Vitamin K Shots After Birth Help Protect Newborns From Bleeding Condition, says Intermountain Health

Most people know that vitamins are important for good health. Intermountain Health experts also want parents to know how vital Vitamin K is for newborns.

Besides its well know importance in maintaining healthy bones, Vitamin K is a crucial nutrient to help the body form blood clots to stop bleeding.

Vitamin K does not cross the placenta during pregnancy so babies have very little Vitamin K in their bodies at birth and children under six months of age are not yet able to eat foods that are good sources of Vitamin K. Older children and adults can get Vitamin K from foods such as green, leafy vegetables, meat dairy and eggs. They also have healthy bacteria in their intestines that produce vitamin K.

“When babies don’t have enough Vitamin K, they are at risk of a very serious bleeding problem called Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding, that can lead to brain damage or death,” said Taylor Hanton, NP a neonatal nurse practitioner at Intermountain Park City Hospital. “The bleeding can be visible on the outside of their body, such as from the skin or a bloody nose, but even more concerning, is that it can be occurring inside the body, such as in the brain or intestines, where parents can’t see it.”

The bleeding condition has been rare in the U.S. since the 1960s when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended newborns receive a Vitamin K shot at birth. The Vitamin K shot is not a vaccine. It is a plant-based shot that can be given in one dose that lasts through six months of age.

“As neonatal providers and pediatricians here in Utah, since 2018 we’ve noticed a consistent increase in newborn bleeding problems among babies with parents who have opted out of the Vitamin K shot,” said Hanton. “Parents might not realize that one out of every five babies with Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding dies. And if they don’t die, they can become very sick, and may need care in a pediatric ICU.”

“Vitamin K administered intra-muscularly is the most effective prevention strategy for Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding. Intermountain follows AAP guidelines to provide the shot within six hours after birth. Numerous studies show the one-time Vitamin K shot given shortly after birth is safe and will help protect newborns from Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding,” she added.

Some parents ask if Vitamin K can be given orally. Administration of oral Vitamin K is less effective than an injection, due to erratic absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and has to be given weekly until a baby is three months of age. Due to the less-than-optimal effectiveness of oral Vitamin K absorption, certain procedures such as circumcisions, may be limited.

“A quick injection of Vitamin K in the baby’s thigh right after birth means parents won’t have to worry about going to the pharmacy and getting the vitamin and remembering to give the correct dose once a week, or figure out accurate dosing if the baby spits up part of the dose,” said Hanton

For more information about newborn care or to find a pediatrician, visit intermountainhealth.org

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.