Instead, youre looking into goopy, slightly puffy eyes.

Well, the goo comes from a special eye ointment that protects your babys eyesight.

What is the eye ointment for newborns?

newborn eye

This eye ointment is called erythromycin and its anantibiotic.

Usually this happens in the first two to three hours of your little ones life.

You wont have to wash this ointment off later, either.

newborn eye

It eventually wears off on its own after a day or two.

Why do newborns get eye ointment?

Simple the ointment protects babies from serious eye infections triggered by gonorrhea, chlamydia and other common bacteria.

newborn eye

Of course, youre thinking theres no way you could have an STI, and you probably dont.

Plus, your OB/GYN probably tested you for chlamydia and gonorrhea during pregnancy.

Or you may have gotten chlamydia or gonorrhea after you tested negative.

newborn eye

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Is eye ointment necessary for newborns?

And that puts your baby at risk of developing ON, which is no joke.

In a few days, the eyes of an infected baby become puffy and red with pus.

newborn eye

If the infection isnt treated, it can damage the corneas and cause blindness.

They later switched to erythromycin because its much less irritating.

So think of erythromycin eye ointment for your newborn as just-in-case insurance, even if you had aC-section.

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(Most infants are nearsighted.)

Thinking of refusing erythromycin eye ointment in newborns?

Maybe its time to reconsider.

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When your baby does get this protective goo, just remember her blurry vision is only temporary.

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