FDA Says to Avoid Repeated or Lengthy Sedation or Anesthesia for Pregnant Women and Children Under Three

Studies on childhood brain development in children under three have found that long or repeated exposure to general anesthesia has the potential to negatively affect that growth. The Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a warning regarding the use of general anesthesia and sedation drugs for children under three and pregnant women in their third trimester to make consumers aware of the possible side effects. The list of drugs includes commonly used anesthetics like lorazepam, ketamine, and midazolam, among others.

Janet Woodcock, the director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research released a statement regarding the FDA’s position on the new labeling requirements. “…based on the FDA’s comprehensive analysis of the latest published scientific studies, we are issuing a Drug Safety Communication to inform health care providers, parents and caregivers of children younger than three years, and pregnant women in their third trimester, that the repeated or lengthy (more than three hours) use of general anesthetic and sedation drugs may adversely affect children’s developing brains.”

Better Safe Than Sorry

Anesthesia or sedation are medically necessary in many cases and generally considered safe. Low-risk patients see a death rate of 1 in 300,000. Common non-emergency cases of sedation or anesthesia in small children include abdominal issues; nose, ear, and throat conditions; and dental procedures. The use of general anesthesia in emergency situations cannot always be avoided. The new warning label required by the FDA is intended to raise awareness of the potential effects of anesthesia on brain development during its crucial development years.

Obstetricians Have Objections

As of right now, no one has taken issue with the warning labels in regards to children. Extending the warning to pregnant women in their third trimester, however, has been more controversial. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) registered their disapproval on the inclusion of pregnant women in this warning, claiming they are “…unaware of data on pregnant women that support the FDA’s claims. These warnings may cause patients and providers to inappropriately reject the use of these medically indicated drugs.” Both animal and human clinical trials were studied for the safety advisory, but the actual human trials were only done on children.

Developing Brains Should Avoid Unnecessary Sedation

Babies have amazing, malleable brains that are developing by leaps and bounds. It’s often hard to see how much they’re learning and developing until much later in life. A caution advisory like the one issued by the FDA is designed to preserve that activity. While the ACOG makes a good point considering the clinical studies did not specifically test human pregnant women, it’s hard to see why exercising caution and sedating pregnant women only when necessary is such an issue.

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Shaken Baby Syndrome – Child Abuse or Vaccine Injury?

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS, which is also known as abusive head trauma) is a diagnostic term for brain damage inflicted upon a baby or young child who has been violently shaken or thrown against an object. When a child presents with a subdural hematoma, retinal bleeding, and brain swelling, these three symptoms together are supposed to confirm the diagnosis.

The blood vessels in a young child’s brain are delicate. Their heads are large, and their necks are weak. When an infant or young child is violently shaken, the head jerks back and forth as the brain bashes against the inner wall of the skull, which can cause blood vessels to rupture and tears to form in brain and nerve tissue. Bleeding on the brain and swelling or bruising of the brain can occur, resulting in injury or death.

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There are about 1,300 reported cases of SBS in the U.S. per year. One in four of these babies dies from their injuries, while 80% of children who survive suffer lifelong disabilities.

There is, however, a rising concern that SBS is either over diagnosed, wrongly diagnosed, or an altogether non-scientific diagnosis.

Is SBS a Definitive Diagnosis?

In the last 15 years, the validity of the SBS diagnosis has come under fire with medical examiners, pediatricians, neurologists, other physicians, prosecutors, and judges reversing their belief that the classic triad for this diagnosis can only be due to child abuse.

The Washington Post reports that Gregory G. Davis, the chief medical examiner in Birmingham, Alabama and the board chairman of the National Association of Medical Examiners said:

You can’t necessarily prove [Shaken Baby Syndrome] one way or another — sort of like politics or religion. Neither side can point to compelling evidence and say, ‘We’re right and the other side is wrong.’ So instead, it goes to trial.”

The Washing Post also reports that the pediatric neurosurgeon, Norman Guthkelch, who…

…had a key role in the original hypothesis that led to Shaken Baby Syndrome. Now, he says the science is faulty and there should be an independent review of Shaken Baby convictions.”

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At trial, the outcome is swayed by the testimony of expert witnesses, the doctors who testify about the child’s symptoms, examination, and diagnosis. For many doctors, this diagnosis is ironclad. In their medical books, they were taught that presentation of the triad of symptoms is indicates SBS. That’s all there is to it, so that is what they say in court. But others are beginning to question the validity of the diagnostic criteria and the diagnosis itself. And some who question it are paying the price.

Dr. Wancy Squier

Physicians and scientists are supposed to keep an open mind. They know that science depends on keen observation and attention to detail. This observation and on-going questioning lead to fine-tuning diagnostics and to new discoveries. Sometimes new knowledge replaces earlier, widely accepted beliefs, especially the commonly held beliefs derived from textbooks. But when the impact of new hypotheses or the discovery of a mistake disrupts the status quo and places blame or liability on others, backlash can destroy a career.

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

Judy Mikovits Ph.D. dared to reveal her discovery that many of our vaccines are contaminated with a retrovirus that is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and autism. Rather than receiving recognition and accolades for her discovery, she was fired, arrested, and discredited.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield discovered a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, how the vaccine damages the gut microbiome. He publically advocated for discontinuation of the MMR, for replacing it with singular vaccines rather than the triple dose. For this, he lost his license to practice medicine.

In March of 2016, Dr. Wancy Squier, a world-renowned neuropathologist, lost her license to practice medicine (which the British call being “struck off the register”). The Medical Practitioners Tribunal of the General Medical Council, the same tribunal that revoked Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s license, determined that she lied and misled the courts due to her testimony that refutes the diagnostic criteria for SBS. She is currently appealing their ruling.

Due to her Dr. Squier’s testimony, a parent has been released from prison, her conviction overturned. Other parents were found not guilty of their charges. Their children presented with the triad of symptoms which normally guarantees a conviction, but Dr. Squier’s experience and research has convinced her that the SBS diagnosis is unscientific and unsupported. After studying all the literature she could find regarding SBS she says, “I have found nothing which satisfies me that there is any scientific foundation for it.”

More than 350 doctors have written letters of support to the British Medical Journal on Dr. Squier’s behalf. Three other British doctors who are skeptical about the SBS diagnosis who previously testified in the courts with similar testimonies are now afraid of the consequences. They no longer testify in civil or criminal cases regarding SBS for fear of losing their licenses.

Misguided Justice Leading Misdiagnoses

The very act of prosecution and plea bargaining has led to the legitimacy of the diagnosis. When innocent mothers, fathers, and caretakers take a plea, saying in effect that they did shake a child (when they didn’t) their “admission of guilt” validates the hypothesis that the classic triad of symptoms is proof of shaken baby syndrome.

For example, an innocent man is accused of murdering his girlfriend’s baby, an infant that presented with the classic triad. He repeatedly states that he is innocent, that he never shook or otherwise abused the child. But now, he is facing life in prison. His lawyer convinces him there is no hope for acquittal – the evidence is too great, too ironclad. The accused has to make a choice. Does he go to trial when his lawyer assures him there is a 97% or more chance that he will be convicted for a crime he did not commit and will spend the rest of his life in prison? Or does he plead guilty in order to strike a plea bargain with a reduced charge and a 10-year prison sentence with possible early release for good behavior? If these are his only choices, of course, he takes the deal. But his confession adds to the growing body of evidence that the triad of symptoms is caused by child abuse – even though no abuse ever occurred.

SBS Symptoms and Vaccine Injury

Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP detected a pattern when he was reviewing the pediatric records of four infants diagnosed with SDS. While looking for underlying medical conditions, he found intriguing similarities in the cases. Although the children were geographically distant from one another, they all had these things in common:

  • None were abused
  • All had complicated past histories
  • All had medical conditions that explained their symptoms (other than abuse)
  • All received the same three vaccines: Pediarix, HIB and Prevnar within three weeks of their apparent life-threatening event

Conclusion

While Dr. Squier fights for her license, there are a growing number of SBS convictions being overturned in the United States along with a rising concern that SBS cases, SIDS, and many cases of fractures are actually caused by vaccines. (Fractures can be due to vaccine induces rickets that causes soft bones). While the CDC and the FDA continue to deny the growing evidence of vaccine injury and death, many grieving parents who have lost their babies are serving time for crimes that never occurred.

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Considering Home Birth

Recently, a new article about hospital charges has been making the rounds on social media. A family received their bill for the birth of their child. Included in the itemized statement was a $39.35 fee for the mother to hold her baby immediately after his birth with skin-to-skin contact.

The official explanation that is given for charging a mother to hold her child is the need for an extra person to stand beside her to ensure the baby is not dropped (think C-Section cases, drugged up moms, etc.) While this may initially sound reasonable, when the high of finally meeting your little one wears off, that forty dollar charge can take on a different persona.

Skin-to-skin contact is incredibly beneficial for both the mother and baby. It helps baby regulate temperature, increases the odds for a healthy breastfeeding relationship, and reduces postpartum depression. It’s a simple act that could set up a successful mother and baby relationship, but not all hospitals are willing to offer it, even with a charge. That forty dollars is now a symbol of a standard of care that places money and legal liability before patient needs.

hospital-hold-the-baby-bill

So often we are unable to choose whether or not to go to the hospital. Hospitals provide a necessary and important service. For trauma care, there is no better place to be. But is this the case for childbirth?

Yes, hospital deliveries may be the best choice for a woman with a high-risk pregnancy, but home births are a viable option for women who are considered low-risk. Since statistics show the same or better outcomes for home births, what are the benefits from choosing a home birth? What is the downside?

The Upside

When women give birth at home with a trained midwife, they are less likely to experience birth interventions like episiotomies and fetal electronic monitoring. Mothers are less likely to suffer from postpartum hemorrhages, severe perineal tears, and infections. Comparison studies between planned home births and hospital births in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands (the industrialized country with the highest percentage of recorded home births) have found that home births compare positively to the hospital outcomes. Fewer births result in C-sections, and the mother’s health is often better.

A home birth also gives the mother more control and comfort in her surroundings. Being in your home where you are able to play the music you want, enjoy food and water at leisure, and chose whatever position is most comfortable and makes the most sense to you during birth can have an enormous impact psychologically and hormonally. Stress hormones can stop or impede a labor. In the hospital that opens the door to increasing amounts of obstetric intervention. Pain and stress that could be gently eased with a hot bath at home can be interpreted as a need for pitocin and increased fetal monitoring, which in turn increases the chances of complications.

Know Your Risks

Yes, home birth can be amazing, but it isn’t all sunshine and roses. Anyone interested in or considering a home birth needs to do their research.

Look at the risks frequently associated with home births and plan scenarios for how you would handle them. Frank discussions with your midwife are a necessity. There is the possibility that things will go wrong, and knowing the fastest route to the hospital can make a big difference in your birth outcome.

But Then That’s Me

I’ve always heard my mother say her her hips were too small, messed up, or weird whenever we talked about her birth experience. She even claims her doctors agreed. I even remember her making a comment (looking back, a wildly inappropriate one) about how my youngest sister had good hips for having kids, but I had inherited hers.

When I told her I was looking into homebirth, she seemed all for it. But then she started making comments about how she wished she could have given birth naturally but her babies were too big. After one discussion with a nurse friend who spends her time “praying for all the dead babies”, my mother spent the rest of my pregnancy frantically trying to talk me out of having a home birth. All I heard from her was a litany of ways my home birth was going to go wrong and how irresponsible my decision was when all that mattered was a healthy baby. Though I’m sure most women experience doubts and fears about home birth, my doubts and fears had taken physical form.

Here’s the kicker. After two healthy home births, I have to admit she was right about one thing – I had inherited her hips. Both of my labors were long and included painful back labor in spite of positioning exercises and various other attempts to avoid it. I had to contort into weird positions to coax the little ones out of the tunnel. I’m left to conclude that it’s just me and my weird ass pelvis. If I were an obstetrician in the hospital, I’d C-section someone like me if only for taking so damn long and refusing to let anyone touch me.

But that’s the problem with the way we currently treat birth in a modern medical setting. We’re no longer doing everything in our power to ensure the best possible emotional and physical outcome for baby and mother. We’re seeing a beautiful moment that has the potential to leave a woman feeling better about her bond with her baby, an act that can help combat post-partum depression, and reducing it to another extra charge on the hospital bill.

I keep thinking back on my children’s births, imagining how badly things could have gone in the hospital, and how glad I am that I chose to give birth at home. My children are perfect. I’m here, happy, healthy and above all empowered. I never participated in a standard of care that would have labeled me as flawed. Unlike my mother, I will not spend the rest of my life apologizing to my kids for my weird hips. As far as I’m concerned, they worked just fine.

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Plague– The Chronic Fatigue, Autism, Retrovirus and Vaccine Connection (a Book Review)

When we learn about scientists and their discoveries, we know nothing about them as people. We have no idea how they treat their peers, whether they grandstand, undercut their competition, throw their weight around, or honor the ethics of their profession.

In her book Plague, One Scientist’s Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Viruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Autism, and Other Diseases, (co-written by Kent Heckenlively, JD), Judy Mikovits PhD, pulls back the curtain and reveals the underbelly of the scientific community and how it closes ranks to protect corporate interests. When Mikovits’ made a discovery that threatened the system and the financial fabric that holds it together, her stellar career exploded. Efforts to discredit her included her being fired, arrested, and publically discredited.

At the time this fiasco came to pass, Judy Mikovits was a molecular biologist and biochemist with more than 30 years experience. She had authored approximately 50 publications. Her original professional focus was HIV and AIDS, but she had learned that there were many similarities between AIDS and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).

ME is a horrific disease, one that has been systematically minimalized by the healthcare system in the United States. It was named chronic fatigue syndrome by the CDC, though the name sounds much less serious than myalgic encephalomyelitis, the term used in Britain and elsewhere throughout much of the world. The medical community further diminished its seriousness by nicknaming it the yuppie flu. Doctors routinely dismissed patients’ suffering, labeling it as malingering or hypochondria, because they were told the disease was not real. But to many, ME is a devastating, life-altering disease.

As stated in Plague, “Patients suffer from a devastating cascade of symptoms rendering them ghosts of the people they once were; more than half become completely disabled, a quarter permanently bed-bound. Recovery is rare. Morbidity studies have demonstrated that ME patients are as ill as end-stage AIDS sufferers, advanced cancer patients, and people dying from congestive heart failure.”

The inconvenient truth Mikovits discovered as she delved into a thorough study of ME and its patients was “pervasive evidence” that a gammaretrovirus, XMRV, was present in 70% of ME patients and 4% of healthy controls. This retrovirus, a murine leukemia virus found in mice, had somehow jumped species. Mikovits presented evidence that this retrovirus was associated with ME, specific cancers, and autism. Her data indication that 10 million Americans were infected with this latent virus (though asymptomatic) and that the vehicle that infected so much of the population was vaccines. Once she made the association between vaccines and autism, her career was over.

Plague, One Scientist’s Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Viruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Autism, and Other Diseases is a highly informative read. It sounds horrible to say that the book is entertaining considering the subject matter, perhaps gripping and intriguing are better terms. This look into the personalities and politics of the scientific medical  community is in and of itself an eye-opening, worthy read. The information on the handling of chronic fatigue syndrome and the similar approach to the autism epidemic is vital information. The link with vaccines is world changing. We highly recommend the book.

Plague, One Scientist’s Intrepid Search for the Truth about Human Viruses and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Autism, and Other Diseases can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

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The Need for Stress Reduction in Gestational Hypertension

A significant increase  in blood volume (approximately 40-50%) naturally occurs during pregnancy to ensure there is an adequate blood supply to nourish the placenta, to protect the mother from going into shock during labour (due to excessive blood loss), and to provide a storage of fluids for breast milk production. This considerable increase often predisposes the pregnant mother to high blood pressure (hypertension) and excess swelling, especially around the feet and or ankles.

Pharmaceutical and natural diuretics decrease the body’s fluid volume, which may initially lower blood pressure due to a decrease in blood volume, but may reduce blood volume below the requirements for a healthy pregnancy, causing the kidneys to compensate by conserving fluids even more. This will consequently raise blood pressure once again and defy the purpose of taking diuretics in the first place. Therefore, a natural diuretic may be risky during pregnancy, especially if used concomitantly with hypertension medication.  I, therefore, do not give suggestions that may significantly lower the woman’s  blood pressure even more, particularly if she is already on blood pressure medication for hypertension,  as this may induce a hypotensive state (very low blood pressure) and pose a risk for mother and baby.

Instead, below I have made general suggestions to support stress management, optimal circulation, and blood vessel integrity.

Stress Management and Blood Pressure Regulation

  • During periods of stress, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated and prompts the blood vessels to constrict. Maternal stress in any form is, therefore, a risk factor for hypertension, especially if it continues over an extended period of time. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, and gentle physical exercise are all useful ways to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), which is associated with a healthy regulation of blood pressure. In short: when the body and mind are relaxed, muscles and capillaries relax and allow proper blood pressure regulation and blood circulation.
  • Emotional support and connection with loved ones are powerful strategies to induce a relaxed, stress-free state. She can make a daily practice of connecting with her partner for at least 10-15 minutes, with no phones or other disruptions. Over and above the cardiovascular benefits reaped from this habit, it may also ensure their foundation as a couple is strong when the little one arrives.

Promoting Circulation

  • Some foods and spices are associated with improved circulation: raw ginger, sunflower seeds, olive oil, cherries, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, and rosemary. Including these food sources regularly in meals and snacks may support circulation and also ensure the intake of a broad variety of nutrients to support the overall health of the mother and foetus.
  • If she is in a state of dehydration, the kidneys may compensate by retaining body fluids. 1.5-2 litres of water per day should ensure hydration during pregnancy.
  • Dry skin brushing from the feet upwards in clockwise circles is invigorating for the skin, improves overall blood circulation and prevents “pooling” of fluids in the lower legs.
  • Being sedentary for extended periods of time can impair circulation, especially if she sits on hard surfaces, which may impede blood flow from the lower legs upwards. Using a footrest while sitting on a chair to lift the feet in line with the hips may improve the blood flow from the lower legs to the rest of the body.
  • Gentle exercises tailored for pregnant women may be useful in stress management and also in mobilising fluids throughout her body.
  • Wearing loose-fitting flat shoes will improve comfort and reduce constrictions around the feet.

Supporting Blood Vessel Integrity

  • Throughout the day, pregnant women can enjoy the following drink: a cup of lukewarm water with juice of ½ a lemon, 1 teaspoon raw unfiltered honey, and 2-3 small pieces of raw ginger. Lemon juice contains citrate and vitamin C: nutrients associated with blood pressure regulation, improved circulation, and maintenance of arterial flexibility. Raw honey tends to have a relaxing effect on the arteries and ginger acts as a “warming” food to support circulation.
  • Maternal intake of omega 3 fatty acids in adequate amounts is essential for foetal development, but it also exhibits various cardio-protective properties for the mother: regulation of blood pressure, boosting circulation, reduced risk of thrombosis (blood clots), and increased arterial flexibility. A daily dose of high quality, purified fish oil supplement (with at least 1000mg EPA and DHA) is recommended during pregnancy.
About the Author:

Jeanne van Zyl is a qualified Dietary Educator (through CNELM), with a post-graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition. She is currently studying for an M.Sc. in Personalised Nutrition through Middlesex University. Jeanne also lectures in Nutrition for the group of colleges that includes CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine), in Europe, and CNH (College of Natural Health) in South Africa.



Why We Need Informed Consent for Vaccinations

We all love our children and want the absolute best for them. That’s why we research and read reviews on daycares, car seats, bouncers, highchairs, and toys. We scrutinize products from baby soap to diapers to sunscreen along with the food they eat. We just want them healthy and happy.

When it comes time for childhood vaccinations, are we doing the same research? Are we learning about what is in them and about the side effects and adverse reactions that can happen? Or do we blindly put our trust in our doctors, the CDC, and the FDA? Certainly, vaccines are not harmful, right?

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Well, data from the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) along with the National Childhood Injury Act of 1986 (NCVIA) tell us otherwise.

Informed Consent

The definition of informed consent is, “The permission granted in the knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.”  Being informed is having full knowledge of both the positive and negative side effects of any medical procedure or prescription – in other words, having and understanding all of the facts and possible outcomes.

  • When you go to the pediatrician or doctor’s office, do they go over the complete vaccine insert with you? If not, there is no possible way for you to give them informed consent to vaccinate.
  • Do they discuss the benefits and risks of the vaccine? If they don’t, you cannot give informed consent and they are not complying with the legal requirements put in place for vaccine providers. (Refer to the link in sources.)
  • Do they talk to you about the live viruses that could shed up to six weeks and longer? If not, you cannot give informed consent.

It is sad and scary that they can just hand you a brochure about all the “benefits” of the vaccines and think that you will be informed enough to give proper consent, especially if they do not disclose all of the relevant aspects of the vaccine. When you give doctors or nurses consent to vaccinate, you are acknowledging that if you or your child has a severe adverse reaction or dies, you will not be able to hold them legally accountable. The vaccine manufacturers, the medical professional who administered the vaccine, and the CDC will not take responsibility for any adverse effect that vaccines can cause. That is a sad reality and a very heavy truth.

The MMR sheds because it contains live viruses. If your child is vaccinated, your child can potentially infect other individuals even those who are already vaccinated. Vaccines are not 100% effective. The insert admits this. Did your pediatrician tell you about viral shedding? If not, once again, you did not give informed consent.

The chance of actually dying from the measles is microscopic compared to the chance of having a severe adverse reaction from the vaccine. In 2015, only 189 cases of measles were reported. Out of those 189 cases, there were zero deaths. In fact, there has not been a single death from the measles since 2003.

Sixty-seven percent of individuals who were admitted due to febrile seizures were linked to the MMR vaccine and seizures are just one of many possible adverse reactions. Another is encephalitis, swelling of the brain. This happens to 1 out of every 1000 who are vaccinated, and 50% of them end up with neurological brain issues.

In the first half of 2016, 57 deaths due to the MMR vaccine were reported, but we know these numbers are highly inaccurate. Only 1% to 10 % of doctors report vaccine adverse reactions to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System(VAERS), the program created to gather vaccine adverse reaction data and make it available to the public. (See link below.) Many do not recognize or acknowledge the connection between vaccine adverse reactions and the vaccine, even when a reaction occurs hours or days after the vaccine.

The media and medical professionals portray measles as a scary, horrible disease that always ends in death. That is simply not the case. Measles usually starts out with a mild to moderate fever, a cough, a runny nose, and a sore throat. Sometimes conjunctivitis is a symptom as well. After 2 to 3 days, the body breaks out in small red spots from the head down. While this is happening, the fever can rise as high as 104 to 105.8.

High fevers can scare us, especially if we don’t understand that fevers are good, that they are a sign that the immune system is working to fight off a virus. The increase in body temperature is the body’s reaction to kill the virus by making the body uninhabitable for the virus. (See link below.)

In the 50’s, catching the measles wasn’t a big deal. Kids were just happy to stay home from school.  Today, the pharmaceutical industry and vaccine manufacturers have indoctrinated the medical field to believe that measles is a horrific disease and refusal to vaccinate is one step away from signing your child’s death certificate. In reality, measles is usually nothing more than a scary looking rash and fever.

Related: Vaccine Articles

Think about it, what would you and your child rather have? Measles for a few uncomfortable days followed by natural immunity that lasts a lifetime or daily seizures from a vaccine that still may not guarantee 100% immunity? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, recommends vaccination with the MMR at 12-15 months and then again between the ages of 4-6, and again as an adult if your blood-work does not show immunity. How can they recommend a vaccine so many times when it has numerous adverse reactions and even death associated with them?

Vaccination Timeline Graphs

Did you know that the mortality of measles was almost 100% wiped out right before the measles vaccine was introduced? This 1900-1963 measles graph from the CDC tells us so. The measles vaccine was introduced in 1963.

CDC Graph Measles Death Rates

Then here we have the diphtheria graph. The diphtheria toxoid was licensed in 1923 and again, the decline of death from the disease had already started before the vaccine was introduced. 

CDC Diptheria Death Rates

We see the same thing happening with typhoid fever. The typhoid vaccine was introduced in 1914.

CDC Graph Thyphloid Death Rates

The FDA blows the whole “…un-vaccinated children give other children pertussis” argument out of the water. On their site, they say the following:

 This research suggests that although individuals immunized with an acellular pertussis vaccine may be protected from disease, they may still become infected with the bacteria without always getting sick and are able to spread infection to others, including young infants who are susceptible to pertussis disease.”

Read the link at the bottom to see what they have to say about the rising rates of pertussis, aka whooping cough.

Just like many other diseases, pertussis was already declining before the pertussis vaccine was licensed in 1949. Since the vaccine, cases are on the rise.

CDC Graph Pertussis Cases

The same thing again can be seen with polio. It was already nearly eradicated due to clean water and better sewer and sanitation systems. The vaccine was introduced in 1955.

CDC Graph Polio Cases

Ever since we started injecting the live virus back into people, there have been more outbreaks because vaccines contain the live viruses and those who are vaccinated shed the virus. The unvaccinated are being blamed for it, but how can that be? Healthy kids and adults don’t spread diseases because they simply don’t have any. Sick individuals who contain live viruses in their bodies are the ones who spread it to others. The data speaks the truth.

All of these diseases were declining at a rapid pace since the introduction of clean water, better sewer and sanitation systems, refrigeration systems, and better hygiene, but sadly, the CDC is taking extreme measures to have you believe that vaccines are responsible for the decline of diseases. Why? Because the vaccine industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with huge profit margins.

Dating back to 1880-1900, better sewer and sanitation systems were slowly being built across the states. Looking back at the 1850’s, they used clay for the sewer systems, which in turn caused poor coverage and many leaks in the pipeline. The degrading and primitive clay sewer system allowed sewage to leak out into the ground water that was then consumed by many citizens.

Polio is a disease spread by contaminated fecal matter. Once better sewer and sanitation systems were developed, polio started to decline before a vaccine was licensed and introduced.

By 1900, the importance of proper hygiene became known. It improved the lifespan by up to 6 years. This included not only washing hands but washing clothes as well, which took care of lice and vermin. Proper hygiene ended the typhoid epidemic.

Refrigeration systems were introduced in 1904. Refrigeration allowed food to be stored for longer periods without contamination.

The CDC graphs show that sewer, sanitation, and refrigeration systems were all introduced around the same time many diseases started their rapid decline. We were well on our way to the eradication of diseases before (and until) vaccines were introduced.

Healthcare physicians are taught to believe that vaccines are and always have been safe and effective. They were not taught to question the safety of them or what is in the vaccines.

Physicians’ textbooks are bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical industry. Every year the pharmaceutical companies spend $5 billion dollars in marketing. (See link below.)

If $5 billion dollars was spent in third world countries to build sanitation systems and provide access to clean water, widespread diseases would be dramatically decreased. Pharmaceutical companies do not want to eradicate disease. Without disease, they would lose their enormous profits.

Ingredients

Here are a few out of the many toxic ingredients found in vaccines. Did you know that there are aborted fetal cells in some vaccinations? It lists them in the vaccine inserts as MRC-5 and WI-38. Some also list it as human diploid cells. (See the CDC and NCBI link below.)

Glutaraldehyde

Glutaraldehyde is used as a sterilant and high-level disinfectant. It is so dangerous to those who work with it that they have to wear respirators, isolation gowns, gloves, eyewear, and sleeve protectors. If exposed, it can cause chronic asthma, constant itching of the eyes, rhinitis, dermatitis, and eczema. Not all reactions happen immediately. Studies show that reactions can be delayed from a few weeks to several years after exposure.

Polysorbate 80

Polysorbate 80 is a solubility agent found in ointments, creams, soaps, and common foods such as pickles and ice cream. It is a known carcinogen that can cause severe, non-immunologic anaphylactic shock, which means that it can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen. Scientists say any exposure to it can cause certain types of cancers.

2-phenoxyethanol

2-phenoxyethanol is used as an insecticide.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a neurotoxin linked to Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia as well as cancer.

Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a form of mercury. It is a known neurotoxin.

Phenol

Phenol is a germicidal agent that is highly toxic to the skin. It causes irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. If contacted orally, it can cause ongoing weight loss, vertigo, diarrhea, and blood and liver effects. In animals, it causes abnormal development in their offspring. Injecting phenol can cause the skin to rub off, motor weakness, sensory loss, tremors, convulsions, chest pain, shortness of breath and drowsiness, and more. When injected, phenol acts as a nerve block that temporarily destroys nerves.

Recombinant Human Albumin

Recombinant human albumin is a natural protein found in the body and taken from plasma and blood donators. It says not to mix it with any other types of blood or blood components, yet it is in a vaccine with fetal bovine serum. There are no studies to deem this safe and effective for pregnant woman or children younger than 12. Adverse reactions can include edema, tachycardia, fever, chills, vomiting and headaches. Since it is a blood product, there is also a small risk of the transmission of a viral disease. Fetal bovine serum is another name for fetal calf serum. It is the blood remaining after the natural coagulation and the removal of any remaining blood cells.

Other Ingredients

Other scary and toxic ingredients include, but are not limited to:

  • Potassium chloride, which can stop the heart
  • Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG). This can cause diabetes and is associated with dementia.
  • Sorbitol, which is said not to be injected
  • Sodium bicarbonate also known as baking soda.
  • Sodium borate, also known as Borax, which is used for insecticide and detergent. It is linked to seizures and convulsions.
  • Vero cells, which are cells from a monkey’s kidney.
  • Chick embryo cell cultures.
  • Embryonic guinea pig cultures.
  • Human lung cultures.
  • Antibiotics.

More about the vaccine ingredients can be found below and by reading vaccine inserts.

NVIC Act 1986

In 1986, the National Vaccination Information Center teamed up with Congress to come up with the National Childhood Injury Act of 1986 because far too many children were having adverse reactions and they didn’t want the manufacturers of the vaccines to be liable for any injury or death because the public’s trust in them would subside. In order to set this up, a percentage of every vaccine given is put into the fund. The vaccine manufacturer can no longer be sued even in cases of severe disability or death. The US Court of Claims has paid out $3 billion dollars to devastated vaccine injured victims, even though 2 out of 3 cases are denied compensation. (See link below.)

So how is it pharmaceutical companies and government agencies can claim vaccines are safe when people all around the world are having adverse reactions and even dying? Isn’t vaccinating your child like playing Russian Roulette since you have no way of knowing how their bodies will react to the heavy toxins?

Conclusion

We live in a time when IKEA dressers can be recalled due to 6 deaths, but vaccines continue to kill and maim both children and adults. We don’t recall the vaccines. Instead, our government claims they are safe, effective, and needed for the common good. They pass laws to mandate their use.

As long as pharmaceutical companies are allowed to wield their power over government regulatory agencies and the general practice of medicine as a whole, their profits will supersede public health. If we become informed – truly informed – will we continue to give consent, to place our children at risk of death or lifelong disability? 

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SIDS and SUID

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) or crib death are terms used to denote the unexplained death of a healthy, sleeping infant less than one year old. The CDC reports that in 2014, about 3,500 babies died from Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID). The three main types of deaths are:

  • SIDS – 44% of the cases – about 1,500 deaths
  • Unknown Cause- 31% about 1,085
  • Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed- 25% about 875

Unknown cause is described is differentiated from SIDS by not being consistent with or not meeting the diagnostic criteria.

Risk Factors for SIDS

Statistics show that age, sex, race, family history, birth weight, prematurity, multiple births, and environment can all increase the risk of a SIDS death.

SIDS is the leading cause of death for infants 1 month through 1 year of age, with months 2 and 3 being the most critical. Male babies are more likely to die of SIDS than female babies. African American, American Indian, and Eskimo babies are at higher risk. Premature babies, low birth weight babies, or babies from multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) are at higher risk, as are those with cousins or siblings who have died from SIDS.

Smoking in the home and mothers smoking during pregnancy elevate risk. Smoking is believed to affect an infant’s serotonin levels, which affects breathing and arousal.

Other maternal risks during pregnancy include the age of the mother (younger than 20), the use of drugs or alcohol, and inadequate prenatal care.

Many experts believe multiple factors combine to result in SIDS deaths such as physical issues (low birth weight, multiple births, genetics), sleep environment, and illness. For example, a child with a low birth weight may be placed in bed on his stomach when suffering from a cold. These three issues combine: underdeveloped breathing and arousal, poor sleep position, and congestion.

Sleeping Positions and Conditions

Researchers report a dramatic decline in SIDS deaths due to the “Back to Sleep” campaign – the campaign that has encouraged parents to place on infants on their backs rather than their stomach or side to sleep. The campaign began in 1992. By the year 2000, the SIDS rate dropped by 50% in what seemed to be a corresponding decline to the rising rates of parents adhering to the back-sleeping practice.

It is interesting to note that around a quarter of U.S. parents do not place their infants on their backs to sleep, while that number among African American parents is around 50%. The SIDS rate for African Americans is double that for Caucasians, raising the question: is the higher incidence is due to a genetic predisposition or is it due to the infant’s sleeping position?

It is more difficult for babies to breathe when they are laid down on their stomachs or on their sides. The difficulty or danger is further increased if the surface is soft or the baby’s head is covered by a blanket. When an infant is lying with his face pressed against a surface, the oxygen level is lower than unobstructed sleep. An infant normally moves, gasps, lifts his head and resettles. If the infant’s brain is defective in regards to either breathing or arousal, the infant will slowly suffocate. Overheating is believed to affect arousal ability as well.

Waterbeds, soft plushy quilts, bumper pads, pillows, and plush toys can add to any difficulty of breathing by obstructing the airway. To ensure unobstructed breathing, babies should be laid on their backs with pillows, toys, and plush blankets completely removed from the area. Once your baby is able to roll over (on both sides), sleep position is no longer an issue. If your baby rolls over onto her stomach, it is safe to leave her in this position.

Parents are warned to instruct caretakers, family members, or anyone caring for their child to follow these guidelines for safe sleeping.

Asphyxiation due to breathing or arousal abnormalities is not the only concern in SIDS cases. Cardiac function, control of inflammatory response, and genetic mutations are some of the concerns being researched.

Researchers do not agree on the association between vaccines and SIDS. While the CDC and a number of  studies claim there is no association, other studies show an arguable association between SIDS and the DTP vaccine. During the 1960s, the national immunization campaign required multiple doses of vaccines for the first time. SIDS became an identified medical term in 1969. SIDS was added to the ICD (The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems – the medical diagnostic classification manual) in 1973.

Co-Sleeping and SIDS

Read any article on SIDS and safe sleep practices and you will probably find a warning against co-sleeping (adults sharing a bed with their infant). The fear is that the infant will suffocate when the sleeping parent rolls over and puts weight on the infant or obstructs his or her airway. Other concerns are the infant being suffocated by pillows or by becoming wedged between the mattress and the wall or the mattress and the headboard.

Rather than recommending the child sleep in a separate room, the current recommendation by those who denounce co-sleeping is for the infant to sleep in a separate bed in the same room as the parents. Some suggest special cribs that are open to the bed on one side but provide a separate sleeping space.

Not all experts agree that co-sleeping is dangerous. Many studies suggest the opposite – that co-sleeping with a newborn actually helps the child regulate breathing, heart rate and body temperature, making sleep safer.

Both sides agree that parents who smoke, drink, or use drugs should never co-sleep with an infant. The danger of drinking or using drugs and co-sleeping cannot be emphasized enough, and this includes prescriptions drugs, antibiotics, over the counter drugs, and anything that can disrupt or impair the hormones, the brain, or sleep. SIDS deaths are higher on weekends and they spike on New Years Day – a 33% jump.

Another statistic worth noting – breastfed babies are 60% less likely to die from SIDS.

Conclusion

Like many issues, parents must make decisions for the safety of their babies. These decisions begin during gestation. There is clear evidence that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of SIDS as well as smoking around the baby after birth. Drug and alcohol use greatly increases the risk. Placing a baby on the stomach or side for sleep greatly increases the risk.

Parents must decide whether or not to co-sleep with their babies and whether to vaccinate or whether to follow the vaccine schedule if they do vaccinate. And mothers need to know all the facts before they decide on breast or bottle.

Unfortunately, as we evaluate the risks of vaccination and co-sleeping, conflicting studies will make these decisions more difficult. It is imperative for parents to consider the source as they do their own research and carefully review studies and articles about these issues before making their own decisions.

We at OLM do not recommend well vaccinated or medicated parents to cosleep with children. Cosleeping works when the people doing it are healthy. Anything that can disturb your natural hormones is dangerous with cosleeping. Eat right, don’t take drugs, avoid toxins, and nature works better. On that note, we also recommend non-toxic mattresses and bedding that do not emit harmful gasses, which many suspect can contribute (and possibly even cause) SIDS.

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