Eye Gel

[Mrs_Hall2014]

Hey, what's the eye gel that's placed on the baby's eyes upon birth?? Is it harmless?? Thoughts overall??

[EmaleeJoy]

You should read up on detailed birth plans! There's a lot of things you can educate yourself on and choose to opt in or opt out of during labor and delivery, even though it may seem "procedure" such as the eye creme, it's not necessary for all deliveries and you can choose to opt out as a part of your birth plan!

[rainbowbb]

It's to prevent the passing of stds like sabbylopez mentioned. It's not even necessary anymore but some states do not allow you to decline in and will threaten to call cps. They won't let you not have it cause they haven't updated their hospital protocals and recognize that it's not necessary. It's not to prevent pink eye though. And depending on the brand of cream it can be an eye irritant and in some cases it has caused babies to go blind but mostly it just burns their little eyes. Do a little more research on it and ask your hospital what they use cause some are older brands make it with chemicals and metals that are known to be irratants but still "do the job". Basically the don't fix it of it ain't broken idea cause very rarely are there side effects

[veronica_12]

The eye cream is put on there eyes to prevent pink eye and just in case they might have catched any bacteria from fluids in vagina or rectal area during delivery!!!!!

[sabbylopez]

When I say it can cause blindness I didn't specify myself properly. There have been strains known to be "immune" to erythromycin so if your baby has an infection in their eyes and they put it on their is a chance that it could be an immune strain and could cause blindness from the infection. The erythromycin it self can cause eye irrataion.

[cliqueguy1992]

The std part yes but if it did cause blindness then that is super serious I don't think a lot of women will get it if it caused blindness....js

[cliqueguy1992]

I don't think that's true....

[sabbylopez]

It's call erythromycin they put it on the eyes so your baby doesn't get clymidia or gonorrhea. I never had it put on my children because I know I don't have an std. As far as harmless? There is a chance the ointment can cause blidness but nothing super serious.