My son was born 7 weeks ago. He is my 6th child & I finally felt that we needed to have conntrol over his birth & what he was given. My last 2 received the jab at birth & it didn't sit right with me. I birthed at a natural birthing centre this time & queried them on why it was given at birth. Their answer was that it was the best way to ensure all babies received it (do it then & there while the mother doesn't have to make the decision to physically take the child to get it immunised).

The poor babe has just come into the world & we flood its little precious body with a vaccination.

As for VIT k...we didn't have that either. The midwives said babies are born with what they need (of course they are...why can't things just be left as nature intended?). They only supported it if there was a birth trauma.

The other biggie which most people don't realise is that the injection they give you to deliver the placenta is completly unneccessary most of the time also. I chose not to have it & my placenta came away painlessly about 10 mins after the birth. Previously when I have had the injection it was like birthing another baby because it makes your uterus contract strongly which is painful!

Until I had number 6 I always thought the three injections were necessary (except the hep B). I was never asked if I wanted them for myself & baby. They were givemn to me without explanation. This shows how medicalised birth has become. To give the mother back the decision making empowers her to feel she is doing what is right for her child. It helps pyschologically with birthing, breastfeeding & beyond to know that you are in control.

Kim