Vitamin K injection/ oral drops...what are your views/ experiences???

[dal21]

Does anyone have any views/ experiences of deciding whether or not to administer the injection / drops on their bubs??

Am very confused about conflicting research, so opinions welcomed!

I never let DS have it - I went with the theory that mother nature is very clever and there must be a reason why she lets babies be born without vit K. That's just my experience/opinion though.

I dont see why they need it really. As asur says, babies are obviously born without it for a reason! I'll be turning the jab/drops down, thanx very much.

Hmm..thats what I am thinking too. Unless something particularly traumatic happens during the labour where there is a sound medical reason the baby needs it....wondering whether the baby will actually need it.

We did't let our 3 have it. The bleeding illness it prevents is most common among premature babies and babies who have had traumatic births. It is exceedingly rare among healthy, term babies. It is apparently hard to diagnose among those babies, and that's where the risk lies for them.

As ours were robust, healthy, large, term babies, born untraumatically (for them ), we decided that it was unnecessary medication.

have a look here

Hi there, I insisted on having the Vit K given orally with DD and will do the same this time, with thanks to the information given to me about Vit K and the ways of it being given etc (
can't actually remember why it appeared better to give orally but I know I would rather do it that way than injection)
Also, I didn't have any problems with DD spitting it out or bringing it back up so hope to do the same this time too

When I first trained as a midwife, only 'at risk' babies got vit K, but that did not prevent haemorrhagic disease.

Yes it is rare, but unfortunatley you cannot tell in advance which babies will be affected.

The leukaemia link has not been proven - a much larger research project was done in Sweden which did not find any link with leukaemia.

I personally think that the injection is the more effective way to give vit K. A lot of babies spit it out and don't receive the full oral dose.

Since you asked for personal experience all 4 of mine had the injection and are now healthy 20, 18. 16 and 13 year olds

Had the injection with DS1 but thought it was quite traumatic for new baby to have this done, so nothing (neither injection nor drops) for DS2. Agree with Asur, I dont think most babies need it.

Less traumatic when given lying skin-to-skin with mum. I find that babies don't usually cry then.

It was given orally to both my DD's. When I had the first one there was never a mention of an injection. The second DD was given oral whilst I was in the bath!!!!! and they asked my husband!!!. The injection only has to be given once whereas the oral should be given every month whilst still exclusively BF. Had to go to the Docs to get more as hosp only supply 4 months worth. If only she had had the injection.

DITDOT - in my area only 3 oral doses are given.

Forgot to say that my hospital is one that gives it if you agree whereas some hospitals rarely offer it. A good question to ask the MW.

Sorry x thread. When I queried the continuation with the doc at the 6 week check they had no idea. Checked wit the HV and still no idea. Checked with pharmacist and same!! Docs ended up phoning hospital and said it would do no harm. A grey area maybe!

I let mine have it because born early and light and a bit traumatic. I had to take Vit K in my pregnancy (for complications) so I did a bit of research. I believe it has been administered for a very long time in this country - I had it and so did all my siblings (injected). You may have had it as well when you were born.

thanks for all your responses. domestic grumpess - I was wondering whether it was worth ordering the aims booklet on it. My hospital does offer it and the MW has asked us to think about whether we want the jab.

Unfortunately from my understanding, the haemorraging it is there to prevent can happen very very quickly in newborns. It is all about weighing up the risks I guess!

bumping this to see if anyone else has any views.

Hi Dal, our midwife at our antenatal classes was pretty pro vit k injections. She said the leukeamia link was unproven whereas there is definite proof vit k can 100% prevent hemorragic disease. I think I'll be having it for my boy, there was some discussion about the trauma of giving a newborn an injection, but they are given other needle born vaccinations, and heel prick tests, so I think that one more won't really do any harm. They cry and it's a bit distressing, but they get over it so quickly. As my mw said, I've never had any of the children I've delivered come back and tell me they're traumatised by having had an injection soon after birth.

Mine had it orally both times
If we'd had a traumatic or premature birth then I might have considered the jab

I had ventouse with ds and whilst there really wasn't an explanation given at the time, having read the link posted I feel that I/we made a good (rushed!) decision. If ds2 needs it due to complications then I would do the same. If not a complicated birth then I think we'd say no.