What are you refusing?

[GoodMomma]

With my first, I let the staff do whatever they wanted because I thought they knew best. Well this time, I'm a little different. I was wondering what other moms here planned on refusing certain routine things and why (Hep B shot, eye gunk, etc, etc..) Thanks for your input.

[swtpesq]

I need to do more research and talk to the pediatrician that I think we're going to go with, but at a minimum we're refusing the hep B shot (seems unnecessary) and delaying everything else for at least an hour...might refuse the eye gunk, too.

I need to find out more about all this because I almost died from a routine vaccination when I was 6 mos. old (I believe it was whooping cough), and my doula is concerned that the same sensitivity may be present in my baby.

I'm curious to hear what others have to say... :

[earcher]

we're talking baby care here right post birth???

With DD#1 I had no infant interventions. She was weighed and thouroughly examined (about an hour and a half after the birth) and she was given breastmilk. We had a short cord that broke during labor and if there were going to be hemmoraging issues there would have been - we were both excellent clotters.

I am planning the same thing with the twins.

Hep. B:
I will not allow Hep B. i am negative and we do not live in a high risk situation. The risks of injecting something "challenging" into a healthy infants immune system in the first days of life does not sit well with me. For me this has nothing to do with vax or no vax (that's another topic) I would NEVER do it by day three when the typical healthy infant returns home. The risks outweigh the bennefits for me and my family.


eye antibiotics: I have had one sexual partner, and have been with him for 13 years. I am fully aware that i am STD free and choose to decline eye antibiotics. If there is a problem with the infants eyes it is NOT STD related and can be addressed at that time. For me the risk outwieghs the bennefits.

Circumcision: If I ever get a boy I'll bring him home as he was made. even if I was going to circ. I wouldn't do it right away. I would want the baby's systems to stabalize and get feeding off to a solid start.

Vitamin K: I would turn it down in a healthy full term pregnancy. If I was having a premie(s) I would probably give the Vit. K shot. As I understand ,by day three with nursing Vit K levels have risen and stabalized. Vitamin K is something I would do if I knew I was having a baby that needed immediate surgery or was a premie who be liekly having more interventions.

prophalactic antibiotics; I have heard some hospitals are now giving routine antibiotics to ALL babies to catch GBS babies: I would turn this down unless there were signs and symptoms.

Other than that...I'm a give my own bath, breastfeeding, rooming in, I'll do general baby care myself kind of momma

[peaceful_mama]

I'm refusing HepB shot and eye gunk entirely, probably Vit. K too--though that is in my plan as "please give only if requested" as that's one I would take if the situation warrants it.

I'm delaying all routine care (bath, weighing, etc.) until she's at least had a chance to nurse--I can wait an hour or 2 to know. I'm also refusing the nursery entirely. I had a horrible experience with DS and bottles--it's CRYSTAL CLEAR in this one's birth plan and in my notes from my midwife that she is NOT to have ANY binkies or bottles. I went as far as to specifically state that if she had a medical need to be supplemented (as in a need determined by her doctor and discussed with me, not the postpartum nurse's opinion), then she would be fed using SNS, cup, or fingerfeeding--whatever would be best for the situation. And I want a pump--she will NOT be given formula if I can possibly avoid it due to DS's problems with dairy. She is to be fed whatever amount I might get, no matter how little it may be. Babies only take an ounce TOTAL in their first day of life, according to the LC at that hospital that I spoke with, so yes, that little bit IS worth saving, thank you.
I plan to get written orders from her doctor requesting no bottles, no formula if at all possible, and if for some reason she absolutely MUST have formula that she get hypoallergenic formula only.

I am NOT going through what I did with DS, thanks.

[meggles]

I'm refusing most things as well. No need for eye drops (I and dh are STD free!) and no Hep B. We'll likely only do the Vitamin K if the birth is traumatic in some way and the baby is bruised. No bathing, as we may be in the birthing tub anyway. We'll do the newborn exam while the baby is on or near me, and only after we've had time to bond and try to breastfeed.

[GoodMomma]

Thank you all for your replies. I too am refusing the Hep B shot and the eye gunk for the same reasons that you all have given. As far as the Vitamin K shot, I still have to do some research on that but so far it seems unnecessary. I'm also going to hang a card in her hospital bassinet that she is BF'ed and will receive NO bottles or binkies! I'm haivng her at the same hospital my neice was born and the staff knew my sister was BF'ing and STILL gave the baby a binky. : I also won't let baby go anywhere without DH or myself present. Anyway... just wanted to see who is on the same page.

[skueppers]

We're not refusing any of the routine stuff (vitamin K shot, Hep B shot, eye gunk, examining/bathing/clothing the baby). While I think some of it is unnecessary and/or doesn't really need to be done right that minute, I also don't see any harm in it -- I mean, I know I don't have gonorrhea, but I'm also not concerned that the antibiotic ointment would be in any way harmful, so I see no reason to refuse it. I feel similarly about the vitamin K and Hep B shots.

At the hospital where I give birth, all of these procedures are done in the same room with mom, and rooming-in is standard on the maternity ward.

[MacKinnon]

We're waiving everything except Vit. K. and our baby boy will not be circed. Although we live in Michigan where it is law that all infants recieve the eye goop. The "law" seems to vary from hospital to hospital though... I had no trouble waiving it with DD but have several friends who haven't been "allowed" to waive it. It is actual law and does not have the same exemptions that vax do. Our hospital also does all procedures bedside and they wait for a while after birth. Rooming in is standard. DD was not out of our eyesight except for 5 minutes to have her picture taken just before we went home. This wasn't due to our insistence, they don't even have a nursery for healthy babies!

[janerose]

We are waiving everything -- vaxes, vit k, and the eye goo. We did purchase homeopathic vitamin K to give orally though. One drop each at 1 day, 1 week and 1 month. We got it through www.birthwithlove.com . In NY it is a CPS "offense" to waive the Vit K & eye goo, but our midwives are not concerned. They have had patients waive in the past & never had any issues come from it. But the oral Vit K is kind of a CYA. We *may* reconsider the shot if the birth is very traumatic, but barring that it's either the oral or nothing.

We're also making up our paperwork for our religious exemption for vaxing and will bring copies of that with us as well. It was pointed out to us that the same principle can apply to the Vit K & eye goop, so we're hoping it will cover all the bases if there should be any questions raised. We waived all those things with DD1 too, but it was in VT and frankly they don't really care over there. I didn't even have to sign anything!

Beyond that we keep the baby in the room with us at all times or one of us escorts the baby to the nursery if they need to go there for some reason. We are VERY firm about having our child never leave our sight! All routine newborn procedures are done bedside and on the mother's chest. We are post-poning bathing. We will clean her up as needed later in the postpartum room and probably save the big bath until we're home. We only do cloth diapers too, so we request that the nursing staff NOT diaper the baby as it's something we'll do ourselves once we're settled in the post-partum room. We are having all the routine newborn blood tests done (which I'd like to point out actually *screen* for the blood disorders the Vit K shot is meant to treat...: ) as well as the hearing test.

Oh, and of course the standard no bottles, supplements, pacis, or artifical nipples of any sort.

Holly

[mama.ky]

I think our situation might be a little unusual- we are giving birth at the same waterbirth center with the same midwife as we had with dd#1, and many things are taken for granted there that aren't elsewhere (very little intervention during or after birth). I didn't have any "help" beyond getting suggestions from my midwife about different positions I could try when laboring.

We refused everything with dd#1 and will be with dd#2. Dd#1 actually never left my arms for the entire first 24 hours that she was alive, for anything, and my husband and I both treasure that special time with her. The choices that we made were certainly the best for us, and I'm happy to be able to repeat them.

[niki_73]

We are refusing everything except the oral vit k because i'm having a c/s, we gave it to ds too.

[kalisis]

We refuse everything. It's a homebirth, so kind of easy, but still, the mw's have to ask and we have to refuse.

None of it is necessary and the eye gunk can really burn their eyes, or so I've heard.

I'll refuse that first bath within 24 hours too that my mom insisted on with DS. - he didn't need a bath with Johnson's baby shampoo at 18 hours old!

[earthie_mama]

Originally Posted by skueppers

We're not refusing any of the routine stuff (vitamin K shot, Hep B shot, eye gunk, examining/bathing/clothing the baby). While I think some of it is unnecessary and/or doesn't really need to be done right that minute, I also don't see any harm in it -- I mean, I know I don't have gonorrhea, but I'm also not concerned that the antibiotic ointment would be in any way harmful, so I see no reason to refuse it. I feel similarly about the vitamin K and Hep B shots.

At the hospital where I give birth, all of these procedures are done in the same room with mom, and rooming-in is standard on the maternity ward.

I am interested to see what sources you found that show that there is no harm to any of these things.

I personally feel that any use of antibiotics is dangerous if unnecessary, as for the Hep B shots, the vaccine has KILLED babies, I would definately see that as a concern, the vitamin K I feel is unnecessary, and I believe babies have a low Vit K lvl for a specific reason.

Ultimately, each parent has to do their research and come to a decision they feel best. I just urge you to examine some of these issues more, unless of course you have done all your research, and heav made your final decision already.

[peaceful_mama]

mine said from a public health provider standpoint, she's not supposed to agree with my views on vaxxing, but as a mom she does (It came up because I asked her if there'd be any big danger in DS getting the chicken pox while I'm pregnant--I've had it so I figured not. We thought a friend had it but turned out not to be, darn...) She's also fine with no Hep B and wrote that in my chart as well as it being in my birth plan.

[tempestjewel]

At the birth center I won't have to worry about refusing things because most things are standard, but just in case I get transfered to a hospital...

We are doing oral vitamin K, not injectable. I really had a hard time with this decision, but reading the vitamin K insert that I asked for from my midwives made me more certain not to inject my baby with what is in it.

Eye gunk- well, here its a CPS offense not to have it applied, but the midwives will wait two hours and put a tiny amount on that can be quickly wiped away to avoid the CPS report. I may do that just so I have no connections with CPS even though there is NO reason for the eye gunk.

No hep B. I don't have it, and my baby will not be an IV drug user or sexually active at birth.

If its a boy, no circ, ever ever ever. This is one issue I just cannot see the "other side" on

Its standard at the birth center to leave mom and baby alone to bond for 2 hours before the newborn exam is done (unless the baby is in distress of course). If we do end up with a hospital transfer at minimum I'll want to delay all that stuff until I've successfully breastfed.

[GoodMomma]

Originally Posted by skueppers

We're not refusing any of the routine stuff (vitamin K shot, Hep B shot, eye gunk, examining/bathing/clothing the baby). While I think some of it is unnecessary and/or doesn't really need to be done right that minute, I also don't see any harm in it -- I mean, I know I don't have gonorrhea, but I'm also not concerned that the antibiotic ointment would be in any way harmful, so I see no reason to refuse it. I feel similarly about the vitamin K and Hep B shots.

At the hospital where I give birth, all of these procedures are done in the same room with mom, and rooming-in is standard on the maternity ward.

I didn't see any wrong in it either with my first. I've since looked things up (not saying you haven't) and I've changed my mind. Hep B is an STD....so there's no reason for every baby to get this shot, unless the mother has Hep B. I know my daughter isn't going to be having sex anytime soon, lol....so that's why I'm refusing it. Same with the eye gunk.... it's only needed after a vaginal birth and the mom has an STD. As far as long term effects of pasting it on/in their eyes, they don't know. Things have just become so routine and it isn't needed every single time.

[GoodMomma]

Originally Posted by janerose

We are waiving everything -- vaxes, vit k, and the eye goo. We did purchase homeopathic vitamin K to give orally though. One drop each at 1 day, 1 week and 1 month. We got it through www.birthwithlove.com . In NY it is a CPS "offense" to waive the Vit K & eye goo, but our midwives are not concerned. They have had patients waive in the past & never had any issues come from it. But the oral Vit K is kind of a CYA. We *may* reconsider the shot if the birth is very traumatic, but barring that it's either the oral or nothing.

Oh great! I live in NY and had no idea it was going to be such a hassle to refuse these things. It's ridiculous! I'm going to talk to my OB about it at my next appt. Where in NY are you?

[GoodMomma]

[QUOTE=anniej;6601170]None of it is necessary and the eye gunk can really burn their eyes, or so I've heard.QUOTE]

My eyes are really sensitive... I can't even watch DH put his contacts in, lol. Makes my tears flow like a waterfall! I would hate to enter the world and all of a sudden have this gunk piled on my eyes. I remember when I had DS (by c/s BTW, so it definately wasn't needed ) they never asked or anything, they just did it!

[Zaxmama]

could someone point me to a link to find out whats CPS reportable in FLorida?? I would like to refuse everything... but I am having a csection and someone else is having vit k due to that.. may I ask why? not judging I am just curious...I want to be fully educated so I can battle any arguments.

[mommy2boys]

We are refusing everything we can. Vit K shot, neither of my other two had it. The eye antibiotic, no need for that. Circumsision, and hep b vaccination and anything else they want to impose on my fresh from the oven baby. I think that birth is tramatizing enough with out all the extras and want to keep things and simple and calm as possible.