Vitamin K vaccine. - Page 2

[nia82]

That's what I used with both kids. Birthwithlove.com

[ma2two]

The oral vitamin K is better because it has a much lower amount than the shot. But it is still causes the newborn to have more vitamin K in the blood than nature intended.

[prosciencemum]

Originally Posted by ma2two 

The oral vitamin K is better because it has a much lower amount than the shot. But it is still causes the newborn to have more vitamin K in the blood than nature intended.

I'm curious. In your view does nature intend the children who die as newborns due to vitamin k deficiency bleeding to die? Does that mean you think we shouldn't try (as a society) to prevent that, even if it is very rare?

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by prosciencemum 


I'm curious. In your view does nature intend the children who die as newborns due to vitamin k deficiency bleeding to die? Does that mean you think we shouldn't try (as a society) to prevent that, even if it is very rare?

Once again- the one size fits all approach to this very rare problem is not the answer. 

There is a natural safer alternative in oral vit k and I think infants with certain risk factors should be the ones targeted for Vitamin K - not every single infant. 

[Rrrrrachel]

What are the risk factors?

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

What are the risk factors?

When discussing with my midwives I was told that the following were risk factors:

being a preemie, low birth weight, a forceps or vacuum extraction delivery, mom's use of antibiotics, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and some other medications during pregnancy, undetected liver disease, extremely fast, or extremely prolonged labor, particularly during the pushing phase, and delivery by c section. 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I remember being concerned with having my child consume vit K orally because I was worried in terms of her digestive system and etc. Still, that was 12 years ago that I was looking into this and the just a brief check again with my last birth. 

[ma2two]

Originally Posted by prosciencemum 

Does that mean you think we shouldn't try (as a society) to prevent that, even if it is very rare?

I chose to not interfere with the way my babies' bodies were meant to work, for fear of the extremely small risk of hemorrhagic disease. If the risk was significantly increased by individual risk factors, I would have reconsidered. I do not think vitamin K should be given to every newborn. And if you read this article, which was posted earlier in the thread, http://beyondconformity.co.nz/_blog/Hilary's_Desk/post/Breastmilk_stem_cells/ perhaps universal delayed cord clamping would significantly decrease the incidence of hemorrhagic disease. My babies had the benefit of delayed cord clamping.

[Rrrrrachel]

I thought this was a really common sense look at vit k.

http://www.nct.org.uk/parenting/vitamin-k#are%20some%20babies%20at%20higher%20risk

[nia82]

I find the Dutch protocol so common sense and low risk honestly... That's why we picked it. DS was one day before 37 weeks, 24+ hours of labor, 2.5h of pushing (he wasn't anterior) with bruised face (cause his hand was in front of it). Nobody gave us troubles for the oral stuff in CA. In fact, the nurses found it much better and the on call ped (older guy) was delighted parents were educated about stuff (they were overall awesome - asked us where to buy it, what they do back home in Germany, how eye ointment is totally optional there and not routinely given, they high fived us up and down for not circing and knowing intact care). I did take extra vitamin K (I forget which brand, but I researched it and talked to the midwives about it) to boost my colostrum levels. I think that's a prudent idea.

But offering as a blanket recommendation vitamin K shots with no oral alternatives is not good healthcare. I don't want to lowest common denominator (which is what most of US healthcare is based on: expect the dumbest possible patient that is utterly unreliable and irresponsible and lies like Pinocchio). Having all options available and properly explained is good healthcare and true informed consent. :)

(and don't get me started on eye ointments for all newborns.... Ludacris).

[Rrrrrachel]

Yeah we skipped eye ointment, too. There's definitely some truth to your lowest common denominator comment.