1 year, 3 months ago
When must a newborn child be given a Vitamin K shot?
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M$1 Answer
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting. Babies are born with very small amount of vitamin K in their bodies. This put them to the risk of developing bleeding problems. For this reason, newborn babies are routinely given with vitamin K supplementation through injection upon birth. This is a preventive measure that saves the babies from possible life threatening effects of insufficient vitamin K in the body.
-quote
The recommended route of administration is intramuscular, being given at birth, and that this should be as a single IM injection:
• Term babies 0.5-1mg IM soon after birth
• Preterm 0.5mg IM soon after birth
Parents should be advised that with intramuscular injection, the risk of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is extremely low.
If parents do not consent to IM but consent to oral vitamin K, this needs to be given in 3 separate doses according to the following regime:
• 2mg oral soon after birth
• 2mg oral at 3-7 days
• 2mg oral at 6 weeks
-end quote
Vitamin K supplementation to newborn babies does not cause serious side effects. However, it can cause local inflammation to the site of injection. Signs of inflammation include redness, warm sensation in the area, and soreness. It can be relieve by applying warm compress to the injection site. However, if these signs of inflammation are still present after several days, you should seek medical attention. This could possibly lead to infection.
Source: http://www.adhb.govt.nz/newborn/Guidelines/Blood/VitaminK.htm
-quote
The recommended route of administration is intramuscular, being given at birth, and that this should be as a single IM injection:
• Term babies 0.5-1mg IM soon after birth
• Preterm 0.5mg IM soon after birth
Parents should be advised that with intramuscular injection, the risk of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is extremely low.
If parents do not consent to IM but consent to oral vitamin K, this needs to be given in 3 separate doses according to the following regime:
• 2mg oral soon after birth
• 2mg oral at 3-7 days
• 2mg oral at 6 weeks
-end quote
Vitamin K supplementation to newborn babies does not cause serious side effects. However, it can cause local inflammation to the site of injection. Signs of inflammation include redness, warm sensation in the area, and soreness. It can be relieve by applying warm compress to the injection site. However, if these signs of inflammation are still present after several days, you should seek medical attention. This could possibly lead to infection.
Source: http://www.adhb.govt.nz/newborn/Guidelines/Blood/VitaminK.htm
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