VITAMIN K & ERYTHROMYCIN
When a baby is born in America two things are typically done to them unless a parent declines. One is they are given a vitamin K shot and the other is the erythromycin eye ointment put on their eyes. I've combined both of these in one post since they go hand in hand and both are items that parents need to researched BEFORE going into labor. As with everything, it is up to you as a parent to do the research to make the best decision for your child and not just do something because it is the norm.
Evidence Based Birth Article Vitamin K
@Evidence Based Birth Article Erythromycin
@Organic.Gannett Highlight Vitamin K
@Organic.Gannett Highlight Erythromycin
@Dr.GreenMom Post She sells an oral vitamin K & talks about K1vs K2
The following photos & caption are from @lindsaytuttlenp.
Was soooo excited to share this with you guys because I get a lot of questions about vitamin k from moms and this is the deal: ultimately this decision is up to you BUT I think most women aren’t fully informed when consenting on this topic.
Furthermore, please don’t assume that someone with a degree has researched this either. I truly never learned about this in nursing school except that it was a vitamin and all kids got it. I never even thought to question it . My first son did have it and we are very fortunate that to our knowledge, no long term damage was done.
We proceeded with delayed cord clamping with my second and oral vitamin k drops. At current time, I don’t plan to use any supplementation with my third.
Reminder: it’s ok learning new info and changing your mind. And remember this is JUST info. You still have the power to make your own decision on this 👏🏻👏🏻 let’s not lose that choice!
Any questions about this that I didn’t cover? Tag and share with a friend who needs the info!
The following photos and caption are from @theaulaniproject.
There’s still a lot to know about this injection that they give to newborns immediately after birth, so please continue your research on the subject! 🤍✨
The following photos and caption are from @thenaturalmindedmomma.
Not medical advice. Provided for informed consent only and to encourage parents to ask questions.
Considerations: Your infant’s digestive system isn’t fully developed at birth which is why we give babies breast milk until they are at least 6-months, and why breast milk only contains a small amount of highly absorbable vitamin K. Too much vitamin K could tax the liver and cause brain damage (among other things). As baby ages and the digestive tract, mucosal lining, gut flora, and enzyme functions develop, baby can process more vitamin K. Cord blood contains stem cells, which protect a baby against bleeding and perform all sorts of needed repairs inside an infant’s body. Here’s the kicker, in order for a baby to get this protective boost of stem cells, cord-cutting needs to be delayed and the blood needs to remain thin so stem cells can easily travel and perform their functions. A newborn might have low levels of vitamin K because its intestines are not yet colonized with bacteria needed to synthesize it and the “vitamin K cycle” isn’t fully functional in newborns. It makes sense then to bypass the gut and inject vitamin K right into the muscle right? Except baby’s kidneys aren’t fully functional either. Last. Babies are born with low levels of vitamin K compared to adults, but this level is still sufficient to prevent problems; vitamin K prophylaxis isn’t necessarily needed.
several clinical observations support the hypothesis that children have natural protective mechanisms that justify their low vitamin K levels at birth. I don’t know about you, but we should probably figure out why that is before we inject now and worry about it later.
Perhaps there is a reason God designed babies with low vitamin K to begin with.
Additionally, there is a correlation between h e p b and vitamin k being released in conjunction - this topic is very interesting.
There is way more to this to consider.
Sources: cdc, fda, just the inserts, chd, momlifeinpnw, ebb
Whatever you decide. Please discuss with your provider.
The following photos and caption are from @lindsaytuttlenp.
short answer : no
Longer answer: I find the majority of women do not realize they can refuse this very simple procedure that is protocol here but that does not mean it’s best for your child.
Please know hospitals will automatically give this to your baby unless you are informed and decide to refuse and make that known (I also suggest making it known in a birth plan).
Did you know this info in regards to the “eye goop”. Save and share with a friend who needs it!
The following photos and caption are from @organic.gannett.
Erythromycin
AKA “eye ointment” put directly on your baby’s eyes after birth. It is routine in the US, but is it necessary for ALL babies?
Erythromycin is an antibiotic given given to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis (an infection in the eye that can lead to blindness) caused by chlamydia or, more commonly, gonorrhea while passing through the birth canal. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are both sexually transmitted diseases.
Have you ever been told something like “well you can never be too sure these days *laughs*” by a nurse or doctor? That’s because they are making a “joke” about STDs in your relationship.🙋🏼♀️
Women are routinely screened and treated for both STDs here in the US during their prenatal care. If you have been screened or know that you do not have either STD, your baby cannot get neonatal conjunctivitis from gonorrhea or chlamydia. Recently, the AAP came out and said that they do not recommend mandates for erythromycin, but instead support a more preventative strategy to treat infected women. Countries like Australia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden no longer recommend routine prophylactic erythromycin to all babies.
It *is* possible for your baby to contract an eye infection from other bacteria other than gonorrhea or chlamydia, but the data is very limited on whether the erythromycin is effective for other bacteria, and they are not the reason the ointment is routinely given.
Gonorrhea is the main target of erythromycin since it is the leading cause of infection in babies and also the most dangerous. A gonorrheal infection passed from mother to baby carries a significant risk of blindness for baby.
Then there is the issue of antibiotic resistant bacteria (a massive problem). Like viruses, bacteria mutate when under pressure. In Canada, a study showed 23% of gonorrhea strains were resistant to erythromycin.
Also, please note that in the case of a C-sections where the water was not previously broken, infection from gonorrhea and chlamydia passing from mother to baby is extremely rare, even in a positive mother.
Like with all medical interventions, assess your risk and assess the reasonings. Does it make sense in YOUR specific circumstance?
The following photo and caption are from @ebbirth.
// Advocate for States to Adopt Prevention Strategies //
Listen now to the Evidence Based Birth® Podcast:
EBB 167 - Evidence on Eye Ointment for Newborns
Check the link in our bio, or visit ebbirth.com/eyeointment
Part 1 because there’s a lot to talk about here!
Like always, this is for educational purposes only. I tried to present this in a fair, unbiased way, but also presented some food for though at the end.
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