Vitamin K and the Newborn?

Being in the north such as Canada all breastfed babies have to be given 1ml of Vit. K each day (it’s sweet, they like it)…this helps make strong bones, etc. We usually get Vit. K from the sun but due to skin cancers, etc. babies and ppl don’t get the needed amounts anymore. Even our milk (homogenized, 2%, etc.) has Vit. K in it.

Lol…I meant Vit. D. Sorry!

Because some babies have had problems with excessive bleeding after birth, they now inject all new borns with vitamin K to promote clotting. It is unnecessary in most cases if people just wait long enough before cutting the cord. It’s just one of many uneccsary procedures perpetuated by the “one-size fits all” mentality of hospitals.

If you’re asking why they adminster it to newborns, it’s to promote clotting. So when the cord is cut they don’t bleed to death. Not all babies are born with it in their systems, and it’s usually supplied through breast milk, they’ll give the newborn vitamin k to help their blood clot till they get it elsewhere.

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. 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.

Vitamin K assists with clotting in babies.