One of the standard procedures in the hospital, which covers all children after birth, is the administration of vitamin K. It is often advised to take it until the child reaches three months of age. Why do newborns inject vitamin K, what is its effect on the baby's body?
Vitamin K for newborns
Why do newborns need vitamin K
Newborns are born with low levels of vitamin K in the body, which is a possible cause of hemorrhagic diseases.
Important! Vitamin K is essential for normal blood clotting processes. It also strengthens blood vessels, accelerates wound healing and promotes bone mineralization.
Vitamin K is administered to newborns in the hospital as a preventive measure.
Dangers of vitamin K deficiency
Vitamin K in the human body is a very important link in blood clotting. In its absence, spontaneous bleeding may occur:
- during the day after birth (early);
- aged 2 to 14 days (classic);
- 2 to 12 weeks (late).
Bleeding occurs in different places, the most common will be:
- navel area;
- the gastrointestinal tract (the appearance of blood in the child's stool);
- mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.
Also may appear:
- blood in the urine;
- hematomas in different places;
- cephalohematomas (bumps on a child's head that are the result of bleeding between the periosteum and the skull bone).
Important! Bleeding is all dangerous, the most threatening is intracranial. He has a very poor prognosis, in most cases neurological problems remain, and even the death of a child may occur.
Children whose mothers have used antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antituberculosis, anticoagulant medications are especially vulnerable to vitamin K deficiency. Babies born after a cesarean section who have experienced asphyxiation during childbirth, babies with low birth weight also have an increased risk.
Note. Vitamin K deficiency is 81 times higher in children who have not been given it. Therefore, in some countries this is a mandatory procedure.
Sources of vitamin K for the body
Vitamin K enters the body through food. Its rich natural sources:
- broccoli;
- kiwi;
- cucumbers;
- turnip;
- bow;
- basil;
- dill.
You can also find it in animal products such as egg yolk, yogurt, liver, and cheese. Small amounts of the substance are produced by the intestinal flora.
Food sources of vitamin K
Newborns have practically no vitamin K, because it hardly crosses the placenta. In addition, babies are born with sterile intestines, and the bacteria found in breast milk do not produce it. In small quantities, the substance is still present in breast milk. If there are few products in the diet of a nursing mother where it is contained, then this amount is not enough to meet the needs of the baby.
Important! Adapted infant formulas contain vitamin K, so infants who receive artificial feeding do not suffer from a lack of it.
Deficiency prevention
In Russia, it is not necessary for newborns to be vaccinated with vitamin K in the maternity hospital. However, in many countries it is strongly recommended, in the USA it is impossible to refuse the injection. A prophylactic dose is considered to be from 0.5 to 1 mg, administered intramuscularly in a maternity hospital.
Note. Moms are often interested in: a shot in the head of a newborn, why is it done? This procedure is necessary for intravenous administration of the drug, since it is difficult to find veins in an infant in other places.
For vitamin K, the main type of injection is intramuscular. The drug is administered intravenously when the diagnosis is confirmed - hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
Other preventive measures:
- if possible, exclude taking antibiotics, anticoagulant, anticonvulsant medications during the period of gestation;
- for pregnant women to register on time and take into account the recommendations of doctors.
You can also find advice on taking supplements containing vitamin K for nursing mothers in a daily dose of 2-5 mg.
Injection scheme
A single injection, as a rule, is not enough to fill the lack of a substance. Usually, several procedures are prescribed, for which a scheme has been developed:
- injection immediately after the birth of the baby;
- the second injection after a week or 10 days;
- third injection at 1 month old.
Important! In the Russian Federation, according to this scheme, the deficiency of vitamin K is replenished in newborns from the risk group.
Since the injection of the drug is optional, the mother must agree to it in writing. Otherwise, the injection will not be given.
There are no routine tests to determine if a child needs vitamin K supplementation. Doctors are guided only by the entry of the baby into the risk group.
Infant injection
The injection method is in the front of the thigh muscle.
Is it worth vaccinating all children
Until now, a single standard for the prevention of vitamin K deficiency has not been developed in the world.Existing hypotheses say that if the mother's diet is diverse and rich in this substance in the third trimester of pregnancy, then there is no need for additional doses. The content of the substance in human milk is 0.25 μg per 100 ml, the child needs 1 mg per 1 kg of body weight daily.
Too much vitamin K can be very harmful. Side effects of drug administration:
- increased sweating;
- burning sensation in the area of the injection;
- anemia;
- destruction of red blood cells;
- swelling;
- jaundice;
- bronchospasm.
Parents themselves observe abdominal pain, crying and anxiety in their children.
In 1992, there were indications that injections of the drug could increase the risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia in children. Further observations did not confirm this, but it cannot be ruled out 100%.
Important! Another argument against vitamin K is that a well-functioning pancreas is needed to fully absorb vitamin K, and a child's digestive system is sterile and immature.
This may be why breast milk is low in vitamin K. Its increased content leads to liver overload and causes brain damage.
If babies are not at risk, mothers must make their own decision about the injection, taking into account the possible negative consequences.
Oral intake
An alternative to intramuscular injections is oral administration of the drug according to the scheme:
- 2 mg immediately after birth;
- 2 mg at the age of 4-6 days;
- 1 mg at 4-6 weeks of age.
Another option is to take 2 mg of the drug once a week, 1 mg after oral administration in the maternity hospital until the age of three months.
Oral administration of the drug
There are contraindications for the oral route. It is not suitable for newborns:
- premature;
- with cholestasis (violation of bile secretion);
- with a violation of digestive processes and absorption of substances in the small intestine;
- whose mothers received medications that interact with drug metabolism.
Important! Intestinal absorption of vitamin K has not been elucidated. The effect of using it in this way for children at risk is much lower, so today it is an unreliable alternative.
The drug is available in drops. The advantages of the oral route are that you can take it at home. Dr. Komarovsky notes the positive effect of vitamin K2 on bone growth, so supplements containing this substance will be useful for any child.
If the baby is completely healthy, the decision to inject vitamin K is left to the parents. However, for children at risk, the benefits far outweigh the side problems.
