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![Queensland Health](https://cdn.mamamia.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/27155820/amazing-mary-150x150.png)
Seven months ago I gave birth to my third child, a beautiful girl. Before she was born I remember sitting in my kitchen, huge pregnant belly in front of me, sobbing as I read about baby Riley, who tragically died after being infected with whooping cough. I just couldn’t imagine. I didn’t want to imagine.
Perhaps it was the pregnancy hormones but at the time I was at home recovering after spending close on two weeks in hospital battling meningitis. Not fun at the best of times. Even more scary while pregnant.
I have always been so protective of my children when it comes to vaccinating on time and while I know there is no vaccination for a virus like meningitis, it did make me aware of just how easily these diseases can spread.
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