Four babies hemorrhage after parents refuse vitamin K shot, a practice on the rise

[pnwmom]

37. Stanford University recommends the oral form for infants

whose parents refuse the injections. There can be problems with compliance, since the IM version is done in a single injection at birth, and the oral form requires three doses over a period of time. Also, at lower doses, the oral might not be as effective.

But the bottom line is that if a parent is that concerned, s/he should be talking to his or her doctor, not ordering anything over the internet.

http://newborns.stanford.edu/VitaminK.html#risks

If parents refuse IM vitamin K:

2 – 4mg PO vitamin K after first feeding then 2mg at 2 – 4 weeks and again at 6 – 8 weeks OR
2 – 4mg PO vitamin K after first feeding then 2mg within first week and weekly while breastfeeding OR
2mg PO vitamin K after first feeding then 2mg within first week followed by 25mcg daily for 13 weeks
(See notes below about oral regimens)

**************

there is no licensed PO form in US, but parental form can be given orally
in countries that have gone to PO prophylaxis, failures (even with good compliance) have been reported . Failures have not been reported with IM prophylaxis.
since multiple doses are required, compliance is an issue
advise parents regarding the increased risk of VKDB (exact numbers are unknown)
maternal dietary changes have little effect on overall vitamin K status of newborn
maternal vitamin K supplements of 5mg/day (800% RDA) has been shown in one study to raise infant serum levels to near formula-fed levels, but there is no FDA approved MVI that contains this amount of vitamin K