Question about eye goop

[Trusting]

My husband and I are trying to figure out if it makes any sense to subject Noah to the eye ointment when he's born.

I had multiple partners before I met dh, but I have been tested for STDs and was negative for everything. Does Noah need the eye ointment anyway, as a precaution, or do you think we'd be safe to refuse it? Are STDs the only reason they recommend it? I am GBS+, as well--don't know if that makes a difference.

[Belle]

STDs are the only thing the eye antibiotics are for. They are not for GBS.

[~member~]

It is a treatment, not a protective measure. When one of my babies was 2 or 3 weeks old, they got an eye infection and I just treated it with breastmilk and it was gone by the next day.

[ericswifey27]

If you have tested negative for STDs, there is no reason your babe needs the eye ointment.

If you do decide to use it, ask staff to delay it so you and your baby can bond better without all the eye gunk clouding up his eyes right after birth.

Make sure your partner or doula makes it very clear you don't want it too, if that's what you decide. I had it in my birth plan and before I even knew what was happening it was going on my baby's eyes... even though my child didn't even go through the birth canal:

[SusannahM]

It's just an antibiotic, too, right? I have high-risk HPV, but it wouldn't do any good at all for that, right, since it's a virus?

[krismarie]

i have HPV also and was never told to treat ds' eyes b/c of that.

you can always squirt a little colostrum in your babies eyes instead of the eye ointment...

[mykidsmom776]

I'm so... floored right now. I had my first four in the hospital and they all got the eye goop without asking my permission or my husband's.

I trusted (naively) that it was completey necessary. And now, now I am just angry. My husband and I have only ever been with each other. Neither one of us has ever had any other partners. I don't have any STDs... I put that information on all my records. (I also didn't have GBS or any other infection) Why then did they make my babies have the eye goop??

And I asked questions. Lots of questions. Man. I tell you what. I'm so glad that I've been doing research this time around. No eye goop for this baby. (Of course, I'm homebirthing--barring any emergency.)

Thanks for the info.

[2sweetboysmom]

I specifically wrote in my birth plan both times "NO eye ointment." I signed the papers refusing the eye ointment. I made my self clear to the nurses. The nurses STILL did it reflexively, the instant my boys were out. This time I will follow the suggestion of another MDC mamma and post signs on the door, bassinette, end of my bed, bathroom door, Maybe even hena it in tho the insides of my thighs! So that no one can claim that they did not know or they forgot. :
So if you decide you don't want it done then make sure your medical staff all know your decision.

[Munchkimo]

Originally Posted by 2sweetboysmom

Maybe even hena it in tho the insides of my thighs!

LOL! Thanks for the great idea!

[wasabi]

Originally Posted by 2sweetboysmom

I specifically wrote in my birth plan both times "NO eye ointment." I signed the papers refusing the eye ointment. I made my self clear to the nurses. The nurses STILL did it reflexively, the instant my boys were out. This time I will follow the suggestion of another MDC mamma and post signs on the door, bassinette, end of my bed, bathroom door, Maybe even hena it in tho the insides of my thighs! So that no one can claim that they did not know or they forgot. :
So if you decide you don't want it done then make sure your medical staff all know your decision.

Same thing happened with us with DD#1. With DD#2 at a different hospital I had to raise a big stink for months beforehand to get the waiver to not have her get them. I told our doula. I told DH. The first words I said after her birth was "Don't give her the eye drops!" I also showed up very shortly before I gave birth so I think it really helped keep it fresh. Plus I was just about the only person who had ever managed to find out about the religious waiver so I guess I stood out since people so rarely refused it. Have someone there while any medical staff are handling the baby and have them keep saying "Don't give the eye drops." If they get near the baby's eyes ask them what they're doing. I am so glad that her eyes weren't all swollen up and goopy. I hate seeing pics of LOs with their eyes only open tiny cracks.