https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:20:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-76703 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:42:06 +0000 mrsjazz 76703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's required by law in New York State--but we can delay the procedure for an hour or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-76699 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:39:48 +0000 lemondrop 76699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After our research, no disadvantages, so we were fine with it. My only requirement was to wait to put them in until after I held him for a few minutes and tried to nurse. They put them in when he was weighed and cleaned up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-76689 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:36:05 +0000 ohapostrophe 76689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Exactly what @Lozza said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-76342 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:13:10 +0000 prettylizy 76342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this post, DH and I are currently writing our birth plan, and our doula brought up the questin "do you want them to put the drops in?" I didn't know about it or that it was a choice. Keep the posts coming ladies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-76330 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:29 +0000 Lozza 76330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, it would be great if someone with more medical knowledge could weigh in, but here's my understanding:<br /> - Chlamydial and gonococcal conjunctivitis are what everyone thinks the drops are for... but these aren't the only causes of newborn conjunctivitis. Plenty of other (non-sexually-transmitted-infection-related) bacteria (staph aureus, strep pneumoniae, strep viridans, etc.) can cause (usually milder) forms of newborn conjunctivitis, and erythromycin drops are effective prophylaxis for these other bacteria too, not just STIs.<br /> - We used to use silver nitrate, which can be irritating to newborns; with the switch to erythromycin in the eye drops, there's really very little risk of eye irritation or other side effects. (Other than some blurry vision)<br /> So basically my thinking was that - even if I felt really good about my probability of not-having-an-STI- the drops could be helpful. And there were really no notable disadvantages. So we went ahead with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-76288 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:29:36 +0000 Mrsbells 76288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the responses and keep the coming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-75362 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:52:24 +0000 Downward Dog 75362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I let them do it because the midwife recommended it. I think it protects against the effects of an STD on the baby's eyes. They said even though I don't have any STDs, there is no down side to doing it since the side effects are so minimal.0 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-75338 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:50:27 +0000 heffalump 75338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I have no idea why they do it but yes I did let them. I feel like they do things for a reason and they're not going to do something that's harmful to LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-eye-drops#post-75301 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:57:35 +0000 Mrsbells 75301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you allow the hospital to put eye drops in your babys eyes right after birth. Is this really necessary? </p>