Eye ointment -- a hill to die on, or go along to get along? UPDATE - Page 3

[swede]

Originally Posted by Jayray 

If I were you I would try to politely decline it.  You really shouldn't have a problem doing so.  But it also isn't something that I feel so strongly about that I would make it my main concern.  You can always wipe it out of the babe's eyes. 

You will also need to be very vigilant about it, especially if they take the babe to the nursery for anything.  I watched, helplessly, as the nurse in the nursery gave my sister's babe the ointment (even though I knew she didn't want it and she had told her midwife).  She had had an unexpected c/s and the babe was taken to the nursery while she was in recovery.

I was able to decline it easily after a c-section - no going through the vaginal canal - no chance of contracting anything.  It is annoying.  I would probably not choose this as one of my battles (but they were amenable to it at the hospital I was at).  It is way better than the stuff they used to use, which really was painful for babies.
 

[mrsberman]

Originally Posted by swede 

I was able to decline it easily after a c-section - no going through the vaginal canal - no chance of contracting anything.  It is annoying.  I would probably not choose this as one of my battles (but they were amenable to it at the hospital I was at).  It is way better than the stuff they used to use, which really was painful for babies.
 

Grr. This kills me! I had a c/s with DD and they still gave her the eye ointment. I didn't specifically say not to (we didn't have a birth plan then) but I guess in my mind if she wasn't going through the birth canal, they wouldn't give her the ointment. I was so pissed when I found the used tube in her "stuff" they gave us to take home. It makes no sense to treat for something when there obviously isn't a risk for contracting anything, especially in this situation.

[Dot-to-Dot]

Originally Posted by mrsberman 

 It makes no sense to treat for something when there obviously isn't a risk for contracting anything, especially in this situation.

This is why I am still wondering if the medical community really believes it is for more than just preventing an infection from STD's.  I know some of you are saying that isn't so and I'll admit, I only have the experience of having birthed one baby in one hospital so I'm obviously no expert.  But, I would love to ask a doctor whom I trust (ha!) in a situation where we were off the record and have them tell me what the real story is on the eye ointment.  I mean, do they make tons of money off of it?  Not likely?  Why not send flu season babies home with an oral antibiotic just in case?  They don't do that, so then why do we think they want the eye ointment in so badly?  It just seems like they must really believe it can prevent other common eye infections in an infant's delicate eye.

I'm still not doing it with my baby, mind you, but I'd still like to fully understand what I am declining, ya know?

[swede]

Originally Posted by Dot-to-Dot 

This is why I am still wondering if the medical community really believes it is for more than just preventing an infection from STD's.  I know some of you are saying that isn't so and I'll admit, I only have the experience of having birthed one baby in one hospital so I'm obviously no expert.  But, I would love to ask a doctor whom I trust (ha!) in a situation where we were off the record and have them tell me what the real story is on the eye ointment.  I mean, do they make tons of money off of it?  Not likely?  Why not send flu season babies home with an oral antibiotic just in case?  They don't do that, so then why do we think they want the eye ointment in so badly?  It just seems like they must really believe it can prevent other common eye infections in an infant's delicate eye.

I'm still not doing it with my baby, mind you, but I'd still like to fully understand what I am declining, ya know?

Well they  did try and convince me that it would help with any other germs, too.  And I told them no thanks, that only I or my husband would be touching my baby's face. 
 

[carriebft]

There are actually many studies showing that the eye aniontment lowers infections from other bacteria in the first couple weeks of life, esp staph. I have some saved on my computer somewhere if people want to see them. I am not saying  go get the ointment( like I said, I would not even though we did deal with an infection), but i think its important to have the right info out there. It isn't just hospitals saying it will prevent other infections: there is quite a bit of evidence out there...

This study seems to sum up well what I am saying: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/92/6/755

Eye goop does seem to lower neonatal conjunctivitis outside of STDs, but these infections are not a big deal so its fine to forgo the goop.

Edited by carriebft - 3/31/11 at 6:32am