So, after the baby's born, they take the baby and do the Apgar tests, etc. What else? What kinds of immunization do they do? Is there anything else I need to study up on?

Then, how about pain management for mommies. Do they give you a prescription? Will you need it? As far as postpartum procedures when I'll be exhausted and not able to think, what do I need to know about?

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Kelly

I'm trying to think...I think they do one immunization the day you leave the hospital...is it hep? I'm not sure...they'll tell you though.

They will definitely offer you pain meds right there if you need them, and they will also send you home with a prescription, need be. I've never had to take any pain meds after delivery at all. They still sent me home with a prescription just in case, but I never filled it cause I never needed it. But it was nice to have.

They will help you out and explain everything to you. They'll give you a packet of info about nursing or formula feeding, etc. You'll fill out the birth certificate application right there, as well as a social security form. The baby will get their pics taken the day you leave the hospital...you have the option of buying some or not, but the baby will be put online on the hospital's website.

The nursing staff where I have been has always been extremely helpful

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They will offer the Hep B vaccine at hospital. I have decided to start all vaccines at my peditricians office, so I won't have any done at the hospital. You'll want to decide before you go to the hospital.

Most hospitals will do a hearing test, as well as the metabolic panel (I can't remember the name of it). Normally soon after the birth they will take the baby to nursery, make sure he can hold his temp and bath him.

I have been given a prescription for Percocent w/ both of my girls. I don't know if that's standard or just because I tore badly w/ both of them. You may also need to pick up some stool softeners. Ah, post-pardom is just a magical time, it's all coming back to me.

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Sharon
Randy (DH)
DD Brooklynn 08/04/01
DD Libby 06/18/04
DS Gavin 8/20/08

They do the Apgar twice...and chances are you won't notice it at all. They don't take the baby anywhere, and it takes about 3 seconds.

The rest depends on your hospital, so you should discuss it with your OB. Most hospitals will immediately give the baby erythromycin gel (eye goop, I call it) in their eyes and a shot of Vitamin K. The eye goop is to prevent eye infections or blindness in babies born to moms who may have an STD and not now it (namely, chlamydia). A lot of women refuse this test, so you'll want to make up your mind before you go into labor. My kids have all had it, mostly because I can't see the harm in it.

The Vitamin K shot is to prevent bleeding in newborns. Apparently, it's fairly uncommon (1 in 10,000), but it can be deadly and is 100% preventable by this shot. I also know a lot of women who refuse this, but my kids have all had it.

Also, many hospitals will give a Hep B vaccination sometime during the first 24 hours. I have always refused this, because I don't think my child is much at risk for contracting Hep B in the first few months of life. Some hospitals have changed this policy and have parents wait until their pediatrician visits to get the first vaccine.

Your hospital will most likely do the newborn hearing screening. This takes about 15 minutes, and I've never been allowed to go with them. If you end up sending the baby to the nursery during the day, chances are they will "grab" him for the test. It's no big deal, and the baby can even sleep through it. My oldest failed this screening, but they redid it again before we left and she passed with flying colors.

The last test is the metabolic screening. I think that there are 4 things that are federal law, but I know in MA they check for about 30 metabolic disorders. For this test, they have to prick the baby's heel and put some blood on the card, and that card gets shipped off to the lab for testing. Again, not a big deal, but it's fairly important, since some of the disorders they test for can be handled with diet, but can be deadly if left unchecked.

I think that's about it...It's hard to remember!! You can always refuse any of these, or opt for all of them. They should be put into your birth plan, however, because the nurses probably won't ask for permission before doing these, as they are so routine.

Try not to stress!!

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Melissa

Mommy to two beautiful daughters.
DD #1, 5/2003
DD #2, 3/2005

And TWO handsome sons.
DS#1, 12/2006

and our new addition:
DS#2, 8/7/2008

I believe your testing varies by state.

They will offer you pain meds.. and a script too.
and TAKE YOUR COLACE.. pain meds are notorious for constipation, and that first poop is hard enough with out constipation

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I've never been offered pain meds (apart from standard panadol for after pains,) but that may be because I have never had anything worse than a minor tear.

Everyone else has pretty much covered it, except that the eye goop is not done here in Australia & if it was I would decline it because I've only ever had one sexual partner & the STD in question is tested for here during pregnancy, (which is why I guess we don't do the goop.)

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I tore pretty bad and had lots of stitches so I got vicoden...also a Rx for home.

I can't remember afterwards very well. I just know I was pretty euphoric. The drugs didn't work for me (no epidurals in the hospital I delivered at). They had to bribe me to push with a shot of demerol. They told me I would get it after he was delivered. As soon as he was out, I felt nothing. It was bliss. I didn't even need the demerol. I didn't even feel when she numbed me up down there to give me stitches.
I remember the placenta wouldn't come out very well, I almost needed surgery. When it came out I bled a lot. I had such a hard time sleeping that night because I couldn't stop staring at my new baby. I think I went 4 days with only a couple hours of sleep. I was on such a high.

I do know that Colin was imediately put on my stomach where he stayed for a little bit while we said hi. Then they took him, bathed him, put gunk in his eyes, did the apgar test, pricked his heel (all in the same room as me) and then he was immediately given back to breast feed.

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ok, that clears it up! So, anyone have any other reasoning behind refusing any of those tests/vaccines? Most of them sound pretty harmless. I guess working in special ed, I have heard all about the "vaccines causing autism" theory (which I THINK has been proven wrong) for years. Are there any other risks associated with any of these tests/vaccines that anyone knows about? I thought they did a whole slew of shots, but I guess that's why you go to a pediatrician when they get here, huh?

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Kelly

The only standard procedure I will be refusing is the Hep B, only because my brother is autistic, and I'm looking into some alternate vaccination schedules (I'm planning on having him vaccinated, just on a delayed schedule). Plus, since I was tested for Hep B at my first pre-natal appointment and was negative, my baby isn't at risk for Hep B.

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Sharon
Randy (DH)
DD Brooklynn 08/04/01
DD Libby 06/18/04
DS Gavin 8/20/08

My babies always had eye antibiotic gel, hearing test, PKU (metabolic screening) at 48 hours old, and some had Hep B vaccine (our peditrician gives a combined vaccine so they no longer get Hep B shot at the hospital). I really don't remember the vitamin K shot for sure but I think they give that as well. Since I am having a boy, he will be circumcised at the hospital. I have always had percocet or darvocet at the hospital for any pain and given a prescription to have filled for home (if I think I need it but will probably take one because I made the mistake once of not having it and needing it after I got home). You will probably be given some Senocot or something similar to help with the first bowel movement.

what they did to me was put me on a morphine drip! and they did that for the rest of the night after baby was born and then they took me off and gave me parkacet its helps alot with the pain. and ibprofen 600 mg, they did give hep vac to ethan im trying to remember what else. they did newborn blood screening and hearing screening, oh they also sent me home with pain meds also

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