Antibiotic Ointment in Eyes?

[Gagesmom]

What is this for? The best answer I can find is to prevent "infection" from the birth canal. What infection? Antibiotics don't kill yeast, right, so what infection are they talking about? My DS did have the ointment, but I don't know what to do about my DD due in a month or so, we're having her at home so we can say "yes" or "no" with no problems. : Please help me out on this one! Educate me!:

[indigolilybear]

it is my understanding that it is for gonnorhea (sp?) that can cause blindness. if you are in a monogamous relationship and have already tested neg, there is no reason to have the eye drops/ointment.

we opted out for both our homebirths.

[flutemandolin]

It's nasty stuff and not necessary at all for the reasons indigolilybear mentioned. My ds was very sensitive to it and ended up with puffy eyelids and big red blotches on his perfect little face for about 24 hours afterward...I would never do it again.

[Gagesmom]

Well, I know I don't have any STDs, so I will skip it this time around! Thanks for your input!

[SquirelNutkin]

We opted out, too.

As a precautionary that if i needed to go to the hopital for the birth- I did get tested for gonnorrea and chlymidia at around 37 weeks.
(My state requires the eye gook)
This way, I felt I would have more power to decline. I have heard nurmerous stoies of hospital staff saying to parents- "well, how do you really know that you are both faithful) So, I could counter- well, I think we could keep it in our pants for at least a weekor two!

Anyhow, we didnt end up in a hopital, we didnt ahve to fight anybody about this, although I did loose our peditrican over the issue. Silliness!

Good luck to all
b

[smeta]

Just wanted to suggest if you are having a hospital birth to make sure there you clear it w/ the hospital first and talk about signing a waiver. I know they can be pretty pushy on this and I remember a Mothering story in which the hospital was going to call the state to take the newborn into custody b/c the parents wouldn't give them the eye gook. How ridiculous!! I hope I didn't freak you out, just wanted to warn you to be prepared .

[Gagesmom]

Thanks for all your replies! We're having a home birth, the eye gook won't be a problem (or lack there-of, ha ha). My son was born at a natural birthing center, he did have the eye gook because I wasn't knowledgeable enough about it at the time, I didn't feel comfortable refusing it (even tho my midwife doesn't encourage it). This time I know it'll be fine to say "no thanks".