When my first son was a baby (8 years ago) the vaccine did not exist. I now have a 5 month old and I had him vaccinated. I am feeling very regretful about it, and wish that I would have done more research. He has had both doses of Rotarix, one a 2 months and one at 4 months. I am not sure if this is related, but for the past month or so his BM schedule has been really off. He will go 2 or 3 days without one and then when he does go, it is explosive and runny. And a lot of it! He is breastfed exclusively. Also, he kicks and squirms around in the early morning like his belly hurts, and he won't nurse during this time. He does this every morning!
Has anyone had a child that had side effects from the Rotarix vaccine? Does it cause abdominal problems? Does my son's BM schedule seem like it is related to the vaccine? Any thoughts are appreciated.
Never had a problem with my 2 kids getting it and I'm SO glad they got the vaccine. DD is almost 4 and DS is 15 months and they have never really gotten a bad stomach bug...I can remember my brother having it when we were little and it was just HORRIBLE! So glad to be able to prevent it.
I'm sorry. I did decline that vaccine for my daughter. BUT it must be common to have side effects like you are describing because my daughter actually CAUGHT rotavirus from her cousin a few days after he was vaccinated. They can be contagious after the vaccine if you are exposed to their diarhhea. Her son had explosive and (what I call ROTA BOMB poop when she was over for a playdate after his vax). In general, I don't trust any new vaccine. The pharma industry is out for money and uses our kids as their guinea pigs when vaccines are new.
Both my girls had it. Neither had any side effects. It doesn't sound like a side effect of the vaccine to me. Most of the time the side effects clear with in a few days to a few weeks after the vaccine is given.
As babies grow and change, so their schedules. Of course his BM is watery, he doesn't eat any solid foods yet. My oldest was exculsively breastfed and she only pooped once a week. When she did, she pooped ALL day long! My youngest was exclusively breastfed and she pooped every day.
The symptoms you are talking about sound a lot more like gas than rotovirus. You can try a few simple things. Bring his knees up into his chest about 10 times when you notice hims squirming, it helps release gas. Try baby massage. Mylicon drops works wonders on a gassy baby too.
Make sure he's not gulping too much air when he's nursing too. Sometimes as babies get older, their latch changes, especially if he's getting more curious as he nurses. My girls were both easily distracted at about that age.
If you're really concerned, call the pediatrician. That's what they're there for!
My daughter had the first dose of this but had an immediate reaction to it and we will never do it again. This seems like a long time to be still having some kind of reaction to a vaccine. I would call your doctor and maybe discuss with him/her. What your describing sounds like just plain old gas to me. Has your diet changed at all? What you are eating can directly effect your baby since he's EBF.
My son didn't have it, he's actually vaccine free based on some very thought out decisions and considerations of risk factors. However, what you're describing sounds like symptoms of rotavirus-which isn't deadly if treated early and breastfeeding is a huge guard against catching it in the first place, but I would check with the doctor asap for sure!
Hope he feels better soon and BM returns to normal.
If you are concerned, call your doctor.
I would get that vaccine in a heartbeat if they'd had it when our kids were younger. Our oldest got rotavirus when he was two and it was horrible, horrible, horrible. Severe diarrhea for two weeks straight. His bottom was inflamed and he was so uncomfortable. Two weeks off of work changing diarrhea diapers every half hour and watching your child deal with rotavirus is no fun.
Kids have goofy poop schedules when they're little, so I wouldn't necessarily tie it to the vaccine. Our kids had poop explosions. They happen. If you're concerned, you can always ask the doctor's office for advice.
My son contracted rotavirus from the vaccine when he got it. It was horrible. He had about 15-20 nasty watery diarrhea diapers a day for 2 weeks. He had to go to the hospital and get IV's cause he was so dehydrated. I have a 3 month old daughter and Im not letting her get the vaccine just because of the bad experience I had with my son.
That does not sound like a reaction to the vaccine.
It's normal for breastfed babies to only poop every few das some go a week in-between. It could be something you are eating tha is causing the gas/discomfort try cutting out dairy from your diet.
My son had a TERRIBLE reaction to this very vaccine. Fever, fussy, gassy, irregular bm's and he actually had blood in his stool. There is a side effect of this vaccine called intussuception. Which is basically where one part of the bowel rolls over the other and causes bowel obstruction... and can be very serious. (my son didn't have that thank goodness) but he was not even the same baby following the weeks of this vaccination. I thank God that he fully recovered. This one is very new. Already one brand of Rotavirus vaccine has been pulled off the market and in May 2010 of Rotarix was recalled due to contamination with a pig virus. Also, keep in mind this vaccine only creates antibodies for rotavirus. It won't keep your son from getting any other virus or having diarrhea from any other strain of virus.
I, too, had regrets for getting my son this vaccine, but all you can do is move forward and just research other vaccines. We do the best we can with the info we have at the time:-) I hope your little one feels better soon!
Both my kids now 4 and 3 had it, and I was nervous as it was "new", but thankful as it all worked out fine and ultimately very happy I did it. No side effects. Did you ask you Dr. if this could be related? Many things can effect his BM - could it be something you are eating that is different? You could try to give him so probiotics - from the healthfood store - powder form that you can mix in his BM (if he takes it from a bottle) to balance out his digestive tract.
A.S.---You can look at www.nvic.org to see what kinds of side-effects have been reported. You can also learn more about the pros and cons of different vaccines. I am not anti-vaccine but I do think there are some things that don't need vaccinations, chicken pox for example (must more effective immunity when actually acquired, and safer too) and that there are too many given at one time.
Dr. Jim Sears has written a book offering an alternative vaccine schedule.
Who know how any one person will react to anything. Some of us are more vulnerable than others. Good luck with your investigation. Oh, and if you would like to know how to strengthen and balance your family's immune system so that it is capable of protecting itself, just let me know. I am taking a series of Wellness classes taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. I've got lots and lots of reports and research studies as well as recipe ideas and serving size recommendations/charts for all ages. It would be my honor to share. Be well, D.
