I mean to prevent infection in the babies eyes. This is my first baby so I was wondering.
2006-07-04 16:26:54 · 23 answers · asked by Chel 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Doctors do it in every state in the US. What *does* vary from state to state is if and how parents can refuse the treatment. The treatment is either silver nitrate or an antibiotic. The purpose is to protect the baby from blindness caused by a sexually transmitted disease. The assumption is that every woman must be infected. It is *not* vitamin K--that is a separate trauma imposed on a baby, given by injection. And it is *not* the eye treatment that causes baby's eyes to be blue, either. That happens naturally.
2006-07-04 18:40:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you dso not want it- get informed from a variety of sources and then decide- tell the doctor what you want. Eye drops is a prophalactic, meaning it is a preventative, antibiotic treatment for the revention of infection caused by certain vaginal bacteria. These bacteria are rarely present. In homebirths most midwives do not use it and babies do just fine.
Using eye drops in the newborn;s eyes makes it harder for the baby to focus - interferes with nonding in that sense, and really is not neccesary.
Now I know people believe that babies cant see- but they can- they just have a hard time focusing!
KNOW YOUR CHOICES! Email me if you want more information and resources!
All the best!
2006-07-04 16:47:15 · answer #2 · answered by Intuit Birth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all states do it..it is to prevent an eye infection called neonatal conjunctivitis. All hospitals (most required by state law) routinely use silver nitrate or antibiotic drops, such as erythromycin, in a newborn's eyes to prevent disease. Silver nitrate is no longer commonly used, and has been mostly replaced by antibiotic eye drops.
By the way..it doesn't hurt the baby and wears off in a few hours..Your baby will even be able to open her eyes and look at you! congrats on your baby!
2006-07-11 08:45:19 · answer #3 · answered by all8418 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that they do. GA doctors are also not the best in the world. One told me I had cancer and that I had a year to live, it turns out it was just an infected lymph nod. My mom says that they but drops in all of our eyes (4) when we were born in CA. Congratulations, Good Luck, and God Bless.
2006-07-04 16:32:01 · answer #4 · answered by Red F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silver nitrate has been used as an antiseptic, dropped into newborn babies' eyes at birth. This is to prevent contraction of gonorrhoea or chlamydia from their mother. A very weak solution is used for this, (about 1%) and there are very few side effects. (Wikipedia).
2006-07-04 16:30:12 · answer #5 · answered by Derek W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the eyedrops are required in the US (the drops are the reason all newborns seem to have blue eyes!)
2006-07-04 16:30:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess they do if you do a hospital birth.
The vitamin K is a preventative for baby against the sexually transmitted diseases that affect the baby's eyes.
If you and your husband have not had other sexual relationships then no need for that treatment.
2006-07-04 16:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by AccountableLady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Ga..when my kids were born they did that too..i think it is just in case the mom has an std that can be spread to baby
2006-07-04 16:28:18 · answer #8 · answered by tatortot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in NC and they put drops in both of my kids eyes. Not sure, but its probably pretty common esp in the us
2006-07-06 17:54:07 · answer #9 · answered by jen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my children were born in West Virginia. and they put drops in their eyes. I think all hospitals do. if I remeber right they are silver nitrate. it has been 14 years.
2006-07-04 16:30:56 · answer #10 · answered by stinkpot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋