Vitamin K

[ChildByGrace]

What can anyone tell me about the vitamin k injection or oral tablet?

Over here they give it as an injection as standard procedure unless you tell them not to. I'm not happy with that so i'm looking into my options

 

[RN4CHRIST]

I wonder why they do that? That is not a standard procedure over here. We use Vitamin K to counteract prescription blood thinner toxicity. Other than that, the body gets enough of it in your daily diet. A deficiency in Vitamin K is extremely rare. I don't think I have ever heard of it. But remember I am in the US. UK does some things differently. Here is a link on Vitamin K. Maybe that will help.

 

[jds1977]

http://www.healthychild.com/database/are_vitamin_k_shots_necessary_.htm
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/vitktop.html
http://www.babyreference.com/VitaminKinjectORnot.htm
http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/vitk.htm
Here's some links I found...I'm facing the same dilemma.

 

[RN4CHRIST]

Maybe it is a regional thing. My children did not get Vitamin K and as far as I know we do not give it to newborns at the hospital where I work.

 

[RN4CHRIST]

I need to add that I do not work in the Nursery and so things may occur there that I am not aware of, LOL.

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

They give it standard here too, and we refused. We refused mainly because we didn't like the idea of giving our newborn an injection first thing in this world. I think you should read up on it and go with what you and DH decide, don't be pushed into something! The midwives were VERY pushy with us over this and other things, with comments that made us feel like an idiot endangering our child by making the choice. We will be much firmer this time!

 

[jgonz]

IMO, it's not necessary for a girl to have anyway. The main reason for a boy to get it would be if he's going to be circumcised before leaving the hospital. I find it Very interesting that G-d told the Israelites to circumcize their sons on the 8th day.... which is when the Highest levels of natural Vit.K occur in a baby.

Oh, also, if you're breastfeeding, then the baby will get plenty of Vit.K from the milk for clotting reasons.

From a different perspective, there are also the preservatives in the Vit.K shot to consider. Some babies don't react well to some of the ingredients. The oral Vit.K wouldn't have those, so you could compromise with doing that if necessary.

 

[GolfingMom]

It was standard here in California as of 3 years ago

 

[jgonz]

Yah, I think it's standard pretty much Everywhere in the US. There may be some progressive hospitals around, but usually it's only birthing centers w/midwives that don't bother with the Vit.K (from what I've read).

 

[ChildByGrace]

Thank you for all the advice and the links - i'll take a look at them and hopefully be able to come to a good decision about it

 

[RedTulipMom]

The hospitals here gives the vit K shot. I was told by my PED they give TOO HIGH of a dose and that its one reason there are so many cases of jaundice. i found this out AFTER my second child in a row was jaundice..sigh. He said..ask how many mg they give and it shouldnt be higher than 0.1 nothing more than that is needed. He said years ago they were giving ten times that and it was causing many medical problems. He said they slowly started bringing down the amounts but it is still TOO HIGH in many hospitals. Your probably best just turning it down.