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August 17, 1999

Australian Vaccinations

To the editor,

I was just reading your poll on vaccination. I am from Australia and here immunisation (as we call it) is compulsory; if you do not immunise your child they may not be allowed to attend daycare or school, unless you can prove that your child will get ill from receiving the immunisation.

I would also like to point out that immunisation is also free in Australia. I would also like to say that the chance of your child getting adverse affects from it is very rare here in Australia. I'm not sure what it is like in America. I just thought you might like to know what the immunistation requiments are in other countries. These are the things that we immunise for: diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, hib meningitis and epiglottitis, polio, measles mumps and rubella. We also have immunisation for hepB and tuberculosis but only if at risk, e.g. if going overseas.

Thank you for your time. I really enjoy your Web site. I have three children and I am due for our fourth on 24 September.

Regards,

Natalie

Larger Babies and Cesareans

I am writing to comment on the story on larger babies and C-sections. I gave birth to an 11 pounds, 3 ounces, 23.5 inch baby girl vaginally. The midwife had no clue how big she was. I think I really needed a C-section, but luckily everything turned out okay. I just wanted to share that with you and to tell you that article was great. Keep up the good work.

Heather Nalley

Story Request

Love your sight. I would love to read more stories of 38-year-old women pregnant with their second, or in my case, third child. My labor with my second was four hours. Can I expect the same or less with this one? It has been 13 years since my last pregnancy!

Thanks for the Web site,

Debbie

Strange Terms?

Help! I'm 20 weeks and just found your Web site. I enjoy reading all of the different things you've put up. I find a lot of it very informative. The only problem is half the time I don't know what people are talking about. For instance, what does DH stand for? I see it everywhere. And what does TTC stand for? I think it would be helpful if you had a spot where we "new folks" could go to find out what all of these abbreviations mean.

Thanks for all the help. As a first-timer, I'm sure going to need it. Keep up the great work!

Stacy K.

Editor's Note: DH stands for Dear Husband and TTC stands for Trying To Conceive. For more definitions, see our Abbreviations Guide

PT Cover Model

That was me on the main page of Pregnancy Today last week! That is one of my favorite pregnant pictures. My girls had so much fun that night decorating my belly with stickers. Poor little Spencer was already being tormented by his big sisters. They actually adore him and cannot seem to get enough of him.

I was just reading the article "Nap Shots" by Debbie Farmer. She is just like me. I love to take pictures constantly, and video, too. My middle child just started Kindergarten this week. I cannot tell you how many pictures I took that morning. I even took a picture of her in bed the night before the first day of Kindergarten. My husband could not believe it. I told him that I had to keep up the tradition because I took a picture of our first daughter in bed the night before she went to Kindergarten. I am just as crazy about taking video too.

Thanks again,

Kim Garrett

An Update From Mary and Her Twins

Elisa,

I just thought you might want to see a picture of Andy and Gracie. They finally came home from the hospital on August 7th and are doing great! No monitors, no known medical problems! Andy is weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces and Gracie is weighing 4 pounds, 1 ounce. They are sleeping in three-to-four hour shifts and eating a couple ounces of formula each time!

Mary's Twins We are adjusting to parent life -- my my! Very busy! I'm getting used to having to be functional in the middle of the night and am finding it a challenge, but one I gladly take on. My 75-day hospitalization, with the kids' 17-day hospitalization, was well worth each stressful day! I could not have imagined how incredible it would be to see my babies sleeping in their father's arms, or looking up at me. It's all such an incredible miracle. When we left the hospital, we ran into our doctor. He got kind of choked up and said, "I can't believe you are leaving with two babies..." None of us can believe it, but we are SO grateful!

Thanks to you and all your subscribers for offering constant support throughout our ordeal. I don't think your readers have any idea how much I appreciated their support. They were a life line! Best wishes to you!

Mary and Troy, Andy and Gracie


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