Why Vitamin K is Important for a Baby?

This is a question that many confused new parents ask, with the conflicting views about the administration of Vitamin K either through injection or orally by capsules or drops. This would give rise to the question what exactly is this vitamin that is considered so important. Vitamin K is a substance that is naturally formed in our bodies and is made in the intestines from food; it helps stop bleeding and assists in the clotting of the blood.

It is to be understood that most babies have very low level of Vitamin K that assists in the clotting of blood and also prevents bleeding in their body. This vitamin helps to produce clotting factors and protects babies from rare but serious bleeding diseases like vitamin K deficiency bleeding or VKDB and HDN or hemorrhagic disease of newborns that could cause serious brain damage and even death.

Vitamin K is not produced enough in the intestines of babies due to the scarcity of bacteria in their intestines. It is also found that babies do not get enough of this vitamin in the mother’s womb and on being breastfed. So it is advisable that a shot of Vitamin K be given shortly after birth that helps reduce the risk of bleeding problems to 1 in 1,000,000.

It would be advisable to know the risks of a baby developing VKDB; this rare and serious disease causes internal bleeding that could lead to permanent organ or brain damage or death. Occurring in the first week of birth, it could occur up to 8 months in babies with liver and bowel problems. The complications of deficiency of Vitamin K is more common in premature or sick babies or in babies whose mothers are taking medications such as anti-epileptics, anti-coagulants or some medicines for tuberculosis.

There is a conflict regarding the best way that Vitamin K can be given to babies; most feel the most reliable method is through a shot into the muscle of the leg shortly after birth that could protect the baby for many  months. Some others recommend giving this Vitamin K orally by capsule or ampoules; however this method has its own limitations. Vitamin K may not be absorbed well orally, with 3 doses being required to be given for longer protection(at birth, 5-7 days and at 6 weeks). Also there is a doubt if the whole dose is swallowed and absorbed in the gut; also a dose could also be forgotten.

It has been found in practice and by research that a shot of Vitamin K is safe and effective. However it could cause slight swelling or soreness at the site of the injection for a day or two, with certain studies suggesting its link to a type of childhood cancer; however there is no proof to this argument.

Don’t we as parents wish to protect the apple of our eyes; so we surely need to administer Vitamin K to our babies either by a shot or orally. 

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