Hey Ren - I looked into this alot this pg - and had many chats with both my midwives about it.
Basically they used to only give the hep B injection at birth in high risk areas, or to babies whose mothers had hep B. Then they decided that the best way to eradicate hep B completely was to just start routinely giving the injection at birth, even though it is HIGHLY unlikely that a baby would contract it in the first 8wks of life. That first injection only covers them for the 8 wks, so not giving it to your bub won't affect the rest of the immunisation schedule (as others have said!)
As for Vit K - I did lots of research on that too (if you want some more info PM me, I won't babble on here!!) but we have decided not to give this bub either injection, but give Vit K orally (unless its a particularly traumatic birth.)
I actually had to sign a form for both injections (whether accepting or declining) and this was submitted to the hosp about 2 weeks before I went in. So it was on the records what you wish.
But it is totally your choice and there will always be someone in the hosp with differing opinions to yours..
We're definitely going to go with the Vit K Oral dose at birth (unless it's a traumatic birth and needle is recommended)..... as for HepB needle, probably just wait until our baby is 2mths old with the other jabs. I have put this on my "birth intentions" to give to the midwives when I go into labour also.....
I am seeing the midwives from 36wks onwards too so hopefully can discuss this further with them then to see what their view/s are.
Both my kids had it (both were fine from it) and we were asked if we wanted it both times.. we had to sign something each time to say we allow it.. DH signed with DS and i signed with DD.
my midwife unofficially suggested that I declined it she said there was very little risk of your baby contracting HepB in the first 2 months, when they are then immunised again if there are no members of your family that carry it?
we just automaticaly said yes with DD.
I didn't get a hard time from anyone
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