<<Subject: vit k and eye prophylaxis

 

Is there a legal requirement in the US to administer vitamin K and eye

 

prophylaxis within 1 hour of birth?  Or is this an ACOG or AAP
recommendation?  If we must administer these meds before the first=20
breastfeed, is it best to get it 'over with' within the 1st 5-10 minutes =
after=20 birth, or wait until closer to 60 minutes (when the baby may be
attempting to latch)?

 

Julie Conaway, RN, IBCLC>>

 

Eye treatment is a legal requirement in the U.S. and Canada but,
interestingly, NOT in the U.K. or Australia.  Parents can decline with an
informed consent document and many do.  The eye prophylaxis (erythromycin
ointment) causes an oily film over the baby's eyes during the time that he
is intently looking at the mother and bonding to the human face. For this
reason, it should be delayed for at least the 4 hour period after the birth.

 

The Vit K injection can be declined in a baby who is born without bruising
but most practitioners will bully the parents with horror stories until they
relent and allow it to be administered.  The needle is very small and
doesn't produce a lot of discomfort so doing that right away after the birth
would probably be the best idea, if the parents accept it.  Many homebirth
midwives do not give it routinely but that would involve a long off topic
discussion. If you want further information on Vit K concerns go to:
http://www.withwoman.co.uk/contents/info/vitamink.html Gloria Lemay,
Vancouver BC

 

www.consciouswoman.org

 

 


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