The Vitamin K Shot: What Every Parent Should Know

Your newborn seems perfect and healthy. So when a nurse recommends a vitamin K shot shortly after birth, you may wonder whether it's really necessary. The answer is yes. While babies are born with very low vitamin K levels, a single shot can help prevent dangerous internal bleeding that parents may not see until it's too late.

You may be unfamiliar with the vitamin K shot or concerned about “one more poke” for your newborn. To explain what the shot does and why it’s important, we talked with Destiny Harrell-Washington, DO, a pediatrician with Franciscan Physician Network Broadway Health Center in Crown Point.

Here’s what she wants you to know.

Key Takeaways: The Importance Of The Vitamin K Shot

• Newborns are born with very low vitamin K levels.
• A vitamin K shot shortly after birth helps prevent life-threatening internal bleeding.
• Babies who do not receive the shot are 81 times more likely to develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), a condition that can cause dangerous bleeding inside a baby's body, including the brain and intestines.
• One shot provides better protection than oral vitamin K.

Why Does My Baby Need A Vitamin K Shot?

Vitamin K is a nutrient that helps your blood clot, so you don’t bleed too easily. As a child or an adult, you get most of your vitamin K from green leafy vegetables like spinach or broccoli.

At birth, infants don’t have enough vitamin K to protect them from developing excessive bleeding like vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), Dr. Harrell-Washington said. Unlike other nutrients, vitamin K doesn’t pass through the placenta during pregnancy. Breast milk doesn’t contain enough of this vitamin either. So, newborns must get that initial boost of vitamin K from somewhere else.

“The vitamin K shot is best delivered within the first six hours of life,” she said. “Without it, low levels of this nutrient lead to VKDB, which can cause brain damage or death. This shot is a vital part of newborn care.”

Should I Worry About The Vitamin K Shot?

Despite its importance, many parents hesitate to give their newborns the vitamin K shot, Dr. Harrell-Washington said. Some worry about giving their baby too many medications at one time. Others mistakenly believe the vitamin K shot is a vaccine instead of a life-protecting dose of an essential nutrient.

Dr. Harrell-Washington said she routinely reassures parents that the vitamin K shot is safe and necessary to protect their child’s long-term health. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics completed two decades of research before first recommending the shot in 1961. Before that, one in 60 babies developed VKDB within their first week of life.

“The vitamin K shot is highly reviewed and very well researched. It’s a critical part of care for newborns,” she said. “As pediatricians, we want all children to start life on the healthiest track possible. We know parents want to do what they believe is best for their child, too. The vitamin K shot is an important first step when we welcome a new child into the world.”

What Can Happen If My Baby Doesn't Get The Vitamin K Shot?

Babies who don’t receive the vitamin K shot are at a much higher risk of developing internal bleeding within the first few days to months of life, Dr. Harrell-Washington said.

“Without the vitamin K shot, research has shown that infants are 81 times more likely to develop vitamin K deficiency bleeding,” she said. “Sadly, one in five of those infants who develop the condition will die from it.”

VKDB can cause external and internal bleeding any time within your baby’s first six months. The most dangerous bleeding can occur in the intestines or brain. The risk of bleeding drops after six months when babies can typically eat solid foods that contain vitamin K. By this time, they also have a healthy gut microbiome — the ecosystem of intestinal microorganisms that support digestion — that can produce the nutrient.

Is The Vitamin K Shot Safe?

Vitamin K is the main ingredient in this life-protecting shot. The injection also includes a very small amount of a common preservative called benzyl alcohol.

“This low level of benzyl alcohol makes the vitamin K shot safe to give,” Dr. Harrell-Washington said. “It makes the liquid in the shot less acidic, so it isn’t harmful when it enters the infant’s bloodstream.”

Some parents ask about ingredients in the vitamin K shot. Dr. Harrell-Washington says the shot has been extensively studied and is considered safe for newborns. If you have questions about the ingredients used at your hospital, talk with your baby's care team.

Can My Baby Have Oral Vitamin K Instead Of The Shot?

An oral dose of vitamin K does exist for newborns. But it’s not the safest or most reliable option, Dr. Harrell-Washington said. It’s also not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

She warned against relying on the oral dose for three reasons:

1. Oral doses only protect against early-onset bleeding (within 24 hours) and classical bleeding (within two days to one week). They do not protect against late-onset bleeding that occurs between one week and six months after birth.
2. Infants must receive multiple oral vitamin K doses over an eight-week period.
3. An infant’s stomach and intestines can’t absorb oral vitamin K consistently or effectively.

Questions To Ask Before Your Baby Arrives

As an expecting or new parent, it’s important for you to feel comfortable with your child’s healthcare, Dr. Harrell-Washington said. If you have questions about the vitamin K shot, don’t hesitate to ask. Many pediatricians offer “meet and greet” appointments where you can discuss your concerns with your child’s current or future pediatrician.

“These appointments are an opportunity for parents to find out what will happen immediately after delivery and what they can expect developmentally in the first month,” she said. “Parents can also address any concerns about medications and shots that we recommend in the newborn period.”

Protecting Your Baby From Preventable Bleeding

Ultimately, Dr. Harrell-Washington emphasized that VKDB is a problem you can’t see. The vitamin K shot can ease your worries that your baby may develop this unseen condition.

“There may not be immediate signs parents can recognize. So, it’s important for babies to get the vitamin K shot as soon as possible following delivery,” she said. “A delay in getting — or not getting — the vitamin K shot can lead to serious and life-threatening consequences. Parents must understand that a single vitamin K shot is the best source to prevent severe bleeding in their newborn.”

Expecting a baby or looking for a pediatrician? Franciscan Health pediatric experts can answer questions about the vitamin K shot, newborn care and your baby's first months of life. Make an appointment with a Franciscan Health pediatrician today.