eye drops for baby

[Liam's Mum]

Assuming the mother does not have syphillis or gonnorea (sp?), are there any other risks to NOT getting the eye drops? It just seems unnecessary to me but it is public health law here in Ontario so I'd have to sign a waiver. I'm just not sure I feel strongly one way or another -- I mean, I know I don't have either of those STDs, so why do it "just because"? But then, DS #1 (and everyone else I know) had them, and "he's fine" and all that.

[firstkid4me]

I'm not getting them, I tested negative for all STDs at my term labs (36 weeks) so baby's not going to get them Hopefully I'll be in the tub so even if something gets in baby's eyes it'll be washed out.

[marlygf]

I got it done with my first and not with my second. I didn't realize I could sign a waiver. From what I remember the eye drop can make their vision more blurry at the beginning than it already is?. I can't remember, but I just figure if I don't have what it is for, why get it? Kind of like a lot of other things with birth, if I don't need it, why do it?

[candyapplez]

Originally Posted by marlygf

but I just figure if I don't have what it is for, why get it? Kind of like a lot of other things with birth, if I don't need it, why do it?

Exactly, I got tested and it was negative so I'm declining them.

[kleines]

Are STD's the only reason they do the drops? I don't plan on doing them as I don't have any STD. I didn't realize that is all they are for. Why in the world do they think every baby has to have all of these things that should really only be given to "at risk" babies. You would think they wouldn't mind saving the money, but whatever. It seems like public school (the lack of individualization), they just lump everyone in one category and treat every birth like it is high risk.

[gottaknit]

Hypothetically, you could have one of the STDs and test negative, or you could have caught something since you were tested. (I've heard of doctors that tell their patients to not skip the eye ointment because they could have something and not know it, because many men cheat on their partners during pregnancy! Can you imagine having your Dr say that to you?!!? )

I decline anyway. It seems completely unnecessary, and frankly, demeaning. Besides, I want my baby to be able to see me!

[kleines]

Oh man, I would be really upset at my DR if he said that. It is something to think about though. My DH cheats on me.. with his schoolwork! ha ha! JK. Not really something to joke about I guess.

[Wildecat]

What if a woman has HPV? Many women do not even know they are infected with one of the many strains of the virus? Would being HPV positive mean the baby should recieve the eye drops?

[Brisen]

FWIW, I'm in Ontario also and didn't have to sign to decline the drops. The mws just said "You don't want the eye drops or Vit K, do you?" and I said no and that was it.

[mittendrin]

LOL, I got tested for STD just to have it in the records and to avoid a battle at the hospital, which wasn't a battle at all last time. No one mentioned it but then it's not a law here in NH.
I know I don't have any disease. Some might say it protects from getting an infection from just the nurses handling the baby. I say yes, right, then don't touch him without gloves. That way no one will catch anything:

[firstkid4me]

Originally Posted by gottaknit

Hypothetically, you could have one of the STDs and test negative, or you could have caught something since you were tested. (I've heard of doctors that tell their patients to not skip the eye ointment because they could have something and not know it, because many men cheat on their partners during pregnancy! Can you imagine having your Dr say that to you?!!? )

I decline anyway. It seems completely unnecessary, and frankly, demeaning. Besides, I want my baby to be able to see me!

That's why a lot of OBs and midwives recommend a test at the beginning of the pregnancy and one at the end, that way if you contracted anything up to about midway through pregnancy you'd know it.

[Jenlaana]

The reason that they are so adamant about it is simply that just because you say you don't have an STD doesnt mean they believe you. Doctors and nurses have no reason to believe you. They don't know you. In the words of "House MD" ...everybody lies. They just assume you are lying. Its not personal. They would just rather assume you are lying and do the ointment than have the baby have a problem because they believed you and you lied/didnt know.

I wont be doing it, but I UC so its not up to anyone else. DH is with me so much he couldn't find time to cheat on me even if he wanted to and I can barely find time to take a piss atm w/ my toddler let alone find time to get freaky with a strange man.

[thorn]

well I know I don't have any of the diseases, and I also have a severe skin reaction to erythromycin (the skin peels off my hands in sheets) so I did not want dd to have the ointment, but the ped on call bullied me into it when I was immediately post c-section

this time we will not be doing it.

[kdlizmama]

I didn't do it last time and won't be doing it this time either. I think it is a wonderful moment the first time a baby looks at the world and his/her parents and I didn't want to mess with that when I knew I didn't have any STDs. I was told that if there is a problem, it could cause blindness. I guess they figure if they save one baby from being blind by unnecessarily treating hundreds of them then it's worth it. However, I do know myself and I know that my baby is safe so I will be signing a waiver again.

[jazzpurr88]

My grandmother is blind from an STD her mom had at birth. Not sure which one, but they didn't have eye drops back then.

DS#2 didn't get them on Tuesday when he was born. They didn't ask me if I wanted them or not he just didn't get them. They asked me if I wanted the vite K shot.

[Liam's Mum]

Originally Posted by Brisen

FWIW, I'm in Ontario also and didn't have to sign to decline the drops. The mws just said "You don't want the eye drops or Vit K, do you?" and I said no and that was it.

Interesting -- I'm having a hospital birth, so that might be it. Or maybe it's a regional thing rather than provincial? The m/w told me it was a public health thing and that I'd have to sign off to waive it, and that because it was basically law, they wouldn't advise me one way or the other but suggested I do research and make up my own mind. They told me (for those wondering) it started after the war, when men came home after being away from their wives for years, and it was just safer to give it to every baby, so yes, cheating/not knowing you have an STD is exactly why they give it. So for sure you could have something and not know, I get that, but I know I haven't been playing around and not only do I trust DH, I trust that he'd come clean if there WAS something to tell rather than risk our baby going blind.

My understanding (but I could be wrong, hence my asking) is that it's not just for any old bacteria, it's because of possible STDs and I can only guess it's cheaper for them to just treat all babies at birth rather than test the mother at the time of actual birth???

[gottaknit]

Originally Posted by thorn

I did not want dd to have the ointment, but the ped on call bullied me into it when I was immediately post c-section

See, this makes NO SENSE. Obviously the ped doesn't even know why they do it! : How would a baby born by cesarean contract an STD from the mother's vagina?? Arrgh.

[thorn]

Originally Posted by gottaknit

See, this makes NO SENSE. Obviously the ped doesn't even know why they do it! : How would a baby born by cesarean contract an STD from the mother's vagina?? Arrgh.

seriously! and I was too stunned/drugged to stand up for my baby. thank goodness nothing bad happened, I was terrified she would go blind FROM the ointment!

[gottaknit]

Originally Posted by Wildecat

What if a woman has HPV? Many women do not even know they are infected with one of the many strains of the virus? Would being HPV positive mean the baby should recieve the eye drops?

HPV is a virus, and the ointment is an antibiotic, so it wouldn't be a reason to give the ointment, as it wouldn't do any good. Also, does HPV cause blindness? If it doesn't, there's nothing to worry about.

I'm pretty sure *most* women are carriers for one HPV or another (there are several different types and most are harmless).

[Hippiemommie]

No HPV isn't one that causes blindness so don't worry about that. Plus it's like over 80% of women have one form of HPV or the other like the PP said.