can you refuse the eye goo?

[suddenlyamama]

I don't like it. Can I refuse it? Is there good reason to keep it if we are std free?

What do I say?

[Vancouver Mommy]

I refused, but I think it depends where you give birth. I have heard on this board that some states actually require it by law. That seems absurd to me, but it's one of those things that is cheaper to administer universally than it is to test and administer selectively.

[Sarah W]

We refused and had no issues. I also refused Vit K. We gave birth in a hospital in FL, if that helps.

[MegBoz]

I've read that in, I think, NY state, it's illegal to refuse. Not sure if that's true. I think the repercussion is that they call child protective services - not sure if CPS actually follows up on a 'complaint' that a mama refused eye ointment

Here in Maryland, I refused & no one batted an eyelash - and I had a hospital birth.

No, I don't believe there's a reason to do it if you're STD free. I'm pretty sure it's just to stop eye infection that can occur if mama has gonorrhea.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Vancouver Mommy

I refused, but I think it depends where you give birth. I have heard on this board that some states actually require it by law. That seems absurd to me, but it's one of those things that is cheaper to administer universally than it is to test and administer selectively.

I think if you really break it down it's required to OFFER it by law...some hospitals "just do it" as part of the newborn package or whatever.

I refused. It was as easy as saying "No ointment in his eyes" during labor (and having it in my birth plan). My OB brought the Ped Nurse in when she reviewed the plan and gave her a copy...

ETA: If you're 100% sure you're STD free there is no reason for it. They may try to tell you "Well, you know that you haven't been with anyone...but you can never be sure about your partner."

[Pepper44]

I live in Kentucky and we refused it for both babies.

DD1 was born in the hospital and they acted as if we were horrible parents for refusing everything, but we just refused to sign any consent forms and kept saying no. Don't fall for their scare tactics--if you did your own research and feel good about your decisions then just ignore the silly things they say.

They tried to tell us that DD1 would get a scratch and bleed to death because we didn't do the vit. k. Then they poked her and gave her the PKU test against our wishes when they had her in the nursery. (We wanted to wait until she was digesting breastmilk and get the PKU done at the ped.)

For the eye goop they told us we were being irresponsible and she would definitely get an eye infection and we would regret it. Not true, since I have no STD's...her eyes were fine.

When you sign all of the forms at the hospital look at them carefully and cross out what you don't agree with and initial by it. Then point that out to who ever is taking your paper work.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

I live in Kentucky and we refused it for both babies.

DD1 was born in the hospital and they acted as if we were horrible parents for refusing everything, but we just refused to sign any consent forms and kept saying no. Don't fall for their scare tactics--if you did your own research and feel good about your decisions then just ignore the silly things they say.

They tried to tell us that DD1 would get a scratch and bleed to death because we didn't do the vit. k. Then they poked her and gave her the PKU test against our wishes when they had her in the nursery. (We wanted to wait until she was digesting breastmilk and get the PKU done at the ped.)

For the eye goop they told us we were being irresponsible and she would definitely get an eye infection and we would regret it. Not true, since I have no STD's...her eyes were fine.

When you sign all of the forms at the hospital look at them carefully and cross out what you don't agree with and initial by it. Then point that out to who ever is taking your paper work.

This is a good point. Don't fall for fear mongering. I also got the "You don't want your baby to get an infection" from a visiting OB. I had a doctor tell me that my son would "cut himself and get Hep B eventually" if I didn't do the vax. Be strong and make sure EVERYONE that is with you is on the same page.

[GOPLawyer]

Be careful...just because you refuse doesn't mean they won't try to do it anyway. This happened w/ DS2. Luckily, DH was there to stop them. It's yet another great reason to have a doula...she's an extra set of eyes to catch such things.

[La Sombra]

Here in Michigan I can refuse it if I sign a religious exemption form--that is what my midwives told me. It seems an absurd loophole to me (like with vaccinations) but I am willing to do it in this case because I see no need for the eye goo.

[faeriecurls]

Originally Posted by MegBoz

I've read that in, I think, NY state, it's illegal to refuse. Not sure if that's true. I think the repercussion is that they call child protective services - not sure if CPS actually follows up on a 'complaint' that a mama refused eye ointment

Here in Maryland, I refused & no one batted an eyelash - and I had a hospital birth.

No, I don't believe there's a reason to do it if you're STD free. I'm pretty sure it's just to stop eye infection that can occur if mama has gonorrhea.

It is illegal in NYS and they do call and in most cases (at least in NYC) there is CPS follow up. It's really lousy. I am allergic to the medicine and they still are trying to force me to do it. I am looking into a lawyer at this point.

[suddenlyamama]

Illegal? That is nuts, I am so sorry you have such a battle.

[MyFullHouse]

I refused in NJ and didn't have a problem. I did have to sign a form saying I was declining (that, and just about everything else). I got a few raised eyebrows, but they didn't say anything.

[Beltane]

I am refusing the ointment, but my midwife suggested that I get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea just to be sure since those two STD's don't always show signs in women. My test came back negative, but now I feel even better about refusing the eye drops.

[CherryBomb]

I live in Indiana and refused it with no issues I put in my birth plan something like "As I do not have any STDs, I do not consent to ertho....whatever (eye goop)." My OB read the birth plan ahead of time and didn't even mention it and none of the nurses or the ped that released mentioned it, either.

[Drummer's Wife]

I had no problem declining in CO. My births were all c-sections, which may be why no one tried to change my mind.

[nia82]

Yup, only NY state has that law. All other states are easier, some want you to sign a religious waiver, others just a legal waiver.
In CA we just signed the waivers that we don't want it and understand the horrible risks if we opt out, yada yada. We made sure DS never left our sight.
I did bring oral vitamin K as used back home and gave it to DS on hour after birth and then two more times as necessary (oral vit K is administered 3 times). The nurses or obgyn/midwife couldn't care less. The first on call ped was old as Methusalem and couldn't care less. The second on call ped was about 18 years old and made a huge stink that DS will bleed to death and that oral vitamin K NEVER works. I just looked at her with a huge ironic grin and informed her that all European kids must die then, as it is used there with better fetal outcomes. she couldn't say anymore and left the rooom, never to be seen again. Oh she also bugged us about HepB and we at one point really told her do you not understand the word NO? You gotta stick up for your baby with those kind of people...

[WTHamI?]

It depends on where you are. A lot of states they have to offer but won't do anything if you refuse other than give you a "look," but I know in Washington State where I'm from originally they automatically call CPS. And CPS will take your child away until you consent (or they'll get it done without your consent). This is in Eastern WA, I don't know if Western WA is more friendly, but I've heard horror stories. As I understand even a lot of the homebirth midwives won't let you opt out because they're afraid they'd face disciplinary action if your child came down with an eye infection and you spilled the beans that you'd been allowed to forego it. If I gave birth in WA then I'd be looking for a homebirth midwife who would be willing to hand me the goo and look the other way. But the chance of refusing it in the hospital is basically zero. Ironically WA is great for vax waivers. It's more likely I'll be in TX though which is much more easygoing about refusal. Anyway, had to add that in because it's not just NY that's awful about the eye goo, WA is bad too and considers not administering it "illegal."

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by WTHamI?

It depends on where you are. A lot of states they have to offer but won't do anything if you refuse other than give you a "look," but I know in Washington State where I'm from originally they automatically call CPS. And CPS will take your child away until you consent (or they'll get it done without your consent). This is in Eastern WA, I don't know if Western WA is more friendly, but I've heard horror stories. As I understand even a lot of the homebirth midwives won't let you opt out because they're afraid they'd face disciplinary action if your child came down with an eye infection and you spilled the beans that you'd been allowed to forego it. If I gave birth in WA then I'd be looking for a homebirth midwife who would be willing to hand me the goo and look the other way. But the chance of refusing it in the hospital is basically zero. Ironically WA is great for vax waivers. It's more likely I'll be in TX though which is much more easygoing about refusal. Anyway, had to add that in because it's not just NY that's awful about the eye goo, WA is bad too and considers not administering it "illegal."

I didn't even have to sign anything. It was all verbal.

[erin23kate]

We declined (in RI). It was no problem at all - the nurse just nodded and folowed up with "let me guess, no hep B, vitamin k liquid and no circ, right?" I laughed and agreed with them.

BUT, I chose the hospital very much on purpose for its natural-friendly attitude.

[mizznicole]

I declined but they did it anyway, which made me hopping mad. Unfortunately I was being "sewn up" at the time.