So we had control over what we wanted and didn't want. I did get the vitamin K, which was highly recommended by my midwives. We didn't do the Hep b at the birthing center but later at the doc check-up. We didn't do the eye goo. And I was gbs positive and I wanted the antibiotics for it. (I did not want to risk my baby dieing over some fear of iv's. I will deal with it!)

Do you have a midwife? If so make sure she knows all of this. Or get a doula so that she can keep things in check while you and your partner are in labor.

"Everything from airplanes to kitchen blenders - and even chopsticks - come with an instruction manual. Children, despite all their complexity, do not."

But got the rest. I didn't see any harm in the vit K, wasn't goona hurt and could prevent something really awful and I got her the hep b in fact all her vaccines. I feel vacines are important I think they do more harm than good. With my next baby I will plan out my own vaccine schedule, the way they do it is intense.

Hospitals definitely don't tell you all the real information. I real did not like my expierences there after the birth. They would come and take my girl to check her and for tests and they take for ever to bring her back. One time they took her and had been a while so I called to the nurses station and asked for her back and the asshole that answered told me that I could go down abd pick her up. Now I had a great birth but he didn't know this, so i was mad, but so high because of my baby i did not get as outraged as i should have. I was lucky to have a doula, who gave me lots of info about the shots and what i could say n to, but after the birth i stopped being on guard so whenever they came for the baby to check her i didn't stop to think i could say no. Everytime they brought her back all swaddled and would put that cart thing on the other side of the room, no next to the bed where there was room for it. I get up out of bed pick her up and unwrap her. I just loved looking at her.

Sorry to go so off topic but i disliked the after birth part of the hospital. Which is why i've vowed to have all subsquence babies at home. But do know you are allowed to say no to anything no matter how much they push. Sometimes they can be crappy enough to try to scare you that you are not doing things in the best interest of your baby. Stand by what you want it is the right thing for your baby.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing
There is a field. I'll meet you there.
-Rumi

we opted out of the eye goo and we had the Vitmin K admistered orally (3 x over about two weeks -- visit from midwife). Could bear to give our little guy a needle, and the eye stuff is absolutely unnesscary unlkess you're carying syphilys (I think)...

my baby was born 5 days ago - I asked when I went in (during labor) said I didn't want it done. (I forgot to tell my man about no drops no vit K) I had to sign papers after baby was born

I did want my baby to have pku genetic screen. The man that came to do the test said they still do female circumcision in his country. Ok that was a little unnerving - but I insisted my baby nurse the whole time blood was drawn. The man ended up saying it was one of the easiest tests he'd ever done.

I opted out of the eyedrops, vit K, and any vacs for both of mine. I had to sign forms and be given a lecture at one point, but I stood my ground. Both kids were vaxed later. I just don't think they need so much crap to deal with, birth is tramatic enough. They have to get your consent for anything, so it's just a matter of not consenting and telling them "I don't think that's necessary, thank you." I also kept my babies with me in my hospital bed. I had a c-sec with both by necessity and had to stay for days. So I took all of the pillows that we could find and built a baby nest around me so I could just nurse and sleep all day. It's just a matter of stating what you want and standing your ground.

Congrats on the head down baby- that's a little something off your mind. I don't have much to say about the rest. I did the vitamin K and eye stuff but here (Ontario) its just polysporin so not painful or harmful. The Hep vac isn't standard (yet, anyway) and my midwife always waits for the cord to stop so not an issue. I agree, have it all written down in case there is any confusion or transfer of care issues.

What's your due date? I'm March 6th but would be perfectly happy with, say, Friday. I"m definetly done.

i really didn't like the maternity ward after i had dd. i had a birth plan on paper with my wishes. there are some things i might have changed.
my cord was pretty short so it was hard to keep the girl out of the water. i think it was cut a little soon, i'd rather that than dd getting water in her face(the midwife had my mom cut it, nobody else wanted to do it, my mom told me she didn't either!)
i probably would have kept the placentia and could have if i had written it my birth plan (i didn't even get to see it!).
i think i would have had the vit k shot and the eye drops, but somehow they were overlooked after ada was born. she's fine, it didn't make that big of a difference.
i had to sign waiver's not to get the hep b shot. the nurses gave a really hard time, but we stood our ground. i'm not giving ada any vaccinations until past her 2nd b-day (only then 'cause we want to travel).
BTW having the birth plan was a big help.
Ada's mama
17m