Meeting with a new dr today

[Mommylemke]

I have a consultation with a new pediatrician today! I'm really nervous... I found her name on the non-vax friendly drs website, but I'm still scared she's going to be a vax pusher! I have 4 kids the first 3 I vaccinated and never even questioned it, but in October my oldest ( he's 4) was diagnosed with autism so I started researching and did not like what I found. My youngest just had her 2 month check yesterday and the dr basically told me she wouldn't be our pedi if I don't vax and claimed I was putting my daughter and everyone else at risk! I was so mad, but I knew this would be her reaction which is why I already set up this consult for today. She also told me I HAD to come back in 2 wks for her shots ... Which I won't do so I feel like I have 2 wks to find a new pedi for my kids. Any advice for my consultation? Are there any questions I should make sure to ask? Im new to this and quite frankly it scares the hell outta me!

[emmy526]

didn't you call the office first to find out their policies before you made the appt for a consult?  sometimes the list is outdated and drs change their policies.  

Good luck, and i hope all goes well.  if not, i'm sure we will hear about it.  

[kitty8199]

I just called until I found one that said they were ok with it. I would also report your dr to the med board for telling you that you HAVE to do something that requires "informed" consent, and you already declined.

[Ichthus]

I vaxed my first two through their 2y.o. shots. A friend encouraged me to research it, and I decided to stop before my third as born. I was pretty freaked out by my decision also and didn't even give my current ped a chance to discuss it. I switched all my kids to a dr. who was on Dr. Sear's website. I visited for a consult and she said she was okay with nonvax families, but when I took my baby into her first visit she told me to read Dr. Sears' book and I felt very pressured to change my mind. I'm thinking of switching my kids back to the old ped who I have found out is actually nonconfrontational about nonvax families. I have a friend who was escorted out of the ped's office b/c she refused to vaccinate. "The Doctors" show did an episode on this. I say if the doctor doesn't want to support your decision as the parent than you don't want him/her as your doctor anyway. If I were to visit a dr for the first time again, I would have a list in front of me with all the reasons I have decided not to vaccinate my children. Be clear about what you are looking for in a dr. Have that written down also. If the dr makes you feel uncomfortable at all, I would continue to look for another dr. Do you have any friends in your area who don't vax? Ask around to see if any of them have a dr they recommend.

[princessmara]

Have you thought about taking your kids to a family doctor instead of a pediatrician?  After going through several peds with my daughter and having a talk with my doctor about my beliefs (she shocked me and said "I don't think vaccines are so great anyway")  I started taking my daughter to my doctor.  Family doctors are usually more accepting of your parental choices, and their bread and butter doens't come from the vaccine makers.