The First 15 Series continues as we discuss baby medications, specifically in today’s episode, Vitamin K Injection. This is a decision you will be making, whether you know it or not, for your baby and will be done pretty shortly after birth. Usually by your nurse after the first hour, or even in the recovery room while you are getting cleaned up in the OR.
This episode takes most of the researched information from a book by Dr Sara Wickham called Vitamin K and the Newborn, and you can find it easily on Amazon! I highly recommend her well researched and easy to reach publications to help you make decisions for you and your baby during pregnancy.
A quote I mentioned in the episode I wanted to write out for you here so you have it, and you can also find in the book, that can be helpful to decide how to manage this decision, especially if you are hesitant to supplement. By Dr Edmund Hey “Babies who do not feed soon, well and regularly are at measurable risk of bleeding once their limited reserves of vitamin k are exhausted. All babies who are not well enough to be fed at birth need a supplement because their vitamin K stores will only last 1-3 days. A few breastfed babies will develop transient VKDB if they are not given a small supplement at birth, probably because early intake is poor. A very small number of breastfed babies risk a sudden serious bleed when 2-12 weeks old if not offered a regular supplement, usually because an unrecognized liver disorder has impaired fat-soluble vitamin absorption.”
Join the Hospital Childbirth Crash Course now at https://myfriendsanurse.com/crashcourse and get a behind the curtain look and birth in the hospital system and how to prepare to get the birth you want in it!
00:06 Understanding Vitamin K and Its Importance
01:31 Statistics and Research on Vitamin K
01:50 Book Recommendations and Author Shoutout
03:18 Decision-Making and Parental Choices
03:27 Routine Administration and Parental Awareness
05:50 Refusal Rates and Medical Recommendations
06:22 Understanding VKDB and Its Prevention
09:51 The Role of Healthcare Providers and Patient Advocacy
14:05 Vitamin K: Types, Sources, and Administration
18:30 PI DAY Acronym for Decision-Making
29:34 Oral vs. Injection: Effectiveness and Compliance
32:53 Downsides and Side Effects of Vitamin K
33:42 Injection Side Effects and Risks
35:37 Concerns About Vitamin K Additives
37:08 Vitamin K Dosage Concerns
39:22 Potential Downsides of Vitamin K
42:31 Exploring Alternatives to Vitamin K
48:26 Breastfeeding and Vitamin K
52:48 Making Informed Decisions
57:54 Conclusion and Resources
More from My Friend's a Nurse:
Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!
Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!
Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!
Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com
Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist
Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership
Dec 16 20241 hr and 3 mins