Newborn Vitamin K Injection Site
Current scientific data suggest that single or repeated doses of oral po vitamin k are less effective than im.
Newborn vitamin k injection site. It is your choice whether or not your baby receives vitamin k and whether it is given by injection or by mouth. Newborns are at risk for vitamin k deficiency bleeding vkdb caused by inadequate prenatal storage and deficiency of vitamin k in breast milk. If you prefer they can have it orally instead although they will need further doses puckett and offringa 2000. Vitamin k deficiency in newborn infants is treated and prevented with a single injection of phylloquinone 5 mg.
It s recommended that all newborn babies should receive vitamin k at birth mcninch and tripp 1991. If this medication is given into a vein it should be injected very slowly no more. Alcohol and other disinfecting agents must be allowed to evaporate before injection of medication to reduce inactivation of live vaccinations and irritation at injection site. Giving vitamin k by injection provides the best protection for your baby.
However the protocols for administration route of administration dosage number of doses remain a subject of discussion. Giving vitamin k by mouth orally does not provide as much protection for your baby and they will need to have 2 more doses over a period of weeks. Child health record when a baby is given vitamin k by injection or oral dose this needs to be recorded in the child s health record. Vitamin k should be administered to all neonates at birth or immediately afterwards.
In the uk you ll be offered vitamin k as an injection for your baby. Systematic review of evidence to date suggests that a single intramuscular im injection of vitamin k at birth effectively prevents vkdb. Anaphylactic shock due to vitamin k in a newborn and review of literature j matern fetal neonatal med 27 11. This medication is given by injection under the skin or into a muscle or vein as directed by your doctor.
Some babies have a slight soreness for a day or so at the injection site. Incidence of late vitamin k deficiency bleeding in newborns in the netherlands in 2005. Vitamin k deficiency can account for vitamin k deficiency bleeding vkdb which occurs in 3 forms early classic and late.