U.S- vitamin k shot and eye goop (and other questions)

[MonstHer]

What is your experience with the vit k shot and that weird looking eye stuff they give the baby?
Are they both mandatory? Ive heard things about luekemia and the vit k shot...
Also, what else besides the hep b vaccine will they be trying to give my baby?
How do they take the blood for testing? Just a prick, or like vials?
Can i make them prolong the cord clamping?
I hate this....

 

[lynnikins]

im not from the US but they either test the cord blood or take a heel prick to test, the vit K shot should be compeltely optional and the eye gunk as well unless you have an infection theres no reason for the eye gunk.

 

[MonstHer]

In a lot of states the vit k shot IS mandatory. i am having trouble finding information though, because I'll be overseas in a military hospital. The lady on the phone said mandatory, but I want it in writing! There's got to be some sort of waiver...

 

[ciarhwyfar]

After discussing it with one of our doctors, we decided to go with the vitamin K shot and the antibiotic cream for the eyes. We declined any and all immunizations until she was six months old. Talk to a doctor about the vitamin K and eye cream if you are concerned about it. Hep B is supposed to be mandatory as well but we refused all the same.

Our child (still) isn't in day care, was breastfed until 18 months, and didn't have any health issues. She also received fewer amounts of shots because we waited until six months to start. Babies don't develop their own immune system until around then so they give more shots in the series. Please do not take my word for it though. Do your own research so that you can come to an informed decision. My situation and my child's possible exposure levels may be different than for you.

 

[7th_heaven]

We decline all and have no problem. Some nurses occassionally give is grief but that is the extent of it.
With my sister in Alabama they were constantly giving her grief about no vitamin k- I think bc it was her first.
About blood tests- what tests do you need run? I didn't know there was a mandatory blood test. We have a genetic blood disorder in my family so I request fetal blood draw from the cord. They place two clamps, one close to placenta and on close to baby- they will have enough blood between the two- discuss this with your CP as they will be in charge of this.
Re: delayed cord cutting discuss that with your CP as well- if you just say- "delay it until pulsing stops" they should be able to do that- no problem. Of course if the cord is too short or any other special issues they may just cut it- in which case you have to be open to that. Picking a cp you trust is crucial. If they aren't willing to give you autonmy(informed consent and follow your choices) then find another CP.
It's not too late. Sometimes the ICAN in your area will have a list of CPs that will give you autonmy.

 

[goddess25]

Its all optional. I chose to give the Vitamin K shot with both kids as I have seen kids with coagulation issues post birth, I did not get the eye ointment because if you have not got any infection then baby wont need it. The blood test is a tiny prick in there heel and they just keep squeezing it to fill up these circles in some card. I got this because if anything was picked up they are quite easy to treat. Just research each one and decide before you go.

 

[7th_heaven]

The HepB vax is a joke though. HepB is spread Through blood and semen right?
When is a nb going to get involved with dirty needles or sex?

 

[HarliRexx]

I live in PA and none of it (eye cream, vit k, hep b vax) is required. OB said there wasn't much advantage to delaying cord clamping in a term baby but was ok with waiting the minimum 90 sec to 2 min that I wanted. You seem to have a pretty unique situation as you will be birthing in an overseas military hospital. Good luck and let us know what you are able to find out!

 

[Guppy051708]

Although certain states will make it seem like all of that is required, it is not. There are federal laws that say so, which superseeds anything the state says. Its up to you, just make sure you are loud and clear about what you want and dont want. Write it in your birth plan, let your doc know ahead of time, etc.

We were not going to get any of it, but after a lot of research we did go through with the Vit K shot and the earthamicin (sp?, thats the gel they put in their eyes). We do not vaccinate (well he got, one but we never went back for boosters or completed any other shots and we never will ).Anyways, we did not want to give him the Hep B shot, so we didnt. The pediatrician that checked us out to leave the hospital was VERY rude and arrogent. He questioned on why anyone would never want to give their child a shot Anyways, i dont see the point, its not like he's gonna have sex anytime soon

The vitamin K.....here is why we got it, and our thought process (its an individual thing and ppl should do as they chose, but this was how it went for us). We wernt going to get it. We didn't see the point. We didn't want to risk childhood lukemia....then we started thinking about the amount of jaundiced babies there are these days (this has MUCH to do with the fact that women are being induced, labors are being augmented, and there are planned c-sections). BUT i had it as a baby, as did DH, and so we decided to get the Vit K shot. This is VERY VERY important in the event your child ends up with jaundice. The thing is, you wont know till a couple days after the birth if your baby is jaundiced or not . Furthermore, the whole childhood leukemia thing has been debunked. Its not true. (i know, i like to believe these shots cause stuff so i can have a reason to not use them but it's true). Anyways, so we figured we would get it. My baby was not jaundiced but he did end up having a genetic issue with his brain (nothing preventable). we did not know this until he was a couple months old. With this genetic issue, there is a chance for "water on the brain" and "brain bleed"-which is another good reason for Vit K. Had we not gone through with the Vit. K shot at birth, who knows what could have happened. (we had no idea whatsoeever that he had this condition, despite a plethora of ultrasounds during pregnancy).

For the eye gel, we did end up getting it. I always thought that was only for women who had certain STIs, STDs, etc but its not. When i got to talking to he midwife, it actually helps protect the baby from a common bacteria found in the mothers vagina that actually cause blindness. As far as ive read there doesn't seem to be much risk invovled with the eye gel, so we went ahead with it (i don not have any STDs/STIs, but just didn't know about the bacteria). the only thing i dont like about it, is that in a lot of hospitals, they put it in right at birth...well this is a HUGE mistake!!!! During the first hour of a babys life, they are the most alert. They are looking for their mother and establishing BFing. This is a VERY important time. So what i did, was have them put the gel in AFTER this important time.

With blood tests, its usually just a heal prick. they usually wont do the umbelical cord (they may, but i have never seen it done that way).

If you want the cord to remain unclamped and attached until it stops pulsating, tell your care provider, AND but it in your birth plan. Also, make sure your partner is aware of these things, he can speak up too.


SORRY FOR THE EPIC POST

 

[Guppy051708]

IOB said there wasn't much advantage to delaying cord clamping in a term baby

This doctor is VERY misinformed!!!! There are a plethora of reasons, and research that indicate how important delayed cord clamping is! Just a quick run through, delayed cord clamped babies have very low rates of jaundice, low iron (anemia), and hypoglycemia (low sugars) amongst a plethora of other benefits! Ladies, i urge you, do your research on this one!!!

 

[Seity]

Vit K is mandatory in my state. We didn't decline anything and had no problems at all. I would opt for everything again given the choice.
There is a benefit to delaying cutting the cord for a minute and I don't imagine any hospital would have a problem waiting to do so.

 

[aj11]

i am all for people's own choice, but i am also a nurse. i made the educated decision to have the ointment, the vit k and ALL vaccinations.

just do your research and do what works for you!