AUTISM CHILD BEHAVIOR

Before I start this ramble I want to make something very clear: I am , in no way, suggesting that children should not be immunized. I am also not suggesting that the decisions I make are the best for everybody.
I have been asked, numerous times, what I think about the "connection" between immunizations and autism so I figured I should use my blog to share my opinion. I will not post links to research , since it's all under ridicule anyway, and my views are separate from the opinions of the associations I represent.


In 2004, while pregnant with my second child, I was immunized for the MMR vaccine because my body was apparently not producing antibodies for these illnesses ( according to blood tests) and that , despite being immunized as a child, I needed to receive the immunization again.
Then, after the birth of my second son, I was told that I was still not producing antibodies to protect myself from these illnesses. So as a nursing mother I received yet another dose of the MMR vaccine.
By the time my second son was 18 months , he was completely up to date on his vaccines, including his own doses of the MMR. It was shortly after his 18 month needles that he suddenly began to regress in development.

Did my doses of MMR pass through to Avery via pregnancy and then breast milk? I don't know. Do I think the extra MMR CAUSED the autism? I don't know.
Do I think there is a link between the immunizations and autism? Most definitely! My personal hypothesis is this: if a child is genetically pre - disposed to autism ( family history or unknown family history) then I feel that something in the immunizations COULD cause a reaction that makes autism much more likely. Would my two boys who are on the autism spectrum be autistic without the vaccines? I really don't know and I don't like thinking about it.
I think they had a good chance of it considering some family medical background and I know that the 2 who are immunized have autism and the two that aren't don't show any signs of it at present.

I don't have all the answers , I just know how I feel and I hope that in future years my children and grandchildren will have more solid research at their disposal.

In the meantime, I usually tell parents to follow their gut instincts. If it's possible to space out the immunizations so that you can isolate each one individually and see if there are reactions then I highly suggest doing this and many family doctors and specialists recommend this as well.

I was actually told by ALL of the specialists that work with my boys ( doctors, pediatricians and neurologist) to not immunize my other children until more was known via indisputable research.

What do I think of current stories about the initial research being bogus and that the new research can be trusted? I am waiting for more concrete studies to be done by people not funded by the manufacturers of the immunizations. It also scares me that laws are passing in the USA that say people can't sue anybody if there is an injury resulting from an immunization.

Don't take what I say as reason to change your plans as a parent. Do your own research and do what makes sense for your family. Just as I don't expect you to be able to change my mind on this matter, I don't presume that I have the ability ( or the right) to change yours.

Thank you to those that have asked this question and thank you for taking the time to read my ramble answer :)