to it?
I welcome any and all your feedback!
I would not waste my money. Do your own research, the best sources are scholarly articles from trusted sources like the NIH. These will be based on fact not opinions. Both sides of the debate have good points, but the best I have concluded is that we need to improve immunizations and how they are delivered. But we still need them. I will say however, that newborns and infants do not have a complete immune system and cannot create memory cells, which is the whole point of a vaccine so giving infants immunizations for the first 4-6 months of their life is pointless unless the mother or someone in the close family has the disease. At that point the child would continue to need boosters until they are old enough to make their own memory cells ( since the immunization usually has a much weaker or dead portion of the illness the baby would be safer than catching it from mom or dad, etc so their immune system is currently primed if they do catch it. ) Memory cells are what tell our bodies to recognize a pathogen and immediately respond with the exact antigen for that specific disease. Without immunizations, our bodies can take up to 2 weeks to recognize and create specific molecules to attack that specific virus, bacteria , etc that is invading our body. That time gives the pathogen time to do damage and replicate and get worse. If you are immunized however, your body already recognizes it and immediately attacks it without taking all that time. ( trying not to go into too much detail). This is why immunizations are important. If there are any problems with immunizations, it's not the actual immunization that could be causing damage, no more than any dead virus or bacteria. But it would be something like the medium it is stored in or preservatives, or something in the person's immune system that they are predisposed too. For example, if you got the flu- you would just get sick, it wouldn't cause autism. But if you get the immunization you should have the same response since it's the same exact thing- the difference is that there are other chemicals in the immunization that might cause problems like preservatives. But that's a maybe. There are so many possibilities from environmental factors to genes , we just don't have enough information yet.
I'm doing better today. I love checking the forums to see what everyone is saying. I'm almost falling asleep though. ZZZZZZ
Wow - your little boy is very intelligent! I'm glad you got him into a general enviornment. You must be a good teacher. How are you feeling?
Yes he gets free pre-school. I fought really hard with the school district to have him in a general ed enviornment. He has an aide that is trained in Autism behavior modification. He's mostly working on social skills. He's smart though I taught him to read at 3 years.
My dh says usually the patent runs from 7-10 years before a generic becomes available. What he gets angry about is when the same meds are a fraction of the cost in other countries.
I'm curious - is your son in any behavior modification? My niece has a slight case of autism but I know very little about it - she was diagnosed around two years old too. I know my sister has her in some kind of sensory behavior modification but that's all I know.
I'm curious - is your son in any behavior modification? My niece has a slight case of autism but I know very little about it - she was diagnosed around two years old too. I know my sister has her in some kind of sensory behavior modification but that's all I know.
I've been watching I Love Lucy today. It's been therapeutic from all my worries.
I wonder why it takes so long to get a generic medicine going?
There is controversy about vaccines causing Autism and I wonder about my son's mild Autism. One day I realized that I didn't notice the symptoms until after his 2 year vaccinations.
I wonder why it takes so long to get a generic medicine going?
There is controversy about vaccines causing Autism and I wonder about my son's mild Autism. One day I realized that I didn't notice the symptoms until after his 2 year vaccinations.
I Love "I Love Lucy" too! I understand why we have vaccines and medicines. I am grateful that we have them, I have just made the choice NOT to give my child a cocktail of them, but will spread them out. I am choosing to allow my child's body to digest the medicines one at a time, spread them out at least a week or two at a time. I can't imagine getting 4 to 5 vaccines on the same day being healthy. That's A LOT of chemicals in a small body all at once.
I do know that drug companies make a lot of money - lamictal (the drug that controls my seizures) is high and there are other drugs that are much higher of course so I see your point. All I can say is thank God for generics once they become available.
I'm still thankful that the drug is even available for epileptics like myself. It's hard because it was once expensive but it was worth it. So I get torn about this subject. My husband is much more the expert than myself.
I love I love Lucy too!! Your son has quite a sense of humor!
I'm still thankful that the drug is even available for epileptics like myself. It's hard because it was once expensive but it was worth it. So I get torn about this subject. My husband is much more the expert than myself.
I love I love Lucy too!! Your son has quite a sense of humor!
Yes 40smama medicine is a wonderful thing, but those drug companies sure are making alot of money off of other people's illnesses.
Yes my son is amazing. He gets unusually happy and excited and is constantly giggling. He likes watching I Love Lucy. Someone said "What's up?" to him and He said, "Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz".
Yes my son is amazing. He gets unusually happy and excited and is constantly giggling. He likes watching I Love Lucy. Someone said "What's up?" to him and He said, "Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz".
1 Comments
Yes they are. We were 7 vaccines fully vaccinated. Our children are 69 fully vaccinated.
Hi, I tried to post before, but I think I sent you a personal message. I am new.
I don't think it is a book worth buying. Someone bought it for me and it's just alot of fluffy stuff. My son is 4 and has mild autism and I would not want to have him any other way. He's got a great personality! The Kaiser Autism Group said Jenny McCarthey is not a specialtist and her son may have never had autism.
Try the library instead of buying it.
I don't think it is a book worth buying. Someone bought it for me and it's just alot of fluffy stuff. My son is 4 and has mild autism and I would not want to have him any other way. He's got a great personality! The Kaiser Autism Group said Jenny McCarthey is not a specialtist and her son may have never had autism.
Try the library instead of buying it.
My mom (age 78) got polio when she was 13 years old. She spent 9 months in the hospital and watched many other children in the polio ward die from the disease. She seemed fine until about 10 years ago when her stomach and back muscles began to give out. She is now hunched over, no pain, but not strong enough to hold herself upright and needs a walker to walk. She is pretty healthy otherwise for her age...but all 7 of my siblings and I got all of our immunizations and all four of my children had theirs. Granted, my youngest is now 13 years old, but I wasn't prepared to take any chances. My youngest had issues with the DTP vaccine, (cried unless he was nursing for the next 8 hours, that was a fun day!) but at that time they would give the DTAP if a baby had issues so he got that one the next booster.
I am right there w/ya. Too many DRUGS & we do not know all the long term effects will be.
Like the new gardisel.... (spelling?) I did not have my dd @ her 12 year old check up get this vaccine. The nurse couldn't believe it, but the Dr was ok w/it. There is not enough study on it yet, & it basically only "helps" w/a couple cancers that you would get from having unprotected sex. (cancers that came from virus)
I explained to my dd what this shot was about, & it was a good conversation.
Anywayzz, I agree vaccines ARE life saving, but I bet ya at least 50% of the ones that they give to our young babies are NOT necessary! Especially when its a MEGA combo!
Thats it from me...........off to more soccer games now ;)
Like the new gardisel.... (spelling?) I did not have my dd @ her 12 year old check up get this vaccine. The nurse couldn't believe it, but the Dr was ok w/it. There is not enough study on it yet, & it basically only "helps" w/a couple cancers that you would get from having unprotected sex. (cancers that came from virus)
I explained to my dd what this shot was about, & it was a good conversation.
Anywayzz, I agree vaccines ARE life saving, but I bet ya at least 50% of the ones that they give to our young babies are NOT necessary! Especially when its a MEGA combo!
Thats it from me...........off to more soccer games now ;)
Just a thought...as with many other "disorders", not much was known about autism 20 or more years ago. Same with ADHD. When I was a kid, there were those kids who were just "off"...they didn't connect with people, had learning problems, and usually ended up in special ed. THESE days, those kids would be diagnosed autistic. Then there were the kids who couldn't sit still, talked back to the teacher and bounced all over the place...back then, teachers (and principals) just dealt with them. NOW they would be diagnosed with ADHD. My point is, one of the reasons autism and ADHD are more prevalent is because they are more recognized. There was no such thing as autism or ADHD in the early 70's when I was in elementary school. That doesn't mean kids didn't have the exact same symptoms. So when they say rates of ANYTHING have increased, you have to look at the history.
As an aside, it's the same with diabetes and many other health issues. Not that obesity rates and, therefore, diabetes rates haven't increased. But the rates of diagnosed diabetes have increased dramatically because the threshold for making the diagnosis has lowered significantly. In other words, 15 years ago someone could get their blood sugar tested and be in the clear. That same person - with the same test results - would now be diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
Anyway...just something to think about.
Tricia
P.S. I do, however, agree that our society has become way too dependant on medication! I believe it's a financially motivated phenomenon...meds are BIG business and pharmeceutical companies are making outrageous amounts of money off of people who can't afford it!
As an aside, it's the same with diabetes and many other health issues. Not that obesity rates and, therefore, diabetes rates haven't increased. But the rates of diagnosed diabetes have increased dramatically because the threshold for making the diagnosis has lowered significantly. In other words, 15 years ago someone could get their blood sugar tested and be in the clear. That same person - with the same test results - would now be diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
Anyway...just something to think about.
Tricia
P.S. I do, however, agree that our society has become way too dependant on medication! I believe it's a financially motivated phenomenon...meds are BIG business and pharmeceutical companies are making outrageous amounts of money off of people who can't afford it!
I believe in vaccinations, I just don't believe it's right to give a cocktail of them to babies all at once. I'm 40 and there are A LOT more vaccines now than when I was a child and even A LOT more since my 12 year old dd was born. I can't believe we've had that many outbreaks to warrant more vaccines on newborns. I've decided that the baby I am carrying will not get EVERYTHING the doctor suggest. I'll research as I've done in the past and pick and choose. But we all have to admit, even researches do, Autism wasn't as prevalent in the past as it is now. The commercials for medicines and vaccines are out of control. And doctors are soooooo quick to prescribe a medicine to stop SYMPTOMS instead of offering alternative medicine that will cure the condition. I think we have become a society, especially U.S. that have become toooooo chemically dependent.
SoCalTricia - again, I have to echo your words at the end of your post - I feel the same way. I'd rather my child run a temp for a few days & be a little sore & achy which can be treated w/tylenol than have polio either (or anything else).
BTW, I had no idea about the Hep B stats. I'm just glad the vaccine's being offered. Thank you for sharing both your perspective and information.
BTW, I had no idea about the Hep B stats. I'm just glad the vaccine's being offered. Thank you for sharing both your perspective and information.
From what I understand, ALL hospitals are now offering the Hep B vaccine while baby is still in the hospital. They offered to it my son, too...I declined because he was a month early and I wanted his system to mature some before he gets any vaccines. However, he's schedule to get them (including the Hep B) in September. Here's why they give babies Hep B vaccine now:
Hepatitis B is highly infectious. An estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the United States have the virus, and 20 to 30 percent of them acquired the disease in childhood. Many of them never feel sick and don't know they have it, but those who become infected as children are more likely to have long-term health problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. About 2,000 to 4,000 Americans die from hepatitis B-related illness every year.
"The HBV vaccine was introduced in 1982 and became part of the recommended immunization schedule in the United States in 1991. Since then, the incidence of acute hepatitis B has dropped by over 95 percent in children and adolescents, and over 75 percent overall. The number of new infections per year has declined from an average of 260,000 in the 1980s to about 43,000 in 2007, with the biggest decline among children and adolescents."
And, yes, some babies DO get sick with vaccinations...however, I'd rather my baby be sick for a week than get polio and die or be crippled.
Hepatitis B is highly infectious. An estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the United States have the virus, and 20 to 30 percent of them acquired the disease in childhood. Many of them never feel sick and don't know they have it, but those who become infected as children are more likely to have long-term health problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. About 2,000 to 4,000 Americans die from hepatitis B-related illness every year.
"The HBV vaccine was introduced in 1982 and became part of the recommended immunization schedule in the United States in 1991. Since then, the incidence of acute hepatitis B has dropped by over 95 percent in children and adolescents, and over 75 percent overall. The number of new infections per year has declined from an average of 260,000 in the 1980s to about 43,000 in 2007, with the biggest decline among children and adolescents."
And, yes, some babies DO get sick with vaccinations...however, I'd rather my baby be sick for a week than get polio and die or be crippled.
I think you make a good point, ita17...your SIL got the vaccines, but on a time frame that felt comfortable to her. I think what scares me is people who are just saying we are not giving the vaccines at all!
FYI..a number of kids get sick after vaccine shots (no matter how many or how few), if they are being given the live vaccines.
I'm never a fan of unnecessary medication, but vaccines are necessary. I, too, will be sure to research the recommended timing, dosage, etc. But not getting them is not an option for me!
:)
FYI..a number of kids get sick after vaccine shots (no matter how many or how few), if they are being given the live vaccines.
I'm never a fan of unnecessary medication, but vaccines are necessary. I, too, will be sure to research the recommended timing, dosage, etc. But not getting them is not an option for me!
:)
oh, this I found very interesting, my SIL had a baby last July, I was there visiting when he was 2 DAYS OLD....the nurse came in to get him to vaccinate him, I THINK it was some sort of Hepatitis shot, my SIL asked her "why does he need this right now"? she said, "well he doesn't just yet, but we give it to him BECAUSE WE CAN"!
I found this a bit uneasy to be honest w/you.
Not trying to start a web fight LOL BUT I am NOT a fan of medication that is not necessary, this is why I have had a struggle in my own heart about fertility meds. for myself.
I feel MANY MANY times its about $$$$$$ Lets be honest here, that 2 day old baby boy DID NOT NEED this shot, but "they can" & THEY DO many times for $$$.
Oh boy, I feel FIESTY LOL I hope it wont get me into trouble today! :D
ps this same SIL gave her baby 1 round of shots when he needed them, he was SICK for over a week, she hasn't vaccinated him again, he just turned 1, so she is NOW just going to start again, BUT w/no more than 2 at a time....most of the time they got like 4+ at once!
It's a very personal choice, one you have to really feel good about & agree w/........
Please no hate mails to me JMHO! ;)
I found this a bit uneasy to be honest w/you.
Not trying to start a web fight LOL BUT I am NOT a fan of medication that is not necessary, this is why I have had a struggle in my own heart about fertility meds. for myself.
I feel MANY MANY times its about $$$$$$ Lets be honest here, that 2 day old baby boy DID NOT NEED this shot, but "they can" & THEY DO many times for $$$.
Oh boy, I feel FIESTY LOL I hope it wont get me into trouble today! :D
ps this same SIL gave her baby 1 round of shots when he needed them, he was SICK for over a week, she hasn't vaccinated him again, he just turned 1, so she is NOW just going to start again, BUT w/no more than 2 at a time....most of the time they got like 4+ at once!
It's a very personal choice, one you have to really feel good about & agree w/........
Please no hate mails to me JMHO! ;)
I couldn't agree with SoCalTricia more...if you really want to understand Autism, go to the an autism organization's website (www.autism.org) or to the CDC's fact sheet on Autism or the Center for Neurological Diseases
There is a great deal that they don't understand or know about this disease, but I think that people like Jenny McCarthy only induce panic and concern with their famous names, but no medical backgrounds to promote this stuff.
I could go on about how I feel about this, but I am no more a medical expert than Jenny McCarthy ... LOL! I just really feel that if you want to be informed about a topic then you need to read all you can from credible resources...not celebrities. IMHO!
Good luck!
There is a great deal that they don't understand or know about this disease, but I think that people like Jenny McCarthy only induce panic and concern with their famous names, but no medical backgrounds to promote this stuff.
I could go on about how I feel about this, but I am no more a medical expert than Jenny McCarthy ... LOL! I just really feel that if you want to be informed about a topic then you need to read all you can from credible resources...not celebrities. IMHO!
Good luck!
You know, socaltricia's post makes a lot of sense. I'd rather take a chance (very, very miniscule) & vaccinate my child which I've done than get some dreaded disease. I remember very well my parents talking about how child after child got polio when they were children and how parents feared for their lives and now a vaccine is available to children.
My 16 year old daughter got pertussis when she was in 4th grade. There was an outbreak at her school. Her case was very mild but a little scary nonetheless. She had had all of her vaccines but for some reason an outbreak occurred anyway. I do not want my 16 month old baby get pertussis at all!
I think the best thing to do is trust your pediatrician like socal said. She's right - Jenny McCarthy isn't a medical professional. My husband continually reassures me that the vaccines are okay - he gives them on a regular basis as he's a pharmacist & I should just trust him over an individual who has no medical/science background.
Just my additional two cents......
My 16 year old daughter got pertussis when she was in 4th grade. There was an outbreak at her school. Her case was very mild but a little scary nonetheless. She had had all of her vaccines but for some reason an outbreak occurred anyway. I do not want my 16 month old baby get pertussis at all!
I think the best thing to do is trust your pediatrician like socal said. She's right - Jenny McCarthy isn't a medical professional. My husband continually reassures me that the vaccines are okay - he gives them on a regular basis as he's a pharmacist & I should just trust him over an individual who has no medical/science background.
Just my additional two cents......
When you get some info I would LOVE to hear about it! I for one DO think that vaccines can have some contributing factor in autism, or any neurological problems. When you are being pumped up w/ NUMEROUS of basically diseases, & your own immune system hasn't had the chance to develop, it makes me think hmmmmmmmmmm
W/that being said, I do feel many vaccines are important & needed. All 3 of my kids have been vaccinated, but they had less since my youngest is 7 & my oldest is 13.
I have a very good girlfriend & she has 3 boys, & did NOT vaccinate them until they were going into kindergarden........NONE of her boys have EVER been on a single dose of antibiotics. & they are ALL super healthy, never sick. Makes ME at least THINK!!!
If I am blessed w/another child, I will look into this much more, I have a son who has "transitional turrets" & I have often wondered about a possible coronation.
W/that being said, I do feel many vaccines are important & needed. All 3 of my kids have been vaccinated, but they had less since my youngest is 7 & my oldest is 13.
I have a very good girlfriend & she has 3 boys, & did NOT vaccinate them until they were going into kindergarden........NONE of her boys have EVER been on a single dose of antibiotics. & they are ALL super healthy, never sick. Makes ME at least THINK!!!
If I am blessed w/another child, I will look into this much more, I have a son who has "transitional turrets" & I have often wondered about a possible coronation.
I think, generally, the risks associated with NOT vaccinating your children are much, much higher than the miniscule chance that vaccinations have a link to autism. And, honestly, Jenny McCarthy is no more an expert on autism than your next door neighbor. She's a mother whose child was diagnosed with autism who wanted to find something to blame, and she jumped on the vaccination bandwagon. And because of people like her, frightening childhood diseases like measles, small pox and polio are making a comeback. I would definately take a trusted medical professional's advice - namely, my own child's pediatrician - over a celebrity's. But, that's just my humble opinion!
Tricia
Tricia
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