| "What's the Plan Stan?" | | | | or chlamydia before birth to avoid use of eye |
| It's a real touch and go subject as I discuss | | | | drops. |
| childbirth with my expecting friends and patients... | | | | * Hepatitis B vaccinations: Almost every hospital |
| To vaccinate or not to... Do I have my baby in a | | | | will vaccinate new babies for hepatitis B while the |
| hospital or naturally at home? Many of you seek | | | | ONLY way to contract hepatitis B is if the mother |
| my insight when planning for your new bundle of | | | | has it. Hepatitis B is contracted by risky behavior, |
| joy to arrive. Today's new parent is informed and | | | | so if you don't have it, your baby will not have it. |
| has done their research, realizing they have | | | | Vaccinations contain potentially neuro-damaging |
| choices. Yet, when that same parent is in the | | | | excipients that a baby's un-developed system |
| midst of being admitted to the hospital, dilated 4 | | | | simply should not have to deal with. Remember, |
| centimeters and their partner is doing their best | | | | there's no such thing as "vitamin hepatitis B |
| to stay in control, paperwork is that last thing on | | | | vaccination," therefore having it injected |
| the mind. This is why individualized birth plans have | | | | preventively when there is in-sufficient clinical |
| gained popularity in recent years. This unique plan | | | | evidence of its necessity should be avoided. What |
| is developed between you and your provider to | | | | you can do: add specific opt-out in your birth plan. |
| ensure baby makes it out and into the world as | | | | * Pitocin and Cytotec Injections: After many long |
| you see fit. Put this plan into action well before | | | | hours of labor, synthetic pitocin or cytotec will be |
| giving birth to avoid labor-day suprises! | | | | injected into the mother to "coax" the baby out. |
| The concerns: | | | | These two synthetics can harm the baby by |
| By virtue of the term, speculation refers to the | | | | forcing them out with painful, frequent |
| consideration or intellectual contemplation of a | | | | contractions. What you're not told before the |
| subject. While speculation does not point directly | | | | injections: both of these synthetics, because they |
| at a fact, it does however raise the idea of | | | | increase contractions, eliminate or significantly |
| possibilities. So when possibilities point to | | | | decrease blood flow to the fetus, decreasing their |
| speculative research concerning autism, | | | | ability to "breathe" and often necessitating the |
| auto-immune disorders, acute fetal distress and | | | | need for un-expected c-section. What you can do: |
| pain, and developmental disorders, I'd be listening | | | | add specific opt-out instruction within your written |
| rather than dismissing if it could implicate the | | | | birth plan. |
| health of my newly born baby. The specific | | | | * Amniotomy: Once thought to speed up labor, |
| encouragement for this article came from several | | | | this risky and clinically un-precendented procedure |
| parents concerned with the standards of practice | | | | is where the amniotic sac is artificially ruptured . |
| in the hospital just following birth. Once that | | | | Can cause cord compression and therefore |
| symbolic cord is cut, it's the newly born child's first | | | | malposition. What you can do: add specific opt-out |
| experience away from the mother in the world | | | | in your birth plan. |
| and parents are always asking me, "what are | | | | * Epidural: When spoken, "epidural" either elicits a |
| they doing with my baby when they take them | | | | smile or fearful look to a mother or would be |
| away?" | | | | mother's face. Often injected without mentioning, |
| As I mentioned, the birth plan is put into action as | | | | an epidural can cause so much numbness in the |
| soon as you're admitted to ensure the team is | | | | pelvic floor that the mother will lose her sense of |
| on-board to collectively finesse your baby into the | | | | pushing causing the need for the doctor to use |
| world. The following lists several after-birth hospital | | | | painful forceps upon the fetal skull. Other risks |
| procedures that continually raise safety flags: | | | | include: decreased blood pressure, malpositioning of |
| * Eye drops: eye drops containing erythromycin | | | | the fetus, un-expected c-section, nerve damage, |
| or silver nitrate (both antibiotics) are placed into | | | | reduction of oxytocin, and other serious |
| babies' eyes to prevent infection from bacterias | | | | complications. What you can do: along with adding |
| present in the birthing canal known to cause | | | | an opt-out into your birth plan, specialized |
| gonorrhea or chlamydia . Both of these, but | | | | exercise, breathing, and meditation classes will |
| especially silver nitrate, are known to cause | | | | assist. |
| irritation to the eye. Of growing concern is why | | | | I encourage my patients to share their concerns |
| some hospitals administer these drops although | | | | regarding birth optimization with all of their various |
| the mother has given birth via c-section (possibility | | | | healthcare providers to ensure their delivery team |
| of particular bacteria only present in birthing canal). | | | | will have the most comprehensive information |
| What you can do: get tested for both gonorrhea | | | | possible for the big day. |