Reasons for newborn NOT to have Vitamin K?

[runlolarun10]

Hi. I have done some reading about the Vitamin K injection, but am still undecided about whether to opt for this. I can find quite a lot about reasons TO have it, but what are the reasons NOT to? The main worry is the investigated link to leukemia; I know this has apparently been discredited, but my brother had leukemia as a child so even the mention of this makes me question opting for the injection. My mum has always been convinced that it was caused by an injection at some point, although of course this is just her speculation. Are there any other reasons not to have it? Thanks

Both of my two have had it. Never did any research on it. With both my babies I just went with what happens. But since I've come to realise some things aren't necessary.
I know NOTHING about vitamin k but surely if babies are all born with low levels babies only need low levels.

You could always go for the drops. Although they'll try to persuade you against it, they will give it if it worries you.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a reason not to, but pre- giving birth, I just thought that if ALL babies are born with low levels of it, maybe there's an evolutionary reason for that, i.e. it is the norm (for babies) because it confers, overall, a survival advantage (e.g. their blood vessels are so tiny the smallest amount of clotting could block them)? The odds on the haemorrhagic disease seemed so low to me, I decided against vitamin K. I discussed it with my midwife, included it in my birth plan. At no point did I feel pressured to change my mind.

Thanks for your thoughts. I would like to keep things as natural as possible. I think I'm just worrying that if I don't choose to have it I would feel so guilty for not having the injection when offered, but I suppose that's part of motherhood (guilt I mean!)

I opted out & wasn't questioned. Can't really remember my reasons though!

Vit K is offered to all babies to help prevent Haemoraghic(sp?) Disease of the Newborn (HDN). This is an extremely rare disorder, but it can't be screened for in utero. Of the tiny number of babies who are born each year with HDN, a tinier number of them are born with it so virulently that by the time their blood was tested for it & the results returned it would be too late. A dose of Vit K in the hour after birth prevents this from happening by boosting the bloods clotting agents, and as far as I know there's no current research to suggest that it is harmful in any way. Consequently the take-up of Vit K is very high.

I have known parents who've chosen not to have it, but the reasons have been to do with their personal beliefs rather than any scientific reason not to. Lots also have it via mouth drops rather than an injection - though the bay will need follow up doses (2?) if you go by this method.

I think if it's something that matters to you it would be worth trying to find out what percentage of babies with HDN have a family history of blood clotting disorders, & what percentage don't; then see which category your baby would lie in so you can make your decisions about whether or not your baby should have it with a good sense of the statistical likelihood that they would have it.

Good luck though!

I wondered about what the pros and cons of it were too. I'm still undecided whether I'll go for the drops or the injection. My reasoning against the injection would have just been that I want things as calm and gentle for the baby after birth as possible whilst getting in that skin to skin contact etc, so if it was a rather unnecessary and uncomfortable proceedure then I'd rather have the drops.

Where on the baby is the injection given, and do they cry (or do they tend to be crying anyway given they are newborn )? Is the baby likely to have blood taken after birth - I'm hypothyroid but it has been well controlled throughout pregnancy, but I've heard they test to see if baby has developed thyroid disorders too. Will this be something else that makes baby cry? :(

I suppose if we do go for the injection and I'm too much of a wimp then I could suggest they do these proceedures after I've had my cosy comfortable skin to skin whilst I've gone for a wash and let daddy soothe baby through it. Gosh... I sound like I'll be a really caring mother there...

If it helps, both of mine had their vitamin K (and their heel pricks, done at about 4 days iirc) while on the boob, neither of them noticed either of these things happening.

When I was pg with ds (my first) I was obsessed with everything being super natural and read up on all kind of things, after going through his birth (which was not easy) I didn't really give a shit, opted out of the natural third stage which I so thought I wanted and opted for vit K as an injection rather than drops.

Was the link with leukeamia from the injection? I can't remember now as it was some years ago when I did my research. I gave it orally to my dd, or rather the midwife did. I got in on prescription before the birth (had a home birth). For my second born we didn't give it.

I went for it on the basis that I trust HCPs to have a bit more of a clue about these things than I do (their years of training trump my hours of googling).

I never declined the injection for either of my 2 and never even noticed the injection being given so it can't have been that horrific.

We went for the drops with DS2 and it was a huge hassle. I wish we had either just declined altogether or have the injection. I think the drops were more traumatic than the injection had been for DS1.

I did the same as Gobblers & intended to avoid all injections etc & have things the way 'nature intended'. Thankfully nothing went wrong & I got it pretty much as I wanted, but by that time, I just went with whatever was suggested so DD had the injection & I had the syntocin (??) injection too!!! Don't think DD even noticed the jab tbh.

My friend did opt for the drops as she had a strong trend towards cancer in her family, but if this is now discredited, I can't see that it makes much difference.

And, without being too judgemental/provocative, even if it is an evolutionary trend, it doesn't mean we can't do something about it. Afterall, 12 & 20wk scans aren't exactly 'natural' are they? Yet most people have scans/tests etc to.confirm the health of their baby (and to a certain extent protect themselves).

If there isn't known harm in an action, but possible harm from inaction, I know which I'd rather do.

We opted for oral drops because we had a traumatic birth. If we had a straightforward birth then we would not have had the Vitamin K at all. As a PP said, there does seem to be some mechanism within the natural state of things, that means babies are born with a relatively low level of Vitamin K. Like jaundice, it's actually physiological, i.e. normal, and in the vast majority of cases, not harmful. My belief is that science just hasn't figured out the reason for it yet.

I don't think that the Vitamin K jabs are harmful, but I chose to take the path of least harm.

i asked for drops rather than an injection at the planned home birth, it was fine with the midwife. The thing is i never could remember her giving them- but post birth haze that doesnt surpirse me. Definitely don't remember any follow up drops. Anyway this was many years ago and all was well.

www.momlifeinpnw.com/health/declined-vitamin-k-shot-birth

@runlolarun10

Hi. I have done some reading about the Vitamin K injection, but am still undecided about whether to opt for this. I can find quite a lot about reasons TO have it, but what are the reasons NOT to? The main worry is the investigated link to leukemia; I know this has apparently been discredited, but my brother had leukemia as a child so even the mention of this makes me question opting for the injection. My mum has always been convinced that it was caused by an injection at some point, although of course this is just her speculation. Are there any other reasons not to have it? Thanks

There are no reasons not to have the Vit K shot.

The NCT have a good information sheet.

www.nct.org.uk/labour-birth/after-your-baby-born/vitamin-k-and-newborns-what-you-need-know

@runlolarun10, i had GD and so my DD was tested for blood sugar levels after birth, got her BCG done and her vit K shot. Wasn't fussed by any of it, just super pooped after labour (as well she might be, it's hard work on both mum and baby).

I would strongly recommend getting the vit K injection as the reason it was introduced is because it's proven to reduce the risk of your baby dying soon after birth.

Sorry to be bleak, but if evolution was that smart, breastfeeding wouldn't be such a hit and miss affair, jaundice wouldn't be common and [insert a million things that used to cause such a high death rate in babies] so the commenters above saying "if babies needed more vit K, wouldn't they be born with it," are talking, and I mean this kindly, utter balls.

In my view, do the research, talk to your medical team but honestly, science has proven you should do it.

Interesting article @Bbdomi. That’s what I did, delayed cord clamping and no K.

Just a friendly heads up but this thread is 9 years old.

[quote Bbdomi]www.momlifeinpnw.com/health/declined-vitamin-k-shot-birth[/quote]
Love that @Bbdomibumped a 9 year old thread to post a poorly written mommy blog full of nonsense about Pharma companies getting rich off vitamin k injections and the terrible American association of paediatricians.

In case it has got anyone thinking, absolutely no response or tears from our first for getting it. As with everything, its risk assessment - you can have this injection with no known negative side effects except it does involve giving an injection so possibly a moments discomfort, vs a v v small risk of death. It doesn't matter to most people that risk is so low, when the measure you can take to prevent it is so minor.

I also hate the focus on everything being 'natural' - I spent a lot of my career in the developing world. Want to know what is natural about childbirth? Mothers and babies dying during it. There's a lot that can and should be done to prevent unnecessary medical intervention in labour, but people can go too far the other way.

@cindarellasbelly, omg totally missed the date of the original post 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️.

As you were, folks.