specific question for PA newborns

[foreskin friendly]

hello there... I have lingered here before. I have about a dozen books pro and anti-vax and after my partner and I making an informed objective decision...we've concluded not to vax our children. This decision came after both of my deliveries though...so the kiddos were partially vaxed. Now that I am expecting again, I am curious, and can't seem to find a defnitive answer in my own resources, if the HEP B vax is a *required* vax for newborns prior to hospital discharge. I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row. Our family DO is all in favor of our decisions regarding not vaxing our kids, but she doesn't partner with any of the nearby hospitals. I will likely have a ped from one of the only two practices here in our little town.... any suggestions how to approach the non-vax stance prior to hospital admission (this, unfortunately will be a third C-sect...so no complete avoidance of the hospital is possible)...
thanks so much ladies and gents!

[Gitti]

No. You can opt out of it. But you have to make very sure they don't do it anyway. So have someone stand guard over your newborn.

Be sure you have a 'birthing plan' in place.

If they question you just say that you'll do it when they are teenagers since the vaccine wears off in about 5 years and you won't allow your kids to have sex or do drugs that young anyway.

Hey, good luck on your continued research.

[jgracefrank]

Nope! You can opt out. I opted out in May '07 when I had my son. Good luck!

[Marnica]

I declined as well. They made me sign a form in the hospital declining it (I kept a copy of this for my records!)
They urged me to get it, but didn't push the issue to far.

If they give you a hard time, you can always just tell them that you will get it at the ped's office at the 2 week apt

[plunky]

I live in Pittsburgh, and I believe we declined this one for DD. We did a birth center birth, not a hospital one, though.

[leerypolyp]

nope, not required! opted out 2x. no problems.

[foreskin friendly]

all...
thanks for your support and advice... its truly appreciated!
a birth plan is a definite...as we will be declining the ever so popular ('round these parts) routine infant circ, the Hep B vaccine, bottle-feeding/pacifier, etc., and early cord clamping...(anything else I haven't thought of ....?)

thanks again all...

[newmum35]

I'm from PA too, birthed in pittsburgh hospital, they had no problem with non-circ (in fact, they showed commercials on tv stating circumcision was NOT recommended anymore) or me declining the hep B shot - I think I might have said I would do it at my ped. visit (1 or 2 month) - I forget - at the time I was still researching it but I knew I didn't want my just born baby to have it. thats totally crazy, as he is adjusting to his first hours of life outside the womb.. Wish I would have declined the vit K shot too - he had a real hard time bleeding for his heel pricks (they end up having to take blood from his arm for weeks) as he was jaundiced - I think the vit K was why, he probably had too much in his system (I had LOTS of colostrum he ate and pooped lots!) they just asked me, I answered, they marked it on the paper, and that was it - nobody tried to talk me into or out of anything. was wonderful, I had a wonderful experience there, my 1st birth so I didnt know what to expect especially after hearing horror hospital stories. they should have no problem with you declining heb B - if they DO say anything, just say you are planning on getting it at your own pediatrician at his 1 or 2 month visit. That way you won't have to deal with anything at that time. you need to concentrate on birthing your baby!

Oh - I also did delayed cord clamping (for probably 10 or 15 minutes) - have it on paper in your birth plan (but they didnt read mine anyway) - also when the dr comes in to deliver you have to tell them verbally to, to remind them. Mine had no problem with it although I could tell I must have been the only one who ever requested that lol - not sure how it would work in your case being a c/s - is that even possible to do ? with mine, I had baby on my belly while she stitched me back up (had natural tear) and I think cord went white after 10 minutes or so. - they had wonderful lactation consultants also, as breast feeding is also promoted too now, thank goodness. they just ask you what you will be doing, and mark it down.

[Amila]

Let every doctor and nurse that enters that room know your stance. Birth plans don't mean jack, unless every single nurse reads it, which doesn't happen. And don't let that babe out of your sight! You are by no means required to have this vax. Or anything else for that matter.

[Kiddoson]

I had my DS in Gettysburg in Aug 07. He had no vaccines. Nor vit k. No trouble. don't think I even signed anything. Just don't let your baby out of your site to ensure nothing is given.

[foreskin friendly]

ah-ha! see, thank you! I didn't give a thought to the Vit K shot ...and of course since we are definitely not circ'g...that's not necessary either!!! I need to brush up on some of this...its been about 4 1/2 years since all of my 'baby boy' research!! (although I have no idea that we are necessarily having a boy....)-thanks again!

[paquerette]

I declined everything, and did keep the baby within my sight. The thing they were most obnoxious and pushy about was the Vit K, actually. The Hep B, all I got about that was a nurse "oh, well she'll have to have it by school so you might as well do it now."