Hey you guys have really found out heaps of info, this is what 'informed choice' is all about.
Being informed & then choosing !! GOOD ON YOU !

I believe strongly in choice, but here are the facts from the medical viewpoint:

Konakion (Vit K )
The facts re Vit K & how VERY RARE HDN is are VERY relevent.

A healthy term newborn who has an uncomplicated birth doesn't need artificial vitamins, if he did he'd be born with them (like ears, legs etc, we don't add them on after birth just because they weren't needed in the womb do we ?) I mean we have survived as a human species for how long ? Without this & now we suddenly need it?
The pharmeceutical companies love us all the way to the bank !!!! How come all the homebirth babies (who rarely have Vit K) don't all get HDN, huh ? AND they are largely fully breastfed for minimum of 6 months ( yet we are told breast milk is low in Vit K).
My children didn't have it so I walk the walk. You don't need it if your birth is normal & your infant low risk.
That's why you are requested to consent to administration of this drug, the hospital doesn't want to be sued if there is a problem or a side-effect from it !If you consented to it you have no comeback if there are any complications.

Stick to giving babies drugs they really need, not just the "maybe's".

OK, enough of that, off the soapbox.

HEEL P.r.i..c.k or Newborn Screening Test:

Different thing altogether. This is a screeening test to eliminate cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism & phenylketonuria as diseases your baby may suffer from. The latter 2 are treatable with medication but untreated will cause brain damage.:eek:
CF is incurable but is managed much better if diagnosed early.
You would NOT KNOW that you had " a family history or risk" for these diseases unless you'd had genetic testing. With CF being a recessive gene if you marry a man with the same recessive gene as you (unknowingly carry) you will have a 1 in 4 chance of having an affectd child. You'd want it diagnosed ASAP so you could start a management plan ASAP.
The hospital is required to notify the authorities when couples decline this screening test as it has such devastating consequences if not picked up. They will follow up any couple who choose not to do it at 3 days of age & ensure that they understand how important it is & that it gets done at a later date if possible.

I have found over the years that although this is a heel bleed that if you do it whilst the baby is feeding & collect the blood very gently he will not even notice. Make sure he is well hydrated & has warm feet. Works every time & believe me I've done alot of them.
I think this is an important test & dangerous to leave it out till later as the brain damage will already have occurred in the very early weeks. You aren't giving him a drug, you are just collecting a small amount of blood and you can ask the staff to do it whilst you are feeding if they don't offer to.


Regards Brenda.