Vitamin K is essential in order for blood to be able to clot. Low levels of Vitamin K increase the risk of bleeding. This is known as either Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding or Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn. This bleeding can be fatal, and the most common site is within the brain. However, the incidence is low, affecting about 1 in 500 babies, with those who are pre-term at the greatest risk. It can occur up until twelve weeks of age, with the greatest incidence being between two and seven days of age.
Research in to Vitamin K is old and the women researched didn't have easy access to Vitamin K-rich food, such as dark green leafy veg, meaning that the research might not be relevant today.It is believed that the baby is unable to produce Vitamin K until about six weeks of age, and that it doesn't cross the placenta well. The levels found in breast milk are low; however, colostrum and early hind milk contain the greatest quantities.
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Parents who consent to Vitamin K must choose the route. If given by injection, only one dose is given. However, if given by mouth, multiple doses are required. However, this is not based on research. In fact, research concludes that oral Vitamin K is as effective as that given by injection, and that blood levels of Vitamin K were just as high after one dose of either route.The final aspect for women to consider when consenting or not to Vitamin K is its production. Vitamin K is made using extracts from cow's gall bladders. This is often not discussed by midwives; in fact, it is often not known by health care professionals. There used to be an alternative; this was taken off the market a number of years ago.
Eww its made from cows. Yucky!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the nicest of ideas, and I do feel sorry for women and families who would not normally consume beef. However, in the UK at least, there is currently no vegetarian or vegan alternative (it was withdrawn from the market a number of years ago), and I think this is a real shame, particularly given the fact that, in my opinion, it is not essential. Other medical products are made or were made from animals, such as insulin which came from pigs, but I view that in an entirely different category. Diabetics who need insulin die without it; babies are very unlikely to suffer from haemorrhagic disease of the new born/vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
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