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.”

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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

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