If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

Maybe a dumb question, but I already signed off to allow my newborn to get all of it's shots. I've since changed my mind and don't want her to get the hep b shot right away in the hospital. So, who do I alert about this??? What's the best course of action? Do I call the hospital or tell my obgyn or the pediatrician I chose? I'm afraid I will forget if I wait until I go into labor to tell someone...

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

Call your ob/gyn & your pediatrician.

My sister printed out labels about "No immunizations" to put on every hospital form.

I would probably fill out the paperwork again & bring a copy of it with me to be sure your wishes are met.

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

They asked me. I had said the same as you.

He could have gotten it tho, he would have gotten it on Friday and he got it at the ped on Monday.

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

I don't know who you woul tell, but can you share with me why you are opting not to?

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

i was told that they will ask you when you go into labor and you would have to sign off on it

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

They ask you......I chose not to have it done in the hopsital~

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

why nwould you not get the hep B shot?? just wondering?

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

here is my reasoning:
i feel that its to much to soon for their poor little bodies to be pumped with an unnessesary vaccination. Me and my DH do not have Heb B and my child will be watched by my SIL and a women who has no other children, so i am not afraid of him being exposed to it right now, even if he was in daycare, you can only get it, if a mom has it and has passed it on to their baby, or if in contact with someone who had Heb b such as by blood or semen, you cant get it by touch, etc. but everyone is different, some women are fine giving it at birth, it has to be what you and your DH are comfortable with. Even though my pediatrician would have prefered that me and my DH choose to have my son get it when he's born, the dr. did tell us that they do it so early more out of convenience versus necessity.

Message edited 5/31/2007 8:43:50 AM.

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

After I was admitted to L&D, there were some forms to be filled out...including the hep b form.
We were told you can either have it done in the hospital or wait and have the ped do it.
We opted to have the ped do it, so you sign a form stating your intentions.
The ped advised it would then be done at her 2 month well child visit

This was the procedure at Huntington Hospital

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

I completely understand your reasoning but (I might me jumping the gun a little) I am a school nurse and even children in nursery NEED to have the hep B. Do you plan on giving it to DC when they get older?

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

they will ask you in the hospital......I chose to have my PED do it in her office

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

they will ask you a ton of questions when you check in - so you should have the chance - if things progress very quickly, make sure DH knows to tell someone, just in case.


I chose not to have it done in the hospital, by the advise of my ped. I think it's so that they can monitor exactly what vaccine is given. I've heard quite a few peds don't want the babies getting the hospital vaccine.

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

great, thanks everyone. i will mention it to my obgyn and in the hospital!!

Re: If I opt not to give my baby the hep b shot....who do I tell?

I just told them no when they came in to do it.