Contacting a pediatrician before birth...

[mamamoogs]

My midwife recommended i call the ped and tell him i am having a homebirth and when does he think i should bring the baby in for a visit, well i dont understand why i have to do this before hand cant i wait till afterwards and just schedule an appt for like a week after, also my midwife only has the oral form of vitamin K and Dh wants to do the injectable *( I am still on the fence here) but isnt the oral the same as injectables as far as it doing the same thing for the baby) please correct me if i am wrong.

anyhow dh wants to do injectable k and midwife dont carry it so will the ped do this and how soon do i need to go in to see the ped to have this done if i even decide to do that form of vitamin K , also i f we do oral do i need to start the drops to or not? sorry for so many question.

[cornpicker]

I was planning to choose a ped prior to the birth, too. I think they want to see the baby by day 3. You should probably be at least in their files beforehand, because sometimes it is really hard to get in as a new patient.

Sorry, don't know much about the vit K options.

[mamamoogs]

myfirst DD goes there does that still make us new patients?

[cornpicker]

I don't know. Why not call them and ask?

[momto l&a]

We have had 3 hb's with #4 on the way. Never took them to a dr after birth.

Never did vit K either.

[greenthumb3]

Yeah, I avoid talking to *any* medical professional *about* HB, especially *before* a HB. Who needs the negative vibes that are sure to come??

I didn't take my first in to the ped. after birth, but did with my second. Glad I did, though, and plan to with my third. (Even though we don't vaccinate here I liked having the assurance of having baby checked out. Ped.s can catch some things midwives can't, as their training is more inclusive of a wider variety of issues.) Having a pediatrician you trust, who knows and understands *you* and your children can be an invaluable asset in times of emergency. I was so glad we has a ped. when my oldest was admitted to the local hospital for seizures. It helped to have someone like the ped. to "normalize" our family to the staff, amidst the flurry of questions about homebirth, non-vaccinating, etc. It gave us credence, in the hospital staff's eyes, and someone to advocate for us to the hospital, as well as have some moral support through the drama. Taking baby in to the ped. at some point afte birth is important to our family. I am sure you will find what works for your family best.

Vit. K is to help the blood clot in baby. It is something hospital's routinely give to all baby's born there. The baby's ability to clot is going well at about day 8 post partum. If you question the need for routine interventions at all, you may want to learn about why vit. K is even given and consider foregoing it altogether. Many parents do make that decision and their babies do well. A favorite site of mine has some information from various midwives about the decision. Vit. K does pass through the breastmilk to baby, so another reason to breastfeed is to give baby what he needs most at that crucial time, including Vit. K. Eating leafy greens, or taking alfalfa tablets, can increase amount of Vit. K in mom's milk.

[jbobys]

I mentioned hb to my pediatrician when we went for a sick visit a couple weeks ago...just so i could find out what they want....they want me to call when im in labor so i can get him in the same day hes born. i doubt that will happen. i plan to bring him in the day after he arrives, just to be checked out...theyre only 15 minutes away and im sure ill want to get out of the house anyhow same protocol if i were to have a birth center birth..seeing as they only do hospital visits

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Oral vit K has the same "benefits" as the shot, but fewer risks. I can't imagine CHOOSING the injectible K if the oral were available (I didn't do vit k at all w/ either of mine).

It's a good idea to have a doctor (family practice or ped, doesn't have to be a ped) in advance who is homebirth supportive, IMO. Mostly so you know you have someplace to take the baby if you want the PKU test done.

[calebsmama03]

I did exactly as your MW suggested but I was lucky in that my peds office was very supportive. She even announced it to everyone when we did come in for our first WBC I explained that our MW would come out at 1, 3 and 7 days PP to examine the baby and would do the first PKU screen so the ped was fine with starting at 2 weeks (her normal hospital birth schedule).

As for the vit K, IIRC the injectible works faster since the oral takes several doses to get to the same "strength". Do a search in the forum - I know I found tons when I was researching it, but my bookmarks are all on the old PC
Good lu ck and congrats!

[lyttlewon]

It doesn't make sense to do the vitamin K a week after birth. At that point their vitamin K should be sufficient. Vitamin K is really only worthwhile if there is birth trauma and the baby needs to clot. In a normal birth the baby doesn't need external vitamin K.

[momto l&a]

From what I have read and been told vit K is really only needed it the baby is going to be circ'ed.

Otherwise it rare the baby will need K

[greenthumb3]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

Mostly so you know you have someplace to take the baby if you want the PKU test done.

Some midwives do the PKU, also, so that might be something to ask your midwife. I've read it's best to do it after baby has been breastfeeding/eating for a few days/weeks. I think my midwife does it at the 6 week check up.

[mamamoogs]

i did talk to my midwife she will do the pku and also she does do the oral vit k my dh was on the fence whether it was as effeciant as the oral, we will most likely go with the oral due to the fact that i dont plan on taking baby in to the ped for at least a week so and by then there would be no need to do vit k anyway, right?