Parenting is hard – right from the start. Every parent wants to make the best decisions they can for their children. It can get overwhelming as you try to navigate all the decisions that come with pregnancy and newborn procedures. Many families want to know, do we have to do the eye goop for our newborn? The eye gel is otherwise known as Erythromycin eye ointment.
Erthro…what?
Erythromycin eye ointment is a standard newborn procedure in most birthing locations in the US. It is an antibiotic gel put in the eyes of newborns, which may help prevent Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON). ON is the fancy word for Newborn Conjunctivitis or newborn pink eye.
ON is an infection in the conjunctiva (white part of the eye and eyelid) causing inflammation and it can lead to blindness in newborns.
In the early 1800’s, 10% of births resulted in an ON infection. In those 10% of newborns, 3% developed blindness. Preventative measures including the using silver nitrate as the method for avoiding conjunctivitis (ON) in newborns became a somewhat standard practice. It wasn’t until almost 80 years later scientists discovered that a sexually transmitted infection, Gonorrhea, was the culprit. In recent years, Chlamydia infections have replaced Gonorrhea as the major culprit, but both can cause Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Who’s at risk
Babies born to mothers with untreated Chlamydia or Gonorrhea are at a 33-55% risk for developing ON.
Anyone who is sexually active is at risk for contracting an STD. These STDs can be transmitted by vaginal, anal, and oral sex and ejaculation is not needed to transmit them. You can decrease your risk by being in a monogamous relationship where your partner tests negative and/or by using condoms every time you have intercourse.
The likelihood of ON causing blindness today is very unlikely. It is less likely since most birthing people are tested for sexually transmitted diseases early in pregnancy and treated with antibiotics. It is very rare for a cesarean born baby to contract ON. There were four cases where babies born via cesarean had ON; in all four, waters had been ruptured between 18 to 24 hours or longer before surgery.
It is standard practice in the US for all newborns to receive Erythromycin prophylaxis as a preventive measure before they are 24 hours old. Places like Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, and Australia currently do not use Erythromycin as a standard preventative measure. Canada is currently changing its recommendations and there is talk about the US following.
In making any decisions it is important to look at the benefits and risks.
Benefits:
- Reduces risks of Gonorrheal or Chlamydia related ON -which reduces the risk of blindness
- Could reduce overall bacteria in the eye
Risks:
- Has a 20% failure rate
- Blurred vision that could hinder bonding through eye gaze
- Eye irritation
- Antibiotics in the system could impact the gut flora just forming in the newborn intestine.
- Potential bacteria resistance
Alternatives:
There are a few alternatives to Erythromycin eye ointment.
- Povidone-iodine
- Breastmilk/ colostrum
- Wait and see
Has your child received Erythromycin eye ointment? Were you given any information before making a decision?
Want more information or someone you can talk to about things like this? Hire a doula today.
By: Angelina Miller
