Mandatory Vitamin K?

[counterGOPI]

My 2 daughters were born in Virinia and we avoided all shots and vaxes at their birth (and beyond, of course). I am pregnant with #3 and we now live in Oregon, I was told it's required by law here. I was told we could choose between the shot and the oral version. I absolutely would NOT do the shot but if it's really required is the oral dose any better? What are the risks of it? I am hoping we can get out of this all together but I want to be prepared in advance just in case.
Thanks so much for your help!

[Adaline'sMama]

"Oregon law has mandated the vitamin K shot since 1983. Parents who opt not to have the shot must sign a waiver indicating that they have refused it."

http://www.providence.org/Oregon/hea...y_VitaminK.htm

You can totally refuse it.

[JSerene]

The oral dose is not as effective. You'd have to have a second oral dose at the first check-up a week later.

[Marnica]

oral vitamin k is standard in many european countres, but it does require multiple doses spaced about a certain amount of time apart.

My DS got the vit k shot against my better judgement. Any future children will be getting Vit K if indicated. Personally I think that Vit k is only indicated if it was a traumatic birth or there were interventions (ie vaccuum or forceps, c-section)) and if you have a boy and will be circing I would do vit k as well.

[nicky85]

I thought I'd chime in too. We weren't going to do Vit K, but our son was born with a birth defect and needed surgery when he was 36 hours old, before he had clotting factor. The midwives advised us to have Vit K administered to him and we are glad we did with his particular case. If your baby needs surgery within the first few days of life, that is a good reason to administer Vit K. Odds are our next baby will be just fine and in that case we won't do Vit K, especially since my Vitamin K intake is plenty sufficient from drinking green smoothies. Most states "require" stuff like that, but usually you can waive it.

[amnesiac]

I'm moving this over to B&B - I think you'll get more response there.

[Lady Lilya]

Oral doses would mean interfering with your baby's virgin gut.

They have to do more detailed studies to see exactly how much other stuff it takes, but for now they know that exclusively breastfed babies have thicker stomach linings and one set of genes expressing, while non-exclusively breastfed babies have thinner stomach linings and a different set of genes expressing.

[Camile Rynd]

None for us..

We opted out of the vit K and we live in Oregon.