[stephr_k]

<p>Okay so I live in TX were the newborn eye ointment is required by law (grrrr).  From my understanding of the eye ointment is only for preventing gonorrhea and chlamydia which I have neither nor does my husband.  I am wondering if I'm missing something else the ointment is for? And how do I avoid CPS being called by declining the ointment (I'm having a hospital birth)?</p>

 

[Keria]

<p>It's not only for gonorrhea and chlamydia, it also prevents infections from regular bacteria. with that said I'm pretty sure you'll be able to decline it with out too much trouble.</p>

 

[mamanoish]

Here in FL, from what I've been led to believe, you CAN'T decline it at all. :-/

 

[hildare]

<p>i don't know if i believe that-- you can always opt out of anything, as there have been religious discrimination suits to back it up. </p>
<p>we are not doing it. </p>
<p>they won't call cps on you for declining that or the hep b vax or the vitamin k (unless maybe there's a situation with that where they think excessive bleeding depends upon that option).  you'll have to sign a waiver, but you will want to ask as soon as you arrive (if you can).</p>

 

[Gunter]

<p>it's required by law here in our NC hospitals, too from what I recall in my doula days there- someone correct me though.  but, you can sign a waiver to decline it- again, someone correct me if they know more up to date info. </p>

 

[Ramzubo]

<p><span style="font-size:small;">I used to think this couldn't be true, but everyone said that's the rules in CT. After tons of research it appears that this is true. There are laws that allow for religious exemptions of all vaccines, the hearing and metabolic screenings and the HIV test. I've found no mention of the Vitamin K shot so I guess that could be refused, but loads of references to the eye ointment mandated by state law.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;">"PROCEDURE FOR: Eye Prophylaxis: Administration of <b>:</b>All infants will receive prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum as soon after birth as the infant’s condition warrants and within one hour, per <b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">State of Connecticut Statute.</span> </b> If infant’s eyes are fused, this prophylactic treatment is not done. <b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Connecticut State law allows for no refusal or waiver, unless infant’s eyes are fused."</span></b></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><span>So I read the law and basically it allows parents to refuse t</span></span><span style="font-size:small;"><span lang="en">he treatment if the infant's eyes are inflammed or red(which I guess includes fused), but nothing for if they are healthy. How stupid is that...so after you put the junk in their eyes and it irritates them then you could refuse it...ridiculous.</span></span></p>

 

[liliaceae]

AFAIK New York is the only state where you can't decline it, but I could be wrong. I would ask at the hospital you'll be delivering at to see if you can sign a waiver.<br><br><div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment/0_100#post_16741370" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>mamanoish</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment/0_100#post_16741370"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br>
Here in FL, from what I've been led to believe, you CAN'T decline it at all. :-/</div>
</div>
<br><br>
I declined the eye ointment in FL in 2006. It was no problem at all, just signed a form.<br><br>

 

[liliaceae]

<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment/0_100#post_16741842" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Ramzubo</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment/0_100#post_16741842"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br><span style="font-size:10px;">I used to think this couldn't be true, but everyone said that's the rules in CT. After tons of research it appears that this is true. There are laws that allow for religious exemptions of all vaccines, the hearing and metabolic screenings and the HIV test. I've found no mention of the Vitamin K shot so I guess that could be refused, but loads of references to the eye ointment mandated by state law.</span><br><br><span style="font-size:10px;">"PROCEDURE FOR: Eye Prophylaxis: Administration of <b>:</b>All infants will receive prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum as soon after birth as the infant’s condition warrants and within one hour, per <b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">State of Connecticut Statute.</span> </b> If infant’s eyes are fused, this prophylactic treatment is not done. <b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Connecticut State law allows for no refusal or waiver, unless infant’s eyes are fused."</span></b></span><br><br><span style="font-size:10px;">So I read the law and basically it allows parents to refuse t</span><span style="font-size:10px;">he treatment if the infant's eyes are imflammed or red(which I guess includes fused), but nothing for if they are healthy. How stupid is that...so after you put the junk in their eyes and it irritates them then you could refuse it...ridiculous.</span></div>
</div>
<br>
Again, I declined the eye ointment in CT in 2009, signed a form, no problem at all.

 

[Ramzubo]

<p><br>
Thanks, I guess it is up to the individual hospital to decide if they want to be a pain since this is what I read on Hartford and UConns maternity info.<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>liliaceae</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment#post_16741846"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
Again, I declined the eye ointment in CT in 2009, signed a form, no problem at all.</div>
</div>
<br><br><p> </p>

 

[liliaceae]

<div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment/0_100#post_16741861" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Ramzubo</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment/0_100#post_16741861"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif"></a><br><br><br><br>
Thanks, I guess it is up to the individual hospital to decide if they want to be a pain since this is what I read on Hartford and UConns maternity info.<br><br>
 <br><br><br></div>
</div>
<br>
I went to Manchester Memorial Hospital. If you're anywhere near there, you should check it out. I had a great experience, and they having birthing tubs there.

 

[mamanoish]

<p>Well that is good to know! My first son received the ointment (his birth led me to be the birth advocate I am today, I knew nothing about gentle birth back then) but my second was born out of the hospital and did not. My midwife said that if I am transferred to the hospital for any reason from our home birth that baby would have to receive it, but I could decline vax and vitamin K, that this particular hospital doesn't let you opt out. I would be very interested to find out if that is really the case. </p>

 

[parsley]

<p>Can anyone recommend a source for reading up on the eye ointment?  I was in NYC when DD was born and I was told by multiple sources there were no exemptions... so I didn't really look into it.  In PA, I can decline everything.  So, now I need to figure out if I actually want to decline. <br><br>
If it's just sort of preventative antibiotics, I'd decline.  But, I'd like to know a little more about it.  Anyone have any sources they can point me to?</p>

 

[Right of Passage]

<p>Google it, about.com has a brief thing about it and a link to further explaination. It is preventative antibiotics. Incase you have gonorrhea or chlamdiya they treat all babies.</p>

 

[Rin]

<p>I'm in TX too and m MW told me that technically it can't be declined, but.....if I'm holding my baby they can't physically assault my child by administering the ointment against my wishes. Hope that helps.  With all other things I'm "declining" I just have to signa paper that states I'm aware of the risks...blah,blah,blah..........</p>

 

[parsley]

<p><br>
Thanks.  I did try googling it before posting and found lots of brief statements but not much detailed information or analysis. </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Right of Passage</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment#post_16745237"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>Google it, about.com has a brief thing about it and a link to further explaination. It is preventative antibiotics. Incase you have gonorrhea or chlamdiya they treat all babies.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p> </p>

 

[hildare]

<p>it's just erythromycin ointment.  <a href="http://www.drugs.com/pro/erythromycin-ophthalmic-ointment.html" target="_blank">link to fda info</a>.  (i am not totally convinced it's harmful but i am convinced it's unnecessary.  which is why we won't do it...)</p>

 

[parsley]

<p>Thanks, Hildare.<br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>hildare</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment#post_16748442"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>it's just erythromycin ointment.  <a href="http://www.drugs.com/pro/erythromycin-ophthalmic-ointment.html" target="_blank">link to fda info</a>.  (i am not totally convinced it's harmful but i am convinced it's unnecessary.  which is why we won't do it...)</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p> </p>

 

[stephr_k]

<p>Grrrr, I spoke to my midwife about it yesterday.  She said that yes it is only for the treatment/prevention of gonorrhea and chlamydia.  She said that in TX it is required and that some hospitals that are not state funded will not call CPS if you decline.  But, if you are delivering at a hospital that receives state funding they DO call CPS.  And some times they do make a big deal about declining it but you can decline it!  She also said that if you don't really want it but don't want the fuss of CPS.  You can request per birth plan that it be given one hour after birth.  Request the baby be given to you as soon as they do it or have them do it while you are holding the little one and just wipe it out.</p>

 

[justKate]

<p>Quote:</p>
<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>mamanoish</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment#post_16741370"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Here in FL, from what I've been led to believe, you CAN'T decline it at all. :-/</div>
</div>
<p>Quote:</p>
<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>liliaceae</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment#post_16741843"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
AFAIK New York is the only state where you can't decline it, but I could be wrong. I would ask at the hospital you'll be delivering at to see if you can sign a waiver.<br>
I declined the eye ointment in FL in 2006. It was no problem at all, just signed a form.</div>
</div>
<p><br>
I declined it in 2009 in FL.  Signed the pre-printed form when I toured the hospital, no big deal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Quote:</p>
<div class="quote-container">
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>hildare</strong> <a href="/community/t/1335725/newborn-eye-onitment#post_16748442"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>it's just erythromycin ointment.  <a href="http://www.drugs.com/pro/erythromycin-ophthalmic-ointment.html" target="_blank">link to fda info</a>.  (i am not totally convinced it's harmful but i am convinced it's unnecessary.  which is why we won't do it...)</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
 </p>
<p>Agreed.</p>