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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Vitamin K injection

40 replies

Ame80 · 20/02/2018 19:16

Hi I've been for my 34 weeks midwife appointment so been through the Labour information pack. I'm just wondering what people thoughts on the Vitamin K injection at birth is?
Will you be opting for your baby to have it or not?
Thanks Aimee x

OP posts:
scaredofthecity · 20/02/2018 19:19

I don't understand why you wouldn't.
It helps to prevent against the massive brain bleeds that newborns are more at risk of.
For me it's a no brainer.

Bananarama12 · 20/02/2018 19:22

They wouldn't offer it if it wasn't needed.

Ubercornsdiscoball · 20/02/2018 19:25

My daughter had the oral form due to me having low platelets. My son had the injection. I would never refuse it. It’s very important

purpleviolet1 · 20/02/2018 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

purpleviolet1 · 20/02/2018 19:30

If you were interested in gaining more info before making a decision ...

Lj8893 · 20/02/2018 19:37

I am in two minds of vitamin k.

There is very little evidence surrounding it. All we know is that babies are born with low levels of vitamin k and there is virtually none in breast milk. Which to me suggests that physiologically there must be a reason for this?!

However, some babies can (rarely) suffer from haemorrhagic disease of the newborn which vitamin k can prevent. We also can't predict which babies may develop this (although babies who have had traumatic births and have bruising are at an increased risk) so it makes sense to give vitamin k to all babies.

There are no known risks of the vitamin k injection (other than the associated risks of an injection) but I think I would be inclined for my baby to have it orally if at all.

Lj8893 · 20/02/2018 19:39

@Bananarama12 lots of things used to be given routinely which have since been proved not to be necessary. (enemas for example)

HobnobBob · 20/02/2018 19:43

Yes of course. Both of mine had the injection, neither of them noticed. It’s easier than the oral drops which require more than one dose and you have to ensure they take all of it.

silkpyjamasallday · 20/02/2018 19:44

I opted for the oral vitamin K with DD, she had a very easy birth so I wasn't concerned about head trauma and bleeding and I didn't like the idea of her having an injection straight after being born. We have friends who are antivaxxers so none of their DC had it and are fine. We had to give one dose in hospital and one dose a few days later with the midwives at home.

dementedpixie · 20/02/2018 19:45

Both of mine had the injection

GummyGoddess · 20/02/2018 19:45

We did the oral dose because I thought dc had been through enough getting into the world, and I couldn't stand the thought of him being needled so soon. Just needed to pop to the hospital to get the second drops but that wasn't much hassle.

GoJohnnyGoGoGoGo · 20/02/2018 19:47

I had the injection both times.

Flisspaps · 20/02/2018 20:01

I was of the same mind as @GummyGoddess. Mine had oral Vit K and we didn't have to go anywhere to get them, they were brought to us.

It's wise to weigh up the risks/benefits of any medical intervention or procedure; you can't give informed consent if you don't arm yourself with all the info 👍🏻

Veinarde · 21/02/2018 09:30

There is an article on Vit K on AIMS. It basically says unless you had a traumatic / assisted birth, the risk of haemorrhage disease is tiny.

www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol13No2/vitk.htm

anotherchangetomyname · 21/02/2018 20:37

We had a family member die from newborn haemorrhage so there's no way I wouldn't give it (they didn't get it).

Alyosha · 21/02/2018 21:13

But why wouldn't you give it? Seems really odd to say the risk is tiny - yes but it's still there, you can eliminate it by giving an injection with practically 0 side effects...so why not?

Lj8893 · 21/02/2018 22:13

There is a risk with injection too. Again only a tiny risk but it's still there.

Like I said previously, if newborns are born with low levels of Vitamin K then is that not for a reason? And also low levels of Vit K compared to an adult!

endofthelinefinally · 21/02/2018 22:25

My dh is an only child.
His 2 elder brothers died from haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
Why would anyone take the risk?
Vitamin k wasnt routinely given when they were born. DH was lucky to be given it.

gryffen · 21/02/2018 22:30

Dd1 had injection, this one will too.

Alyosha · 21/02/2018 22:49

You can say that about any medical intervention. I.e. my dad had atrial fibrillation - maybe that was for a reason? My mum had angina - maybe that was for a reason? I was born via c-section, maybe I wasn't coming out for a reason and they should have left me in there? I had periods that I stopped with the pill etc. etc.

It's not a reason to not give a low risk intervention for a potentially fatal complication in newborns.

Lj8893 · 21/02/2018 23:00

If you read my original comment I do say I'm in 2 minds about it (and I say that as somebody who administers vitamin K on babies on a regular basis!)

Lj8893 · 21/02/2018 23:03

But I do think it's important for parents to make an informed decision on weather their child has it or not (and the method of administration.)

PandaCat · 22/02/2018 08:46

Both mine had it, I didn't even think twice tbh.

Alyosha · 22/02/2018 10:54

I really don't get what the risk is you think parents should be informed about though?

lljkk · 22/02/2018 11:16

I've done all the decisions & was happy with each one each time. Last I checked there's a decent dose of Vit. K in colostrum & my early breastfeeding was ample. My babies had no risk factors.

That said, last baby I got the jab for, because it was simple & quick & sorted.