Why Is Vitamin K Given To Newborn Babies at Babies

Why Is Vitamin K Given To Newborn Babies. Babies who don't get vitamin k at birth are at risk for a potentially fatal bleeding disorder called vitamin k deficient bleeding (vkdb). In 2013, six infants were admitted.

Vitamin k is given to prevent a rare but possibly deadly brain bleed in the first 6 months of life. Vitamin k can be given by mouth if preferred, but oral doses aren’t as effective. The vitamin k given at birth provides protection against bleeding that could occur because of low levels of this essential vitamin.

Why are neonates vitamin K deficient? Hemorrhagic disease of newborn, vitamin k deficiency

Vitamin k prevents a rare but serious bleeding disorder called vitamin k deficiency bleeding (vkdb). Vkdb — also known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn — is most common in the first days of life, but it can appear up to six months after birth. The reason vitamin k is considered at birth is that low levels of it are blamed for internal bleeding of the infant’s brain as a result of injury. Vitamin k helps the blood to clot and prevents serious bleeding.