Yes/No to Vit. K and Eye drops for baby girl

[HiItsMeSandy]

What are the benefits/dangers of Vitamin K and eye drops at birth? Anyone have any interesting personal experiences with either? My son received both and was circumcised. My daughter is due in April and I'm not sure what the best thing is to do. Is vitamin K only needed for circumcision?

TIA!

[PhilsBabyMama]

The erythromycin is to prevent eye infection due undiagnosed gonorrhea, I believe. I was tested for STDs during my pregnancy, so we declined the eye goop. The vitamin K is to help with blood clotting, and since my son wasn't going to be circumcised, and did not have a traumatic birth (vacuum, forceps, etc), we declined that as well. I just find it hard to believe that ALL babies would be born without something that they actually need. Nature isn't stupid, ya know? Here is some info you may find interesting:

"As reported in the PDR and as published in the IM vitamin K packet inserts for Merck, Roche and Abbott, "Studies of carcinogenicity, mutagenesis or impairment of fertility have not been conducted with Vitamin K1 Injection (Phytonadione Injection, USP)."

"The manufacturers warn on the product insert: "Severe reactions, including fatalities, have occurred during and immediately after intravenous injection of phytonadione even when precautions have been taken to dilute the vitamin and avoid rapid infusion..."

http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/VitaminK.html

[nycmom18]

also, they might be mandatory where you live. i believe they were in ny for us.

[marisa724]

I think that if you're delivering in NJ you'll find that most hospitals are easygoing enough about declining the Vit K and eye goop. In fact, both places I delivered (Morristown Memorial and Overlook in Summit) had forms already prepared for me to initial with my preference. There must be enough people who are declining these procedures if it's a standard option on their forms.

I believe DS1 had both, more because I didn't really consider it at the time. DS2 had neither, and no one gave me a hard time about it. Neither of my sons is circumcised.

[courtenay_e]

Hey, I'm going to move this to Birth and Beyond! I'll leave a link, so that you can find it, OP.

[ExuberantDaffodil]

It's one of those things you just have to figure out what you're comfortable with.

For me personally, I tested for STD's and have none and so did not feel my daughter's eyes needed treatment for them at birth. It doesn't make sense to me to treat for something that isn't there. So I declined the eye gook. With the vit k... I personally didn't feel like having my newborn jabbed with a needle right after birth. I chose the oral vit k instead, but it wasn't really a big deal to me (we didn't even finish out the dosage, to be honest).

[mamatogirls]

I chose to decline both with my last birth but in Michigan I guess it's required in a hospital birth(at least the hospital I was at) and I was told if I tried to fight against getting the eye ointment that CPS would be called in. So I decided it wasn't worth fighting. The nurse knew my wishes though and she put the goop on the babys closed eyes while I was holding her and just told me to wipe it off with the blanket.

[GutInstinct]

We declined BOTH at our son's hospital birth. They can not make you do anything. My husband signed a form and that was that. They DID pressure us, but we declined.

[marisa724]

Originally Posted by GutInstinct

We declined BOTH at our son's hospital birth. They can not make you do anything. My husband signed a form and that was that. They DID pressure us, but we declined.

It is highly dependent on the state you deliver in. In New York hospitals, they can and will have DYFS take custody of the child for the 20 minutes it takes to administer the shot/ointment. I have yet to meet anyone who has found a loophole (apart from choosing to deliver outside the hospital).

[nikirj]

Originally Posted by PhilsBabyMama

"The manufacturers warn on the product insert: "Severe reactions, including fatalities, have occurred during and immediately after intravenous injection of phytonadione even when precautions have been taken to dilute the vitamin and avoid rapid infusion..."

http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/VitaminK.html

This is a warning to avoid giving vit K by IV. None of these problems happen when it's given IM, which is how newborns are supposed to get it.

[rachel65655]

Originally Posted by nikirj

This is a warning to avoid giving vit K by IV. None of these problems happen when it's given IM, which is how newborns are supposed to get it.

The manufacturers of the Vit K shot, however, strongly recommend only giving IM or IV when it absolutely cannot be given SubQ.

HOW TO USE: This medication is given by injection by a health care professional under the skin (SC, SQ), or if no alternative, into a large muscle (IM) or intravenously (IV), though very serious side effects may occur with the IV or IM route. Follow dosing instructions. Do not increase your dose, take this more often or stop taking this without first consulting your doctor.

[AGierald]

we intended to skip the vitamin k, but my son got stuck in the birth canal... while he was not vacuumed out like they said he would have to be, he did have a bruise on his head, so i gave the shot after discussing it with my husband, my doula and my midwife. i dont think we did the eye goop, but its not a huge deal to me imo, but i dont remember because i was more concerned about them taking him and circ'ing him, which they didnt do, and i shouldnt have been worried about in our hospital, lol.

eta: my point is, i didnt want him to get vitamin k, and then i changed my mind based on the situation.