Vit K/ Eye Drops/Shots Questions for baby

[Arisce]

Originally Posted by lissa~K I always try to get on these threads to say that the newborn screening test is absolutely not unnecessary. I have a child with a metabolic disorder that was caught by the newborn heel prick and if I had followed some of the advice that I see here often and waited until 2 weeks old to perform the test it would have been a problem for my baby, forever. The rational with that advice is that some conditions are more accurately tested for after the metabolization of breastmilk for a period of time, and this is true, but not for every disorder. That is why we test at birth and then follow up with ped. at 2 weeks old. We don't vax until around 2 or 3 years old or do the eye goop either so I don't care about those choices. I just cannot miss a chance to ask parents to reconsider newborn screening. Okay off my

Can I be super nosy and ask what metabolic disorder he has? I DO want to do the screening. I did it with DD and it was awful but that's the one thing that I feel the potential benefits outweigh the risks. My concern is that I'm having a homebirth and I don't think my midwife does them. Which would mean a 3 hour round trip(driving only) to the doctor's office when the baby is a day old- IF the baby isn't born on a weekend. :/ I need to remember to ask my midwife about that.

[marliah]

Originally Posted by Arisce Can I be super nosy and ask what metabolic disorder he has? I DO want to do the screening. I did it with DD and it was awful but that's the one thing that I feel the potential benefits outweigh the risks. My concern is that I'm having a homebirth and I don't think my midwife does them. Which would mean a 3 hour round trip(driving only) to the doctor's office when the baby is a day old- IF the baby isn't born on a weekend. :/ I need to remember to ask my midwife about that.

I'm pretty sure midwives have to do the screening if you want it done. I would certainly ask her, I know mine does it. I think most states have laws requiring it unless you sign the exemption.

[Arisce]

My last midwife didn't do them and I had to take DD to the hospital at 3 days old. Then the doctor at 4 days,and and ENT at 5 days... ug. It was a mess. But at least then I lived in town so it was only a 10 minute trip to get everywhere.

[tibeca]

My midwife did mine (both of them). Ask. Often, you can get it done at your local hospital, or ANY doctor's office. Even blood draw places can and will do it. No need to drive some place special.

[alliecatn1]

Originally Posted by Arisce Can I be super nosy and ask what metabolic disorder he has? I DO want to do the screening. I did it with DD and it was awful but that's the one thing that I feel the potential benefits outweigh the risks. My concern is that I'm having a homebirth and I don't think my midwife does them. Which would mean a 3 hour round trip(driving only) to the doctor's office when the baby is a day old- IF the baby isn't born on a weekend. :/ I need to remember to ask my midwife about that.

Any lab will do them!

[lissa~K]

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[alliecatn1]

Originally Posted by lissa~K No problem He has Congenital Hypothyroidism which is about the best thing you can have if something from the screening comes back positive. With daily synthetic thyroid hormone medication he is a normal little boy. Without it, he would be severely retarded and abnormal is size and stature. At his diagnosis at 5 days old (which is how long the lab took to have results from newborn testing) he was already a lethargic baby who wouldn't wake up even to nurse. All my instincts were telling me something was drastically wrong and then we got the call. They start them out on a high dosage as newborns as sort a of jump start since they have already been without thyroid hormone for the last few weeks of moms pregnancy (and my baby was 15 days overdue) and then after birth until diagnosis. I always worry to think he may have suffered brain damage in the interim but he is an adorable, smart little boy. As I said with monitoring by a pediatric endocrinologist and daily meds he is developmentally normal. If we had waited two more weeks to do the newborn screeninghe most likely would have some level of brain damage and it would have made a difference. And that is probably way more than you wanted to know! Also my current midwife does the testing and it's prob pretty simple for yours as well. I believe they just have to mail the card in to the state.

Hypothyroidism is one I see really frequently. Luckily treatment is easy, but not having that diagnosis can cause major harm. State labs are usually extremely picky about the screening. You'd think it be easy; poke, squeeze, dab, but it is ridiculous to get a "good" sample. The rules on them are extensive. For that reason a lot of MWs and docs don't do them anymore.

[Arisce]

Originally Posted by lissa~K No problem He has Congenital Hypothyroidism which is about the best thing you can have if something from the screening comes back positive. With daily synthetic thyroid hormone medication he is a normal little boy. Without it, he would be severely retarded and abnormal is size and stature. At his diagnosis at 5 days old (which is how long the lab took to have results from newborn testing) he was already a lethargic baby who wouldn't wake up even to nurse. All my instincts were telling me something was drastically wrong and then we got the call. They start them out on a high dosage as newborns as sort a of jump start since they have already been without thyroid hormone for the last few weeks of moms pregnancy (and my baby was 15 days overdue) and then after birth until diagnosis. I always worry to think he may have suffered brain damage in the interim but he is an adorable, smart little boy. As I said with monitoring by a pediatric endocrinologist and daily meds he is developmentally normal. If we had waited two more weeks to do the newborn screeninghe most likely would have some level of brain damage and it would have made a difference. And that is probably way more than you wanted to know! Also my current midwife does the testing and it's prob pretty simple for yours as well. I believe they just have to mail the card in to the state.

That was pretty much exactly the right amount of what I wanted to know. lol I'm really glad that it was caught EARLY and that he's doing well. Thank you for sharing!

[Arisce]

I don't see my midwife until the end of the month, but I'll ask then. I live in the -middle of nowhere-. lol There's no lab out this way. My midwife is an hour away as is the closest hospital. There IS a tiny little doctors office so that may be an option. If my midwife doesn't do it I'll check there. Thanks!