- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Natural Birth
theladyjess
member
Opinions on Vit K shot, yes or no?
theladyjess
member
Hubby and I are undecided on whether or not LO should have a vit K shot a birth. We both agree that there is no need for her to have the eye ointment or Hep B vaccine (she'll get it at 2 months), however, we have differing opinions on Vit K.
We're both in agreement with delayed cord cutting so that LO receives as much iron rich blood as possible. I think that as long as there are no complications with the birth she should be fine without the Vit K. Hubby thinks she should get the shot "just in case" and it's only a vitamin so what's the harm.
Did you give your child the Vit K shot? Why or why not? I know the final decision lies with us, however, I'd like to hear your thoughts or opinions.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Opinions on Vit K shot, yes or no?
We aren't getting it. It's just not something that feels necessary to us, especially since I'm breastfeeding.
ETA: Do I have this wrong? I'll have to look into this more.
the problem with the Vitamin K shot is not with the vitamin, but with the carrier.
I am opting for oral vitamin K.
Your baby needs vitamin K, but it does not need the Vitamin K shot in order to get vitamin K. I personally think a sublingual dose of vitamin K (which is an accepted practice by the American Academy of Pediatrics,) is a better option because it does not require the carrier fluid that the Vitamin K shot uses. There have been conflicting studies about the vitamin K shot and an increase in childhood cancers, and conflicting studies is enough for me to choose the proven safe method. You can also increase your child's vitamin K levels if you are breastfeeding by consuming foods and supplements high in Vitamin K, such as alfalfa (along with the sublingual vitamin K.)
wow, that is shocking! i'm sorry to hear that and i would seriously have a problem with someone doing something to my newborn baby that i did not consent to.
i have been at tons of births where the baby never received the shot and not a single one of them ever had any problems because of it. typically moms wanted to decide at the birth and with the help of their mw. if the birth was rough or if the baby had bruising or other factors we would recommend it; otherwise we often let the parents decide what they want.
every procedure has risks and benefits and i think they should be weighed and then a decision made. we are going to decide at birth if our baby needs the shot or not. i know which infants that are at a higher risk for hemorrhagic diseases, 0.25%-1.7% chance, and if my baby doesn't fall into that category i don't see the need for the shot.
also, it has been said that the amount of vit k in the shot is 20,000 times more than needed, while it's not going to harm the baby to receive that much it is unecessary, and the shot may contain preservatives that can be toxic to some babies. their immune systems are so delicate and might not be able to handle it. there is a liquid vit k that is available that is taken orally.
bottom line, do your research and make an informed decision and if you decide that you don't want it and you live in NY, move!
oops double post!
I doubt that NY forces the Vitamin K shot. Most states try to make it seem like you HAVE to do things such as the Vitamin K shot and the hep B shot, when truly there are exemptions for religion (which anyone can claim they have,) or the option to choose an oral dose of vitamin K (which I mentioned earlier is supported by the AAP.) Before I decided to deliver at a birth center with an MW, I did an orientation of the maternity ward at my local hospital. I asked the nurse conducting the tour if I should bring my own vitamin K for the oral dose or if I could purchase some from the hospital, and she actually told me that an oral dose couldn't possibly work and that Florida requires a vitamin K shot. Good thing I know from a lot of time spent researching that both of her statements were 100% untrue.
triple post.... anyone know why it won't let me delete these posts?
We took a "wait and see how the birth goes" with both of our babies. Our first (born in the hospital) came out fast and had a few breathing issues at first so we did the vitamin K shot on our midwives' recommendation.
DS was born at home, but was posterior and came out with very molded head that my midwife said would likely cause a mild cephalohematoma (it did) and recommended the shot for him which we gladly did.
This is what we did with Lily and will do with baby #2. It was unnecessary with Lily, but my MW does carry the oral one.
They actually have made it mandatory. You may be able to use the oral Vitamin K but I have never seen it done in the hospital I work at. There is a religious exemption but it is something that you have to file beforehand so most people assume they can refuse whish is not the case in NY.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1695173/
Here's the package insert:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/33874512/Merck-Vitamin-K-Package-Insert-Aquamephyton-PI
And a highly sourced article about it:
https://drbenkim.com/vitamin-K-shot-baby.html
My daughter got it, but after further research, I decided against it with my son. I ordered liquid, plant based vitamin K and started taking it myself at 36w (took it until he was about 3 months old). I also administered it to him in the hosptial, at 1 week old, and at 3w old.
Babies don't make vitamin K for a few days, and maybe there's a reason for that. Unless there is a traumatic birth we will be declining it this time as well and using the drops.
https://www.birthwithlove.com/categories/itempage.asp?prodid=Vitamin+K+1+%28Vit+K+1+%29Oral+Vit+K
We did it with Atticus and I was really glad we did. He was born sunny side up and about an hour or two after he was born a lot of bruising appeared on his face and shoulder. I imagine it might have been a lot worse if we'd passed on the Vit. K.
I think for future babies we will skip the shot and go with other forms.
Some circumstances would require the Vitamin K shot, like traumatic birth. However, if the mother has enough Vitamin K in her system beforehand, there shouldn't be a problem with hemorrhagic bleeding in the newborn or anything else.
Some studies have linked the shot with newborn jaundice and even childhood cancers, like leukemia. This is another one of those controversial issues, though.
We did a lot of research on this one.
Originally I planned not to get Vitamin K or to get the oral Vitamin K. We've now switched and will get the Vitamin K shot. We are not getting the Hep B shot or the eye ointment and are waiving those services. We're also doing the delayed cord clamping- so we seem to be on the same page as you TheladyJess.
The oral vitamin K we get in the states is not the same formula that was used in the German studies- plus you have to do oral vitamin K twice and the effectiveness might not be as good. The Vitamin K shot has a great record and seems low risk from the research we've seen. Some of the negative stuff has been debunked in studies, so we don't see a drawback and want the protection against bleeding problems. Breastfeeding is great, but it won't give the instant Vitamin K boost you would need for a new born if they had some sort of bleeding. Interestingly it was our birthclass instructor (med-free lady to the max!) and mid-wife that kind of talked me around to it- normally they are against most medications, but they were fully on-board with this one.
Not sure what research you've seen or done, but a big factor for me is who is funding each study. If a study that debunks a study about something like a vaccine or vitamin K was funded or conducted by a group that stands to lose profit if the product is found to be unsafe, I tend to take it with a grain of salt. We have to be careful to read the studies very carefully too because it's easy to alter studies so that they produce the results you want, and this goes for both sides of the issue.
But as far as the kind of oral vitamin K used, you can always order vitamin K from Germany or wherever you feel has the highest quality product. My midwife isn't for vitamin K shots unless the birth of the child was traumatic. I would definitely consider it in the case of a traumatic birth, but for a normal birth, I think a high quality oral dose is sufficient (though this is just my opinion.)
To make any medicine mandatory for all people or all babies is ridiculous, everyone as different needs. Parents have a right to informed consent for any procedure or medicine given to their child... Gr.
Anyhow, religious exemptions in my state need to be filed ahead of time as well because it's a particular form they have you fill out. This applies only to hospital births though, the birth centers and home births give you the freedom to choose what you do or don't want to do.
Natural Birth Board FAQs
Cloth Diaper Review Sheet
I go back and forth on a lot of things, but here's the deal with Vit K: If you need it, and you don't have enough of it, the end result is irreversible, death.
Childbirth is a physically traumatic event. Vit K aids in clotting. If baby can't clot, and bleeds, there is very little that can be done to help at that point. I'm an ER nurse, and I've taken care of babies who were Vit K deficient due to not getting the shot at birth. We gave them vit K, sometimes a blood transfusion, and they usually didn't survive.
I'm not trying to scare anyone, but I've attempted to console mothers who lost their newborns due to bleeding in their heads. What do you say to them? There's nothing you can say. Vitamin K shouldn't be taken lightly, if you're really thinking of not getting it, do a LOT of research before you come to that conclusion.
As for asking for the oral supplement, ask the hospital if it's even available. Not all hospitals carry it, and it may be something you need to have ordered. Then call your insurance company and ask if they cover the oral formulation. If they don't cover it, better to find out before hand then get a surprise bill afterwards.
Konstantino
Maximo
FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST https://pinterest.com/raffaella1030/
Yup. We delayed all normal new born procedures for 2 hours while we did skin to skin and attempted a first feed.
She got the vitamin K and eye ointment, as will our subsequent children. FYI- many people think the eye treatment is only necessary if the mother has STIs. That's not true- while chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause blindness, normal bacteria from the vagina and rectum can cause eye infections. Just a side note.