Neonatal Procedures
Eye Ointment
Typical hospital protocol is to instill erythromycin, a petroleum-based antibiotic ointment into
baby’s eyes immediately postpartum to prevent blindness due to gonorrhea or chlamydia. To do this routinely assumes you are
unhealthy and not monogamous, regardless of any testing done prenatally. Erythromycin causes irritation, burning, redness, blurred
vision (which can interfere with bonding) and plugged tear ducts. Irritation may be more severe in those with hypersensitivity. Erythromycin is effective against certain strains of staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumonia, influenza, syphilis, gonorrhea, and
chlamydia, however does not provide complete protection against chlamydia and only IV antibiotics can prevent gonorrheal blindness
in an active neonatal infection. Northeast Kansas Homebirth Service does not provide erythromycin eye ointment. For those
who desire prophylactic treatment against potential blindness from a sexually transmitted disease, herbal or other non-medical treatments
are available, including a few drops of colostrum placed directly into each eye.
Vitamin K
The healthy newborn blood
clotting system can be viewed as immature, partially because the liver itself is not fully developed, and additionally because newborns
have low levels of vitamin K (VK), the vitamin responsible for assisting in blood clotting. Vitamin K is synthesized in the
gut through ordinary bacteria from our world. This can take about 8 days to become established. Prior to that, in very
rare instances, a baby may be at risk for vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in cases of birth trauma (shoulder dystocia, bruising,
swelling, forceps or vacuum extraction). It is usually prompted by delayed onset of breastfeeding or an inadequate intake or
marginal VK content in the mother’s breast milk. Standard hospital protocol is an injection of vitamin K to the newborn baby,
which carries an increased risk of prolonged jaundice. Northeast Kansas Homebirth Service does not use supplemental vitamin
K, and trusts that God’s design for the newborn is perfect. In the cases of any visible bruising or swelling in the baby, a
blood-clotting herb may be given by mouth to the baby to assist with blood clotting.
Metabolic screening
This test is a newborn heelstick that screens for certain metabolic and genetic disorders in the newborn that typically cause mental retardation. These disorders require special dietary changes that exclude breastfeeding. The state of Kansas screens for phenylketonuria (0.12% risk), galactosemia (0.06%), hypothyroidism (0.4%), and 25 other disorders including cystic fibrosis; Missouri tests for 43 others. The heelstick requires pricking the heel of your newborn with a special lancet called a Tenderfoot (or similar device) that actually takes a small “slice” in the foot. The blood is then tested and the results sent to your midwife or pediatrician. Testing is required by law in both Kansas and Missouri, however provision is made for religious objection. Please be aware that the "Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act", a federal law passed by Congress in 2007, warehouses all DNA received through newborn screening.
References:
“Newborn Screening For Your Baby’s Health”, from Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
ULW6,
p866, 873-874, 876-877, 881
http://kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_65/Article_1/65-180.html
PKU collection form, Kansas Division
of Health and Environmental Laboratories
www.kdheks.gov/newborn_screening/
Pinckney, p132
ULW4, p441, 480-481
www.kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_65/Article_1/#65-153b
Bates
663; Frye2, p772
Varney, p565
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/332/9/562
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1858
