This article aims to clear any doubts and questions you may have about this subject and we will do our best to do so.
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the blood to clot and prevents serious bleeding. In newborns, vitamin K injections can prevent a now rare, but potentially fatal, bleeding disorder called ‘vitamin K deficiency bleeding’ (VKDB), also known as ‘haemorrhagic disease of the newborn’ (HDN). Babies can be given the injection in hospital after they’re born.
What Is Vitamin K?
Why Does My Newborn Need Vitamin K?
The bleeding can happen inside or outside of the body – including the brain – at any time up to 6 months of age. There are two ways newborns can receive vitamin K:
A single injection in the thigh within 6 hours of birth; or
3 doses by mouth—one at baby’s first feeding, another at 2 to 4 weeks of age, and another at 6 to 8 weeks of age. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends that doctors give newborns vitamin K by injection.
Giving vitamin K by mouth is not as effective as by injection. Vitamin K is not absorbed as well when given by mouth and does not last as long. Babies who get vitamin K by mouth are an increased risk of late vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which can occur within 2 to 12 weeks after birth and up to 6 months of age.
Is The Vitamin K Injection Safe?
There are no side effects. There may be some redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site. Breast milk contains very low amounts of vitamin K, so exclusively breastfed babies will not get enough.
Even formula-fed babies have very low levels of vitamin K for several days.
Background
It is a popular trend in some areas to refuse prophylaxis in an effort to keep things “natural” for the infant, however, it is important to keep in mind that the infants most at risk for the classic form of the disease are healthy babies who are exclusively breastfe.
Why Your Baby Needs Vitamin K
Vitamin K helps your baby’s blood to clot and prevents serious bleeding.
Most babies are born with low levels of vitamin K. Because of this, they need extra vitamin K.
Vitamin K prevents a rare but serious bleeding disorder called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). About 1 in 10,000 babies develops VKDB.