Information for parents
This guide is to explain the reasons for National Women’s Hospital
recommending vitamin K injections for newborn infants.
Definitions
Vitamin K: Is essential for normal blood clotting. It is contained in
some foods and it is also produced in the gut by the action of
bacteria.
IM: Means an injection into muscle.
Classical HDN: Is classic haemorrhagic disease of the newborn,
which is bleeding in the first seven days of life. It is serious in
about 1 case in 10,000 births.
Late HDN: late haemorrhagic disease of the newborn which is
bleeding between one week and about six months of age. It
occurs in between 4-8 cases per 100,000 births. About half
the cases are serious.
Serious Bleeding: Means bleeding which causes significant brain
or other organ damage or death.
Who is at risk of bleeding?
All babies are deficient in Vitamin K and therefore at risk.
Breastfed babies have a greater risk than formula fed babies,
as breast milk has very low levels of Vitamin K, whereas
formula is much more rich in this Vitamin.
Babies whose mothers have been on some sort of medication
during pregnancy, such as anti-convulsants (Dilantin or
Phenobarbitone) or anti-tuberculosis drugs (for instance
Rifampicin).
Premature and sick babies.
Compiled by
Newborn Services
National Women’s Health
Auckland City Hospital
Updated November 2004
Why give vitamin K to Babies?
Vitamin K prevents haemorrhagic disease as shown.
* The research and some comments
One paper said that babies who had been given IM Vitamin K at
birth had twice the chance of developing childhood cancer
as babies given oral or no Vitamin K.
Since this study was published several major studies have looked
at the question again. All of the studies from North America,
Europe and Australia have shown no link at all between IM
Vitamin K and cancer.
The rate of childhood cancer has not increased in Great Britian,
the USA or Europe since IM Vitamin K was introduced.
Since some countries have swapped to oral Vitamin K , there
have been published reports of severe or fatal bleeding in
infants who have received Vitamin K orally.
What are the recommendations at National Women’s Hospital?
All babies need Vitamin K.
Intramuscular Vitamin K in a dose of 1mg is recommended.
It is possible to give babies Vitamin K orally. However we do not
recommend this as:
There may be doubt as to whether the dose has been
swallowed.
There is risk that the later dose may be forgotten!
If parents choose to give Vitamin K orally, the dose is 2mg given 3
times – at birth, at 5-7 days and at 6 weeks.
