Newborns receive vitamin K shortly after birth to prevent developing potentially fatal bleeding problems. Traditionally, vitamin K is given as a shot, but many new parents seek to protect their newborns from injections and wonder if their babies can take vitamin K another way. While oral vitamin K is available, it does not appear to be as effective as vitamin K injections for newborn babies.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K promotes blood clotting to prevent uncontrolled bleeding. Children and adults get vitamin K from dietary sources, such as leafy green vegetables. Humans require a bacteria in their intestines to generate vitamin K as well. Newborn infants lack vitamin K because their intestines are essentially sterile and free from bacteria at birth. Newborns have the ability to generate vitamin K with intestinal bacteria after approximately seven days of life.
Newborn Bleeding
Because newborns cannot make vitamin K immediately, they require vitamin K from an outside source. Newborns' lack of vitamin K puts them at risk of bleeding into their brains after birth, particularly if they experienced a delivery by vacuum or forceps. This condition is known as Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn, or HDN. Babies who undergo medical procedures, including male circumcision, may also bleed uncontrollably if they do not have vitamin K.
Oral Vitamin K
Oral vitamin K provides newborns with some protection against bleeding, but vitamin K injections are more reliable. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that vitamin K injections prevent HDN more effectively than oral vitamin K. While multiple doses of oral vitamin K over many days may offer some protection against HDN, this bleeding disorder can appear suddenly and cause acute complications before the baby has had enough oral vitamin K to help stop the bleeding.
Precautions
Because oral vitamin K is less effective at preventing potentially serious bleeding complications in newborns, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends newborns receive an injection of vitamin K. Parents may understandably wish to protect their newborn infant from all pain and discomfort, but the injection is brief and reliably protects the child from possibly bleeding into his brain. Parents can reduce the discomfort their baby feels by feeding or cuddling the child during the shot.
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