What about refusing the eyes drops antibiotics?

550 Views 18 Replies 15 Participants Last post by *GreenMama*, Apr 1, 2006

GreenMama

Discussion Starter · Mar 30, 2006

I'm a little concerned about the antibiotic ointment because of my history with being allergic to lots of antibiotics. Even if the baby is not allergic to it I'm worried about it transferring to me if theres ointment all over his/her eyes.

Has anybody refused this? Are there better alternatives? What about some sort of test done to me before the baby is born to rule out the need?

Oh, and what in the heck are the antibiotics for anyway? STDs only or something else???

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

djinneyah

· #2 · Mar 31, 2006

the ointment is in case you have STDs. if you don't have STDs, i'd refuse it.

what gets me is when they put that ointment on c-section babies...

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Snowdrift

· #3 · Mar 31, 2006

*Of course* c-sec babies need it! We musn't deprive them of any portion of their delivery ritual!

I've heard of a couple hospitals locally that take it *really* seriously, but most don't really care and do really regard it as a ritual rather than a necessity. I'd just ask someone who had been to your hospital if they had any issues turning it down.

~member~

· #4 · Mar 31, 2006

I have always refused the eye drops. There is a greater risk of baby going blind from the drops than from the STD....gonnorhea(?).

I also refused to let them wash my newborn with soap. It removes all their natural flora/fauna and can lead to sensitive skin and allergies. It is okay to use a warm, wet washclothe to wipe away ickies, though.

If you are pg, you can always ask the doctor/nurse to test your urine for STD's so that you have a back-up if the docs try to push the eye drops on you. You can just show them that you do not have the STD, so no need for eye drops.

i always got tested a few weeks before my due date, that way they couldn't try to push anything on me, including when they tried to put an IV of antibiotics in my newborn "just in case".

.

Also, remember that you do NOT have to sign any forms if you do not want to!

If the doctor is not going to give you all the facts and then let you sign away consent, that should tell you right away they do not care about you or baby.

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mimid

· #5 · Mar 31, 2006

Since both dh and I had to be tested before we started the last round of IF treatments, we know that there are no STD's here. Also, mine will be c/s so I'm refusing.

NYCVeg

· #6 · Mar 31, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by djinneyah
what gets me is when they put that ointment on c-section babies...

Dh and I were just talking about ludicrous this was the other day!

We're definitely refusing the eye drops/ointment. Honestly, I *really* don't think it's a very big deal. Of all the things that I'm either refusing or thinking of refusing, this was one was pretty much a no-brainer.

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Peppamint

· #7 · Mar 31, 2006

No STDs here so no way I'm going to use antibiotics just in case.

That's like mastectomies "just in case" of breast cancer or taking some Advil "just in case" of a headache. I'm all for prevention, but that's just unnecessary!

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Maggi315

· #8 · Mar 31, 2006

You know, I rarely use the eye drops at all. And we don't bathe our babies after birth. and guess what? they are absolutely fine!!!! Just tell them you don't want it, you'll probably have to sign a waiver or something, whatever? right? don't worry about it, baby will be fine.

aja-belly

· #9 · Mar 31, 2006

like everything for my baby, i needed to be convinced why it was ncessary - not why it wasn't. i was not at all convinced i should do it, so we didn't.

Throkmorton

· #10 · Mar 31, 2006

My MW just brought this up yesterday. She was absolutely fine with my comment of "I think i will refuse it. The drops are for preventing ghonnorhea-induced blindness. I don't have ghonnorhea, I never have and I have no real plans to get it in the future"
Her response? "Yeah, but I have to check. It's kind of a dumb law that has been on the books for 40 years. I'll just have to make you sign a form saying you refuse"

For a lot of care providers, it is kind of a silly thing and they know it is useless in 99% of cases.

ltk

· #11 · Mar 31, 2006

Not doing it, no way. Seems unneccessary.

When do people recommend the first bath?

nova22

· #12 · Mar 31, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies
I have always refused the eye drops. There is a greater risk of baby going blind from the drops than from the STD....gonnorhea(?).

I also refused to let them wash my newborn with soap. It removes all their natural flora/fauna and can lead to sensitive skin and allergies. It is okay to use a warm, wet washclothe to wipe away ickies, though.

Do you have stats/research to back up either of these statements? It's not that I don't believe you (I do) but I like to have the ability to back up my statements when I am talking to my doctor, and I do intend to refuse the eye drops.

~member~

· #13 · Mar 31, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova22
Do you have stats/research to back up either of these statements? It's not that I don't believe you (I do) but I like to have the ability to back up my statements when I am talking to my doctor, and I do intend to refuse the eye drops.

When I read those facts, it was in the consent form they wanted me to sign.

If someone knows the name of the antibiotic, I am sure on the warnings/side effects it would tell you those stats.

Sorry. I hope that helps some.

The one I read was over 9 years ago and since then I have just always said, No.

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NYCVeg

· #14 · Mar 31, 2006

I think the antibiotic is usually erythromiycin (no idea how to spell). I have also heard of babies having allergic reactions to it.

I found this:
http://www.drjaygordon.com/developme...ks/eyecare.asp

And this:
http://www.gentlebirth.org/Midwife/eyeointm.html

As for the bath...I've also heard that the vernix also contains either hormones or pheremones that stimulate baby to suck--it helps early bfing if you don't give a bath immediately (besides which you avoid unnecessary separation from your infant).

mamacatsbaby

· #15 · Mar 31, 2006

I was thinking about doing this one but have since decided that it's not necessary for reasons you guys have already listed.

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flowmom

· #16 · Mar 31, 2006

We're declining like we did last time

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Mom2Adam

· #17 · Mar 31, 2006

We are having a homebirth- so we can easily refuse. MW and I discussed at length - the vagina does have bacteria in it and lots of babies get clogged ducts after birth (sometimes resulting in infection). I am going to drop colostrum in babies eyes in the first few days as a preventative. This also helps protect MW in case there are any questions...."Did you use eyedrops? Yes we did!".

I *think* that there was something about this in the colostrum article of mothering a few months ago. Maybe for those having hospital births, that would be an option.

When we had DS I wanted to refuse that and was told point blank by MEdwives that too many refusals will label me as trouble....(sad ain't it!). I was worried about that since we were going to be in hospital! So I did not refuse, but if I had thought about colostrum, I would have suggested that as alternative. We were already refusing other things (like vax's) so I was trying to be "careful".

Good luck -

Traci

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Peppamint

· #18 · Mar 31, 2006

First bath... hmm, a few days old maybe. I forget now. I didn't bathe my newborns all that often (and they had lovely soft skin, no lotion needed), mostly just wiped down hands and face/chin when breastmilk got all over.

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GreenMama

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 1, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Throkmorton
"I think i will refuse it. The drops are for preventing ghonnorhea-induced blindness. I don't have ghonnorhea, I never have and I have no real plans to get it in the future"

:

I'm pretty sure we're going to refuse it. I'll have the discussion with my MWs either this week or when we go over my birth plan...

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