Worried about hospital and Hep B vax

[jammomma]

I guess I'm looking for reassurance or any advice on how to handle the hospital trying to give my newborn the Hep B vax. It may be strange but I worry about this a lot.

I am totally and completely opposed to giving this vax to my newborn.

I realize I can sign a religious waiver affidavit in my state for schools and such, but I'm wondering if that is the best way to handle the hospital after the birth?

Or would it just be better to tell them that we are choosing to wait (even though I have no plans of ever vaxing my child with the Hep B vax)

Has anyone had the hospital staff try to bully them into getting this vax?

SHould I just go ahead and claim religious exemption and submit that with my hosptial admission and birth plan? Will that be the easiest way?

Fortunately this hospital has mothers and babies room together and does not seperate them(unless there are problems of course) and my husband will be with me the whole time and we will have a doula for the /labor and birth, so I wil lhave some support, but I just can't stop worrying about them trying to vax my newborn.

Am I just being overly anxious or do I have a reason to worry?

[LilacMama]

I'm sure it depends on where you live but my hospital (in Virginia) requires a verbal consent and physicians order to give the vaccine. You don't have to sign anything to waive it. Maybe find out what their policy is? Do you have a supportive pediatrician?

[FernG]

Since you don't want to get into a debate with hospital staff, I would tell them that you are doing the vaccine with your own pediatrician. It is part of the standard procedures, so you do need to keep watch to make sure no one accidentally gives it.

[LindsayK]

Hi mama

I'm glad you are giving this vaccine a lot of thought! Yes, you should be prepared, but don't get anxious about it It sounds like you have this well under control.

Have a birth plan - make sure you write down you DO NOT WANT HEP A VACCINE ADMINISTERED. Read this birth plan with your doctor, midwife, husband, doula. Make sure you all tell labor nurses that you don't want this administered. I wouldn't bother with claiming religious exemption, because there is nothing to be exempt from - they can't force it on your baby (as far as I know - what state are you in?) Exemption refers to school admission and the like, generally.

Keep someone with baby at ALL times. Its great that you have DH and a doula there - that way someone can always be with one of you, and no one can "accidentally" give your baby the shot. This does and has happened. If your baby is getting the Vit K shot, make sure that whoever is with baby reads the label of the injection, and sees that it isn't Hep B.

If hospital staff gives you a hard time, just be firm and say no. I really wouldn't worry about having any discussions or anything. Remember Nancy Regean. Just Say No! You're going to be tired and exhilirated from labor, so again - no discussions. Just Say No. If they really push you can always say you'll talk with your pedi when you go in for the 2 -3 day check.


Congrats on your upcoming birth!

[alegna]

If you're that concerned, have you considered homebirth?

-Angela

[LindsayK]

...of course, if you get pushy nurses/pedi and want to have a little fun with them, you could always ask very innocently, "Oh, baby needs Hep B shot? Ok, when can we do allergy testing to make sure that baby isn't allergic to brewer's yeast?"

[riverscout]

At the hospital where I had both my children, you have to sign a consent form before they can give the Hep B shot. We just told them we were waiting to discuss it with our pediatrician and that was that. No one said a thing.

Check the laws in your state and check into the hospital's policy. I think the only state where it is very problematic is New York where it is supposedly mandatory, although I think you can still get around it.

[madamlady]

Originally Posted by alegna

If you're that concerned, have you considered homebirth?

-Angela

wow, what a brilliant compromise!

[jammomma]

Thanks for all the advice it has really eased my mind. I think we are doing what we need to do, and maybe I am just a worrier. I am more worried about the Hep B vaccine than almost anything else, weird I know.

I am in Atlanta (actually in Atlanta not the suburbs ) where we have no birth centers, and homebirthing is not an option for me personally.


In the literature we got from the hospital there is a sentence that says something like, "the Hep B vaccine will be given to your newborn unless your pediatrician orders otherwise"; almost as if the parents have no voice or choice in the matter. And this set off my worries.



I do not have a pediatrician yet, but I guess I should get one soon.

I am glad to know they make you sign a consent form, I will certainly not be signing that!

[FernG]

Originally Posted by jammomma

In the literature we got from the hospital there is a sentence that says something like, "the Hep B vaccine will be given to your newborn unless your pediatrician orders otherwise"; almost as if the parents have no voice or choice in the matter. And this set off my worries.

That would make me very worried. When you sign you admittance forms, makes sure that you write what you are not consenting to - Hep B, etc. You can write on the hospital consent form that your signature does not amend your birth plan for newborn care.


I do not have a pediatrician yet, but I guess I should get one soon.

Originally Posted by jammomma

I am glad to know they make you sign a consent form, I will certainly not be signing that!

Not all hospitals make you sign a consent form for the Hep B vaccine. Sometimes, they say the consent is covered by the admittance forms even if it isn't specifically listed. If the hospital put that in their literature, you definitely need to keep a close watch during any newborn exams, etc.

[not now]

My hospital doesn't even do it. You have to see your ped at the office for it.

Hospitals need a consent for the vax, it's not considered standard treatment.

[2cutiekitties]

If you are considering Northside, I had a good experience with them even if they are a baby factory.

I gave birth 2/2007 and the Hep B was the easiest to deal with. My hubby told the nurse my son wouldnt be getting it and the nurse said that is fine just sign the form saying you arent getting it and off you go. I dont remember if he did actually even sign a form.

However, those stupid eye drops, ugh. Hubby was under instruction not to allow them, but the nurse told him they like to do it because of all the germs in the air and of course he was freaked out because of our emergency c section and allowed it.

We got the Vit K thingy, so no issue there.

No one ever pushed circumsion on us. We were asked, gave our answer and that was it.

They were very friendly in terms of breast feeding, very much supported it. However the lactation women was nuts in how she viewed it, they wanted me to start pumping on day 2. So ignore them.

They were fine with you keeping your baby in the room with you all night. I think they preferred that.

[karika]

birthing plan is the way to ensure your wishes are valued

write up a birth plan /infant aftercare plan. Put anything that is important to you on there. as in, no IV for mom or baby, no fetal monitoring, can birth in any position desired, wait until cord stops pulsing to cut it, placenta goes home with you, baby is immediately put on you, baby will stay in mothers room for the whole duration, no vaccinations, shots or tests of any kind, except the hearing test which is non invasive and they let you go with them to do it. you can find sample birth plans online and use them as a reference. i also recommend just making sure you are with her as long as she is in hospital. i would also recommend calling or visiting that hospital prior to delivery and asking about that policy. the wording you quoted does make it sound like they are planning on administering the shot to all babies without a separate consent form. i know they brought me a consent form and i had to sign it after writing 'refused by mother' on the form. but now i am all worried after reading this thread... i did go out to smoke for 6 min each time, 3 separate times... i dont think anyone went behind my back and did it... but they did forget to save my placenta, had a fetal monitor on me and i birthed on my back/ side even though i wanted ot move postions...and they cut the cord right away... and they took baby to a warming table after birth (in same room, but not on me by far) so it is good you will have a H and a doula there. I was totally alone.

[felix23]

With Lucy I was asked if I wanted to do the vaccine then or later, and I just said later. When I took her for her first ped. appointment he asked if I wanted it and I just said no I would wait. He hasn't mentioned it since.

[mamakay]

Most people don't have problems refusing the HepB. In all my years hanging out here, I've only heard one story about someone being harassed over it. What happened was that the nurse called the doc, who called the hospital social worker, who came down and was like "Umm...the mom is well within her rights to refuse this, because it's nowhere close to 'emergency medicine' is the mom isn't HepB positive herself."
And then they went home, end of story. So I think that's the worst case scenario, and I've only heard of that happening once. Most of the time you just tell them you don't want to do it, and they're like "Ok."

[Emmeline II]

I read recently that someone put "except as stated in the birth plan" on their consent forms.

[caro113]

I haven't read the other responses, but I had to respond myself. We planned a UC water birth and ended up going to the hospital. They tried to bully me into everything but I just kept saying no and no and no. They did eventually stop. You can have all the reasons in the world in your head, but when you're having tough contractions (at least for me) everything you want to say escapes you. Just stick to your guns and make sure whomever is with you, stands by you and your choices.
We ended up going to the hospital. My baby didn't get it.

[Proverbs31]

Originally Posted by riverscout

Check the laws in your state and check into the hospital's policy. I think the only state where it is very problematic is New York where it is supposedly mandatory, although I think you can still get around it.

Its the vitam k and eye ointment that we can't opt out of; for hep b we have to sign a waiver to either accept or decline he vax. No hassles, just a lot of "Are you sure? What about school requirements?"

[teapot]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

<snip>
Have a birth plan - make sure you write down you DO NOT WANT HEP A VACCINE ADMINISTERED. Read this birth plan with your doctor, midwife, husband, doula. Make sure you all tell labor nurses that you don't want this administered. I wouldn't bother with claiming religious exemption, because there is nothing to be exempt from - they can't force it on your baby (as far as I know - what state are you in?) Exemption refers to school admission and the like, generally.
<snip>
Congrats on your upcoming birth!

From sad personal experience I know that just saying that you don't WANT something is not sufficient to prevent it from happening. You must use the words "do not consent to" or "do not give permission for" to actually prevent something from happening. Just saying "I do not want this" will not necessarily prevent it from happening, not matter how many times you say it.

Anne, who hasn't had time to make a siggy yet, but has 2 children by birth, 1 by marriage, a grandson on earth, and a granddaughter in heaven

[Lisa85]

Originally Posted by not now

Hospitals need a consent for the vax, it's not considered standard treatment.

Depends on the state. Iowa does not have to ask or notify, it's standard procedure for all babies.

It was the first thing I wrote under the infant care section of my birthplan. I kept my birthplan short so the things on it would be easy to remember. No hep b, no vit k, and no eye ointment. Then I listed no formula without telling me first or any nipple substitutes , and lastly I noted I would be rooming in with the baby and that was all for that section. It was very to the point.

I also verbally told every staff person that was "looking over" me or the baby. I didn't tell random nurses bringing me lunch, but I did tell my labor nurse, the nurse that was to do the first thorough checkup immediately after birth (and we also stayed with her to ensure she wasn't on auto pilot or would "forget").

Primary care peds or physicians here do not do baby check ups in the hospital. They have hospital peds for that and that's all they do, then the baby's primary doc sees the baby at 2 weeks old normally. I went with baby every time she needed to leave the room. Our specific phrase we told everybody was "we do not want to do any vaccines in the hospital". Everyone assumed we would do them at 2 months and of course we didn't. They were none the wiser. The hospital ped did say he really wanted us to do the vit k but we just no and did not give any reason. Nothing to argue with if you don't give them a reason. He didn't ask why but if he did I would just say it's not up for discussion.