Another Question

[iris0110]

Okay I have another question for you all. I plan on refusing all vaxes for baby #2, but I know I will be having a hospital birth (Dh insisted because of preeclampsia with ds.) What do I need to know about my rights in Tx to be able to refuse Hepb and especially Vitamin K injection and eye drops. I know they can't force me to have the Hep B vax, but what do I say when they tell me its the law that dc has to have Vit K and eye goop. Is there a law in Tx that says this? I don't plan on letting baby out of my sight while in the hospital because I have heard to many stories about the staff "accidentally" vaccing. Any body know some good web sites I can look at? Maybe some one out there has experience with this:

Thank you all

[amnesiac]

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[Mommy To Baby Roni]

Shannon, I'm not in TX, but I refused all of these just last year. I doubt TX has a law regarding the use of a vitamin or antibiotic, but it's always good to know for sure.

I suggest you write a birthplan. I can email or pm you mine, if you would like. Give a copy to your o/b in advance and your delivery nurse upon check-in, keeping 2 copies in your overnight bag. If questioned about your choices, I would just say "thank you for your concern/advice. DH and I have discussed this in advance and already made our decision." If asked your reasons I would respond with, "I'm sorry, I don't feel up to talking about it right now, but I appreciate your concern."

Do not allow anyone to challenge you! That is not what you need while in labor or post-partum!!! Do not allow yourself or DH to get into a debate or argument. It's just not worth it.

Anyway, when I was given all the paperwork to sign, I asked for waivers for everything. They didn't have any, so the nurse just wrote a big "NO" across the Hep B approval form. What I did not know was that when you sign the approval for you and baby to be treated by the hospital, it is allowing them to do whatever they see fit. I suggest that when you sign it, you first write your DISAPPROVAL of the things you want to refuse, on the bottom of the form ABOVE your signature and initial what you add onto it.

Things went smoothly for me and I hope they do for you! I didn't let DD out of my sight! Good luck with labor!

[suschi]

The labor nurse told me it was the law my child get the Vit K and eye goop. Thankfully I had done the research in advance and had no less than 5 copies of my birth plan (even though a copy was given during pre-admission) that included the state laws and my waiver statement, all signed and dated. I advised her I was aware of the law, and of the exemptions available to the law. I told her it was all included in my birth plan. I wasn't surprised they weren't able to locate it. I supplied another copy.

It may take you awhile to wade through the Texas info to find the exact wording of your state laws, but it will be necessary in order to decline the procedure. I got a lot of grief in my hospital, they sent the pediatric ped on duty to first speak with my husband, (who advised her it would be pointless to speak with me because she wouldn't change my mind) but she later came to see me and did her best. Can you believe they also wanted to do a hearing test! I declined that as well.

By the time I went home, I had given away every copy of the birth plan I had, I just don't understand how they seemed to "lose" every copy I gave them!

You have to be very clear and specific, and will have to have someone there with you to make sure baby never leaves you or your partner's sight. Sometimes a procedure may happen because someone wasn't paying attention to your request(s).

If you need help sifting through the Texas info, PM me and I'll send what I can find.

Christine

[amnesiac]

Hilary,
I'm sure Mamaste wouldn't mind if you wanted to join the party! Very social bunch!