"Well, you have to live with the consequences"

[mamatoablessing]

This was the l&d nurse's response when my SIL gave birth on Tuesday and questioned the Hep B vax (on my urging).

I was in the room for my nephew's birth and a few minutes before delivery the nurse rolls in this cart. My SIL asked what was on it and the nurse listed off the items, including the hep b shot. I mentioned to SIL that she might want to do some research before giving the babe the shot because there have been studies done which have negative effects. She could get the shot later if she decided. (BTW, neither hospital where I delivered administered the hep b there, so I didn't think to discuss this with SIL beforehand.) SIL was just hitting transition (no meds) and was in no shape to decide and I think the nurse bullied her into it.

I was so angry, but I did nothing to stand up to the nurse and I don't know why.

I'm just venting here...

Thanks for listening.

[mamakah]

I would have said...
"how easy for you to say considering if this NEWBORN has a bad reaction to this shot, you will not have to live with THOSE consequences!"
or
" Huh...live with the consequences of my baby contracting Hep B from sex and needle use? I'll take my chances..."
How clever of her to bring that in while you SIL was in transition and was so vulnerable to outside influences.

[Full Heart]

Thats right she has to live with the consequences. What will the consequences be if she waited a few weeks while she did research? So much for informed consent.

You know the nurse was probably used to women with a working epi who can carry on a conversation so the timing probably wasn't intentional. When I had my hospital birth they brought all that stuff in right then too. Of course I went in with a birth plan so I didn't have to argue with them.

[kolleen9]

s

I know how hard it is to say something when you're like a deer in headlights. Dont' be hard on yourself, you weren't prepared.

Fooey on the bully nurse, although she was probably under her own stress and on a schedule and didn't want to deal with anything that deviated from her schedule.

-K

[mkmoro311]

All you have to say is you would prefer your ped Dr. to give it to them at the next visit and they should leave you alone. Unless the mom has Hep B they don't need it @ 15 minutes of age, even then is questionable!

[applejuice]

Ask the nurse what is going on in the nursery at that hospital that this newborn baby needs a shot to prevent Hepatitis B, a disease typically acquired from sex and drug abuse.

Yes, the mother "will live with the consequences", not the nurse. Which is why the mother should wait, read, learn, and make an informed choice that, yes, the mother will live with.

Editted to add that my niece is now 16 and she has juvenile arthritis, a disease notorious as a side effect from this unnecessary vaccine. It has been sad to watch her grow up with this reaction to the disease and to all of the drugs she has been required to take because of it.