Antibiotic Eye Ointment

Antibiotic eye ointment is routinely applied to the baby’s eyes upon birth to combat and prevent eye infections commonly caused by gonorrhea or clamidyia.  This procedure is routine, even for mothers who have negative STD testing.  While the eyes are very sensitive, especially at birth, the necessity for this procedure is highly questionable, especially for low risk moms who have no history of STDs.

PKU/Other Blood Testing 

Many hospitals will also do a heel prick to test the baby’s blood for a number of metabolic disorders, including PKU.  Many of the disorders tested for are treatable and if caught at an early age can mean the difference between lifelong health problems, or generally normal development.  The necessity of these tests is debated, especially for babies born to mothers with low risk factors, or those who have already had genetic testing.  For more information about this, it is best to discuss what testing is done with your provider in an effort to make a decision about whether or not you feel this is necessary for you. 

Additional practices are:

• Suctioning Of Baby After Birth: When baby comes out of the womb it is common practice to help the baby breathe for the first time by suctioning the mouth but this has some debate around it. Read more

• Placement of Baby Immediately After Birth - Many hospitals have different protocols for where baby should be placed immediately after birth for follow up exams and testing. Read more

• Cord Clamping, Pulsing and Cutting: It is routine for most hospitals to immediately clamp the cord upon delivery. Read More

• Vitamin K Injection: Vitamin K injections are routinely given to newborns to prevent the rare risk of bleeding in the brain due to a newborn’s low vitamin K levels.  Read more

Vitamin K injections are routinely given to newborns to prevent the rare risk of bleeding in the brain due to a newborn’s low vitamin K levels.  While this is a rare risk, bleeding can cause permanent brain damage and may not be noticed until after the damage has been done.  Risks of vitamin K injections for newborns include many of the risks associated with any injection, but also leukemia.  A newborn’s vitamin K levels will naturally increase as they age.

Though vitamin K levels will increase more quickly with formula fed infants than those who are breastfed because formula has added vitamin K, this is not a reason to consider formula over breastfeeding.  A newborn will receive vitamin K through the mother’s milk, but at a slower rate to allow for the baby’s body to adjust slowly without being overwhelmed.  There is also evidence to suggest that rather than one large dose injection, multiple smaller doses administered orally reduces the risk of leukemia, and will allow the baby’s system time to adjust appropriately.  A more detailed discussion can be read here.

Cord clamping is a routine at most hospitals immediately upon delivery unless specified by the parents that they wish otherwise.  This is done for two reasons; to bank the remaining cord blood, and to reduce the chances of bleeding.

While these don’t seem to be all that problematic consider that some of a newborn’s blood volume is being immediately cut off from them at the most crucial time in their new lives.  The cord blood is full of oxygen and stem cell rich blood, two vital components for the baby.  Delaying cord clamping until the cord stops pulsing (indicating that the placenta has shut down and all of the blood has completed its transfer to the baby) gives the baby a jump start with everything that was meant for him. Here is more information on how long to keep the cord attached and pulsing.

Leaving the placenta and cord intact also serves as back up life support.  In the event that the baby is in distress, the continued supply of oxygen rich blood to the baby may serve to help save the life of a baby in distress, especially when the baby is placed skin to skin on the mother while any necessary procedures or examinations are done.  There is a great Facebook page here that frequently posts articles about the benefits of delayed cord clamping here.  This is also a great article written by an OB on delayed clamping.

Something that often gets passed up when thinking about having a newborn is car seats, and how to correctly use them. I can't stress enough how important car seat safety is.You get scared and protective when your child falls? So let's get protective on saving their lives in cars.

 Let's start with the chest clip. It is called a chest clip for a reason, not a tummy clip. You want it even with child's nipples or arm pits.

This picture shows a correctly installed infant in an infant carrier.

Another important thing to remember is where the straps come out of the car seat. Make sure the straps are tight and secure, you should not be able to pinch them at all.

If your child is rear facing (AAP recommends to at least 2 years and 30lbs) the straps need to be at or BELOW shoulders.

If your child is forward facing they need to be at or ABOVE shoulders. Make sure the straps are tight and secure, you should not be able to pinch them at all.

When installing the car seat into the car it needs to be tight as possible. If you have the latch system use that, if not, seat belt. But NEVER both. This video shows the importance of making sure it is tight. You shouldn't be able to move the car seat when it is installed. Grab the base of it and shake, if it moves more than an inch, it needs to be tighter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u7Ca-pehs34#!

Did you know winter coats are a big no no in car seats? Watch this video for further explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGT9eBL_gg&feature=player_embedded

Another big no no is aftermarket products. What is an aftermarket product? It is anything and everything that doesn't come with your car seat. They void the warranty and haven't been crash tested. So those cute car seat covers, are just that, cute but have not been tested to be safe. Bundle Me's, are the same thing, so stick with using a blanket.

Please, never buy a used car seat from an unknown source as you don't know the history of it. If a car seat is involved with a crash, even if it is minor, it could have caused damage to the frame that you can't see. Or what if they washed the straps? Washing the straps, breaks down the material they are made from and can cause them to snap, as well as not being fire resistant anymore.

When it comes to your children, you can never be too safe or too cautious with car seats.

Le'ts keep our kids safe in the car, as well as out.

You can chose to do or not do this soon after it is born (within a week), within a few months after it is born, or only when necessary.  However, it may be necessary for a birth certificate so check with your registry to cover your bases.

If CPS becomes an issue, often they just want the baby to see a pediatrician to ensure it is receiving "proper medical care."  So it might be a good idea to get a newborn checkup just to have that under your belt.

Here is the story my unassisted birth with my twin girls.

Go back to Step #14: Deciding Whether to Make the Trip to the Hospital

Go to Birthing Methods Menu

This is a very eye opening documentary on circumcision. When making any decision on such a sensitive topic, please research your options thoroughly. The Birthing Site does not endorse circumcision, we feel it's necessary for parents to make an informed decision about whether this procedure is necessary for their baby.

The critically acclaimed documentary on male circumcision by Chicago filmmaker Eli Ungar-Sargon. For the unabridged version, please buy the DVD at:

www.CutTheFilm.com