Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B Vaccine at Birth

[Marilyn Kleidon]

I had never administered Hep B to a baby in the USA at birth or in the postpartum period. Of course I was dealing with babies who were primarily born out of hospital, to parents who had no intention of having them immunised in the neonatal period, but even for babies born after hospital transfer there was never an issue in the state of Washington.  I thought i learnt that the birth/close to birth dose of Hep B was halted in the USA about 1999/2000(at least on the west coast). I will follow up on this as it may have recommenced. I think it was the mercury based preservative that was the problem (as far as the powers that be were concerned).   marilyn  ----- Original Message ----- From: Sandra J. Eales To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 4:31 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B Vaccine at Birth Tina Making us feel like "bad parents" if we refuse this vaccination is the blatant and stated strategy to ensure conformity.  It is written up the the summary of recommendations from the meeting of "chiefs" from the Antwerp conference that I included in my first posting. Most women in Australia (and the US where they have had this in place for many more years than us) with Early Discharge Programs or the HB being given on discharge, probably go home and have to cope with stressed babe with no support.  We do not keep rates of "new mothers who fall in a heap" when they go home.  We don't know how when or why they stop breastfeeding.  Adverse reactions are hugely underreported because they go to their GP and are sloughed off with the same sort of tender care and understanding that your sister experienced. We need to start a revolution! Sandra ----- Original Message ----- From: Marty & Tina To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 9:59 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Hep B Vaccine at Birth Dear Sandra,   My sister had her baby at a large public hospital in QLD just 4 months ago.  I discussed many things with her prior to birth & Hep B vaccine was one of them.  As a result she chose not to have her baby vaccinated at birth.  She was made to feel like a "bad" mother at every turn & this coupled with poor breastfeeding management, poor communication & compassion by staff, & traumatic birth experience she ended up with postnatal depression. (sorry off the topic there for a minute).  Anyway, when she went for her 6 week check-up with her GP she asked when the best time to start Hep B immunisation would be (from now on).  Her GP rudely told her that it was too late because she hadn't had it at birth... this distressed her even more in her depressed state.  Just another way of belittling her as a mother.   Also, on the point of some of the effects such as irritability & going of food etc. I wonder how some parents cope when going home after having this injection... I say this with regards to one hospital that I can think of that gives the Hep B at same time as NNST which is usually day of discharge.      Hope I'm making sence with my tired pregnant brain (BABY NO. 4 DUE TOMORROW - BUT HAPPY TO GO OVER A WEEK OR THREE).   Tina H.