Understanding Newborn Medications and Vaccinations
Hey friends. I know this topic can be a hot one so I want to approach it with as much care and understanding as possible. Today, we are going to discuss the three medications the hospital recommends during the birth admission. I am here just to inform and let you know what they are, who recommends them and why. I am not here to tell you what to do for your child or have a debate. Just know that my goal in these blogs is to educate, never to shame or push interventions on parents.
Here it goes…
Three medications are recommended after delivery for every baby in the US. These are most often given by the newborn nursery staff after they perform a full head-to-toe assessment on the baby at about an hour of life. The three medications are: Hepatitis B vaccine, Vitamin K injection, and Erythromycin (antibiotic) ointment in the eyes. All three are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Some pediatricians will not accept infants as new patients if these medications, specifically Hepatitis B and Vitamin K are not given during the hospital admission, so be sure to check with the pediatrician of your choosing on what their guidelines are prior to making decisions.
Hepatitis B Vaccine: given during the first 24 hours of life during the birth hospitalization regardless of mother’s Hepatitis B status. The first dose is given as a “safety net” in case mother’s who were positive for Hepatitis B were missed in the screening process. Hepatitis B can cause long-term liver damage. This vaccine is administered as an intramuscular shot in the baby’s thigh. This is the most frequently declined medication during the birth hospitalization. The birth dose is the first of a series of three recommended by the CDC for infants. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and saliva.
Erythromycin Eye Ointment: used to help prevent infants from contracting gonoccocal eye infections. Infant’s can be exposed to this bacteria through the labor and delivery process. Most mothers are screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea during pregnancy, however it is typically in early pregnancy and thus, can be missed if the mother was exposed later in pregnancy. This is recommended by the AAP, CDC, and US Preventative Services task force.
Vitamin K injection: Recommended to prevent Vitamin K deficient bleeding (VKDB). Infants are born vitamin K deficient and therefore are at risk for internal bleeding without Vitamin K administration. This is given to baby as an intramuscular shot in the thigh. Oral Vitamin K is not available in the US but is available in some European countries. Studies show intramuscular Vitamin K is more effective in preventing late VKDB than oral solutions. In most hospitals, infants will not be a candidate for circumcision without administration of Vitamin K at delivery due to increased risk for bleeding after the procedure. Without Vitamin K administration, infants are at increased risk for intestinal bleeds and brain bleeds which can lead to neurological damage or even death.
There it is, your quick rundown of each of the medications you will be asked about during your birth admission to the hospital. If you have further questions, the hospital provider for your baby can always answer questions prior to administration of these medications.
