Vitamin K - Critical for Newborns!
Sep 26, 2024
Vitamin K at Birth: WHY AND HOW?
You have a brand new baby and one the first things that the nurses or midwives want to do is a vitamin K shot? That doesn't seem right but it is CRITICAL.
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Why?
Newborns are at risk for VKDB or Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding. Vitamin K is critical for clotting and newborns don't have enough vitamin K when they are born. Babies are born with essentially sterile guts and vitamin K is made by bacteria in the gut. As the baby matures, more and more vitamin K is made in the gut and the risk of bleeding decreases. The bleeding that can occur from NOT having enough vitamin K is bleeding into the brain, gut or other internal bleeding. These are rare but serious and life threatening events!
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The type of Vitamin K is important. Vitamin K1 is the primary vitamin K needed for clotting factors and concentrates in the liver. Vitamin K2 is primarily important in cardiovascular and bone health which is why it is often combined with vitamin D. There is overlap in function between the two forms but in general they function differently. So, when giving a newborn vitamin K to prevent bleeding, VITAMIN K1 is the form needed.
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The best way to prevent potentially catastrophic bleeding is to have your baby get the Vitamin K injection. This will be administered just after your baby is born. The injection provides 99% protection. But what if you don't want to do the injection? Are there options?
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Vitamin K drops are an option. We recommend using the drops made by Biotics Research called Bio-K-Mulsion drops. The dosing is 2 drops as soon as possible and then 1 drop weekly for 12 weeks. This regimen is less effective than the injection providing but provides about 92% protection.
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Vitamin K1 injection is the BEST way to protect your newborn against bleeding. The next best option is the oral drops. Both will provide good protection for your baby with the injection being more effective and life saving.
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