2006-06-30 02:10:40 · 6 answers · asked by Pauk M 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Newborn infants routinely receive a vitamin K shot after birth in order to prevent (or slow) a rare problem of bleeding into the brain weeks after birth. Vitamin K promotes blood clotting. You have a choice whether or not you want it done- there is a lot of controversy right now going on about this, and I see many women these days who refuse it. Nursing raises the infant's vitamin K levels very gradually after birth so that no disregulation occurs that would encourage leukemia development. Additionally, the clotting system of the healthy newborn is well planned, and healthy breastfed infants do not suffer bleeding complications, even without any supplementation. While breastfed infants demonstrate lower blood levels of vitamin K than the "recommended" amount, they show no signs of vitamin K deficiency (leading one to wonder where the "recommended" level for infants came from). But with vitamin K injections at birth, harmful consequences of some rare disorders can be averted. Infant formulas are supplemented with high levels of vitamin K, generally sufficient to prevent intracranial bleeding in the case of a liver disorder and in some other rare bleeding disorders. Although formula feeding is seen to increase overall childhood cancer rates by 80 percent, this is likely not related to the added vitamin K.
2006-06-30 02:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by Nurse Annie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, all I know is that Vitamin K thickens the blood. Unless you know of something else that it does that would be beneficial to an infant, if it were my baby I would be afraid that it would be too much work for his heart to pump the blood. But I would ask your doctor.
2006-06-30 02:12:28 · answer #2 · answered by Snow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son was given vitamin k drops when he was born in intensive care so they must be ok or the hospitals wouldn't give them to babies
2006-06-30 02:13:10 · answer #3 · answered by madamspud169 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they are not recommended for them to ingest. They will put vitamin K drops in their eyes, all babies eyes, as a precaution for either herpes, chlamydia or syphilis.
2006-06-30 02:15:22 · answer #4 · answered by brittme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is always recommended for newborns.
2006-06-30 02:15:32 · answer #5 · answered by BizMomof3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally yes. It is not undisputed, however (see the source below).
2006-06-30 02:13:53 · answer #6 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋