Welcome to the world, now let us protect you! Learn more about one of the very first medications given to your baby, right after birth, to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, or pink eye, specifically from gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae).

Using the acronym once again, PIEDAY, we review the prophylactic treatment by considering the Problem, Incidence, Evidence, Downsides, Alternatives and Your input and feelings.

Nothing in health and medical treatment is so black and white, and educating yourself and your team before you need to make a decision like giving your baby antibiotics right after birth will give you confidence and a sense of control, all which are so easily lost in the hospital birth system. Please share this episode with friends, family and your birth team and have the conversation with your provider for a full understanding and expectations.

Resources and cited links:

Evidencebasedbirth.com

AAFP: Prevent Newborns’ Eye Infection With Antibiotic Ointment, Jan 20, 2019, USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement

brighamandwomens.org; Pediatric Newborn Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines, Erythromycin Eye Prophylaxis Administration in Newborn Infants

00:39 The Need for Better Pregnancy Support

07:40 Postpartum Support and Services

10:36 The Importance of Informed Decisions

11:02 Erythromycin Ointment Explained

28:10 History and Evolution of Silver Nitrate

28:55 Antibiotics and Modern Medicine

31:02 Causes of Infections

37:37 Effectiveness of Prophylactic Treatments

42:14 Risks and Downsides of Antibiotic Ointments

45:40 Alternatives to Antibiotic Ointments

50:10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor

55:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

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Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

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Mendy McNulty is a dedicated mother of four and a skilled IFS and Psychedelic Integration Coach with over 16 years of experience in education and 4 years as a children’s pastor. She founded Self Led Integration, where she helps individuals navigate their inner world using the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and psychedelic-assisted therapy. Mendy’s compassionate approach supports clients in transforming stuck patterns, healing trauma, and fostering self-leadership. She also leads Healing Conversations and offers workshops and memberships to those seeking deep, lasting personal growth and integration.

Find Mendy on all socials @selfledintegration and at www.selfled-integration.com

00:04 Meet Mendy McNulty: IFS Practitioner

00:28 Exploring Internal Family Systems and Psychedelic Integration

01:42 Connecting IFS to Pregnancy and Parenthood

06:32 Understanding Internal Family Systems

09:39 Client Experiences and Transformations

15:59 The Role of Family in IFS

29:59 IFS and Postpartum Support

32:34 Understanding Women's Mental Health During Pregnancy

34:05 Internal Family Systems and Mental Health

34:12 The Complex Emotions of Pregnancy

35:18 The Trauma of Birth and Postpartum Experiences

36:18 The Importance of Healing and Self-Care

40:16 The Role of Therapy and Medication

44:40 The Healing Journey and Self-Leadership

47:55 Final Thoughts and Resources

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

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Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

The First 15 Series continues as we discuss baby medications, specifically in today’s episode, Vitamin K Injection. This is a decision you will be making, whether you know it or not, for your baby and will be done pretty shortly after birth. Usually by your nurse after the first hour, or even in the recovery room while you are getting cleaned up in the OR.

This episode takes most of the researched information from a book by Dr Sara Wickham called Vitamin K and the Newborn, and you can find it easily on Amazon! I highly recommend her well researched and easy to reach publications to help you make decisions for you and your baby during pregnancy.

A quote I mentioned in the episode I wanted to write out for you here so you have it, and you can also find in the book, that can be helpful to decide how to manage this decision, especially if you are hesitant to supplement. By Dr Edmund Hey “Babies who do not feed soon, well and regularly are at measurable risk of bleeding once their limited reserves of vitamin k are exhausted. All babies who are not well enough to be fed at birth need a supplement because their vitamin K stores will only last 1-3 days. A few breastfed babies will develop transient VKDB if they are not given a small supplement at birth, probably because early intake is poor. A very small number of breastfed babies risk a sudden serious bleed when 2-12 weeks old if not offered a regular supplement, usually because an unrecognized liver disorder has impaired fat-soluble vitamin absorption.”

Join the Hospital Childbirth Crash Course now at https://myfriendsanurse.com/crashcourse and get a behind the curtain look and birth in the hospital system and how to prepare to get the birth you want in it!

00:06 Understanding Vitamin K and Its Importance

01:31 Statistics and Research on Vitamin K

01:50 Book Recommendations and Author Shoutout

03:18 Decision-Making and Parental Choices

03:27 Routine Administration and Parental Awareness

05:50 Refusal Rates and Medical Recommendations

06:22 Understanding VKDB and Its Prevention

09:51 The Role of Healthcare Providers and Patient Advocacy

14:05 Vitamin K: Types, Sources, and Administration

18:30 PI DAY Acronym for Decision-Making

29:34 Oral vs. Injection: Effectiveness and Compliance

32:53 Downsides and Side Effects of Vitamin K

33:42 Injection Side Effects and Risks

35:37 Concerns About Vitamin K Additives

37:08 Vitamin K Dosage Concerns

39:22 Potential Downsides of Vitamin K

42:31 Exploring Alternatives to Vitamin K

48:26 Breastfeeding and Vitamin K

52:48 Making Informed Decisions

57:54 Conclusion and Resources

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership