However, most parents do not give much thought to the notion that their newborn children will be given a shot of vitamin K immediately after they are born. This is because most parents are pregnant. This practice has been going on for decades without stirring up any issues; it is simply a part of the routine.
On the other hand, in recent years, I have observed a slight but alarming rise in the number of parents refusing to give their children this potentially life-saving vaccination.
Vitamin K is crucial for blood coagulation
Vitamin K is crucial for blood coagulation, so it is essential that babies receive an adequate amount of it. In the absence of adequate quantities, newborns are at risk of experiencing deadly bleeding.
Through the administration of the vitamin K shot, this is prevented from happening by ensuring that the blood contains sufficient clotting components.
Phytomenadione, which is pronounceable as “fy-to-ma-die-one
Phytomenadione, which is pronounceable as “fy-to-ma-die-one,” is the synthetic form of vitamin K that is administered through injection. The blood clotting factors that are already present in the body are comparable to this substance.
It is the only synthetic version of vitamin K that is currently accessible, and it is significantly more powerful than any other type.
Due to the absence of vitamin K in breast milk, infants cannot receive an adequate amount of this nutrient from their mothers. An injection of vitamin K should be administered to every infant for several reasons, and this is one of the most significant ones.
It is the only method to ensure that they receive enough of this essential nutrient throughout the day.
Bleeding due to low levels of vitamin K
The United States of America does not have a high incidence of bleeding due to low levels of vitamin K; yet, when it does occur, it is pretty damaging.
Due to their inability to clot, these infants have internal bleeding, which can even extend to their brains, resulting in irreversible damage. As an additional point of interest, bleeding in other organs, such as the stomach and the intestines, can also be fatal.
It was researchers in 1944 who discovered that this nutrient was essential, and ever since then, it has become a common practice worldwide for newborns to receive a shot of it after they are born.
It is a widely held belief that this prophylactic precaution was developed to shield children from the dangers that are associated with traumatic births, such as those that are brought on by forceps and cesarean sections.
This myth has no basis in medical research
This myth has no basis in medical research, even though it is true that stressful deliveries can increase the likelihood of a brain bleed occurring.
Oral drops of the drug can be administered to babies in addition to injecting them with vitamin K; however, this method is less efficient than the injection method because the medication is not absorbed as well by the body.
The most effective way to administer the shot is to provide it as a single injection into the muscle of the leg shortly after birth.
Oral drops can be administered in the hospital at the same time as newborn screening tests or later by a physician or health care worker. A third dose must be administered when a baby is four weeks old.
Children are 81 times more likely
According to research carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children are 81 times more likely to get bleeding if they do not receive the vaccination. This type of bleeding is referred to as late vitamin K deficient bleeding, and several factors can cause it.
In many cases, this occurs because the mother did not nurse her child or because she is on specific medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, certain antibiotics, medicines for tuberculosis, such as isoniazid, and blood thinners, such as warfarin.
