Vitamin K and Your New Baby

Vitamin K is a natural substance that is found in the body. It helps to make blood clot properly and prevents bleeding in the body.

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Why is vitamin K recommended for newborn babies?

Vitamin K is a natural substance that is found in the body. It helps to make blood clot properly and prevents bleeding in the body.

Newborn babies have low levels of vitamin K in their blood which is quickly used up in the first few days of life.  Sometimes, this causes bleeding. This is called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB).

VKDB can be prevented by giving babies extra vitamin K soon after they are born.

It is therefore strongly advised that all newborn babies are given vitamin K until they build up their own supplies.

What are the symptoms of VKDB?

If a baby develops VKDB in the first few months, they may have obvious bleeding:

  • from their cord stump
  • in their wee (urine)
  • from their bottom
  • from their skin and mucous membranes, such as from the nose and gums

Bleeding might appear as bruises on the skin. There is also a risk of internal bleeding, such as inside the head. Other symptoms may include pale stools (poo) or prolonged jaundice (yellowing of the skin after two weeks of age).

It is important that if a baby develops any of these symptoms that early treatment is sought to reduce the severity of the disorder.

Which babies are at greater risk of bleeding?

Babies who are at risk cannot all be easily identified, but there are some babies who have an increased risk:

  • are premature
  • had a complicated delivery eg a forceps delivery
  • have liver disease that may show as prolonged jaundice or as other symptoms, such as pale stools (poo) or dark urine (wee)
  • fail to take or find hard to absorb feeds
  • are ill for other reasons
  • have bleeding or spontaneous bruising in early infancy

What are the risks of VKDB?

Babies who do not have these risk factors can still develop a vitamin K deficiency. About 1 in 3 babies with VKDB do not have any of the risk factors.

Bleeding because of a vitamin K deficiency only happens in a very small number of babies (about 1 in 10,000).

The impact of VKDB can be mild. However, in rare cases (7 in 100) VKDB can lead to death.

About 30 out of 100 babies with VKDB are left with a neurological impairment because of bleeding to the brain.

How is vitamin K given?

There are two ways of giving vitamin K – by injection or by mouth.

By injection

The recommended and most effective method of giving a baby vitamin K is an injection soon after birth. The injection is given by a midwife into the muscle of baby’s thigh using a syringe and a very small needle.

Babies given vitamin K by injection will only need to have this once.

By mouth

Alternatively vitamin K can be given by mouth, unless baby cannot accept feeds by mouth. This method requires repeated doses:

  • one dose is given soon after birth
  • a second dose when baby is around 7 days old (this will be provided on discharge from the hospital for parents to give to their baby)
  • if baby is breastfed a third dose (to be prescribed by the GP) is required when baby is about 1 month old. This dose is also given by a parent. Vitamin K is added to formula milk.

Can vitamin K cause harm for babies?

Recent research has shown no known side effects from vitamin K.

What if a parent does not want their baby to have vitamin K?

Parents have the right to decline. However, it is strongly encouraged that babies are given this simple treatment.

Although the risk of a baby developing VKDB is small, the consequences, if affected could be devastating.

If parents do not wish their baby to have vitamin K, it is important to discuss this with a midwife in order to get further information before making a final choice.