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Original poster

vitamin K injection for baby

63 replies

kjc27 · 30/01/2014 01:08

Hi people..what's your views on vitamin K injection I must say since this is my 3rd and with age I've gained experience over the years I've come to learn and understand alot,with that comes a lot of questioning and research..have many of you done this and questioned what there giving your newborn/children.. my decision to have vitamin K is that I will only allow this to be done orally my reason on this is labor in it's self can be very distressing on baby let alone being jabbed with a needle first thing..my views on immunization are a stricked No No....Looking at what goes in to these are completely distressing...some may question my views but I think they are just when it comes to poison and mercury being just one of the components in these...when u ask for a full breakdown of what is being administered to your child...the answer you will get is No....hmmmm reasons for that?...

Please be aware In no way am I saying that's parents choice to do this is wrong or bad just my personal opinion and choice to not allow it...any one share my views?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

maglow · 30/01/2014 10:36

Vitamin K1 is a necessary blood clotting vitamin.It is essential to prevent hemorrhagic disease of the newborn , which is a rare cause of unexpected bleeding disease ( cerebral hemorrhage , digestive ... ) in infants less than 6 months .

highlove · 30/01/2014 10:56

What VivaLeBeaver says.

meditrina · 30/01/2014 11:00

The HCPs views are probably in line with what's on the NHS website. It explains why Vit K is recommended and says it is usually administered by injection, but that oral is available if parents prefer that route. It's not a contentious area.

lalouche · 30/01/2014 11:01

Thanks viva, you sum it up!

freckledleopard · 30/01/2014 11:12

Viva's said what I'd say. Oh, and I'm a solicitor who does believe in the merits of immunisation (and I haven't yet met another solicitor who is anti-vaccine).

BettyOff · 30/01/2014 12:06

Viva you're so right. I've never met another doctor who is anti-immunisation or injections for newborns if the benefit outweighs the risk, or a midwife, or a solicitor for that matter.

puddleduck16 · 30/01/2014 12:27

With Viva too. Although I have to say I'm unsure as to the point of this thread. If you have already formed a definite opinion yourself, why are you asking for others. Sounds like your opinion cannot be changed.

By the way, I'm a health care professional allied to medicine and am all for immunisations and injections in newborns. And everytime I've had an immunisation recently I've been given the leaflet that says the ingredients.

And another by the by, I've never known anyone to suffer from mercury poisoning from an immunisation.

squizita · 30/01/2014 12:50

Immunisation protects other vulnurable children (and adults) as well as the baby who is immunised. Something to consider.

MinesAPintOfTea · 30/01/2014 13:20

squizita this was covered upthread, the vit K injection (or liquid) doesn't do this because what its protecting against is the effects of a vitamin K deficiency.

I was keener to avoid having anything but bm on DS's tastebuds. Of course he'd swallowed meconium so thinking about it in hindsight that was a bit daft...

Misty9 · 30/01/2014 13:31

After lots of research when pregnant with ds I decided to give him the vitamin k injection, rather than orally, due to its increased efficacy as injection. The dose given orally is actually greater due to its risk of being poorly administered or taken up. I don't think ds even woke up when he had his. And I'm a doctor, if that helps the op attribute credibility to my researching skills

NigellasDealer · 30/01/2014 13:37

my views on immunization are a stricked No No
it is not an immunisation though is it?

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 30/01/2014 14:00

We chose the injection, DS didn't even wake up when it was given. We felt better giving the injection as you can't guarantee babies will take all the oral dose or keep it down. I'm a paediatric nurse btw.

Crazeeladee · 30/01/2014 14:05

The two babies that I have seen with haemorrhagic disease of the newborn (which vit k is to prevent) have both had the oral administration, it is easily slat out, as it tastes very bitter, and isn't absorbed well.

Crazeeladee · 30/01/2014 14:10

Forgot to say I'm a midwife btw.

Paintyfingers · 30/01/2014 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 30/01/2014 14:33

I don't really understand your post OP.

HomeIsWhereTheGinIs · 30/01/2014 14:35

Also you've talked to "high professional people" including solicitors and police? Why on earth would you ask a solicitor their views on immunisation? Bizarre.

I honestly think that the law should say that children can't go to school unless they've been vaccinated.

MoominIsGoingToBeAMumWaitWHAT · 30/01/2014 18:13

My mum's sister died due to a vitamin K deficiency.

I'd never refuse an immunisation on the grounds that "it's uncomfortable for the baby"... I'm sure dying is a fair bit more uncomfortable.

I don't remember the pain of any childhood immunisations, and all mine are less than 20 years ago. If it feels pain, it'll be forgotten almost instantaneously. I won't comment on your other reasons, but saying you don't want your baby immunised "because injections hurt" is a bit of a crap excuse really.

MoominIsGoingToBeAMumWaitWHAT · 30/01/2014 18:14

*immunisation or important injection

RufusTheReindeer · 30/01/2014 18:18

I was more upset with the heel prick with ds1

It had to be done twice and I had to leave the room for the second time as I was distressed!!! Let alone my poor little baby

3littlefrogs · 30/01/2014 18:21

Vit K has nothing to do with immunisation.

I know of 2 babies who died from haemorrhagic disease of the newborn (family) before vit K was available.

I get really irritated by people who make statements that might worry other people, when they don't actually know what they are talking about.

Catsize · 30/01/2014 20:48

I have looked into this.
DS was born after three-day induction and difficult delivery. He had the injection, and whilst I didn't really like the thought of him having it straightaway after birth, I thought it in his best interests. Because it was such a difficult time for him, I think this was the right decision.
However, now 38wks with no.2. And have decided that if a straightforward delivery, no injection. If tricky, will consent to the injection. The stats are much lower in the case of straightforward vaginal delivery.
The injection is derived from cow bile, and the ethics of this are not considered by the majority of midwives. I have spoken to about four, none of whom were aware of its origins, and all of whom have administered it to children regardless of religious background etc.
Many articles state that babies are born with low levels of vitamin K. Are they? Compared to?...
Vitamin K does not feature in breastmilk. Is mother nature really so bad at this, or, as others have said, is there actually a reason why the levels are so 'low'?
And I am a lawyer. If that makes any difference to anything. It does mean that my grammar and spelling are generally okay, but I would never belittle the OP in such a bitchy way, as many of you have done. Is her post any less valid because of it? At least she is thinking about this stuff, which seems to be unusual.
For the record, I am not anti-vaccine, take the collective responsibility point, and my son has had all his vaccinations. Vit. K is not a vaccination though.
Well done OP for raising this.

lalouche · 30/01/2014 21:36

I think it was the OP who brought about those comments, with her tone of well I've done my 'research' and anyone disagreeing is clearly some poor dupe (to quote, 'a little research in to this first after all your just following suit that the government put into play in the first place (since when did they help us)'). As well as being incredibly patronising, that is fundamentally a pretty ignorant statement. The very dodgy spelling and poor written english, which normally I'd never dream of pointing out, just ties in to that impression. As does the idea that she, unlike us imbeciles, has some secret inside knowledge that only 'high professional people' are privy to, and that ''there' views are the same.'

I wouldn't call that 'thinking about this stuff', I'd actually say it's bordering on delusional.

Angloamerican · 31/01/2014 00:12

Why on earth would you think that the opinion of a police officer or solicitor would hold any weight? They're not medical professionals!

Goodness me...

SarahSPT · 31/01/2014 03:38

Really interesting thread and it's something I've been recently reading up on myself as it's all very new to me!

The book I'm currently reading says if your diet is rich in vitamin K foods, such as cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, there should be no need for injection/oral for newborn (unless identified as high risk) as they will get sufficient through your beast milk or formula.

Any thoughts on this, particularly from the doctors and midwives on the thread?Â

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