Vaccinations and Giving Birth in Puerto Rico
So I’ve been freaking out the past week because I’m about to give birth here in Puerto Rico and I’ve been told all sorts of horror stories. First off, I was told to not even attempt a home birth because the midwives here are not very good (two different women told me this and they both attempted home births and ended up at the hospital. Although since then, I have heard other stories on great home births, so I suppose it’s about finding the right midwife.). So, Stefan and I have committed to the birth being at Bella Vista Hospital. I don’t like hospitals to begin with, and now I’m being told that they pump all sorts of drugs into your newborn baby.
I did some research and asked some questions and as a standard procedure after a birth it appears that all babies are given silver nitrate drops in their eyes, a vitamin K shot, a hepatitis B vaccine and a PKU blood test. Well, being that I am the mother, I simply assumed that I could just tell them that I do not want any of those things done to my baby. Unfortunately I was wrong and it takes an actually affidavit from a lawyer for your wishes for your baby’s care to be granted. I’m going to pick my battles here, because I know that the hospital staff will already be annoyed that I’m packing an affidavit, so the only thing I am insisting on is the they NOT shoot up my baby with hepatitis B. We got the affidavit from a lawyer in town today and it cost $25, so it’s not too big of a deal, but they will not release your baby from the hospital without the affidavit (which is totally stupid since this is supposed to be a voluntary vaccine) and they of course do not tell anyone this in hopes of shooting up more babies with this vaccine. I’ve also been told to not let the baby out of my sight because they will probably try to administer the vaccine anyways.
I’m not going to rant about this one too much, but here is why we are choosing not to vaccinate our baby: Babies are born with underdeveloped immune systems and shooting vaccines into them on the first day they are born is not safe (and can cause death, permanent disability, seizures, autism, etc). Hepatitis B is transmitted through exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids, so if your baby is not sexually active or shooting up drugs in an unsafe manner (sharing needles for example), it is virtually impossible for a baby to contract hepatitis B (as long as the mother does not have hepatitis). So why are all hospitals trying to shoot babies up with hepatitis B vaccine? Because the company that manufactures the vaccine, Merck, makes $800 million each year by selling you this vaccine. And they decided that babies should be shot up with it because it’s too hard to get the people who are truely at risk for hepatitis B (prostitutes and drug users) to take/pay for the vaccine. Pretty dirty…
July 10th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Amazing how, when you follow the money, big industries such as pharmaceuticals always seem to be causing atrocities. It’s sad you have to go to so much trouble to protect a newborn from them. Your new bundle of joy will be worth it, though! Hope you have a safe delivery of your little Boricua! Fran
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July 10th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I was scared abput this 20 yrs ago.
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July 11th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Summer, I agree with you about the Silver Nitrate, just watch your baby’s eyes closely for any signs of infections caused by bacteria and viruses that can occur during delivery. You could also ask the pediatrician for a prescription for a baby ‘harmless’ antibiotic eye drops to be administered right after delivery.
I waited, and so did my daughter, and dil, for the V-K shot and the hepatitis B vaccine. My kids were small when I had to move to The Canal Zone so they had to get the hepatitis B vaccine before the trip. One of my kids is former Marine who is now managing hotels on the East of the USA, and the other is managing communities here on the island, and the baby is about to get married and LEAVE home! TG all are fine!
Now, I am going to tell you what I told my daughters… Don’t skip the ‘PKU’ blood test. Of course, you, being the Mother, will do the right thing, at the end.
Pheeewwwww Had a hard time writing all of this for spelling, grammar, and syntax! It might still be hard to understand, though.
Patria, Here in Juncos, Sending Positive Vibes Your Way!
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July 12th, 2009 at 5:53 am
ILL TELL YOU THIS MUCH, MY 3 KIDS WERE BORN HERE IN P.R., AND THEY ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN PERFECT HEALTH,SO DONT EVEN WORRY.
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July 13th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Wow thats great that you found all this out before you got to the hospital because otherwise you might be pressured into something you dont want. Good for you! Congreats & I hope all turns out well
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July 13th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I didn’t know anything about ths vaccine!! But I think you don’t have to worry so much about the delivery in a hospital in Puerto Rico. Services are not as bad as you think. Every delivery is different but is not like you are going to give birth in the toilet or in the corridor. Most hospitals are clean and giving birth is not like a complicated surgery. If everything goes well you will have your baby and go home next day. NICUs are very good too, so you don’t have to worry about it.
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July 13th, 2009 at 8:52 am
The Bella Vista Hospital is your best option, I believe you’ll be in good hands. It is always wise to ask the Lord for guidance and protection, no matter what our situation is!
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July 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Is new this vaccine thing or is something that has a lot of years? Maybe I’ve been used for that and don’t know it.
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Hi Summer,
I am a pediatric nurse practitioner in NY, recently bought a home in Rincon. Met Stefan in the hardware store-after recongnizing him from the website-which pops up every time we do a search for anything in Rincon!
On the Hep B vaccine-you are absolutely right, that it is highly unlikely that your baby will be exposed to Hep B in childhood. However, it can be spread, rarely, by a household contact who has a chronic active form of the disease, or from a mother whose Hep B status is unknown, hence why so many hospitals are giving it at birth now, which I assure you is not harmful and does create passivie immunity when the series is completed. I recommend my patients to the CDC.org website, specifically the page on immunizations and FAQ’s. There is so much misinformation out about immunizations.
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Well Summer
Since you did this blog, I guess we will wait until you do a follow up, let us know if it was as awful as you thought. But I hope it will be a great follow up, that your daughter was born healthy, no problems at the hospital and that you, stefan, baby and pets are home and doing Great! yomama will be there.
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July 14th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I also am from the states and am having a baby in Puerto Rico, I want to thank you for sharing your info about the affidavit. Now that I am aware that this can be done, I will be right behind you in demanding my baby not be injected with the hep b vaccine.
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July 17th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Isn’t it scary when things like medicine and food are being shoved down your throat (almost literally, at times) that are bad for you and you don’t even know it?! So messed up that money determines everything, including health.
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July 17th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Hello, I hope this gets to you on time. I gave birth in Bella Vista, and It was a great experience. The nurses and doctors were very kind, and made me feel very well. The nurses were there anytime I asked, except to for the diaper change!
My friend had her boy three weeks ago there too, and her experience was excellent too.
Every one is different, but do not be so scare, people here loves to tell all the wrong stories to pregnant woman!!!… I KNOW ABOUT IT…
Finally, about the vaccines and test, be very sure that you tell them and they understand that, because they do that as routine and may not think about what you wish.
Hope everything goes great!
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July 28th, 2009 at 3:57 am
Well, first of all – I have 5 kids and none of them have any vaccinations. My first child was the only one born in the hospital (in the Virgin Islands). They did not request an affidavit, although I brought a notarized letter about my wishes for not giving the baby anything, not ever sugar water when I was sleeping. I believe they did give him the vitamin K shot….I think they wwere trying to convince me that his blood wouldnt coaugulate without it.
Since then I refused to go to the hospital for births, and now I am a doula.
By the way, we live in Puerto Rico now. And it is a bit tough trying to get through to certain things here that are very simple in the states. For example, because my children are not vaccinated we have to bring a letter from a church about our religious beliefs as it pertains to vaccinations???? That’s a whole lotta of things. In the states I just signed one line on a form and kept it moving. In the states it is well know that it is against the law to ask what ones religion is.
Wow! Great blog – Congrats on the new one….contact me with any questions…I am an experienced Natural Parent…
Love Skai
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August 30th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I’m from Puerto Rico, and i’m sorry to say that you are exagerating a little on your story. Hospitals here are as good as the in the US. I was born in New York, so I know the 2 sides. Everything they do for the baby is perfectly fine, otherwise wouldn’t all babies have died already?? I had my baby girl 6 years ago and she is perfectly healthy and now i’m having my second child, so don’t worry so much and just enjoy your dilevery.
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November 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I am a current med 4 student; do not worry Summer! Things are not as bad as they may seem. First, until the development and widespread adoption of antibiotics, dilute solutions of AgNO3 (silver nitrate) used to be dropped into newborn babies’ eyes at birth to prevent contraction of gonorrhoea from the (un)known mother. Eye infections and blindness of newborns was reduced by this method; incorrect dosage, however, could cause blindness in extreme cases. Also, passive immunity is obtained through the completion of the 3 step HepB series as mentioned by lauren. That is a good thing! As far as the others are concerned: Vit K for any bleeding issues (good, won’t do any harm), and the PKU blood test is another must do. The consquences of not detecting PKU earlry can lead to neurotoxcity…fast. So, I encourage you to accept that test too. It appears you and your baby are in good hands. Always remember though, the choice is yours, so don’t forget to exercise it you feel the need. Best of luck, and I wish you a happy, healthy delivery! Walid, UA-College of Medicine
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August 26th, 2011 at 8:12 am
Summer i have the same problem. I have to make a affidavit too. Ask Mr. Walid something. If the mother don’t have gonorrhea. It is necessary a eyes drop?
I know this post is old, but i’m having my baby now.
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