Vitamin K shot for newborns

[Guest guest]

Anyone have an opinion for or against the Vitamin K shot they give

newborns to help blood clotting? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

If the labor has been long and/or especially traumatic (i.e. a lot of bruising/molding of the head or hx of forceps/vacuum) then I recommend Vitamin K for my pts to help with clotting and recuperating. Babies generally don't have the amount of flora that they need to produce Vit K on their own until they've been breastfeeding for a bit. I give the oral suspension of Vit. K, not the injection. There was at least one study done in 1994 that showed parenteral administration of Vit K to be more effective than IM for babies that actually developed hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. The controversy over Vit K causing childhood cancers has essentially been put to rest. Sometimes moms will want to take alfalfa in the form of tea or capsules in the last trimester to increase vitamin K in the bloodstream. I make sure they are

at least getting lots of good dark leafy greens. , ND/MidwifePortland, ORSubject: Vitamin K shot for newbornsTo: Date: Monday, July 28, 2008, 12:47 PM

Anyone have an opinion for or against the Vitamin K shot they give

newborns to help blood clotting? Thanks!