July 13, 2025
What No One Tells You About Newborn Vitamin K
Send us a text Making informed decisions for your newborn can feel like navigating a tidal wave of contradictory advice, especially when it comes to routine procedures like the vitamin K shot. As both a labor nurse who's cared for countless babies and a mom who's stood in your shoes, I created this episode to cut through the noise with evidence, empathy, and respect for your values. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, and all newborns—regardless of how healthy the pregnancy was—are bo...
Making informed decisions for your newborn can feel like navigating a tidal wave of contradictory advice, especially when it comes to routine procedures like the vitamin K shot. As both a labor nurse who's cared for countless babies and a mom who's stood in your shoes, I created this episode to cut through the noise with evidence, empathy, and respect for your values.
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, and all newborns—regardless of how healthy the pregnancy was—are born with extremely low levels, about 1/50th of what adults have. The vitamin K shot provides protection during those vulnerable first months when even a small internal bleed could become serious. While vitamin K deficiency bleeding is rare, occurring in roughly 1 in 6,000 babies who don't receive supplementation, it can be devastating when it happens.
We dive deep into the questions parents really struggle with: If babies are born with low vitamin K, isn't that natural? What about ingredients like polysorbate 80? Doesn't breast milk provide everything babies need? Could oral vitamin K work instead? Will the shot disrupt those precious first bonding moments? Each concern is addressed with current research, practical experience, and an understanding that these questions come from a place of love and protection.
Beyond just facts and figures, we explore the emotional and spiritual dimensions of this decision. For families wondering if interventions contradict their faith in God's design, we consider how human babies are uniquely dependent creatures—perfect but not complete—and how scientific advancements might be viewed as extensions of divine care rather than contradictions.
The episode wraps with a practical decision-making framework called the BRAIN model (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, and what happens if you do Nothing), helping you sort through your options with clarity rather than fear. Whether you choose the shot, explore alternatives with medical guidance, or decide on another pa
Join the Bump & Beyond Online Community for moms & moms-to-be!
Coaching offer
Kelly Hof: Labor Nurse + Birth Coach
Basically, I'm your birth bestie! With me as your coach, you will tell fear to take a hike!
Connect with Kelly at kellyhof.com
Join the Bump & Beyond Online Community!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bumpnbeyond
Grab The Book of Hormones on Amazon!
Medical Disclaimer:
This podcast is intended as a safe space for women to share their birth experiences. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Each woman’s medical course of action is individual and may not appropriately transfer to another similar situation. Please speak to your medical provider before making any medical decisions. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that evidence based practice evolves as our knowledge of science improves. To the best of my ability I will attempt to present the most current ACOG and AWHONN recommendations at the time the podcast is recorded, but that may not necessarily reflect the best practices at the time the podcast is heard. Additionally, guests sharing their stories have the right to autonomy in their medical decisions, and may share their choice to go against current practice recommendations. I intend to hold space for people to share their decisions. I will attempt to share the current recommendations so that my audience is informed, but it is up to each individual to choose what is best for them.
00:00 - Introduction to Birth Decisions
02:31 - What is Vitamin K and Why It Matters
09:43 - Understanding Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding
17:12 - Why Some Parents Decline the Shot
20:14 - Addressing Common Concerns
27:32 - Oral Vitamin K Alternatives
35:32 - Polysorbate 80 and Dosage Questions
45:59 - Skin-to-Skin and Medical Procedures
50:29 - Debunking Health Concerns
54:11 - Decision-Making Framework and Support
WEBVTT
00:00:00.561 --> 00:00:03.270
Hey friend, welcome back to the Birth Journeys Podcast.
00:00:03.270 --> 00:00:15.032
I'm your host, kelly Hoth, transformational prenatal coach, labor nurse, mom of two and someone who's walked beside hundreds of families as they prepare to bring their babies into the world.
00:00:15.032 --> 00:00:27.065
Whether this is your first time here or you've been tuning in for a while, I want you to know you're in the right place if you're creating an informed, empowered and emotionally grounded pregnancy and birth journey.
00:00:27.065 --> 00:00:31.422
I know how confusing it can feel to sort through all the information out there.
00:00:31.422 --> 00:00:42.554
There's a tidal wave of advice coming at you from your provider, from social media, from friends and family, and so much of it feels urgent, emotional and contradictory.
00:00:42.554 --> 00:00:45.207
One source says this is dangerous, don't do it.
00:00:45.207 --> 00:00:47.783
Another says you're irresponsible if you don't.
00:00:47.783 --> 00:00:56.392
It all tugs at your heart because, at the end of the day, you just want what's best for your baby, and that's where so many of us get stuck.
00:00:56.392 --> 00:01:18.108
You're told over and over that doing what's best means making the right decision, whether that's breast or bottle feeding, epidural or unmedicated, vaginal or cesarean birth, or accepting or declining something like the vitamin K shot, and when both sides feel compelling, it can be incredibly overwhelming.
00:01:18.108 --> 00:01:35.328
That's why I created this podcast and it's also why I offer one-on-one prenatal coaching to help you sort through all the noise, understand what matters most to you and build the tools and confidence to make choices from a place of strength and clarity, not fear or pressure.
00:01:35.328 --> 00:01:48.605
So today we're diving into one of those tricky topics that often leaves parents unsure and uneasy the vitamin K injection that's routinely given to newborns within the first few hours after birth.
00:01:48.605 --> 00:01:59.117
Here in the US, there's been a lot of controversy and misinformation swirling around this, and I want to approach it with evidence, empathy and alignment.
00:01:59.117 --> 00:02:05.091
My goal is not to scare you, it's not to shame you and it's certainly not to tell you what to do.
00:02:05.091 --> 00:02:13.385
I want to give you the full picture so you can make the best choice for your baby and feel really solid in that decision, whatever it looks like.
00:02:14.168 --> 00:02:16.979
So what is the vitamin K shot and why is it given?
00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:18.200
Vitamin K helps blood clot.
00:02:18.200 --> 00:02:20.102
Without it, even a small internal bleed can be serious.
00:02:20.102 --> 00:02:24.544
Without it, even a small internal bleed can be serious.
00:02:24.544 --> 00:02:30.828
All newborns, no matter how healthy they are, are born with very low levels of vitamin K.
00:02:30.828 --> 00:02:36.251
According to the CDC, it's about 1 50th of what an adult has.
00:02:36.251 --> 00:02:39.733
I know what you might be thinking Babies are smaller than adults.
00:02:39.733 --> 00:02:40.913
Don't they need less?
00:02:40.913 --> 00:02:47.997
That's a fair question, but even small babies need enough vitamin K to safely form clots.
00:02:47.997 --> 00:02:55.854
Without it, a small bleed inside the body, especially in the brain or intestines, can quickly become life-threatening.
00:02:55.854 --> 00:03:00.592
That's why the vitamin K shot is offered within the first few hours after birth.
00:03:00.592 --> 00:03:11.133
It's one small injection in the thigh that gives your baby a store of vitamin K to last until they're eating solid foods and their body can start making it.
00:03:11.775 --> 00:03:15.185
So what happens if a baby doesn't get vitamin K at birth?
00:03:15.185 --> 00:03:33.037
If you've tried looking this up, you might have seen some big numbers floating around, like the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, saying that babies who don't get the shot are 81 times more likely to get something called late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:03:33.037 --> 00:03:37.087
That sounds huge, right, but what does that actually mean?
00:03:37.087 --> 00:03:40.849
Let's break it down and look at the real numbers behind that.
00:03:40.849 --> 00:03:44.349
First, what is vitamin K deficiency bleeding?
00:03:44.349 --> 00:03:49.223
It means the baby doesn't have enough vitamin K to help their blood clot.
00:03:49.223 --> 00:03:52.973
That can lead to serious bleeding, sometimes in the brain.
00:03:52.973 --> 00:03:59.401
For starters, it's important to know that there are actually three kinds of vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:03:59.401 --> 00:04:09.651
Early vitamin K deficiency bleeding happens in the first 24 hours and is usually linked to certain medications the birthing parent took during pregnancy.
00:04:09.651 --> 00:04:14.912
Classic vitamin K deficiency bleeding shows up between days 2 and 7.
00:04:14.912 --> 00:04:19.130
It might look like bruising, bleeding from the cord or bleeding in the poop.
00:04:19.130 --> 00:04:23.831
Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding is the one we worry about the most.
00:04:23.831 --> 00:04:31.149
It happens between two weeks and six months and usually shows up out of nowhere, often with brain bleeds.
00:04:31.149 --> 00:04:55.713
So when we hear the CDC say that babies are 81 times more likely to get late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding without the shot, they're comparing babies who got the shot, meaning they have a 1 in 400,000 chance of late vitamin K deficiency bleeding to those who didn't, being 81 times more likely to get late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:04:55.713 --> 00:04:58.649
So let's clarify where those numbers come from.
00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:03.488
Some studies have tried to count how often this bleeding actually happens.
00:05:03.488 --> 00:05:21.624
A big study by Dr Sutherland and colleagues in the Journal of Pediatrics 1993, looked at breastfed babies in the US who didn't get vitamin K and found that late vitamin K deficiency bleeding happened in about 1 in 6,000 to 9,000 babies.
00:05:21.624 --> 00:05:35.377
Another study by Dr Ichiro Iwamoto in Pediatrics International in 2003 found a similar number around 1 in 5,800 to 1 in 7,000 babies in Japan.
00:05:35.377 --> 00:05:40.024
But then there's another number that might surprise you 2 in every 100.
00:05:40.024 --> 00:05:41.565
That's about 2%.
00:05:41.565 --> 00:05:42.968
Where does that come from?
00:05:42.968 --> 00:05:43.507
That's about 2%.
00:05:43.507 --> 00:05:44.048
Where does that come from?
00:05:44.088 --> 00:05:50.036
The number includes all types of vitamin K deficiency bleeding early, classic and late.
00:05:50.036 --> 00:06:03.307
It's used by sources like the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildrenorg to show the total risk when a baby doesn't get any vitamin K Not the shot and not the oral version either.
00:06:03.307 --> 00:06:05.788
So here's a simple way to think about it.
00:06:05.788 --> 00:06:08.745
The 2-in-1 number is the big picture.
00:06:08.745 --> 00:06:13.641
How many babies might bleed at any point without any form of vitamin K?
00:06:13.641 --> 00:06:21.521
The 1-in-5,000 to 9,000 number zooms in on just late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:23.165
The 1-in-400,000 number is for babies who get the shot.
00:06:23.165 --> 00:06:24.088
That's how rare vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:06:24.088 --> 00:06:26.396
The 1 in 400,000 number is for babies who get the shot.
00:06:26.396 --> 00:06:31.267
That's how rare vitamin K deficiency bleeding becomes with the shot.
00:06:31.267 --> 00:06:38.932
And all of this matters because most babies who get vitamin K deficiency bleeding are breastfed and haven't received any vitamin K.
00:06:38.932 --> 00:06:40.141
Why?
00:06:40.141 --> 00:06:47.334
Because breast milk, while amazing in so many ways, just doesn't have enough vitamin K to fully protect babies.
00:06:47.334 --> 00:06:56.055
Shearer's study in blood reviews showed that breast milk usually has only 1-2 micrograms of vitamin K per liter.
00:06:56.055 --> 00:06:58.002
But to be fully protected.
00:06:58.002 --> 00:07:02.333
Babies need blood levels closer to 3.5 micrograms per liter.
00:07:02.333 --> 00:07:05.209
That's why the vitamin K shot works so well.
00:07:05.209 --> 00:07:10.291
It gives babies enough to store in their liver and use slowly over time.
00:07:10.291 --> 00:07:15.351
It helps bridge the gap until their bodies can make enough and absorb enough on their own.
00:07:15.351 --> 00:07:28.012
So, yes, vitamin K deficiency bleeding is rare, but when it happens it's dangerous and the difference in risk between getting the shot and not getting any vitamin K is big.
00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:32.391
For some parents, that's enough to feel confident saying yes.
00:07:32.391 --> 00:07:43.211
For others, it's important to explore all the options and understand the numbers before deciding, and if you're still weighing the options, just know you're not expected to have all the answers.
00:07:43.211 --> 00:07:53.043
Your job is to ask the questions and my job is to make sure you have honest, clear and caring information so you can make a decision that truly feels right for your family.
00:07:53.043 --> 00:07:56.773
So let's talk about how common it is to decline the shot.
00:07:56.773 --> 00:08:00.028
Most parents in the US do choose the shot.
00:08:00.028 --> 00:08:14.072
Refusal rates in hospitals are generally under 2%, but that number is higher in out-of-hospital births, like home births or birth center births, where 10 to 30% of parents may decline it, depending on the region.
00:08:14.072 --> 00:08:23.009
A cluster of cases in Tennessee in 2013 happened at a birth center where 28% of parents had declined the shot.
00:08:23.009 --> 00:08:27.370
Four babies from that group developed vitamin K deficiency, bleeding.
00:08:27.370 --> 00:08:29.728
All of them needed medical treatment.
00:08:29.728 --> 00:08:40.299
That story has been cited a lot in the vitamin K conversation because it highlighted the connection between declining the vitamin K shot and the risk of late-onset bleeding.
00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:44.731
But it's also just one example and every family's context is different.
00:08:44.731 --> 00:08:47.102
So why are some parents saying no?
00:08:47.644 --> 00:08:57.861
If you've been researching this topic, you've probably come across a wide range of opinions, stories and personal beliefs that can make this decision feel confusing or even emotional.
00:08:57.861 --> 00:09:04.525
In the next part of this episode, I'm going to walk you through some of the most common concerns and objections to the vitamin K shot.
00:09:04.525 --> 00:09:13.765
Things like worries about ingredients, beliefs about what's natural, oral alternatives and fears around disrupting bonding time after birth.
00:09:13.765 --> 00:09:16.311
These aren't just surface level concerns.
00:09:16.311 --> 00:09:25.908
For many families, they run deep and are tied to values, experiences, culture, religion or even past trauma, and they deserve to be heard with respect.
00:09:25.908 --> 00:09:32.767
So let's take a look at the controversies and questions that make this such an emotional and personal decision for many parents.
00:09:33.470 --> 00:09:37.062
In recent years, more parents have started questioning the injection.
00:09:37.062 --> 00:09:42.533
Some of the concerns I've heard include if babies are born with low vitamin K.
00:09:42.533 --> 00:09:44.364
Maybe they're meant to be that way.
00:09:44.364 --> 00:09:47.491
Isn't there enough vitamin K in breast milk or cord blood?
00:09:47.491 --> 00:09:51.171
I don't want chemicals or preservatives injected into my baby's body.
00:09:51.171 --> 00:09:54.908
I prefer oral or natural alternatives.
00:09:54.908 --> 00:10:00.731
It feels like an unnecessary intervention during the golden hour and I hear you.
00:10:00.731 --> 00:10:03.950
These concerns come from a place of love and protection.
00:10:03.950 --> 00:10:08.191
You want to do what's safest and most respectful for your baby's body.
00:10:08.191 --> 00:10:09.966
That's not wrong.
00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:16.948
Let's walk through common questions and objections one by one and consider each with science and compassion.
00:10:16.948 --> 00:10:22.870
Question one If God made babies perfect, why would they need extra vitamin K?
00:10:22.870 --> 00:10:28.203
This is one of the most heartfelt and spiritually rooted questions I've come across.
00:10:28.203 --> 00:10:31.292
For many families this isn't just about medicine.
00:10:31.292 --> 00:10:32.341
It's about faith.
00:10:32.341 --> 00:10:41.269
It's about trusting in God's design and wondering whether saying yes to something like a vitamin K injection might somehow mean going against their faith.
00:10:41.269 --> 00:10:45.784
If that's something you've been wrestling with, I want you to know you are not alone.
00:10:45.784 --> 00:10:48.269
These aren't silly questions.
00:10:48.269 --> 00:10:49.591
They are sacred ones.
00:10:50.293 --> 00:10:54.285
It's true that babies are born with very low stores of vitamin K.
00:10:54.285 --> 00:10:57.513
It's not found in the cord blood in meaningful amounts.
00:10:57.513 --> 00:11:06.855
It's barely present in breast milk, and even fortified formula doesn't provide enough to reliably prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:11:06.855 --> 00:11:14.153
That can feel unsettling, especially if you believe deeply that breast milk is perfect and that God doesn't make mistakes.
00:11:14.153 --> 00:11:17.730
But here's a perspective that might help soften that tension.
00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.690
Being born perfect doesn't always mean being born complete.
00:11:21.690 --> 00:11:24.346
Human babies are incredibly dependent.
00:11:24.346 --> 00:11:25.590
Always mean being born complete.
00:11:25.590 --> 00:11:27.475
Human babies are incredibly dependent.
00:11:27.475 --> 00:11:35.188
Unlike other mammals, they can't walk, can't feed themselves, can't regulate their own temperature and they lack the muscle strength to even hold up their heads.
00:11:35.188 --> 00:11:35.269
Why?
00:11:35.269 --> 00:11:42.432
Because their brains are designed for something bigger for connection, for learning, for problem solving and for relational growth.
00:11:42.432 --> 00:11:46.591
That very dependency nurtures the uniqueness that makes us human.
00:11:46.591 --> 00:11:56.971
In fact, many refer to the first few months after birth as the fourth trimester, because babies are essentially still finishing their development outside of the womb.
00:11:56.971 --> 00:12:06.181
Human babies are born earlier than other animals because our brains are too large to allow us to stay in utero any longer, so we're born needing extra help.
00:12:06.802 --> 00:12:16.812
Perfect but incomplete, and maybe vitamin K is just one more example of something that wasn't meant to be built in but instead meant to be received.
00:12:16.812 --> 00:12:29.693
Maybe the way we receive it through science, medicine, shared wisdom and the people who've dedicated their lives to learning how to protect life isn't a detour from God's plan, but actually a reflection of it.
00:12:29.693 --> 00:12:33.283
There's a story you might have heard that speaks so clearly to this.
00:12:33.283 --> 00:12:35.428
A man was caught in a flood.
00:12:35.428 --> 00:12:37.452
He prays for God to save him.
00:12:37.452 --> 00:12:41.863
A rowboat comes by and he says no thanks, god will save me.
00:12:41.863 --> 00:12:44.485
Then a motorboat, then a helicopter.
00:12:44.485 --> 00:12:45.086
No thanks, god will save me.
00:12:45.086 --> 00:12:45.905
Then a motorboat, then a helicopter.
00:12:45.905 --> 00:12:48.769
Each time he waves them off, trusting that God will intervene.
00:12:48.769 --> 00:12:53.572
When he drowns and meets God in heaven, he asks why didn't you save me?
00:12:53.572 --> 00:12:58.996
And God replies I sent you a rowboat, a motorboat and a helicopter.
00:12:58.996 --> 00:13:00.740
What more were you waiting for?
00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:07.360
Sometimes God's help doesn't come in a way we expect, but that doesn't make it any less divine.
00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:20.413
Maybe this little injection, this quiet act of protection, isn't a rejection of faith, but an expression of it, a way of saying I see the boat, I trust the message, I receive the help.
00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:28.581
Question two Isn't there enough vitamin K in colostrum, breast milk or from delayed cord clamping?
00:13:28.581 --> 00:13:42.605
This is another thoughtful and common question, because many of us are taught that colostrum is incredibly rich in nutrients which it is and that delayed cord clamping offers so many benefits which it absolutely does.
00:13:42.605 --> 00:13:47.543
So it's natural to ask if we're already doing these good, supportive things.
00:13:47.543 --> 00:13:48.908
Shouldn't that be enough?
00:13:48.908 --> 00:14:00.201
Colostrum and delayed cord clamping offer numerous benefits, but when it comes to vitamin K, they don't provide sufficient amounts to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:14:00.722 --> 00:14:07.620
Colostrum, the first milk produced after birth, does contain vitamin K, but in very low amounts.
00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:23.964
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that colostrum contains approximately 3.39 micrograms per liter of vitamin K1, and mature milk contains 2.87 micrograms per liter.
00:14:23.964 --> 00:14:36.581
To put this into perspective, infants require about 1 microgram of vitamin K per kilogram of body weight per day to maintain adequate blood clotting factors.
00:14:36.581 --> 00:14:44.932
For a 3.5 kilogram or 7.7 pound newborn, this equates to 3.5 micrograms per day.
00:14:44.932 --> 00:15:01.787
Given that the average daily intake of breast milk in the first days is about 500 milliliters, the baby would receive approximately 1.7 micrograms of vitamin K per day, insufficient to meet their needs, and the baby's vitamin K needs increase as the baby gains weight.
00:15:01.787 --> 00:15:19.602
Considering babies double their birth weight within the first four to six months of life and the average baby peaks at about 900 to 1300 milliliters of breast milk per day after the first month of life, it would be impossible to keep up by solely relying on breast milk for vitamin K.
00:15:20.144 --> 00:15:23.952
Even if mom takes a vitamin K supplement, it has limited impact.
00:15:23.952 --> 00:15:27.460
Even if mom takes a vitamin K supplement, it has limited impact.
00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:37.134
A study in the Journal of Pediatrics showed that while high-dose maternal vitamin K supplementation increased breast milk levels, it didn't raise infant plasma vitamin K levels to a protective range.
00:15:37.134 --> 00:15:39.567
So what about delayed cord clamping?
00:15:39.567 --> 00:15:47.288
Delayed cord clamping is beneficial for increasing a newborn's iron stores and improving hemoglobin levels.
00:15:47.288 --> 00:15:51.530
However, it does not significantly impact vitamin K levels.
00:15:51.530 --> 00:16:00.394
Research indicates that cord blood contains extremely low levels of vitamin K1, less than 0.05 micrograms per liter.
00:16:00.394 --> 00:16:11.732
So, while colostrum, breast milk and delayed cord clamping offer numerous health benefits, they do not supply enough vitamin K to protect against vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
00:16:11.732 --> 00:16:21.849
For now, the vitamin K injection remains the most reliable method to ensure newborns have adequate levels to prevent this potentially life-threatening condition.
00:16:22.711 --> 00:16:27.921
Question three life-threatening condition.
00:16:27.921 --> 00:16:29.664
Question three are additives like preservatives and polysorbate 80 safe for baby?
00:16:29.664 --> 00:16:30.807
Let's address this common concern.
00:16:30.807 --> 00:16:36.931
Understanding the purpose and safety of these components can help in making an informed decision.
00:16:36.931 --> 00:16:45.173
First of all, if you're concerned about preservatives in the vitamin K shot, it's important to know that preservative-free versions are available.
00:16:45.173 --> 00:16:52.403
These formulations are designed to minimize additives while still providing the essential vitamin K your baby needs.
00:16:52.403 --> 00:16:59.149
Availability can vary by hospital, so it's a good idea to discuss this option with your healthcare provider ahead of time.
00:16:59.731 --> 00:17:05.829
Another ingredient in the vitamin K shot that has come up as a cause for concern is polysorbate 80.
00:17:05.829 --> 00:17:15.847
It's a long, science-y sounding word that can feel kind of intimidating, but once you understand why it's there and how it works, it starts to feel a little less scary.
00:17:15.847 --> 00:17:17.151
So what is it?
00:17:17.151 --> 00:17:24.824
Polysorbate 80 is an ingredient that helps spread out the vitamin K in the injection, so your baby's body doesn't use it all up right away.
00:17:24.824 --> 00:17:25.667
Think of it like a slow-release system.
00:17:25.667 --> 00:17:28.400
It helps your baby have the vitamin K in the injection, so your baby's body doesn't use it all up right away.
00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.583
Think of it like a slow-release system.
00:17:31.583 --> 00:17:35.213
It helps your baby have enough vitamin K in their body over several weeks to months, eliminating the need for multiple doses.
00:17:35.213 --> 00:17:46.349
This is important because late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding can happen weeks or months after birth and this slow release helps protect your baby during that whole time.
00:17:46.349 --> 00:17:52.512
Polysorbate 80 is used in tiny amounts less than 0.1 milligrams in the whole injection.
00:17:52.512 --> 00:17:54.625
So what about safety?
00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:58.690
Polysorbate 80 is not a heavy metal like mercury or lead.
00:17:58.690 --> 00:18:00.467
That's a common misconception.
00:18:00.467 --> 00:18:07.123
In fact, it's a water-soluble compound, which means your baby's body can break it down and get rid of it naturally.
00:18:07.123 --> 00:18:14.390
It doesn't hang around in the body, it doesn't build up in tissues, it doesn't stay stuck like some metals can.
00:18:14.390 --> 00:18:23.614
According to both the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency, polysorbate 80 is metabolized by enzymes and excreted.
00:18:23.614 --> 00:18:26.588
In other words, the body knows how to handle it.
00:18:26.588 --> 00:18:38.234
And just to give you some perspective on the amount, the World Health Organization says it's safe to get up to 25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight in foods and medicines.
00:18:38.234 --> 00:18:47.884
A 7-pound newborn, which is about 3.2 kilograms, would receive over 800 times less than that in the vitamin K shot.
00:18:47.884 --> 00:18:53.924
You might have seen scary headlines or studies in social media saying polysorbate 80 caused problems in animals.
00:18:53.924 --> 00:19:00.542
But here's the catch those studies use doses much higher than what's in the vitamin K shot, sometimes hundreds or thousands of times more.
00:19:00.542 --> 00:19:03.165
Sometimes hundreds or thousands of times more.
00:19:03.165 --> 00:19:05.909
So it's not really a fair comparison.
00:19:05.909 --> 00:19:11.695
To put it in perspective, even water is toxic to babies in unsafe amounts.
00:19:11.695 --> 00:19:20.559
So just to make it clear, a substance that would harm a baby in unsafe amounts is not necessarily inherently unsafe.
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:24.550
It's just important to stick to the safe dosage amounts.
00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:30.404
Question four Can I give my baby vitamin K orally instead.
00:19:30.404 --> 00:19:34.313
Okay, I hear this question a lot, so let's walk through it together.
00:19:34.313 --> 00:19:41.028
In places like the Netherlands and Japan, babies often get vitamin K drops by mouth instead of a shot.
00:19:41.028 --> 00:19:47.490
But and this is a big but it has to be given on a very specific schedule.
00:19:47.490 --> 00:20:01.002
For example, one study by Dr Cornelison and colleagues, published in the journal Pediatrics in 2012, looked at babies in the Netherlands who were given 1 mg of vitamin K by mouth every week for 3 months.
00:20:01.002 --> 00:20:13.801
They found that this weekly oral dose did help reduce the risk of late-onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding, but that only worked when parents gave the full dose every week on time.
00:20:14.650 --> 00:20:19.422
The problem is in the US, we don't have a standardized plan for oral vitamin K.
00:20:19.422 --> 00:20:26.685
That means there's no one agreed-upon schedule, and the FDA hasn't approved any form for newborns.
00:20:26.685 --> 00:20:34.732
That's important, because the oral products you can buy online or in stores aren't always made the same as medicines that go through strict testing.
00:20:34.732 --> 00:20:39.673
You don't always know for sure how strong they are or how well your baby's body will absorb them.
00:20:39.673 --> 00:20:48.240
And we just talked about how important it is to give newborns the right amount of something, because even water in the wrong amount can be toxic to newborns.
00:20:48.240 --> 00:21:05.310
A 2022 article in the Journal of Neonatal Screening by Dr Takashi Ito and colleagues shared that fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin K can be harder for some babies to absorb orally, especially if they have a health issue that affects digestion, like biliary atresia.
00:21:05.310 --> 00:21:11.064
And if your baby doesn't absorb the vitamin well, it's less likely to protect them from dangerous bleeding.
00:21:11.609 --> 00:21:18.214
Another big study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2022 reviewed lots of research from around the world.
00:21:18.214 --> 00:21:29.479
The article was written by Dr Lars Olson and published in Pediatrics, and it showed that, while oral vitamin K can work in some cases, it's just not as reliable as the shot.
00:21:29.479 --> 00:21:39.434
The injection is absorbed right into the muscle and stays in the baby's system for months, while the oral form can wear off quickly or be missed altogether if a dose is skipped.
00:21:39.434 --> 00:21:50.233
And here's one more thing that often gets overlooked Giving your baby too much vitamin K by mouth isn't likely to cause harm with the correct form vitamin K1.
00:21:50.233 --> 00:21:58.012
But giving the wrong type, like vitamin K3, also called menadione can actually be dangerous.
00:21:58.012 --> 00:22:05.239
That form isn't used in babies anymore because in the past it caused problems like jaundice and damage to red blood cells.
00:22:05.921 --> 00:22:11.858
This is another reason to make sure you're only using supplements recommended and monitored by your pediatrician.
00:22:11.858 --> 00:22:21.502
So, yes, there are parents who use oral vitamin K and, yes, it can reduce the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding if it's given properly.
00:22:21.502 --> 00:22:26.882
But you'll want to talk with your baby's doctor and have a very clear plan in place.
00:22:26.882 --> 00:22:30.159
This isn't something to DIY or guess your way through.
00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:35.861
And, again, there is no FDA-approved oral vitamin K for newborns in the US as of now.
00:22:35.861 --> 00:22:37.144
Here's the bottom line.
00:22:37.144 --> 00:22:49.796
If you're thinking of going the oral route, just know that it means being super consistent with the schedule, making sure your baby can absorb it and having guidance from a medical professional every step of the way.
00:22:49.796 --> 00:22:52.823
And just so you're considering all possibilities.
00:22:52.823 --> 00:23:02.920
Since there's no FDA-approved oral vitamin K protocol, it may be quite challenging to find a pediatrician who actually feels comfortable guiding you through the oral route.
00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:12.570
Since there isn't an FDA-approved oral form of vitamin K that has been deemed safe for newborns, your provider may not know how to safely guide you through this option.
00:23:12.570 --> 00:23:17.067
Remember, ultimately you're not just choosing between a shot or a drop.
00:23:17.067 --> 00:23:23.371
You're making a decision about how to keep your baby safe in those vulnerable early weeks of life, and that's a big deal.
00:23:24.594 --> 00:23:28.971
Question five Isn't the injection giving my baby too much vitamin K?
00:23:28.971 --> 00:23:31.577
This is such an understandable question.
00:23:31.577 --> 00:23:34.811
Some parents look at the numbers and think wait a minute.
00:23:34.811 --> 00:23:42.933
If babies need only about 3.5 micrograms per liter of vitamin K to prevent bleeding, then why are we giving them a full milligram all at once?
00:23:42.933 --> 00:23:43.493
Isn't that overdoing it?
00:23:43.493 --> 00:23:44.675
Why are we giving them a full milligram all at once?
00:23:44.675 --> 00:23:45.717
Isn't that overdoing it?
00:23:45.717 --> 00:23:47.118
Let's talk about that.
00:23:47.118 --> 00:23:58.247
The number you're probably thinking of, 3.5 micrograms per liter, comes from studies like the one by Lane and Hathaway published in the Archives of Disease and Childhood in 1982.
00:23:58.247 --> 00:24:03.016
They looked at what vitamin K levels in the blood seem to protect babies from bleeding.
00:24:03.016 --> 00:24:11.798
But here's the thing the number is the target blood level, not the same as the dose you'd need to give to reach that level and keep it there over time.
00:24:12.309 --> 00:24:13.536
So how does the shot work?
00:24:13.536 --> 00:24:21.055
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means your baby's body doesn't just flush out the extra in their pee like it would with vitamin C.
00:24:21.055 --> 00:24:26.718
Instead, it gets stored mostly in the liver and released slowly as needed.
00:24:26.718 --> 00:24:30.601
That's how one dose can last for weeks or even months.
00:24:30.601 --> 00:24:42.201
And that brings up another great question I've heard If a newborn's liver is too immature to make vitamin K or clot properly, how can it be mature enough to store that one milligram dose from a shot?
00:24:42.201 --> 00:24:51.280
That's a really smart question and the answer is newborn livers are still developing, but they're absolutely capable of storing nutrients like vitamin K.
00:24:52.289 --> 00:25:13.703
Several studies, including one by Shearer et al in Blood Reviews 2009, and another by Von Kreis in Thrombosis and Hemostasis in 1998, showed that after babies get the shot in 1998 showed that after babies get the shot, the vitamin K accumulates safely in the liver and is then released bit by bit to help the baby's blood clot normally over time.
00:00:00.561 --> 00:00:03.270
00:00:03.270 --> 00:00:15.032
00:00:15.032 --> 00:00:27.065
00:00:27.065 --> 00:00:31.422
00:00:31.422 --> 00:00:42.554
00:00:42.554 --> 00:00:45.207
00:00:45.207 --> 00:00:47.783
00:00:47.783 --> 00:00:56.392
00:00:56.392 --> 00:01:18.108
00:01:18.108 --> 00:01:35.328
00:01:35.328 --> 00:01:48.605
00:01:48.605 --> 00:01:59.117
00:01:59.117 --> 00:02:05.091
00:02:05.091 --> 00:02:13.385
00:02:14.168 --> 00:02:16.979
00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:18.200
00:02:18.200 --> 00:02:20.102
00:02:20.102 --> 00:02:24.544
00:02:24.544 --> 00:02:30.828
00:02:30.828 --> 00:02:36.251
00:02:36.251 --> 00:02:39.733
00:02:39.733 --> 00:02:40.913
00:02:40.913 --> 00:02:47.997
00:02:47.997 --> 00:02:55.854
00:02:55.854 --> 00:03:00.592
00:03:00.592 --> 00:03:11.133
00:03:11.775 --> 00:03:15.185
00:03:15.185 --> 00:03:33.037
00:03:33.037 --> 00:03:37.087
00:03:37.087 --> 00:03:40.849
00:03:40.849 --> 00:03:44.349
00:03:44.349 --> 00:03:49.223
00:03:49.223 --> 00:03:52.973
00:03:52.973 --> 00:03:59.401
00:03:59.401 --> 00:04:09.651
00:04:09.651 --> 00:04:14.912
00:04:14.912 --> 00:04:19.130
00:04:19.130 --> 00:04:23.831
00:04:23.831 --> 00:04:31.149
00:04:31.149 --> 00:04:55.713
00:04:55.713 --> 00:04:58.649
00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:03.488
00:05:03.488 --> 00:05:21.624
00:05:21.624 --> 00:05:35.377
00:05:35.377 --> 00:05:40.024
00:05:40.024 --> 00:05:41.565
00:05:41.565 --> 00:05:42.968
00:05:42.968 --> 00:05:43.507
00:05:43.507 --> 00:05:44.048
00:05:44.088 --> 00:05:50.036
00:05:50.036 --> 00:06:03.307
00:06:03.307 --> 00:06:05.788
00:06:05.788 --> 00:06:08.745
00:06:08.745 --> 00:06:13.641
00:06:13.641 --> 00:06:21.521
00:06:21.540 --> 00:06:23.165
00:06:23.165 --> 00:06:24.088
00:06:24.088 --> 00:06:26.396
00:06:26.396 --> 00:06:31.267
00:06:31.267 --> 00:06:38.932
00:06:38.932 --> 00:06:40.141
00:06:40.141 --> 00:06:47.334
00:06:47.334 --> 00:06:56.055
00:06:56.055 --> 00:06:58.002
00:06:58.002 --> 00:07:02.333
00:07:02.333 --> 00:07:05.209
00:07:05.209 --> 00:07:10.291
00:07:10.291 --> 00:07:15.351
00:07:15.351 --> 00:07:28.012
00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:32.391
00:07:32.391 --> 00:07:43.211
00:07:43.211 --> 00:07:53.043
00:07:53.043 --> 00:07:56.773
00:07:56.773 --> 00:08:00.028
00:08:00.028 --> 00:08:14.072
00:08:14.072 --> 00:08:23.009
00:08:23.009 --> 00:08:27.370
00:08:27.370 --> 00:08:29.728
00:08:29.728 --> 00:08:40.299
00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:44.731
00:08:44.731 --> 00:08:47.102
00:08:47.644 --> 00:08:57.861
00:08:57.861 --> 00:09:04.525
00:09:04.525 --> 00:09:13.765
00:09:13.765 --> 00:09:16.311
00:09:16.311 --> 00:09:25.908
00:09:25.908 --> 00:09:32.767
00:09:33.470 --> 00:09:37.062
00:09:37.062 --> 00:09:42.533
00:09:42.533 --> 00:09:44.364
00:09:44.364 --> 00:09:47.491
00:09:47.491 --> 00:09:51.171
00:09:51.171 --> 00:09:54.908
00:09:54.908 --> 00:10:00.731
00:10:00.731 --> 00:10:03.950
00:10:03.950 --> 00:10:08.191
00:10:08.191 --> 00:10:09.966
00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:16.948
00:10:16.948 --> 00:10:22.870
00:10:22.870 --> 00:10:28.203
00:10:28.203 --> 00:10:31.292
00:10:31.292 --> 00:10:32.341
00:10:32.341 --> 00:10:41.269
00:10:41.269 --> 00:10:45.784
00:10:45.784 --> 00:10:48.269
00:10:48.269 --> 00:10:49.591
00:10:50.293 --> 00:10:54.285
00:10:54.285 --> 00:10:57.513
00:10:57.513 --> 00:11:06.855
00:11:06.855 --> 00:11:14.153
00:11:14.153 --> 00:11:17.730
00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.690
00:11:21.690 --> 00:11:24.346
00:11:24.346 --> 00:11:25.590
00:11:25.590 --> 00:11:27.475
00:11:27.475 --> 00:11:35.188
00:11:35.188 --> 00:11:35.269
00:11:35.269 --> 00:11:42.432
00:11:42.432 --> 00:11:46.591
00:11:46.591 --> 00:11:56.971
00:11:56.971 --> 00:12:06.181
00:12:06.802 --> 00:12:16.812
00:12:16.812 --> 00:12:29.693
00:12:29.693 --> 00:12:33.283
00:12:33.283 --> 00:12:35.428
00:12:35.428 --> 00:12:37.452
00:12:37.452 --> 00:12:41.863
00:12:41.863 --> 00:12:44.485
00:12:44.485 --> 00:12:45.086
00:12:45.086 --> 00:12:45.905
00:12:45.905 --> 00:12:48.769
00:12:48.769 --> 00:12:53.572
00:12:53.572 --> 00:12:58.996
00:12:58.996 --> 00:13:00.740
00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:07.360
00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:20.413
00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:28.581
00:13:28.581 --> 00:13:42.605
00:13:42.605 --> 00:13:47.543
00:13:47.543 --> 00:13:48.908
00:13:48.908 --> 00:14:00.201
00:14:00.722 --> 00:14:07.620
00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:23.964
00:14:23.964 --> 00:14:36.581
00:14:36.581 --> 00:14:44.932
00:14:44.932 --> 00:15:01.787
00:15:01.787 --> 00:15:19.602
00:15:20.144 --> 00:15:23.952
00:15:23.952 --> 00:15:27.460
00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:37.134
00:15:37.134 --> 00:15:39.567
00:15:39.567 --> 00:15:47.288
00:15:47.288 --> 00:15:51.530
00:15:51.530 --> 00:16:00.394
00:16:00.394 --> 00:16:11.732
00:16:11.732 --> 00:16:21.849
00:16:22.711 --> 00:16:27.921
00:16:27.921 --> 00:16:29.664
00:16:29.664 --> 00:16:30.807
00:16:30.807 --> 00:16:36.931
00:16:36.931 --> 00:16:45.173
00:16:45.173 --> 00:16:52.403
00:16:52.403 --> 00:16:59.149
00:16:59.731 --> 00:17:05.829
00:17:05.829 --> 00:17:15.847
00:17:15.847 --> 00:17:17.151
00:17:17.151 --> 00:17:24.824
00:17:24.824 --> 00:17:25.667
00:17:25.667 --> 00:17:28.400
00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.583
00:17:31.583 --> 00:17:35.213
00:17:35.213 --> 00:17:46.349
00:17:46.349 --> 00:17:52.512
00:17:52.512 --> 00:17:54.625
00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:58.690
00:17:58.690 --> 00:18:00.467
00:18:00.467 --> 00:18:07.123
00:18:07.123 --> 00:18:14.390
00:18:14.390 --> 00:18:23.614
00:18:23.614 --> 00:18:26.588
00:18:26.588 --> 00:18:38.234
00:18:38.234 --> 00:18:47.884
00:18:47.884 --> 00:18:53.924
00:18:53.924 --> 00:19:00.542
00:19:00.542 --> 00:19:03.165
00:19:03.165 --> 00:19:05.909
00:19:05.909 --> 00:19:11.695
00:19:11.695 --> 00:19:20.559
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:24.550
00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:30.404
00:19:30.404 --> 00:19:34.313
00:19:34.313 --> 00:19:41.028
00:19:41.028 --> 00:19:47.490
00:19:47.490 --> 00:20:01.002
00:20:01.002 --> 00:20:13.801
00:20:14.650 --> 00:20:19.422
00:20:19.422 --> 00:20:26.685
00:20:26.685 --> 00:20:34.732
00:20:34.732 --> 00:20:39.673
00:20:39.673 --> 00:20:48.240
00:20:48.240 --> 00:21:05.310
00:21:05.310 --> 00:21:11.064
00:21:11.609 --> 00:21:18.214
00:21:18.214 --> 00:21:29.479
00:21:29.479 --> 00:21:39.434
00:21:39.434 --> 00:21:50.233
00:21:50.233 --> 00:21:58.012
00:21:58.012 --> 00:22:05.239
00:22:05.921 --> 00:22:11.858
00:22:11.858 --> 00:22:21.502
00:22:21.502 --> 00:22:26.882
00:22:26.882 --> 00:22:30.159
00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:35.861
00:22:35.861 --> 00:22:37.144
00:22:37.144 --> 00:22:49.796
00:22:49.796 --> 00:22:52.823
00:22:52.823 --> 00:23:02.920
00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:12.570
00:23:12.570 --> 00:23:17.067
00:23:17.067 --> 00:23:23.371
00:23:24.594 --> 00:23:28.971
00:23:28.971 --> 00:23:31.577
00:23:31.577 --> 00:23:34.811
00:23:34.811 --> 00:23:42.933
00:23:42.933 --> 00:23:43.493
00:23:43.493 --> 00:23:44.675
00:23:44.675 --> 00:23:45.717
00:23:45.717 --> 00:23:47.118
00:23:47.118 --> 00:23:58.247
00:23:58.247 --> 00:24:03.016
00:24:03.016 --> 00:24:11.798
00:24:12.309 --> 00:24:13.536
00:24:13.536 --> 00:24:21.055
00:24:21.055 --> 00:24:26.718
00:24:26.718 --> 00:24:30.601
00:24:30.601 --> 00:24:42.201
00:24:42.201 --> 00:24:51.280
00:24:52.289 --> 00:25:13.703