Vitamin K

One of the earliest decisions you will have to make as parents is whether or not to give Vitamin K to your baby. This will be offered following birth and, like most choices, there isn’t a clear cut correct answer. However the more informed you are, the easier it will be to make a decision that is right for you and your baby.

What is it?
Vitamin K promotes blood clotting. Newborn babies have less vitamin K than adults - this therefore appears to be 'normal' for a baby. 

However, a tiny number of babies (between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 25,000) are affected by a condition known as Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn. This condition can cause bleeding and, in about half of the affected babies, can cause significant brain damage or death, because of bleeding into the brain. 

We know that the babies most at risk from this condition are those who have traumatic births such as forceps deliveries or Caesarean sections, or babies who show bruising. Unfortunately there are never any guarantees, but babies who have a straightforward birth are at the very lowest risk of developing Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn.

In order to prevent this disease all babies are offered Vitamin K  either by a single injection after birth, or by mouth with two doses given in the first week and another dose a month later for breast feeding babies. The NHS generally believes that the injection is more efficient as it gives the baby immediate cover.

Why wouldn’t I give it?
Concerns about the safety of Vitamin K arose in the early 1990s, when two papers were published suggesting an association with Vitamin K injection and childhood leukaemia. Following this research, many other studies were completed across the world to see if a link could be proven. A recent paper from the UK Childhood Cancer Study (Fear et al., 2003) concluded that, "there is no convincing evidence that neonatal vitamin K administration, irrespective of the route by which it is given, influences the risk of children developing leukaemia or any other cancer."

It may also be important to you to note that the preparation used in Tayside  is not suitable for vegetarian babies.

Reference
Fear NT, Roman E, Ansell P, Simpson J, Day N, Eden OB; United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study.Br J Cancer 89 2003 1228-1231

Further reading
The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS) publishes 'Vitamin K and the newborn' (2003) by midwife Sara Wickham, and has an article by Sara on its website.