can i refuse vitamin k, eye ointment, or hep B??

[MuslimMama]

Hi everyone~

Due to some unexpected complications, I am going to be giving birth in a hospital (Baylor Grapevine or Las Colinas Med Center... have not decided yet) rather than at home like I had originally planned.

I know that hospitals routinely give babies vitamin K shot, eye ointment, and hep B shot. My question is... do I have the right to refuse these? All of them or just certain ones? Has anyone else had experiences refusing these routine "treatments" that might be able to suggest a smooth way of going about it?

Between Baylor Grapevine and Las Colinas, is there one that is better than the other as far as these things go?

Any info, input or advice would be helpful!

[leewd]

Yes, Yes, and Yes!

Put it in your birth plan (make a "baby care" section).

Hep B is the easiest to refuse (most couples meet the least resistance on this one especially if they have already chosen a pediatrician), but you can also refuse the others.

Then when the baby is born, have DH stand guard and politely refuse with a smile on his face.

Sorry about the hospital birth, but I understand. My first was born at West Houston Med Center because I had complications during my pregnancy.

Good Luck!
--LEE

[mosesface]

absolutely!
make sure it's in your birth plan and that you go over it with the nurses. also make sure that your add that you, your dp, or a person you specifically designate is with the baby AT ALL TIMES.

there is nothing a healthy baby needs that cannot be done with direct supervision from a parent or in your room.

[tanyalynn]

I'd say our old ped practice was most surprised about the eye ointment (declining it, I mean) so that may be the one you get the most push-back on. But we didn't do any with my son, born at home, so it's not a legal issue. Wishing you all the best!

[noodlegirl]

The short answer is that you can definitly decline all of them. I will PM you with the longer answer!

[mommytomahmoud]

salam muslim mom just to let u know if u r having a boy and r getting him cir u will have to do the vitmin k shot they wont cir without that

but yes u can refuse all of them

[MuslimMama]

Originally Posted by mommytomahmoud

salam muslim mom just to let u know if u r having a boy and r getting him cir u will have to do the vitmin k shot they wont cir without that

but yes u can refuse all of them

salaams!

we are planning on circ, obviously for religious reasons, but we are not going to do it in the hospital. I think it is too much for a little one all at once. I think we are going to wait for a couple weeks and make sure he is nursing ok, etc and we have hired a rabbi to do the circ. From what I understand, a baby starts making his own vit K at around 8 days.

thanks for the advice! good to be informed!

w'salaam

[cmili]

I refused all of it with my last 2 hopital births. (Didn't know any better with the first one.) Be sure, even if it is in your birth plan and you tell the nurse, that someone is with your baby. OUr nurses kept "forgetting" and trying to give them to our baby. DH had to remind them several times. I also had to sign a waiver.

[KD's Momma]

I delivered at med center of lewisville, so i can't help with your hosp but i can tell you that which ever one you choose, you should call the nurse managers of the units and talk to them about what you expect when you arrive. we did this with DS#2 and had no problems what so ever - non intervention labor and delivery, baby stayed with us completely, no interventions with him (no circ, no shots, no meds) and we left a few hours after delivery. we did not call and talk to people bdfore DS#3 and it was a total nightmare from beginning to end and I will NEVER deliver there or at another hosp ever!!! I think alot of miscommunication and deliberate lies could have been avoided had I spoke with them before we arrived in labor.

And as pp have said you can absolutley refuse all interventions with you new LO.

[Shy0717]

I'm an RN at one of the North Dallas hospitals here and it really isn't that big of a deal to refuse. If you want to talk to the nurse manager you can but really all you do is say no thank you. They get you a form and explain the risks of not getting said medications (since its their job and they have to) and then you sign it and say no thanks. It's actually pretty common.