What is vitamin K?
Our bodies need vitamin K to form clots and to stop bleeding. We get vitamin K from the foods we eat, such as green leafy vegetables, fish, meat, and eggs.
Why does my newborn need vitamin K?
Babies are born with a very small amount of vitamin K. Not having enough can cause bleeding that doesn’t stop because there isn’t enough vitamin K to form a clot. The bleeding can happen inside or outside of the body – including the brain – at any time up to six months of age.
How is vitamin K given to babies?
There are two ways newborns can receive vitamin K:
- A single injection in the thigh within 6 hours of birth, or
- three doses by mouth—one at baby’s first feeding, another at two to four weeks of age, and another at six to eight weeks of age. Your baby must receive all three doses.
The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends that doctors and healthcare providers give newborns vitamin K by injection. Giving vitamin K by mouth is not as effective as by injection. Vitamin K is not absorbed as well when given by mouth and does not last as long. Babies who get vitamin K by mouth have a higher risk of later developing vitamin K deficiency. This can cause bleeding, which can happen between two weeks and six months of age.
Is the vitamin K injection safe?
Yes, the vitamin K shot is very safe. There are no side effects. There may be some redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site.
Can’t my baby get vitamin K from my breast milk/chest milk?
Breast milk/chest milk contains very low amounts of vitamin K, so babies who only breastfeed/chestfeed will not get enough. Even formula-fed babies have very low levels of vitamin K for several days.
What about the injection pain? My baby is so little!
To reduce pain from the injection, hold your baby during the vitamin K shot. You can also try breastfeeding/chestfeeding at the same time to comfort your baby. For more tips on reducing the pain see Pain Management During Immunizations for Children.
More information from the Canadian Paediatric Society
Guidelines for vitamin K prophylaxis in newborns
Resources
Reviewed by the Canadian Paediatricians Society’s Fetus and Newborn Committee
Reprinted with permission from the Canadian Paediatric Society
