Guest guest Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 If I remember correctly, the HepB vaccine is done at the same time as they do the heel-prick for blood count. And in my son's case there was a tiny bandaid.littlelief wrote: YES! - forgot about the HepB vaccine (also, there's the vitamin K shot- I still haven't found out if they use mercury/thimerosolpreservative or other nasty chemicals in that one..). That hep B vaccine - another travesty. I refused it. The only timemy DS#1 was out of my site in the hospital, literally, was when thepediatrician wanted to do his exam in the nursery. He was at myside, my husband's arms, or my room except those few minutes. Ihardly slept (you know they are in and out of your room so much in thehospital) and DS#1 was in my bed with me 95% of the time in thehospital. Of course, my husband had just gone home to take a showerwhen the ped came to do the exam. I did relinquish and let her takehim to the nursery but I reiterated my position on the vaccine a fewtimes (she already knew before the birth that I wanted no vaccines). He did not have any marks on him or any bandaid (they usually use abandaid after vaccines, I think???) so I trusted that she honored mywishes. Although I regret often that I did not insist she stay in myroom to do the exam or wait for my husband to return and go with her.And, he did not get ANY vaccine until 6 months when he did get oneDTaP dose. He had a second DTaP dose at 9 months and NONE since then. I did find it intriguing when some members here mentioned constipationsetting in after DTaP. The timing of the DTaP did correlate to theintroduction of solids for DS#1. But, DS#1 had bowel issues(blood/mucus in stool) from age 3wks on - due to food intolerancesfrom foods I ate and got through in breastmilk. I eliminated a lotfrom my diet then (casein/egg/soy/nuts/corn - if only ANYONE would'vesuggested removing gluten back then). My younger son was born at homeand definitely has NEVER received any injection of any kind - novitamin K, no vaccines. DS#2 showed signs of constipation as solidswere introduced also. It's still possible that DTaP made things worsefor DS#1, but since DS#2 also had signs of constipation at about thesame age and no DTaP, I just don't know if that was a problem for usor not. Gluten seems to be a huge culprit for us - and casein. I think egg -should get DS#1's enterolab testing back this week which will includeegg. (I believe it's problematic, but DH needs to see it in writingbefore he agrees to eliminate. You'd think he'd start to believe myinstincts on some of this stuff by now...?!?!) ;)We are now GF/CF/mostly EF/mostly SF and we still rely on about 300mgmagnesium a day, sometimes needing more. I'm hoping that as time goeson, the gluten/casein damage will reverse/heal, we can rid the yeastand any other unwelcome GI guests, repopulate the good bugs in thegut, and perhaps ease up on daily magnesium......That's my hope, at this point....> >> > I did, why? I was also induced.> > Kathy> > > > epidurals> > > > > > Just out of curiosity, how many moms on here that have constipatedkids, had an > epidural? > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> -----------> > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message.> > Checked by AVG. > > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.2/1387 - Release Date:4/19/2008 11:31 > AM> >> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 I would imagine, but the preservatives in it probably are, I found out years later that the rogam RH negative shot has mercury in it as well........ Cohen wrote: Almost forgot, in addition to topping off the epidural 3x, they hit me with two shots of Duramorph - one just as the c was begun, and one after. Morphine is supposed to be constipating, isn't it?jeanie ward <dreamjeanieatt (DOT) net> wrote: Just out of curiosity, how many moms on here that have constipated kids, had an epidural? Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 yes - morphine is constipating - it exerts an " opioid " effect on the bowels. It is well-documented that chronic pain management patients (e.g., cancer patients) have a lot of problems with constipation. This is why I was glad Jeanie posed the question - I had found out a while ago that the fentanyl commonly used in epidurals is an opioid compound, which means it is likely constipating as well and it is something like 80x more potent than morphine, so .... I really think all of the OB birth interventions (at least the ones so commonly (over)used in the US, including epidurals) should be under more scrutiny. There are just too many unknowns about the long term effects on our newborns. Just out of curiosity, how many moms on here that have constipated kids, had an epidural? > > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I would be rather wary of thinking meds at birth can cause constipation unless they damage the brain and cause tone or coordination problems. Constipation is not the primary issue - it's the underlying mechanism that causes the symptom. There are no contents in the baby's bowels at birth to become constipated, nor should there be until the morphine is leaving the system largely. Even if it did manage somehow to constipate them for a week, the effects of these drugs is not long lasting unless they actually damage the bowel or the nervous system. sharry, aidan's mom Re: epidurals yes - morphine is constipating - it exerts an "opioid" effecton the bowels. It is well-documented that chronic pain managementpatients (e.g., cancer patients) have a lot of problems withconstipation. This is why I was glad Jeanie posed the question - Ihad found out a while ago that the fentanyl commonly used in epiduralsis an opioid compound, which means it is likely constipating as welland it is something like 80x more potent than morphine, so .... I really think all of the OB birth interventions (at least the onesso commonly (over)used in the US, including epidurals) should be undermore scrutiny. There are just too many unknowns about the long termeffects on our newborns. Just out of curiosity,how many moms on here that have constipated kids, had an epidural?> > > > ---------------------------------> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.Try it now.> No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.2/1389 - Release Date: 4/21/2008 8:34 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I couldn't agree more that there must be an underlying cause for the symptom of constipation. That's my point exactly with the meds at birth. Perhaps they are causing some as yet undetected damage to the infant's STILL DEVELOPING gastrointestinal tract, or, as you mention, perhaps some nervous system damage that ultimately manifests as a motility issue in the gut. Morphine, fentanyl, and other opiate based pain relievers exert an effect on the GI tract to slow it down (the " opiate " effect) which is why chronic pain med users (such as cancer patients) do have significant issues with constipation. I don't think any medical professional or researcher has taken the time to look at any effect these meds (pitocin, antibiotics, fentanyl, morphine, etc) might be having on the infant in the long term. Babies are born with a " leaky " gut - the gut is still developing. Their guts (and other organs, including nervous system) are still immature and if they are exposed to these foreign substances (e.g., drugs at birth, vaccines early on, etc.), it's possible that the developing cells might be altered in some way and this damage could perpetuate as the gut or nervous system develops. The cells divide so that the tissues can grow as the baby grows. If the early cells (those present at birth) are damaged by any of these drugs, then, that damage will get replicated as the cells divide and more and more cells in the growing tissue will have the damage over time. this could explain the varying degree of constipation and the varying time of onset for these children. For example - let's just say there are 100 cells in one section of the baby's colon. In one baby, under certain conditions (e.g., epidural that had to be dosed several times, perhaps using more than one type of anesthetic drug, and that was administered at the onset of labor and was given continuously for 12-20 hours (the duration of the labor)), maybe 50 of those cells took on some sort of damage. That's 50% of the cells and as the baby grows, those cells will keep dividing (along with the undamaged cells), but at least 50% of the tissue will maintain " damaged " cells. On the other hand, maybe another baby's birth only involved administering one dose of an epidural near the end of labor so it was only in the system for an hour or two. Maybe in this circumstance, only 15 of the 100 cells sustain damage. Then, perhaps only 15% of the tissue will continue on with this damage. The " damage " in these hypothetical scenarios is highly undefined - but perhaps it involves altering the " normal " function of the cells involved. It could be highly variable depending on the type of anesthetic used, or the surrounding circumstances, or other drugs used at the same time. Cells in our bodies are (generally) fairly resistant to damage and are self-protective (having internal cellular mechanisms for coping with external " insults " like drugs, poisons, etc.). But, in rapidly developing tissues such as a in an infant, there might be more opportunity for damage to occur and be " missed " by the natural system of checks and balances. Just out of curiosity, > how many moms on here that have constipated kids, had an epidural? > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. > Try it now. > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.2/1389 - Release Date: 4/21/2008 8:34 AM > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Jeanie, I just found this post in my spam. To answer your question, my son has constipation and yes, I had an epidural. Deanna,Fort Worth, TexasMom to Cody age 10, Dx: EE, Food Allergies (elimination diet: rye, wheat, soy, and beef), Env. Allergies to mountain cedar and cats, allergic conjunctivitis, and possible GBS (Guillian Barre Syndrome). epidurals Just out of curiosity, how many moms on here that have constipated kids, had an epidural? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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