When should I give my baby vitamin K?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all newborns, whether breastfed or formula fed, receive a one-time intramuscular shot of vitamin K within 6 hours after birth.
What happens if you don’t give your baby vitamin K?
Without enough vitamin K, your baby has a chance of bleeding into his or her intestines, and brain, which can lead to brain damage and even death. Infants who do not receive the vitamin K shot at birth can develop VKDB up to 6 months of age.
Is vitamin K always given to newborns?
Yes, health experts recommend that all newborns get a dose of vitamin K at birth. Babies aren’t born with enough of this important vitamin, which is needed for blood to clot normally.
Why do parents decline vitamin K for their newborns?
Despite American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, some parents refuse IM vitamin K as prophylaxis against vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) for their newborn.
How long can you delay vitamin K shot?
6 hours
In order to provide for immediate bonding and contact between the newborn and mother, giving the vitamin K shot can be delayed up to 6 hours after birth.
How long do babies need vitamin K drops?
Based on that study, the most promising oral regimen seems to be giving a weekly dose of oral vitamin K for the first six months of life.
Why you shouldn’t get the vitamin K shot?
It was found that people could have severe, life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) if they got a large dose of vitamin K too rapidly through an IV. This type of dose would usually be given to patients with significant bleeding who were being treated with anticoagulants (anticoagulant reversal).
What are the side effects of vitamin K?
Rare
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- fast or irregular breathing.
- lightheadedness or fainting.
- skin rash, hives and/or itching.
- swelling of eyelids, face, or lips.
- tightness in chest.
- troubled breathing and/or wheezing.
Can you deny vitamin K shot at birth?
Although the Vitamin K shot is safe and, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has been routinely given to newborns at birth since 1961, some parents refuse the shot due to myths and misperceptions about its safety.
Why you should refuse vitamin K shot?
Reported reasons for refusal were concern of harm from the injection, a desire to be natural, and a belief in alternative methods of prophylaxis. Parents who refused intramuscular vitamin K were more likely to refuse immunizations.
Why do people refuse the vitamin K injection?
The frequency of refusal of intramuscular vitamin K by parents ranged from 0% to 3.2% in US hospitals, up to 14.5% in home births, and up to 31.0% in birthing centers. Reported reasons for refusal were concern of harm from the injection, a desire to be natural, and a belief in alternative methods of prophylaxis.
What are the risks of vitamin K shot?
The risks of the vitamin K shot are the same risks that are part of getting most any other shot. These include pain or even bruising or swelling at the place where the shot is given. A few cases of skin scarring at the site of injection have been reported.
How fast does oral vitamin K work?
Vitamin K (phytonadione) starts working in six to 10 hours and reaches maximum effect in 24 to 48 hours (one to two days).
Does the vitamin K shot cause jaundice?
Another myth is that the vitamin K injection increases the risk of jaundice—which is inaccurate. Jaundice associated with vitamin K has been observed only in high risk babies (such as premature babies) in doses 30-60 times higher than the dose we give.
Where do you give vitamin K to a newborn?
The most reliable way to give babies vitamin K is by one injection into the muscle in the leg (intramuscular injection). One injection just after birth will protect your baby for many months. It is possible to give babies vitamin K by mouth (orally).
Why do people decline vitamin K shot?
What percentage of babies get vitamin K shot?
They randomly sampled records from babies born at three Nashville hospitals and found that 96.6% of infants received Vitamin K injections.
Can you decline vitamin K shot?
Risk of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding
VKDB is preventable by administering the vitamin K injection and refusing the shot increases VKDB risk 81-fold. Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) was previously known as Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn.
How do babies get vitamin K naturally?
Where do we naturally get vitamin K from? Adults get vitamin K from the food we eat, and from bacteria living in our guts. Babies are born with low levels of vitamin K, and do not have enough bacteria to produce vitamin K on their own. 1 The vitamin K shot increases their low vitamin K levels at birth.
Is oral vitamin K safe for newborns?
All newborns should receive vitamin K prophylaxis, as it has been proven that oral and intramuscular prophylactic vitamin K given after birth are effective for preventing classical HDN.
How long do you give baby vitamin K drops?
Is the vitamin K shot safe?
What are the side effects of vitamin K shot?
Temporary flushing, taste changes, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, sweating, shortness of breath, or bluish lips/skin/nails may also rarely occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.