Why babies aren't born with enough vitamin K?

The two big reasons newborns need vitamin K:

1. They don't get much vitamin K from the mother during pregnancy. Unlike many other nutrients, vitamin K doesn't pass through the placenta very easily.

2. Babies' intestines don't have very many bacteria yet, so their bodies can't make enough vitamin K.

(Newborns are eligible to get a vitamin K shot at the hospital at time of birth)

What is vitamin K deficiency bleeding?

Newborns who don't get a vitamin K shot and are low on the vitamin are are at risk of VKDB (vitamin K deficiency bleeding). This happens when a baby's blood can't make clots, and their body can't stop bleeding.

The bleeding can happen on the outside of the body. It can also happen inside the body where parents can't see it. A baby could be bleeding into their intestines or brain before their parents know anything is wrong. Brain bleeding happens in about half of all babies who develop VKDB, and it can lead to brain damage or death.

There are three types of vitamin K deficiency bleeding:

• Early-onset: This begins within the first 24 hours after birth. It usually happens when the mother is taking certain medications that interfere with vitamin K.

• Classical: This happens between 2 days and 1 week after birth. Doctors don't know exactly what causes most of these cases. Early-onset and classical VKDB occur in 1 in 60 to 1 in 250 newborns.

• Late-onset: This happens between 1 week and 6 months after birth. It's rarer than early-onset or classical VKDB, occurring in 1 in 14,000 to 1 in 25,000 babies. Infants who didn't get a vitamin K shot at birth are 81 times more likely to develop late-onset VKDB than babies who do get the shot.

Cases of VKDB seem to be increasing. This is partly because more parents are refusing the vitamin K shot for their newborns. VKDB is fairly rare, so many parents aren't aware of how dangerous the effects of this disease can be.

What are the signs of vitamin K deficiency bleeding?

In most cases, there aren't any warning signs to let you know beforehand that something serious—and possibly life-threatening—is happening.

When babies develop VKDB, they might have one or more of these signs:

• Bleeding from the umbilical cord or nose

• Paler skin or, in dark-skinned babies, pale gums

• Bruising easily, especially around the face and head

• Bloody stool or black, dark, sticky stool

• Vomiting blood

• A yellow tint to the white parts of the eyes 3 weeks or more after birth

• Seizures, irritability, excessive vomiting or sleeping too much

Are vitamin K shots safe?

Yes, vitamin K shots are very safe. The vitamin K from the injection is stored in your baby's liver and released slowly over months. This gives your baby the vitamin K they need until they can start getting it from solid food and making it themselves.

You may have heard about a study from the 1990s about a possible link between the vitamin K shot and developing childhood cancer. This didn't only worry parents; doctors and scientists were concerned too. Since then, experts have done many different kinds of studies to verify this link. None of the studies have ever been able to find that link again.

Above content is from AAP. Link to the detailed content.

Remember

It's easy and safe to prevent VKDB with a vitamin K shot at birth at the hospital itself. 

For pre-natal discussion and routine hospital care of baby at birth, you can make an appointment to discuss concerns with our pediatric providers. https://www.meelpediatrics.com/