Injections after birth - what did YOU do?

[cheshiremama89]

Vitamin K for baby, very recommended by midwife at birth class but discredited in hypnobirthing book.

Same with the injection to encourage a quick delivery of the placenta after birth...

Also with the above injection, can anyone recall it being bigger than usual? Watched a recommended positive birth story yesterday and the injection was a whopper!

Kind of feel pressured to have both, but would love to know what everyone else did/thinks xx

Vit k jab definitely for both mine.

Had placenta injection 1st time but declined the second time. It's been linked to some side effects that I suffered after my first birth. Mainly increased pain when bf was my concern.

You will probably not notice any of these should you go for it. You'll be slightly distracted!

Oh yes, the other thing about vitamin K - thinking about it in advance I thought the oral form would be much gentler on a newborn than the injection, but in fact, my newborn evidently hated the taste of the oral vitamin K (and there were several doses, I forget how many now) so much that I remember wondering whether actually a quick injection when he was still reeling from the experience of being squeezed out through my vagina might have been easier on him!

Both my babies had Vitamin K injection. First delivery I didn't need the injection for placenta - it literally flipped out of its own accord within minutes. Second labour it was a little more stubborn so I had the injection. Can't recall what it was like. Was busy snuggling and feeding baby.
Used hypnobirthing techniques with both babies. Also had gas and air - not much with first, more with second (which was induced).

OP, I think I’d throw that book away. How completely irresponsible to tell parents this. Vit K is used to prevent the rare but fatal Hemorrhagic Disease. There is very good evidence that this is the case. Why would you not give your baby this?

Sorry for the DM link, but: www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4372102/amp/Baby-critical-condition-dismissing-vitamin-K-shot.html

Both my 2 had the Vitamin K and I will be doing it again when this one is born.

I had the placenta injection with my first but not with my second. I delayed cord clamping with number 2 and natural third stage. I plan to do the same this time unless any problems arise.

I did have to have the antiD with both of mine though and I expect to have it again after this one.

Both DSs had vitamin k injection.
I didn't need an injection to deliver the placenta in either case but wouldn't have been a problem to me if it had been needed.

I can’t believe that book, does the page before cover the rationale for vit k?

My dh is an only child because his 2 siblings died from haemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Vitamin k injections were only introduced after their deaths.
Why anybody would not want their baby to be given an essential vitamin is beyond me.
Syntometrine for 3rd stage is useful if there is delay and potential haemorrhage.
There are few things more shocking to witness than a pph.

I had the vitamin K injection before, and will do again, no questions.

I was looking to have a natural 3rd stage first time around, but I lost a little more blood than the midwives were comfortable with, so before I really realised what had happened they gave me the jab in the thigh. I didn't really care tbh - was a) busy being euphoric post-birth and b) wanted to get the placenta out anyway so I could get on with enjoying having a newborn.

I'll go for natural 3rd stage again this time but if it doesn't work out that way, no big deal really. I care about avoiding some interventions but not this one.

I had both!

I didn't have placenta injection. Had baby in pool, 15 mins later got out, got settled on the bed with baby and midwife tried and it came out. I had agreed to have it but midwife just played it by ear and I didn't need it. Baby had vit k though. Feel they wouldn't offer if there wasn't a proven need/possible need

I had both. I didn't plan to have the placenta injection but once I had given birth (in the pool) I just wanted the placenta gone. They asked and I said yes. I have no memory of the injection itself, it didn't really register compared to birth!

If people really want to learn something useful, looking back at maternal and neonatal mortality stats over the last 50 years or so would be a really good place to start.
Then maybe move onto infant and child mortality and morbidity stats over a similar period.
It isnt so very long since babies died from haemorrhagic disease, neonatal jaundice, abnormalities caused by maternal rubella, blood group incompatability, vitamin deficiencies. All these things can be largely prevented now.
So many young women died in childbirth from pph, obstructed labour, sepsis. Children from measles, polio, diphtheria etc. We have a couple of generations now who simply have no idea.

Both. I can see that the placenta delivery one would be a personal preference, but there was no question for us re Vitamin K. The risk is tiny but if something does go wrong it can be fatal, and the oral administration just doesn't give the same protection.

I think your plan of go for Vit K then see how you feel with the placenta is a good one. Also are you planning to initiate breastfeeding? If so, Vitamin K is especially important because there's less in bm than formula (not that formula contains enough to not necessitate injection).

@IsaSchmisa yes that's a plan I'm comfortable with, in an ideal world Placenta will come away naturally, stop pulsing and be clamped etc.

However will have to play it by ear, conscious this is my first so trying not to have a concrete plan as I just don't know how I will deal with the pain!

Hypnobirthing may go out of the window

And yes trying to breastfeed so that's good to know! Xx

I had both, easy decision.