are babies still receiving eye drops immediately after birth?
Ilotycin is an antibiotic ointment is routinely put in the eyes of all newborns to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis (pink eye). While Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the most serious pathogens that are treated with ilotycin, this treatment also prevents less severe infection with other common bacteria such as e. coli. Your baby may also receive a hearing test and a hepatitis B vaccine. During an Apgar test, your baby's heart rate, breathing, reflex response, muscle tone, and skin coloration are measured. These five signs are evaluated at one minute after birth and at five minutes after birth. Your baby may be in good physical condition, but have a low score immediately after birth. Premature babies may score low because of immature development in the womb. Keep in mind that your baby's Apgar score does not predict his or her future health. Babies used to go blind from eye infections. Now we almost never see it— I’ve seen one case in my career. I’ve never seen any side effect from the antibiotic eye ointment, either. As for me, I do let all my own babies get antibiotic eye ointment shortly after birth, even though I have no personal concerns for STDs. I do wait until after they have breastfed for the first time. As for my husband, he recovered from his initial shock, and he’s fine with the antibiotic eye ointment, too. Your baby will typically have low levels of vitamin K when he or she is born. Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, so your baby will usually receive a vitamin K shot immediately after birth. (Don't worry about bonding if you can't hold your baby right away because one of you needs immediate medical care. There'll be plenty of time for bonding later.). Newborn care immediately after birth The tests, care, and medications newborns receive in the first minutes of life. Newborn care immediately after birth. Many practitioners in the United States routinely cut the cord almost immediately after birth. However, recent research shows that waiting a few minutes – so that extra blood flows from the placenta to the baby – lowers the risk of newborn anemia and iron deficiency in infancy. While you and your baby are locking eyes, he'll be closely observed to ensure that he continues to do well. At one and five minutes after birth, an Apgar assessment will be done to evaluate your baby's heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflex response, and color. If your baby is doing well, you and your baby should not be separated. Newborn Care in the Hospital. After your baby is born, a doctor or nurse will perform a series of tests to determine your baby's physical condition. A routine evaluation, called the Apgar test, is used to identify whether your baby needs urgent medical care. After delivery, your baby will also be given a vitamin K shot, eye drops, and newborn screening tests. The most common type of eye drop that an infant will receive is typically an antibiotic eye drop. These are given to babies shortly after birth to help prevent eye infections that could potentially lead to blindness.
Yes