birth question: Vitamin K

[MellyMel]

I know in the past that I have seen tons of threads about vitamin k and why some people choose to refuse it after birth, but now that I am trying to look into it more, I can't find any. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or tell me why they chose to accept/refuse vitamin k for their newborn??

[MrsMoe]

Vit K is to prevent bleeding in the brain after birth, and Vit K promotes blood clotting. This bleeding on the brain happens in about 3/100,000 births without the shot. Some studies say more, some say less, but you get the general idea.

If you opt to breastfeed, you yourself can take Vit K spulliments, or they can be given to your infant orally. The shots are "more effective," but at least there are other ways for your infant to get the Vit K (breastmilk and suppliments) if you opt not to get the shot.

As far as the exact medical risks of the shots, I don't know. I heard there was a very small link to a rare skin disease at the injection site and a very minute possible risk of childhood cancer, but I do not know the specifics. Do some research.

If the vit K can be given orally though, why take the risks, you know?

[DreamsInDigital]

I'm very sleepy post-lunch right now but when I get to it, I have some links that connect the vit. k shot with severe jaundice. Just an FYI. Mrs. Moe was totally right that taken orally can be a good alternative.

[crsta33]

Thanks for asking this as I've been wondering about it too. It's totally optional at the birth center, but I let them give it to Kenna and kinda regretted it b/c it seemed so painful and I absolutely hate to have injections myself.

If it's safe to avoid it this time around I think I'd rather forego it, but I want to be sure of what I need to do if we don't let them give it to the baby.

The other optional treatment was the ointment in the eyes...I let them do that too. Any reason to forego that procedure as well?

Christa

[DreamsInDigital]

Unfortunately, in my state the eye ointment is not optional. It sucks.
It has been shown to cause clogged tear ducts and definitely interferes with newborn vision just when he/she wants to see mama most.

[crsta33]

...It has been shown to cause clogged tear ducts

My heart sank when I read this. Kenna had trouble with a runny eye from a clogged duct for months. I didn't know the ointment could have been the cause.

What is the ointment supposed to prevent?

Christa

[DreamsInDigital]

Blindness or eye infections from the mother having an active STD infection at birth. Specifically chlamydia and gonorrhea.

[Awaken]

Thanks for asking this question b/c I've been wanting to research it more before the birth. I didn't think to question it before and ds had both the shot and eye ointment, but now I know better

I need to see if vit k can be done orally at the birth center- why give a baby hours old an injection- ouch! I want things to be as peaceful as possible.

As for the eye ointment- I thought it was law but I'll have to make sure for my state. And I definitely don't have any active STD's so it isn't necessary for my baby!

[flyingspaghettimama]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

Unfortunately, in my state the eye ointment is not optional. It sucks.
It has been shown to cause clogged tear ducts and definitely interferes with newborn vision just when he/she wants to see mama most.

I just heard of a way around this in Washington state... if you can ask your practitioner - have them put the ointment on their eyes when they're asleep (i.e. eyelids). Some will do this, esp if they did the test on you and you're clean of STDs.

It's the stupidest thing - you get tested, you could even get tested again right before labor I suppose for the STDs - and unless my husband was REALLY FAST with a lady of ill repute ... and managed to contract it, give it to me...urgh...whatever...

It's like, we're gonna put this on your baby's eyes because some other pregnant lady had gonorrhea.

Sorry to insert this completely off topic regarding Vitamin K though. I hadn't made up my mind yet on that one. My midwife said the vitamin K stuff tastes really really horrible and babies have a hard time with it. Does anyone else know about that?

[ldsapmom]

I do the vitamin K but don't do the eyedrops. I have never been hassled about the eyedrops.

[stepmama]

Vit K and eye goop

We chose not to do eye goop or Vit K shot. I had to sign a waiver at the hospital we gave birth at and then nurses weren't happy about it. My doula told me that if one chooses to circimcise, you might be interested in doing the Vit K shot because of the blood clotting, although I'm sure baby would be fine with other options rather than the injection. We didn't circimcise so we didn't think it was vital. We also didn't do the eye goop and nothing horrible happened even though one of the nurses threatened that he would go blind if we didn't do it. Yuck. Just leave me alone! That's why I'm avoiding them all together and doing this one at home! ANyway... we had no reason to regret out decisions for either Vit K or the eye goop.

Beth

[cjbeach]

My MW leaves it totally up to us. With DD we did do Vit K because she was a rapid descent birth and was bruised severely... in cases of severe ecchymosis (like DD's) I can understand it.

[MrsMoe]

I didnt' know you could sign a waiver for the eye ointment, that's great!

[MellyMel]

thanks for all the replies! I live in canada, and in this province it is 'manditory' to have the eye goop, but you can opt out and sign a waiver. I don't see the point or need of putting unnescessary antibiotics into my baby'e eyes! The Vit k though, I swear I heard a ton of stuff about problems associated with it. taking it myself sounds like a good way to go though.