Vitamin K

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/22/00 1:32:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

larocca@... writes:

> Mom2Q wrote:

>

> > It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K, PKU, or eye

> > drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine!

>

> I just got some info from the hospital where we're delivering. It says

that

> routine procedures are Vitamin K injection, PKU testing and eye ointment.

> All

> can be done in our room if we desire. The eye ointment (only) is " legally

> required. " Anyone know what that means?? We're in Canada btw.

>

>

I'm not sure about Canada, but I know they (Vitamin K, Eye drops, PKU) are

mandated in every US state. However, when we wanted to avoid them, we were

just required to sign a waiver. You need to prepare well in advance though,

by contacting the hospital and getting them a copy of your signed birth plan.

Cory

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/22/2000 12:32:37 PM Central Daylight Time,

larocca@... writes:

<< Anyone know what that means?? We're in Canada btw.

>>

Probably means: those of you who are ignorant of your rights must have it.

Those of you who know your rights can sign a waiver. I would have a test

done at one of the last prenatal visits (when you get to the 1x a week

routine). Have the tests in your hand with the birth plan before you get to

the hospital. If they mess with you, show them the test and ask if there is

any other reason the ointment may be needed that the manufacturer didn't

explain....

[Guest guest]

The birth center I am using has oral Vit K on hand.

cmermer@... wrote:

> In a message dated 4/21/00 7:44:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, slp@...

> writes:

>

> > Hi Cory,

> >

> > Oral Vit K is available in the US in health food stores. That is where we

> > would have gotten ours from if we were going to do it....

> >

> > Sherri-Lee

> >

>

> Sherri-Lee,

>

> The only oral K I've seen in health food stores is in pill form. Even if you

> were to crush it up, what is the proper dosage? There are prescription oral

> K preparations made especially for newborns, available in other countries.

> Also, the state mandates are for intramuscular K , so regardless of what you

> decide to do with the oral, you still need to sign a waiver and make clear to

> the hospital that you don't want the shot. We avoided the K with our last

> and had no problems.

>

> Cory

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Your high school sweetheart-where is he now? With 4.4 million alumni

> already registered at Classmates.com, there's a good chance you'll

> find her here. Visit your online high school class reunion at:

> 1/3139/5/_/489317/_/956408334/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Just to add my experience. We refused the Vit K injection for both of my

children. My best friend recently had a baby and asked her dr. about the

oral vit K, her doctor basically said if she didn't want the shot that was

fine but that the oral form would not be available.

My midwife said that besides the link between Vit K and childhood cancer,

the Vit K can cause severe jaundice(along with other things but I forget).

It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K, PKU, or eye

drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine!

List Owner

Re: Vitamin K

In a message dated 4/21/00 7:44:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

slp@...

writes:

> Hi Cory,

>

> Oral Vit K is available in the US in health food stores. That is where we

> would have gotten ours from if we were going to do it....

>

> Sherri-Lee

>

Sherri-Lee,

The only oral K I've seen in health food stores is in pill form. Even if

you

were to crush it up, what is the proper dosage? There are prescription oral

K preparations made especially for newborns, available in other countries.

Also, the state mandates are for intramuscular K , so regardless of what you

decide to do with the oral, you still need to sign a waiver and make clear

to

the hospital that you don't want the shot. We avoided the K with our last

and had no problems.

Cory

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your high school sweetheart-where is he now? With 4.4 million alumni

already registered at Classmates.com, there's a good chance you'll

find her here. Visit your online high school class reunion at:

1/3139/5/_/489317/_/956408334/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Mom2Q wrote:

> It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K, PKU, or eye

> drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine!

I just got some info from the hospital where we're delivering. It says that

routine procedures are Vitamin K injection, PKU testing and eye ointment. All

can be done in our room if we desire. The eye ointment (only) is " legally

required. " Anyone know what that means?? We're in Canada btw.

[Guest guest]

Hi Cory,

I am in Canada so the rules here are very different. I will talk to my

midwife and ND as they were going to secretly get the oral for me from the

US as it is not available here at all only the injectable.. so let me see

what I can find out for you about where they would be getting it:)

Sherri-Lee

Re: Vitamin K

> In a message dated 4/21/00 7:44:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

slp@...

> writes:

>

> > Hi Cory,

> >

> > Oral Vit K is available in the US in health food stores. That is where

we

> > would have gotten ours from if we were going to do it....

> >

> > Sherri-Lee

> >

>

> Sherri-Lee,

>

> The only oral K I've seen in health food stores is in pill form. Even if

you

> were to crush it up, what is the proper dosage? There are prescription

oral

> K preparations made especially for newborns, available in other countries.

> Also, the state mandates are for intramuscular K , so regardless of what

you

> decide to do with the oral, you still need to sign a waiver and make clear

to

> the hospital that you don't want the shot. We avoided the K with our last

> and had no problems.

>

> Cory

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Your high school sweetheart-where is he now? With 4.4 million alumni

> already registered at Classmates.com, there's a good chance you'll

> find her here. Visit your online high school class reunion at:

> 1/3139/5/_/489317/_/956408334/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We have refused the whole pile too... not Vit K no PKU, no eye drops.. the

hospital will have a form for you to fill out and sign... do it before you

give birth.. they will not ask you they will just do it! You may have to ask

over and over and over as they tend to all have hearing problems.. but

insist and get it.. you can refuse any of these procedures.

Sherri-Lee

Also in Canada

Re: Vitamin K

> Mom2Q wrote:

>

> > It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K, PKU, or eye

> > drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine!

>

> I just got some info from the hospital where we're delivering. It says

that

> routine procedures are Vitamin K injection, PKU testing and eye ointment.

All

> can be done in our room if we desire. The eye ointment (only) is " legally

> required. " Anyone know what that means?? We're in Canada btw.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Your high school sweetheart-where is he now? With 4.4 million alumni

> already registered at Classmates.com, there's a good chance you'll

> find her here. Visit your online high school class reunion at:

> 1/3139/5/_/489317/_/956424622/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

- where in Canada are you? We delivered our 2nd baby in hospital in

Calgary, refused the eye ointment/drops, and after signing a waiver, the

only response from the nurse was , " Do you want the Vit K or do you want a

waiver for that too? " - not rude, or sarcastic, just a question! I love

this province!

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/24/2000 9:03:26 PM Central Daylight Time,

blakester97@... writes:

<< When I had my son I signed the waiver to not give eye ointments, shots,

etc., but I was told that there was no waiver for PKU. Was I conned???? I

live in Michigan.

>>

Yup. All states require at least pku, and no, there is no exemption.

However, there also is no penalty -- so, what happens if you refuse the test?

Nada.

[Guest guest]

When I had my son I signed the waiver to not give eye ointments, shots, etc., but I was told that there was no waiver for PKU. Was I conned???? I live in Michigan.

Diane

Re: Vitamin KIn a message dated 4/22/00 1:32:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, larocca@... writes:> Mom2Q wrote:> > > It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K, PKU, or eye> > drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine!> > I just got some info from the hospital where we're delivering. It says that> routine procedures are Vitamin K injection, PKU testing and eye ointment. > All> can be done in our room if we desire. The eye ointment (only) is " legally> required. " Anyone know what that means?? We're in Canada btw.> > I'm not sure about Canada, but I know they (Vitamin K, Eye drops, PKU) are mandated in every US state. However, when we wanted to avoid them, we were just required to sign a waiver. You need to prepare well in advance though, by contacting the hospital and getting them a copy of your signed birth plan.Cory

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/25/00 8:36:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

odrade@... writes:

<< I also live in MI. I had a homebirth and my midwife came to our

house to do the PKU at the 1 week check up. She told us that it is

required by MI law and that we probably *could* refuse it >>

I ALSO live in Michigan and had a homebirth (2 actually). I did not

have the PKU done either time. As a matter of fact, I think my midwife may

have refused to do it, if memory serves... I've never been bothered by any

sort of " family services " type agency. Michigan is an excellent state to

live in if you're a homebirthing, nonvaxing, homeschooler family! =)

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Hi, Diane!

I also live in MI. I had a homebirth and my midwife came to our house

to do the PKU at the 1 week check up. She told us that it is required

by MI law and that we probably *could* refuse it but if serious things

could be prevented by diet alone then why would we not want to find out.

She also said that "she" could get in trouble if a reported birth wasn't

followed up by the PKU and said that there have been instances that she

knows of through her midwifery associates that the state has sent the health

dept. over to the new parents. I don't know *what* the state would

actually do if you refused, but if I could prevent my son from going blind

(if he were susceptible) or something then I'd do it. Just my opinion.

=)

~ Aydn's Mama

Diane Emerick wrote:

When

I had my son I signed the waiver to not give eye ointments, shots, etc.,

but I was told that there was no waiver for PKU. Was I conned????

I live in Michigan. Diane

-----Original

Message-----

From: cmermer@...

<cmermer@...>

Vaccinationsegroups

<Vaccinationsegroups>

Date: Saturday, April 22, 2000

7:39 PM

Subject: Re:

Vitamin K

In a message dated 4/22/00 1:32:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

larocca@...

writes:

> Mom2Q wrote:

>

> > It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K,

PKU, or eye

> > drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine!

>

> I just got some info from the hospital where we're delivering.

It says

that

> routine procedures are Vitamin K injection, PKU testing

and eye ointment.

> All

> can be done in our room if we desire. The eye ointment

(only) is "legally

> required." Anyone know what that means?? We're

in Canada btw.

>

>

I'm not sure about Canada, but I know they (Vitamin K, Eye drops,

PKU) are

mandated in every US state. However, when we wanted to avoid

them, we were

just required to sign a waiver. You need to prepare well

in advance though,

by contacting the hospital and getting them a copy of your signed

birth plan.

Cory

[Guest guest]

Hello there! I usually lurk, but I have a question for you about vit k. I

have enjoyed reading the info on vit K as I'm expecting #1 in September. I

told my midwife that I don't want vit k and she asked why? and also told me

that I'm going to have a hard time convincing the peds at the hospital (if I

end up there, we're planning a homebirth) not to give the vit k injection.

So my question is: Does an infant need vit K if they are born bruised or

been in the birth canal for a long period of time(over two hrs, say)? TIA.

Dorinda

________________________________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

I agree with you on that. I just hate seeing my baby poked and prodded. It was awful. My son had to have surgery at 3 months old and he got poked much more then too. It's just such an awful test.

http://members.xoom.com/theemericks/BlakesCS.htm

Diane

Re: Vitamin K In a message dated 4/22/00 1:32:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, larocca@... writes: > Mom2Q wrote: > > > It is a personal decision but we opted for no vit K, PKU, or eye > > drops....both of my babies are perfectly fine! > > I just got some info from the hospital where we're delivering. It says that > routine procedures are Vitamin K injection, PKU testing and eye ointment. > All > can be done in our room if we desire. The eye ointment (only) is " legally > required. " Anyone know what that means?? We're in Canada btw. > > I'm not sure about Canada, but I know they (Vitamin K, Eye drops, PKU) are mandated in every US state. However, when we wanted to avoid them, we were just required to sign a waiver. You need to prepare well in advance though, by contacting the hospital and getting them a copy of your signed birth plan. Cory

[Guest guest]

Are either of you members of M.O.M.?

Diane

Re: Vitamin KIn a message dated 4/25/00 8:36:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time, odrade@... writes:<< I also live in MI. I had a homebirth and my midwife came to ourhouse to do the PKU at the 1 week check up. She told us that it isrequired by MI law and that we probably *could* refuse it >> I ALSO live in Michigan and had a homebirth (2 actually). I did not have the PKU done either time. As a matter of fact, I think my midwife may have refused to do it, if memory serves... I've never been bothered by any sort of " family services " type agency. Michigan is an excellent state to live in if you're a homebirthing, nonvaxing, homeschooler family! =) Cheryl

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/25/00 11:18:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

blakester97@... writes:

<< Are either of you members of M.O.M.? >>

I'm not, though I have heard a little bit aboutthe group. Does anyone

have info about them or how to join?

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

A friend of mine who is an alternative health care provider sent the

following

to me. Thought you all might find it helpful.

Cheryl Grenon

*****************

The following stories are rather important. Everybody who knows somebody

who is expecting a baby needs to read the Vitamin K article.

The CDC piece is important because it just illuminates one more aspect of

the inevitable state of emergency that will be declared sometime soon-the

CDC is predicting an influenza pandemic that will kill at least 400,000

Americans and that emergency response people and health professionals must

work closely with the federal government to bury dead people, take care of

sick people and " govern " the rest in our time of crisis.

The video is available by contacing your local health department and asking

to borrow it for a couple of days.

Please forward to anybody you think will need to read the following

information and reprinting is engouraged provided proper credit is given.

Both stories were published in the July edition of The Idaho Observer.

Sincerely,

Don Harkins is the editor of The Idaho Observer

www.proliberty.com/observer

***********************************

National standard mandates newborn vitamin K injection

Ignorance becomes tacit consent for the questionable neonatal procedure

by Don Harkins

In cooperation with a " national standard, " most, if not all states have

mandated that U.S. hospitals routinely administer to all newborns a

synthetic, fat-soluble vitamin K injection (generic name phytonadione) that

exceeds an infant's recommended daily dietary intake of the vitamin by 100

times.

Peer reviewed journals have linked large doses of vitamin K to childhood

cancers and leukemia. Animal studies have linked large doses of vitamin K

to a variety of conditions that include anemia, liver damage, kidney damage

and death.

" Little is known about the metabolic fate of vitamin K. Almost no

unmetabolized vitamin K appears in bile or urine, " states both the 1988 and

1998 Physician's Desk Reference (PDR).

" This is especially important due to the fact that it is a fat-soluble

vitamin and therefore can accumulate in the body, " wrote Vitamin K

Resources (VKR) in the extremely well-documented and footnoted 1999

article, Intramuscular Vitamin K Injection: Is K OK?

In the 1988 PDR Merck's literature states that, " A single intramuscular

dose of AquaMEPHYTON (Merck brand vitamin K injection) 0.5 to 1 mg within

one hour of birth is recommended. "

Merck's 1998 PDR entry for AquaMEPHYTON has removed adverse reaction

liability from the pharmaceutical giant by stating, " The American Academy

of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that Vitamin K1 be given to the newborn. "

Vitamin K injections are ostensibly administered to newborns to prevent

vitamin K deficiency bleeding (such as hemophilia) that may occur in

approximately 1 in 10,000 live births. " This figure would probably be much

lower if high risk newborns were excluded [from this figure], " wrote VKR.

Parents who wish to refuse the shot must do so in writing prior to the

birth of their baby. Parental ignorance of the state-mandated injection is

considered by hospitals as tacit consent authorizing them to administer the

potentially damaging synthetic vitamin dose to newborns.

Five post partem nurses from hospitals in Idaho, Washington and Oregon

stated that they " routinely administer vitamin K injections to newborns, "

as if all of them were reading from the same script. According to a

seasoned Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane, WA), Birthplace nurse named

Terri, " Routine vitamin K injections are in cooperation with the federal

standard. "

She also said that Washington hospitals are mandated by state code to

provide the injections to all newborns. Terri acknowledged that parents who

wish to refuse the shot must present the refusal to the hospital in writing

before the baby is born.

Scientists question

intelligence of universal

IM vitamin K injections

Dr. Louise was quoted in the British Medical Journal in 1998 as

stating, " It is not possible, on the basis of currently published evidence,

to refute the suggestion that neonatal IM vitamin K administration

increases the risk of early childhood leukemia. "

The British Journal of Cancer published " Factors associated with childhood

cancer " by J. Golding, et al, in 1990. The report indicated that

universally administered IM vitamin K injections significantly increase our

children's chances of developing childhood cancer.

A follow-up study published two years later in the British Medical Journal

reinforced the findings of the previous study. The authors' comments, in

keeping with scientific style, are conservatively stated, but parents who

are concerned about the health of their babies will read " danger " between

the following lines: " The only two studies so far to have examined the

relation between childhood cancer and intramuscular vitamin K have shown

similar results and the relation is biologically plausible. The

prophylactic benefits against haemorrhagic disease are unlikely to exceed

the potential adverse effects from intramuscular vitamin K... "

Both studies recommend that policies should be adopted to administer IM

vitamin K injections only to high risk babies. Babies who have been

identified as being at risk for vitamin K deficiency include those born to

mothers who took drugs or antibiotics during pregnancy, premature babies

and babies who are born cesarean. Mothers who had maternity diets low in

high vitamin K foods or had diets that were low in fat have also been

identified as being more likely to bear vitamin K deficient babies.

Naturopathic physicians and others who successfully adhere to a more

natural approach to healthcare advocate that high-risk mothers should

increase the amount of vitamin K available to the fetus during pregnancy by

eating adequate amounts of green leafy vegetables. It is also recommended

that mothers continue to eat vitamin K rich foods after giving birth so

that their infants will receive the natural form of the vital vitamin

through their breast milk.

As early as April 17, 1977, an article in one of the world's most esteemed

medical journals, the Lancet, discredited the policy of routine vitamin K

injections. " We conclude that healthy babies, contrary to current beliefs,

are not likely to have a vitamin K deficiency....the administration of

vitamin K is not supported by our findings... " Van Doorm, et al stated in

the Lancet article.

VKR cited 21 peer-reviewed reports that had been published in prominent

medical journals. All of them concur that policies which mandate the

universal injection of newborn babies are not based in sound science.

There has been much peer-reviewed evidence generated which questions the

efficacy of routine vitamin K injections as sound public health policy.

Why, then, since publication of the July, 1987 article in Pediatrics

" Health codes for newborns " when it was stated that only five states

required hospitals to administer neonatal vitamin K injections, are they

now mandated by most, if not all states?

Commonsensically, VKR poses the question, " ...how could God (or nature)

have erred so badly as to give all newborn babies only an infinitesimal

fraction of their required vitamin K? Surely the human race could not have

survived to this point if all newborns were born with this deficiency and

none being administered at birth until very recently. "

Although there seems to be no evidence to support universal IM vitamin K

injections among the newborn from a public health standpoint, the medical

establishment, as informed by the Food and Drug Administration, the AAP and

as supplied by the pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Roche

Laboratories and Abbott Laboratories, continues to endorse state mandated,

routine IM vitamin K injections.

Eye of newt, spleen of bat?

The body most readily utilizes vitamins and minerals that are found in

plants. The body less readily utilizes synthetic vitamins and minerals.

The vitamin K administered by hospitals to newborns is the synthetic

phytonadione. The natural forms of vitamin K that are found in many foods,

particularly in vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, broccoli,

asparagus, brussels sprouts and salad greens, are called phylloquinone or

menaquinone. Certain bacteria in the intestinal tract also produce

menaquinones.

The vitamin K injections administered by hospitals and manufactured by

Merck and Roche and Abbott are not only synthetic but, according to the

packet inserts and the PDR, contain benzyl alcohol as a preservative.

The 1989 PDR states that, " there is no evidence to suggest that the small

amount of benzyl alcohol contained in AquaMEPHYTON (Merck's vitamin K

injection product), when used as recommended, is associated with toxicity. "

Interestingly, in November, 1988, the French medical journal Dev Pharmacol

Ther published a paper regarding benzyl alcohol metabolism and elimination

in babies. The report stated that " ...we cannot directly answer the issue

of safety of 'low doses' of benzyl alcohol as found in some medications

administered to neonates. This study confirms the immaturity of the benzoic

acid detoxification process in premature newborns. "

The 1998 PDR still states, contrary to the published findings of French

scientists in 1988, " there is no evidence to suggest that... "

There has been little reason to study the toxicological effects of benzyl

alcohol over the last decade since state legislators have provided

synthetic vitamin K manufacturers with the guaranteed marketplace of nearly

every child born in a U.S. hospital.

Vitamin K injections manufactured as recently as 1995 contain hydrochloric

acid " for pH adjustment. "

Roche's vitamin K product KONAKION contains ingredients such as phenol

(carbolic acid-a poisonous substance distilled from coal tar), propylene

glycol (derived from petroleum and used as an antifreeze and in hydraulic

brake fluid) and acetic acid (an astringent antimicrobial agent that may

drastically reduce the amount of natural vitamin K that would have

otherwise been produced in the digestive tract).

As reported in the PDR and as published in the IM vitamin K packet inserts

for Merck, Roche and Abbott, " Studies of carcinogenicity, mutagenesis or

impairment of fertility have not been conducted with Vitamin K1 Injection

(Phytonadione Injection, USP). "

The purpose of this article is to alert expectant parents that their

ignorance of federally-suggested, state mandated hospital policy is enough

assent to authorize health care professionals to administer what may be a

lethal or damaging overdose of a synthetic substance that comes with the

following warning from the manufacturers: " Severe reactions, including

fatalities, have occurred during and immediately after INTRAVENOUS

injection of phytonadione even when precautions have been taken to dilute

the vitamin and avoid rapid infusion... "

Please pass the preceeding information onto anybody you know who is

expecting a baby. Afterall, we have the right to know what substances are

being injected into our babies within the first hour of their lives. If we

feel that a substance may be injurious to our baby, we have the right to

refuse it.

Don Harkins is the editor of The Idaho Observer

www.proliberty.com/observer

--------------------------------

Vit K

http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymph/Midwife/vitktop.html#Controversy

British Medical Journal volume 305 August 8, 1992 and BMJ volume 310 March

11,1995 are studies that connect vitamin K to childhood cancers such as

leukemia.

" Many doctors routinely give vitamin K to newborn babies because they have

been taught that infants are born with a deficiency of this vitamin, which

influences how rapidly the baby's blood will clot. That's nonsense, unless

the mother is severely malnourished; but most doctors do it anyway.

Administration of vitamin K to the newborn may produce jauncice, which

prompts the

pediatrician to treat it with bilirubin lights (phototherapy). These lights

expose the baby to a dozen documented hazards that may requeire still

further treatement and possibly affect him for the rest of his life. "

http://www.birthpsychology.com/messages/vitamink/vitamink.html

Vitamin K injections:

This practice was instituted in hospitals during the era of routine mother-

infant separation. According to , " although controversial in other

coutries, " injection of the newborn with Vitamin K right after birth is

almost universal in the United States (Cunningham et al. 1989:611). The

rationale for this is that newborns are born with a " deficiency " of Vitamin

K, which they also do not receive in breast milk. This leads to a decrease

in

Vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation factors, making newborns more

susceptible to hemorrhage in the first several days of life until Vitamin K

is manufactured in their systems (Cunningham et al. 1989:611). The risk is

small--about 1 in 200--but real.

Physiological Effects

Injection of newborns with Vitamin K in large doses has been implicated as a

cause of neonatal jaundice ( 1955; Cunningham et al. 1989:611). A

small dose of 1 mg seems to have no ill effects on the baby beyond the pain

caused by the injection itself. If newborns are allowed to suckle soon after

birth, the injection of Vitamin K is less necessary, since the colostrum

that

comes immediately from the mother's breast before her milk lets down is

usually rich in Vitamin K (Trevathan 1987:213). In about 1 out of 200

babies,

even in those that area breastfed, however, there is significant danger of

hemorrhage. For this reason, even midwives attending home births sometimes

give injections of Vitamin K. One Anycity midwife, for example, feels that

the risk of cerebral hemorrhage is heightened in very fast or very long

labors, when the baby has a strongly cone-shaped head, or when the baby

demonstrates significant heart-rate decelerations during late labor. Because

she believes in their value, she gives Vitamin K injections to around 40% of

the babies she catches. But she feels strongly that breastfed babies born

with " easy births " do not need Vitamin K, and that it should not be

administered routinely to all babies.

Ritual Purposes

If the pain that the individual newborn feels from a shot with a needle were

up for consideration under the technocratic model, then the decision as to

whether or not to inflict that pain on a newborn would be made on an

individual basis according to specific need. But instead, the medical

response to the danger of hemorrhage, as to the danger of blindness from VD,

has been to standardize the Vitamin K injection for all newborns. In The

Technological Society, Jacques Ellul has written:

Standardization means resolving in advance all the problems that might

possibly impede the functioning of an organization. It is not a matter of

leaving it to inspiration, ingenuity, or even intelligence to find a

solution

[to a problem]; it is rather in some way to anticipate both the difficulty

and the resolution. From then on, standardization creates impersonality, in

the sense that the organization relies more on methods and techniques than

on

individuals. We thus have all the marks of a technique. Organization is thus

a technique. -Ellul 1965:11-12

Symbolically speaking, the standardization of the Vitamin K injection and

indeed all the routine procedures performed on the newborn baby reinforce

the

messages to both baby and mother that nature is inadequate, that they are

now

dependent on organizations--that is, on techniques--for their lives and

health. This message seems a fair and accurate reflection of the realities

of

technocratic life. In effect, these postpartum procedures form the modern

structural equivalent of baptism: they symbolically enculturate the newborn,

removing her step-by-step from the natural realm through restructuring her

very physiology in accordance with technocratic standardization.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/25/00 7:46:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Mom2Q@...

writes:

<< I will warn you though, I have had

people contact me as they have been unable to reach this group after many

phone calls and e-mails. >>

Oh dear...hope can contact them. I'll let you all know how that turns out.

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

I (as I hang my head in shame) haven't renewed

my membership yet. I'll send that check out today though! Thanks

for the kick in the pants Diane. ~~

Diane Emerick wrote:

Are

either of you members of M.O.M.? Diane

-----Original

Message-----

From: Keryl72093@...

<Keryl72093@...>

Vaccinationsegroups

<Vaccinationsegroups>

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2000

9:25 AM

Subject: Re:

Vitamin K

In a message dated 4/25/00 8:36:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

odrade@...

writes:

<< I also live in MI. I had a homebirth and my midwife

came to our

house to do the PKU at the 1 week check up. She told us that

it is

required by MI law and that we probably *could* refuse it

>>

I ALSO live in Michigan and had a

homebirth (2 actually). I did not

have the PKU done either time. As a matter of fact,

I think my midwife may

have refused to do it, if memory serves... I've never been

bothered by any

sort of "family services" type agency. Michigan is

an excellent state to

live in if you're a homebirthing, nonvaxing, homeschooler family!

=)

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Here is what I have for the MOM group. I will warn you though, I have had

people contact me as they have been unable to reach this group after many

phone calls and e-mails. I don't know the women who run this group so I'm

only speaking from what people have told me. I hope some of you have better

luck with this group.

MICHIGAN

M.O.M.

Suzanne Waltman, pres.

P.O. Box 1121

Troy, MI 48099-1121

810-447-2418

http://salineguide.com/mom/

List Owner

Re: Vitamin K

In a message dated 4/25/00 11:18:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

blakester97@... writes:

<< Are either of you members of M.O.M.? >>

I'm not, though I have heard a little bit aboutthe group. Does anyone

have info about them or how to join?

Cheryl

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avoid the lines and visit avis.com for quick and easy online

reservations. Enjoy a compact car nationwide for only $29 a day!

Click here for more details.

1/3011/5/_/489317/_/956698923/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

ok... so what is M.O.M?

Thanks,

Sherri-Lee

Re: Vitamin K

> In a message dated 4/25/00 11:18:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> blakester97@... writes:

>

> << Are either of you members of M.O.M.? >>

>

> I'm not, though I have heard a little bit aboutthe group. Does

anyone

> have info about them or how to join?

>

> Cheryl

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Avoid the lines and visit avis.com for quick and easy online

> reservations. Enjoy a compact car nationwide for only $29 a day!

> Click here for more details.

> 1/3011/5/_/489317/_/956698923/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

I never got a hold of anyone by phone either but they did send me an info

packet when I wrote to them via snail mail. Good luck!

Mom2Q wrote:

Here is what I have for the MOM group.

I will warn you though, I have had

people contact me as they have been unable to reach this group

after many

phone calls and e-mails. I don't know the women who run this

group so I'm

only speaking from what people have told me. I hope some

of you have better

luck with this group.

MICHIGAN

M.O.M.

Suzanne Waltman, pres.

P.O. Box 1121

Troy, MI 48099-1121

810-447-2418

http://salineguide.com/mom/

List Owner

Re: Vitamin K

In a message dated 4/25/00 11:18:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

blakester97@... writes:

<< Are either of you members of M.O.M.? >>

I'm not, though I have heard a little

bit aboutthe group. Does anyone

have info about them or how to join?

Cheryl

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avoid the lines and visit avis.com for quick and easy online

reservations. Enjoy a compact car nationwide for only $29 a day!

Click here for more details.

1/3011/5/_/489317/_/956698923/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I wasn't planning on giving my son the Vit K, but after seeing his awful bruising we decided to go ahead. Who knows if it matters though.

Diane

Re: Vitamin KHello there! I usually lurk, but I have a question for you about vit k. I have enjoyed reading the info on vit K as I'm expecting #1 in September. I told my midwife that I don't want vit k and she asked why? and also told me that I'm going to have a hard time convincing the peds at the hospital (if I end up there, we're planning a homebirth) not to give the vit k injection.So my question is: Does an infant need vit K if they are born bruised or been in the birth canal for a long period of time(over two hrs, say)? TIA.Dorinda________________________________________________________________________Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

If anyone needs anything from M.O.M. you can also contact Tocco at 248-435-8435 which is a chiropractors office, but she is a board member and can help you.

Diane

RE: Vitamin KHere is what I have for the MOM group. I will warn you though, I have hadpeople contact me as they have been unable to reach this group after manyphone calls and e-mails. I don't know the women who run this group so I'monly speaking from what people have told me. I hope some of you have betterluck with this group.MICHIGANM.O.M.Suzanne Waltman, pres.P.O. Box 1121Troy, MI 48099-1121810-447-2418http://salineguide.com/mom/List Owner-----Original Message-----From: Keryl72093@... [mailto:Keryl72093@...]Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 3:42 PMVaccinationsegroupsSubject: Re: Vitamin KIn a message dated 4/25/00 11:18:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,blakester97@... writes:<< Are either of you members of M.O.M.? >> I'm not, though I have heard a little bit aboutthe group. Does anyonehave info about them or how to join?Cheryl------------------------------------------------------------------------Avoid the lines and visit avis.com for quick and easy onlinereservations. Enjoy a compact car nationwide for only $29 a day!Click here for more details.1/3011/5/_/489317/_/956698923/------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sheri,thanks that helped a