Star writes:

>I need a little help here. I am a labor and delivery RN, as well as a
>IBCLC. I was at a awesome birth yesterday at work, put baby to breast,
>bonding, breastfeeding beautifully; when the clock struck 1 hour a new
>nurse comes in with the eye drops, vit k.... bath etc.

I think parents need to be informed that they have the right to delay (or
even refuse) the eye drops, vitamin K, and bath. If you quietly tell them
this and they decide to delay these treatments,  it takes the heat off you
and it becomes their decision.  Around here, parents are told that the eye
drops are to prevent eye infections--not a word is mentioned about
gonorrhea.  I suspect many parents would be distressed to learn that their
baby is being treated prophylactically just in case mom or dad has a
venereal disease!   As to the vitamin K,  what are these people afraid of?
Do they really believe that the already remote chance of hemorrhage is less
likely if the vitamin K shot is administered one hour post-birth vs. two
hours post-birth?

Wouldn't it be nice if parents and babies could be treated according to
their needs rather than the iron-clad routines of the hospital?

Loyann Waber
Breastfeeding Counselor
Delaware, OH