Are you doing the erythromycin eye ointment? - Page 2

[frontierpsych]

Originally Posted by whalemilk

Nevermind. You know, a lot of people who DO opt for it don't believe they have an STD either. I think making this into a "people who have STDs vs those who do not" issue is impolite. That's all.

Just curious-- why would someone opt for it (other than not knowing why it was given) if they didn't have any STDs?

[DocsNemesis]

I didnt vote cause its complicated. I didnt for my first 3, I did for Kai because I wasnt sure about his being a preemie and stuff and frankly, without knowing and researching it, I felt uncomfortable making a decision. So I let him have it.

[jenmary]

Some people are inclined to take every precaution recommended by their doctor or the hospital staff. A PP mentioned being told that it protects from 'hospital bacteria' floating around. Some people might choose to do it just in case or simply because it is routinely done. It seems that is the case with most moms, not that they are electing to treat baby's eyes with ABX because they 'know' that in their particular case there is a risk of blindness.

[guestmama9920]

Just a FYI, I've never heard of this outside of the USA

[nia82]

We won't do it.

Btw in Germany (at the hospitals my friends and family delivered) they only offer it to mothers who tested positive for STDs. That's standard procedure, to screen and offer in case of a positive test result. I don't think it's offensive, it's way better than putting it in every single baby's eyes just because.
I think anyways antibiotics should only ever be used if necessary, never ever as a precaution. And then people wonder why antibiotics won't work anymore and more and more bacteria become resistant. The overuse is terrible and puts everyone at risk - because treatable bacterial infections can become untreatable, and then we're back at square one.

[dimibella]

We don't plan on doing it.

[sarbear]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

Just curious-- why would someone opt for it (other than not knowing why it was given) if they didn't have any STDs?

When I mentioned this to my OB and some others w/ds they warned me about those scary "hospital bacteria" that could cause eye infections in the baby. Maybe I am more jaded now, but I think that say that to try and convince you to do it in case you have an STD and don't know it. Which is kind of insulting IMO, but I guess it happens and they are just trying to protect babies.

I have done more research this time around, and have read medical studies on the issue that conclude that 'if a mother knows she does not have chlamydia or gonorrhea, it is perfectly reasonable that she should refuse the treatment'.

[mommathea]

I won't be doing it. No need.

[winginit]

I also think that sometimes you can have gonnorhea and not test positive. So you don't necessarily have to have come out positive to take the precaution. Not that I'm advocating for it, but just because someone does do it does not mean that they know that have an STD. Last time I was pregnant I had some light green discharge through the pregnancy...and they could not figure out what it was (this sometimes is associated with gonnorhea, but I did not come out positive). However, I did do the eye ointment just to be on the safe side. I had been a totally monogamous relationship for many, many years...but there's no telling what you may be a carrier for! Not saying to get the ointment...just saying...don't think it is only for people who know they have an STD.

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by whalemilk

I find it kind of troubling that people try to make this into a moral highhorse issue ("Well *****I****** dont have any stds!") I wish we could make our own decisions without saying things that could be hurtful to others.

i sure wasnt on any high moral horse....thats what it is to treat...since i KNOW i dont have it, i dont see a point in it. as far as the hospital bacteria floating around, i guess i avoid that too by just avoiding the hospital.

[DocsNemesis]

I dont think anyone was trying to be hurtful to others. The eye ointment is just in case you have an STD and dont know it or arnt admitting it. Period. If you know you dont have an STD for sure, there is no need for it. If you still chose to do it, thats your choice-no one is putting anyone down for making that choice. I just dont see the point in doing it myself, when I know I dont have anything.

Again though, I dont know if it might be helpful to prevent extra stuff in a preemie since their immune systems arnt fully developed. I was so out of it when they asked I couldnt make a real decision anyway. But in a normal full term infant? Yeah, its for the STDs, not scary hospital bacteria (no one should be putting their hands in your babies eyes anyway).

[whalemilk]

Well it is an antibiotic that is prescribed for more than one type of bacteria. I don't think it's irrational to give it as a precaution even if you're absolutely certain you don't have any STDs (which certainty, I'm sure, is held even by a lot of people who DO have stds.)

I also think it makes perfect sense to prefer giving an essentially low-risk treatment rather than deal with battles or social work calls, if that's going to be the case where you live. But I guess some people have a higher tolerance for scrutiny and conflict than I do.

[PassionateWriter]

i just have a low tolerance w/ the drs. or govt. telling me my kid needs something that we are at no risk for...so i guess thats where i am coming from.

and antibiotics scare teh heck out me. we dont do them, short of a life threatening disease. it keeps the body healthy to keep that stuff away if there is no medical necessity.

[Daniel's Kitty]

We aren't doing it.

I would rather save antibiotics for when they are needed. But I try to be careful about them getting drugs when they don't need them.

[honeybee]

Well, the "low risk" part of the treatment is debatable. There are some theories about a correlation between the increase in long-term effects of near-sightedness and when this treatment started becoming routine. And then there is the general overuse of antibiotics risk of creating superbugs that can't be treated with antibiotics.

[whalemilk]

Oooh nearsightedness uhoh! Well my kid's going to be nearsighted no matter what and trust me, there are worse things.

Doesn't anyone else just get weary of fighting every.little.thing? It's kind of silly IMHO. You can come up with a reason to discredit ANYTHING, really, and in most cases, someone has. I guess I'm the only one who just doesn't see the point of going into birth like I'm starting a massive court battle.

[annettemarie]

Ladies, this poll was meant to share your individual choices on this topic with your DDC. This isn't a debate thread or a debate forum. If you'd like to have a drawn out discussion on the pros and cons of the eye ointment, that needs to take place in Birth and Beyond, perferably minus the snarkiness.

[DocsNemesis]

I suppose it might be different if its a huge battle where you happen to be and whatnot. I dont know how much I'd be willing to fight this particular thing. However, in most places its not a big deal, you just sign a waiver and thats the end of it, at least according to a lot of people I've talked to. It was the same for me-I signed it along with the Hep B refusal at the same time. Honestly they had more of an issue with me refusing glucose water just because it was hospital policy if a baby was over xx weight. And that I did fight...silly hospitals!

[joshs_girl]

Who's the best person to talk to about these things - your OB or your pedi?

[sarbear]

Originally Posted by joshs_girl

Who's the best person to talk to about these things - your OB or your pedi?

Neither!

I can just say, based on my experience, that if you have a fairly mainstream OB/ and or Pedi, they will VERY strongly urge you to do all of the recommended medical procedures (including all vaccines). So, while you could get their opinion on all of it, you should go into any discussion with either well armed with your own research to back up any views or conclusions you have come to.
As far as sharing your wishes for what procedures are done (or not) to the baby immediately after birth, you could put it into your birth plan, as well as making sure to tell the nurses verbally since they are the ones that administer/conduct most procedures and testing.