newborn Hep B exemption?

[natural4mybabies]

Hello all-

I am new and I have been trying to get all my homework done before I deliver in early May...

So far I have read that by best chance at getting an exemption would be a religious stance rather than medical, but I only see where it is discussed as it pertains to school and daycare. What about after birth in the hospital?

We are delivering in KS and live in MO. I downloaded the generic birth plan form from vaclib.org that states we are not authorizing the Vit K or Hep B shots after birth for the hospital's records but is there something else I need to have? It states on the form that not HEP B shots should be given and that we will discuss vaccination with the baby's ped at a later date...It just seems too easy if that is it....

TIA for any help!!

[FernG]

Some states require that you sign a form saying that newborn procedures (Vit K, antibiotic eye goop, newborn screening) are against your religion if you want to decline them.

The hep B vaccine is a little different. You only need an exemption for daycare/school attendance. You still need to make sure that the staff knows that you do not consent to it. You should write that on your consent forms.

Congratulations on researching these procedures before they are done.

[Getz]

You shouldn't need a specific exemption form. You can just tell them (verbally and in your birth plan) that you don't want it. Make sure you read everything before you sign it (twice if possible!)

I had 1 nurse yell at me for not doing the Hep B shot (and I made sure she saw me roll my eyes at her), otherwise no one ever commented when I declined it.

[natural4mybabies]

!

Wow, thank you both so much! I have already printed off the signed birth plan and I plan to present it to the hospital birth coordinator in a couple of weeks. Then, I wil take copies with us to the hospital when we deliver.

Hopefully that should cover it. I am collecting all my research and will have a sit-down with DH soon to go over all the research and our gameplan for while we are there. No signing anything and DH needs to stay with baby at all times afterwards to make sure no shots are adminstered.

[ammiga]

I would also add that you or dh (or another trusted person) should have your LO in your sight at all times. You never know when someone is going to administer something against your wishes. There are several stories about that happening on this board.

[thepeach80]

They just asked me if they could give me her Hep B shot and I said no. They almost did anyways, thankfully the other nurse asked again before she did it. They did not ask about the vit K and eye stuff though, so if you don't want those, you'll need to speak up and let them all know and check your state laws.

[LindsayK]

I second ammiga's thoughts - *always* keep someone with your LO at all times. This means that you might want someone (mom, sister, best friend) to come to the hospital when you have your baby to be with you if baby goes to get weighed/measured, etc. That way DH can go with LO, and you still have company and support

[Fyrestorm]

Watch them like a hawk!

As I was lying on the table with my guts spilling out, I was yelling "NO VITAMIN K" "DON"T GIVE HER ANYTHING"

DH still had to literally knock the needle out of the nurses hand.

[nataliachick7]

i would not let your baby leave your side. i would not be surprised if they vaccinated against your wishes. i cannot tell you how often this happens in hospitals.

[tofutti]

but just for another perspective, i was at a big mainstream hospital in texas, all i had to do was fill out a form saying "no hep B" and that was it. the nurses very respectfully checked with us again to make sure that was what we wanted, we said yes, end of story.

always a good thing to keep someone with baby at all times but you might be surprised, all of the nurses i encountered were wonderful, no one ever tried to force anything against our will. no one made a negative comment, nothing.

and i was really scared

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by nataliachick7

i would not let your baby leave your side. i would not be surprised if they vaccinated against your wishes. i cannot tell you how often this happens in hospitals.

Absolutely true. To be fair, however, it's not always because some nefarious nurse is deliberately working against your wishes. A lot of health care providers get so used to assembly-lining women and babies through the birth and post-partum process that old habits die hard. But regardless of the motive, I agree with having a DP or other advocate constantly by baby's side.