Vitamin K is a natural substance in our body that helps the blood to clot. It is produced in the gut. Without enough quantities of vitamin K, small wounds may go on bleeding for a longer period of time. It can also cause internal hemorrhagic problems that affect the brain.
Why Vitamin K is important for my baby?
At birth, babies have very low dosage of vitamin K in their body. That is why it is very recommended that each child receives an injection of vitamin K at birth. It is one injection that protects him for life. Babies with deficiency in vitamin K will get bruises easily and may bleed spontaneously from their nose, mouth, umbilical cord or bottom. Such bleeding can be life threatening.
Why do babies have low dosage of Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is made by the gut bacteria that do not exist at birth in the baby’s intestine. As well, vitamin K does not pass through the placenta and breast milk has very low dosage of vitamin K.
Which babies are at risk of developing VKDB?
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) can occur to any baby; therefore all babies are at risk. The babies that are mostly at risk are:
Premature babies
Babies born by caesarian or by suction
Babies born from mothers taking anti-coagulants
How safe is the vitamin K injection?
All researches show that vitamin K injection is effective and safe. It does not cause any health issues.
As any other injection, vitamin K injection may leave a small bruise and sore area for a day at the injection site.
If you opt on not giving your baby vitamin K, you should be very careful in looking for any early symptom of VKDB. You should contact your doctor if you see any bruises, nose bleeding, vomiting with pale skin and irritability.
All babies should receive the vitamin K injection at birth. Prevention from vitamin K deficiency bleeding is a necessity for the well-being of your child.