Toward the end of my pregnancy, one of the (many) things my husband and I discussed and researched was whether or not we would allow our baby to be vaccinated.

We had friends with strong feelings on both sides of the fence. Many in the holistic community felt that most, if not all, vaccinations for children were not only archaic, but dangerous. I heard and read about how vaccines can damage children's immune systems, cause allergic reactions and have even been linked to conditions such as autism and MS. Scary stuff. 

On the other hand, we had friends who felt very strongly that not only were vaccinations completely safe and effective, they were potentially life-saving. 

There was certainly much to consider.

OMG. Is there anything worse than having to take your baby to the doctor to get a round of shots? Even though we all know getting their scheduled immunizations is necessary to maintain their health, it still breaks every mom's heart to watch her precious baby get poked with a needle and burst into tears.

I can remember just how much I dreaded the doctor's visits when my son got his vaccines, and there were plenty of times that I almost cried even harder than he did.

I would've done anything to take the pain away from him, just as I'm sure all moms would.

And that's why it's pretty interesting to hear that sugar may help comfort babies while they're receiving their shots.

During your pregnancy, it's important to follow your doctor's orders to ensure that you're doing everything possible to maintain your own health -- and the health of your baby.

And now that the World Health Organization is saying that pregnant women should be given top priority for flu vaccinations, the question over whether or not to get one really shouldn't be an issue anymore.

You HAVE to.

For many moms and dads, the choice of whether or not to vaccinate is a complicated one. It shouldn't be. But the fact is some flawed scientific studies and a lot of paranoia have led to fewer parents vaccinating. And these people aren't necessarily who you would think.

A joint survey between CafeMom and Parade revealed the views of many parents when it comes to vaccination, and there were some big surprises. For instance, only 47 percent of our respondents claimed they follow their pediatrician's advice all the time and another 43 percent said they only trust their pediatrician a little or not at all.

That's pretty stunning when you think about it. How can you possibly work with a pediatrician you don't trust? Is this paranoia? Or are these parents right? See some comments from the survey below:

I value my pediatrician's advice, but I don't always do as he has suggested. I make informed decisions and to some extent, I also trust my instincts. My kids are vaccinated on a slightly modified schedule and there are seasonal vaccinations that we say no to. There are risks with every vaccine, just as there are risks with not getting vaccinated, which is why I believe parents should have the right to choose to vax their children or not.

Vaccinations shouldn't be forced upon us by doctors or the government -- it should be up to the parent. Philosophical exemptions should be allowed for every school, public and private.

Maybe some people will think I'm living on the wild side, but my selectively vaccinated kids hang out with kids who have never been vaccinated. I'm not worried about any of us catching the plague. I happily invite the no vax kids into my home and I'm more than pleased when I get an invite to their house. I'm not the type to drop my jaw if my kid takes a sip of another kid's sippy unless of course that kid is foaming at the mouth and has eyes that look like rabies. And if someone we know comes down with some forsaken disease, we're not going to go roll around in their blankets. We'll simply wait the time for whatever they have to go away so we can resume our playdates. I'm not the Chicken Pox-lollipop sharing kind, but I'm also not going to judge you if you're into that. If you want our sick-laced candies, I'll share.

Still, that 'wild side' I'm living on -- the one who mingles with the no vax -- freaks many parents out. 

Okay parents, we are re-opening the vaccinations debate. Are you ready? This time it's "shot-limited schedules." Researchers from the Oregon Health Authority say that more and more parents in Oregon are using alternative vaccination schedules that reduce the number of shots their children receive at one time. In other words, they're getting some of those shots on a delayed schedule.

This practice could be putting those children -- and their peers -- at greater risks for diseases.

And it's not just Oregon kids. I know that here in Brooklyn shot-limited schedules are very popular. Parents are trying to take back control over their kids' vaccinations. But do we really know enough to do that?

I can't be the only mom who heaved a giant sigh of relief after her kid's 4-year check-up with the pediatrician. Aside from the yearly flu shot, we were looking at no more vaccines for a good long while, and she was safe from all sorts of nasty diseases. And then the CDC had to go ahead and release a vaccination report today that makes me want to run straight into my daughter's first grade classroom, throw a surgical mask on her, and run out with her in my arms.

Turns out pediatricians' offices aren't necessarily storing vaccines correctly. So ... there goes all my faith that showing up at every well child visit was enough to keep my kid safe. How about yours?