What Is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is a vitamin that helps the body stop bleeding. The body uses vitamin K to make specific proteins for blood to clot. Without enough vitamin K, bleeding can happen more easily and may not stop on its own.
Why Newborns Need Vitamin K
Newborns need a vitamin K injection (shot) at birth because they’re born with low amounts of vitamin K. Newborns don’t get enough vitamin K from breastmilk alone, and don’t have mature gut bacteria yet, so they start life with not enough vitamin K. Children and adults usually get enough vitamin K from their food and the healthy bacteria living in their intestines.
Low vitamin K levels mean babies are at risk for a serious condition called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). This condition can cause bleeding in the brain or other organs, which can lead to long-term disability or even death. Giving babies the vitamin K injection helps prevent these serious bleeding complications.
How Vitamin K is Given to Newborns
It is standard practice for your provider to give your newborn a single shot of vitamin K in the thigh muscle. The shot provides enough vitamin K to protect your baby until their body can make vitamin K on its own.
Vitamin K Shot Vs. Oral Vitamin K
Some parents ask about giving vitamin K by mouth instead of injection. Taking vitamin K by mouth is less reliable—even with many doses—and has been shown to not be as effective as the injection. Vitamin K doses available by mouth may be variable by brand, having too much or too little vitamin K in a single dose.
Also, babies do not have mature gut bacteria. That means they cannot absorb vitamin K as well through the stomach and intestines. The vitamin K shot is more effective because it travels through the bloodstream. Providers have used these injections safely for decades, with minimal side effects.
Pediatricians in birth hospitals have given the vitamin K shot at birth for decades.
Risks of Not Giving Vitamin K to Babies
Babies who do not get the vitamin K shot can develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This bleeding can happen in the first week of life or up to 6 months later. Bleeding may be sudden and severe. Your baby may show signs of a seizure.
Though vitamin K deficiency bleeding is rare, it is deadly in up to 20% of cases. Many survivors have lifelong problems, such as brain injury. Thankfully, the vitamin K shot is a safe, proven way to protect your baby from this type of bleeding. Our regional birthing hospitals use preservative-free vitamin K.
If you have questions about the vitamin K injection, talk to your birth provider or your baby’s pediatrician.
