Autism VS MMR

"Should i give this kind of vaccination to my baby on schedule, later or never?" this question has been haunted me eversince our last visit to the pediatrician, after we settle back again in Batam, after Jakarta long holiday. The doctor said that Belle,10 months old at that time didn't need to take immunization for campak (measles), supposed to be taken when she was 9 mths old. His reason was because this kind of shot (campak) only prevent from a disease (perhaps different kind of measles, local measles?) that most likely infect children with poor intact of nutrition. Having consider that Belle is well maintained (Thanks God) and has had adequate nutrition, he said that this campak vaccin is not really necessary, as we skipped it anyway. Therefore, he suggested straight away to give Belle MMR next month when she reach 12 mths old.

MMR has became a big issue these last decade when someone suspect that this kind of immunization can caused autism to a child. I heard about this quite a long time ago but never take too serious concern until now, when we have to decide whether to give the vaccine or wait til later. I did the goggling and seek for advice, opinion from friends and some health mailing list i joined. And the result for this re-researching was i becoming more confuse. Out of 10 people that i asked for opinion, 9 of them said that they wait until their child big enough (2 or 3 years old) and already walk and talk fluently. Honestly i didn't feel that I'm 100% agree with their advice.

MMR schedule for babies between age 15-18 mths old, in Indonesia. Even in Australia and other countries It schedule earlier: for 12 mths old babies. So, I think it will be very risky if i have to wait that long and also the possibility that my baby can be contagious with either Measles, Mumps or Rubella will be greater. I also found out that autism, actually can be detected as early as when the baby is 10 mths old, even 6 mths old. The reasons why parents nowadays becoming (too) worry are because autism has been known or similar as speech delay ability in children. Whilst, autism the symptoms actually more vary and different than that.

I did the goggling again and found this useful info about some symptoms or guideline whether your baby has autism or not:

By 2 to 3 months, your baby is not making eye contact.
* By 3 months, not smiling at you and recognize the sound of your voice.
* By 6 months, no laughing or giggling
* By 9 months, no babbling.
* By 1 year, not recognizing when you call his name
* By 1 year, showing disregard for vocalizations, but has a keen awareness of environmental sounds.
* By 1 year, no back-and-forth communications with you.
* By 16 months, no words.
* By 18 months, not pointing to things that interest him.
* By 24 months, no two-word meaningful phrases.

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In memoriam: Ancillo Dominic

Today i just read a very sad yet inspiring story of a mom, telling about her unborn baby that has been verdict by doctor as Anencephaly. This is a very rare case neural tube defect that occurs when the cephalic / head end of the neural tube fails to close, usually between the 23rd and 26th day of pregnancy*) and normally both parents and doctor simply decide to get rid of the fetus, because soon or later the annecephalic babies cannot survive. If its not stillborn, then the baby will usually die moments after birth.

However, what made me surprise and impress... the doctor whose found out about this case through USG (on week 17th) encourage the parents, especially mom, to keep the baby. He refuse to do abortion and let the baby alive until 'it's time for him (it's a boy) to go' He believe that God has His own time. And also doctor said that if the parents willing to keep the baby (means continue the pregnancy) the baby will thank them later and wait for them in heaven. Both mom and dad to be cry but finally they decide to keep the baby. I know it was never be an easy decision for them to made, as i remember when i was still pregnant... every month we go to doctor for check up or USG, both of us feel anxious but worry. We need to make sure that the baby OK, normal and complete but on the other hand we also afraid... what if the baby not OK? what if something bad happen? I don't think (If put in the same situation with Yenny back then) I have the courage to make that brave decision.They named the baby "Ancillo Dominic" and the mom (Yenny) continue to love this infant as much as before, give him nutricion, talk to him and still hope and pray for miracle to happen. When they hear about a preach that can bring death to alive, they almost come to the man but then they didn't go, as the husband said "Only Jesus can bring death to alive, So to Him we must bring ourself closer." The pregnancy went well, the baby seems very happy inside (He gain weight and other than his cephalic abnormality, everything were completely perfect). Ancillo was born naturally on his mom's 41st of pregnancy in a very long process of labor. He was born in upside down position and just when doctor pull his out, baby already gone. :(

To read the complete story, click this link below:

http://ekklesiachurch.wordpress.com/kesaksian/in-memoriam-ancillo-dominic/

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Wonderful weekend with my baby girl

Today i accompany Belle to sunday school after quite a long time i didn't do it and just hear some 'report' from her nanny about her behaviour at class. I took Belle to sunday school for the first time when she was only 3.5 months old. She just sit on my lap and mostly sleep half way of the sunday school (It start at 8AM, exactly the time for her morning nap at that time), but gradually she began to more and more interactive and since 5 month old she didn't sleep in the class anymore :p (The class is categorize for children under 3 years old)

And here i am, i felt glad with all her progress. She is now can sing a long, dance and tried to jump2 and get so excited when the teacher teach the class singing a happy song.

Surprisingly, she always pay full attention to whatever the sunday school teachers (there are more than 3 of them) said or command the children to do. Only several times she get a bit bored or distracted when her other little friends eat something (of course she wants to eat too) or drink milk from bottle (she also wants to drink, eventhough i only give her water) or when she see other mommy's bag just lay on the floor near her, she tried to grab it (She love bags!! :p). But overall, she behave really good. I am really proud of her.

On this opportunity, i also talk to one of the teacher, ask permission to celebrate Belle's birthday next month. I can't wait for that day to come :)

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Conceiving a baby boy by having a 'Boy Diet'

Conceive baby boy by changing your diet before you conceive, and maintaining a certain kind of diet during your pregnancy!

Sounds like one of those outlandish old wives' tales? Not quite!

Scientists now seem to agree that there is a possible link between what you eat and which gender you'll conceive.

Pregnant women on high calorie diet are more likely to have a baby boy! Also, eating food rich in nutrients such as potassium and calcium, and vitamins C, D and B12 seems to upper your chance of conceiving a baby boy!

Where those conclusions came from? Actually, it's from a new research done at the universities of Exeter and Oxford. The scientists examined the diets of a large number of first-time mothers and found that those who ate a higher number of calories were more likely to conceive with a boy!

Among women with the highest calorie intake before pregnancy - 56 percent had boys.

Women who had boys also ate an additional 300 mg of potassium daily!

Don't you have an urge now to go and eat a banana?:)

It has been speculated for the last 30 years in the scientistic world that the diet of a mother could predict the gender of a baby. There has been enough evidence that diet in mammals can affect the sex of their offspring. Namely, a lot of mammals when well fed produce more boys, while in starvation situation there are more girls than boys being born.

Seems like there are more nutrients needed to conceive a boy rather than a girl& In any case: now you have one more reason not to skip breakfast!:) Especially when you hear this next piece of statistics: Eat at least one bowl of breakfast cereal daily and you will have a 87 percent more chance that you'll conceive a baby boy!

So, treat yourself with an additional serving of steak with potatoes and have a piece of cake:)

But don't overdo it! Never forget that proper nutrition is essentially important for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Whatever gender that baby will be!



For more information, visit this link (a blog for the mothers-to-be who would like to have a baby boy!)

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Sleep...my baby sleep... (II)

Last night and a few nights before, Belle kept waking up at around 2AM. Normally she just woke up once (or maximum twice) at night and demand for breastfeed, we're now trying to change this habit by giving her water only but i do it gradually. But last night she was look very alert when she called me from her cot (which laid beside our bed), standing and bouncing up and smiling while holding her monkey doll. The funny thing was, she grab the monkey tail and push it down as if almost to drop it then she began to call me, when i open my eyes lazily and look at her, then she start to drop the monkey and then laughing away. I know for sure if get the monkey and give back to her, it will be a never ending game that will lasts till morning :p So i just ignore her and demand her to sleep.

After 5 minutes she began to scream and cry, i check and find out that her nappy has to be change. Changing nappy in the middle of the night was one thing that really made her frustated, coz she already expect that i'm going to play with her. But as soon as i put her on our bed and open her PJ's and nappy, she protested and scream really loud.

Then after everything done, she look at her dad and began to grin, crawl to grab daddy's hair and pat his hand. But daddy lay still, not even open his eyes. only touch Belle's cheek and doze off back to sleep. I look at the clock, it was still 2.30AM in the morning, so i talk to her and look directly to her eyes,"Listen young lady, it's still midnight and everyone still sleeping. You go back to sleep or play by yourself okay?" Surprisingly, she didn't protest when i put her back to her cot, she didn't stand up nor sit down. I lay myself down and listen. At first, Belle still babbling and babbling (when i peek, she was surrounded by all her 'friends' Bunny, monkey, kangaroo, little bug all have a little morning chit chat ith her :p) Not long, she began to whimper a little then suddenly the bedroom became silent. She was fell asleep on her chest, her left hand still grabbing bunny's long ear.

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