New Vitamin K article

MorganW24 · March 2014

I found this interesting and wanted to share.

www.evidencebasedbirth.com

The website has a lot of traffic this morning so it took me a few tries to access the article. What do you ladies think about the Vitamin K injection at birth? Have any of you skipped it with previous births or used the oral Vitamin K instead of the injection?

curlylocks3 · March 2014

This is not something I'd ever skip and I really don't understand why someone would. Also, I know our hospital doesn't offer an oral option.

SA1112 · March 2014

I couldn't get to the article due to traffic but here's my opinion. I think it absolutely necessary to prevent potentially life-threatening bleeding in a newborn. Babies are born deficient in Vit K and it's needed for clotting. I wouldn't think of not giving it to my baby.

As for oral vitamin K this is a direct quote from one of the pharmacists I work with at a children's hospital. This is in response to parents refusing the vitamin K shot and thinking oral dosing is an acceptable alternative.

"Oral vitamin K drops is not commercially available in US. The AAP does NOT recommend using oral vitamin K for prophylaxis in newborns as it has been associated with failures (ie bleeding) and IM administration has not been associated with failure.

IF oral vitamin K is used, the infant must have dose repeated to cover infant for early onset bleeding (occurs within 24 hour of birth); classic bleeding (occurs 1-7 days of life) and late onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding (occurs 1-12 weeks after birth) – so infant must be treated to 12 weeks of age. There are several regimens used world wide and none are recommended by AAP."

Katieluc106 · March 2014

I knew nothing of vitamin k when Lucy was born. All of a sudden she is being brought back to me and my husband (who I made go every where with her because I didn't want her left with out one of us right next to her) is saying, " they gave her some shot idk what it was I can't remember" (typical male). I was irate and told them not to do anything non life threatening with out my consent. I looked it up later that night and apologized for being a momma bear.

This one will be getting the vitamin k shot.

liberty95 · March 2014

I didn't read the article yet, but do not skip this shot!
I know, I know, breastfeeding helps the baby clot and all, but there is really no replacement for the very important vitamin in the clotting cascade until baby's body catches up.
You know what can happen? Bleeding in the brain - that's a stroke. Know what a can stroke cause? Permanent neurological deficits.
I am at work so I can't find the article right now, but there has been quite an increase in either subdural hematomas or subarachnoid hemorrhages in newborns, all of whom did not get vitamin K at birth.
It is a shame, these events are preventable.

catsinawindow · March 2014

I couldn't access the linked page, but found the article through a different site (I'm mobile, or else I'd link it for everyone). Search for science and sensibility.

I thought this was a great article, and validated my decision to allow the vitamin k vaccine. I lean towards the low-intervention side when it comes to birth (for instance, I will be declining the antibiotic eye ointment) but my research showed vitamin k to be evidence based, and just too important to decline. This article really cemented my decision. I also read their article on the eye ointment and found it to be wonderful as well. I'd highly recommend searching for it for anyone still on the fence about having this newborn procedure done.

liberty95 · March 2014

@LoHerrim‌ https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/documents/vitamin-k.pdf Basically vitamin k is a fat soluble vitamin that the body needs for proper blood clotting. Babies have low stores of vitamin k and, thus, have an increased risk for bleeding. Getting the shot shortly after birth offers the protection of boosting stores of the vitamin until baby's body catches up. Protocol likely differs from place to place, but you may be asked if you want your baby to revive the shot. The consent for the shot may also be included in a more general consent to provide care you sign upon entering the hospital. Check with your OB to be certain. This medication isn't a vaccine - more like a supplement.

ncbelle · March 2014

It's a great piece. I'm all about low-intervention birth but skipping the Vit. K shot is just something I do not understand - at all. There's no way to know if your baby needs it until it's too late and there are simply no proven side effects.

SarahSmile01 · March 2014

I also can't access the article but just had the 'vitamin K' talk with our new pediatrician. He was very up front about the fact that he will not take on new families who won't get the shot. A few years back he lost 3 babies in one year to brain hemorrhaging after parents refused the shot so now he requires it if you want to work with him. I have heard that there is a recent uprising against the K shot. Moms thinking its unnecessary but I would never risk it.

@LoHerrim‌ I believe it is something every child is given at birth. So it could have been during your recovery time while they take stats and measurements and apply the eye ointment. Not sure.

Want a personalized experience?

New Vitamin K article

Re: New Vitamin K article

Choose Another Board

Search Boards