Vitamin K - what are you going to do?

[Bellie]

Following on from the Birth Plan thread, I am in the middle of writing mine. One of the questions that I know will be asked is about the Vit K injection.
Having read all the info - and I mean all the info - I am still unsure what to do - I am vearing (sp) towards the oral version given over the first month rather than the injection. Has anyone else had the same difficulty in deciding as me or am I just sitting on the fence??
Also has anyone chosen the oral version over the injection and what was the reaction (if any) of your db to this?
TIA

Bellie

Linnet

We wanted DD1 to have Vit K jab - purely because of DH's history. Had I not wanted it, then she wouldn't have had it.

Hi Bellie. Interesting thread. When my first was born by elective C-Section (breech) I was asked if I wanted the Vit K to be given by injection or orally. I chose orally as I hate injections. Had no idea of any risks linked to leukemia. I think I took 2 doses home with me: 1 to administer at one week old, the other to give at one month old.
With my second baby, I opted for the injection simply because it was a one dose thing and over and done with. However, after reading this thread I would opt for the oral option. BTW neither of my children reacted to either one.

From the American Academy of Pediatrics website:

Because parenteral vitamin K has been shown to prevent VKDB of the newborn and young infant and the risks of cancer have been unproven, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

1. Vitamin K1 should be given to all newborns as a single, intramuscular dose of 0.5 to 1 mg.16

2. Additional research should be conducted on the efficacy, safety, and bioavailability of oral formulations and optimal dosing regimens of vitamin K to prevent late VKDB.

3)Health care professionals should promote awareness among families of the risks of late VKDB associated with inadequate vitamin K prophylaxis from current oral dosage regimens, particularly for newborns who are breastfed exclusively.

Link

We got it for ds. To me the benefits outweighed any potential risks.

I put in my birthplan that we wanted to decide once we'd met the baby. It seemed strange making a decision for a person we'd never met.

In the end the MW said that it was recommended because he was a total bruised cone head after all the up and down antics of his birth. We consented immediately.

Looking back we are glad we did, because with the injection you know it has gone in and stayed in. He was a very spitty baby and I'm not sure how much of the oral would have stayed in.

Great thread. Thanks for the alternative info Pupuce. Must admit I have been wondering why mother nature would make us all make our babies with a deficiency...?!? Just doesn't add up. But I will be looking into it more before making a final decision. First thoughts are that I will probably wait to see if it's a difficult birth, if so, then injection to get it over with. If not, then I will decline. But I can see that you need to have done your research otherwise you will get harangued.

We went with oral for both DSs. Even an unproven link with leukemia was enough to put me off the injection TBH. If the oral is fine then why take the risk? DS1 was a ventouse delivery but no one questioned the choice of oral over injection. The midwife/HV gave the subsquent doses.

Highlnader - oral vit K is usually given in 3 doses so I would check that one out. May be a different preparation where you are - don't know.

When I started my training, only babies who had a traumatic delivery were given vitK. It changed to all babies because so babies did deliver HDN which can be fatal. It was therefore recommended that all babies be 'covered' with vitK. The risk of developing haemorrhagic disease is very rare but preventable by administration of vit K.
All my children got IM vit K. I am not too convinced by the oral route and would question how much of the vitK the baby actually gets and absorbs. I also think that it puts some babies off breastfeeding 'cause they don't like the taste. So for me, a one off injection is acceptable.
Aloha - I am afraid I would question C/S as not being a traumatic birth. You need to have stood where I have when a Baby is being grappeld for at C/S. It is definately not my idea of gentle

Now a waterbirth......

Just to confuse the matter(as always there will be as many studies pro as contra)

Sutor AH.

Section of Pediatric Hematology, Universitats-Kinderklinik Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. [email protected]

Parenteral prophylaxis appears to be more effective in preventing the late form, especially in patients with hepatobiliary disease. Repeated (daily or weekly) oral doses of VK are closer to physiologic conditions than single parenteral bolus doses, which expose neonates to excessively high VK levels.
Most effective is the intramuscular application, which unfortunately has real disadvantages (trauma, poor acceptance by parents) and potential risks due to very high VK levels, since VK affects not only coagulation but all processes associated with carboxylation.

Will stop now

Should have said that my children all had it because it was recommended and I didn't think there was enough evidence to object to it. Don't have strong feelings about it. Don't think all babies need it but you don't know which ones do.

I declined vit k for my ds - after MANY hours on the internet - I decided if it was a 'normal' birth then no vit k but if 'assisted' or 'traumatic' then yes.