Vitamin K - Oral vs. Injection?

11 replies

emmac3616 · 03/12/2013 20:07

Hi there,
I am just writing my birth plan and am trying to decide about the vitamin K injection vs. oral dosing. At NCT they made it sound quite risky to go for the injection but my GP was suggesting today it's very normal to have the injection. I am confused!!!! Any thoughts advice? I will comply with the 2 follow up oral doses so not concerned about missing them which I know is often a downside of oral, but not sure what the right thing to do is!! All advice very welcome!
Emma

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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MinesAPintOfTea · 03/12/2013 20:09

Ds had the injection. The aim is to get the same amount if vitamin k into the bloodstream, the dosage for oral is less exact and you can't be as sure its actually absorbed rather than dribbled or sick.

LittlePeaPod · 03/12/2013 20:14

Our NCT class said injection was fine. I will be going for the injection.

Shellywelly1973 · 03/12/2013 20:22

Its s few years dince I had a baby but are all babies given Vitamin K? I thought it was just bf babies.

ilovepowerhoop · 03/12/2013 20:26

all babies are given it. Both mine had the injection

ilovepowerhoop · 03/12/2013 20:30

www.babycentre.co.uk/a551938/vitamin-k

Grumblelion · 03/12/2013 20:32

The injection is over & done with very quickly and you know that the correct dose has been given. With the oral route you do have the possibility of losing some of the dose with dribbling/sickness eg. At the end of the day though, just do what you feel most comfortable with. I'm not sure what "risks" the NCT were talking about but the best person to ask will be your midwife.

FWIW, all 7 of our NCT group babies had the injection with no issues.

ilovepowerhoop · 03/12/2013 20:33

www.nct.org.uk/parenting/vitamin-k = another link

Gileswithachainsaw · 03/12/2013 20:36

I was never informed of any risks. Both mine had the jab. It was over in a second and I could relax. No dribbling out no second dosage I'd do it again if if had a third :)

Winterclause · 03/12/2013 20:43

We went for oral. I didn't want my newborn to have an IM injection just after they were born. Because they hurt!

In the past , the im injection was linked to childhood leukemia but I think this link has been largely discredited.

There is a tiny difference in protection between oral/IM but it is tiny. If you have a normal vaginal birth I personally would go for oral, just because it's nicer for the baby. With a cs/ forceps I would have gone for im because the baby then would be at higher risk.

Original poster

emmac3616 · 04/12/2013 07:51

Thank you everyone! GREAT ADVICE! :-)

OP posts:

apocketfulofposy · 04/12/2013 10:12

Neither unless your baby has a traumatic birth!

Runs away.....

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