Newborn & Vitamin K

Evidence and research tells us that babies are born with low levels of the nutrient vitamin k, which is essential for our blood to be able to clot. Some levels of vitamin k will be released through the placenta but this is said to not be enough.

Newborn babies are offered a vitamin K supplement at birth to protect them against a rare condition which means the baby bleeds due to the deficiency. Although this is very rare, affecting around 6 babies in 100,000. It is known as Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn or Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) The risk (although low) with not giving a newborn baby vitamin k is that baby could begin to bleed from the nose, mouth, brain and other areas usually within the first 24 hours, early days or first few weeks

You do not have to accept the vitamin k supplement, it is your choice however, make sure you read up on the evidence and research so you can make an informed decision together. If you choose to give your baby the supplement, there are two ways you can give this to your baby.

▫️The injection is a single injection given soon after birth and put into the muscle in the thigh. It will probably upset your little one and soon after birth may upset you however, keeping baby on you either on the breast or skin to skin on your chest will help to soothe and calm them.

▫️Oral drops. This would be dropped into your baby’s mouth by your midwife soon after birth and then another given to your baby when they are seven days old. Breastfed babies will need a third dose at 28 days.

If you are bottle feeding your baby, you can put the drops into the milk.

If you would like to read more about the Vitamin K NHS guidance and make your own informed choice about the best option for you. They have a super informative paper on vitamin k linked here for you to read:Vitamin K NHS paper

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