Vitamin K at birth
6-minute read
Key facts
- Vitamin K helps your baby’s blood to clot.
- Babies need more vitamin K than they get from their mother during pregnancy or from breast milk.
- Parents of all newborns are offered a vitamin K injection for their baby soon after birth.
- This helps prevent babies from becoming vitamin K deficient.
- Without the injection, they are at risk of developing a condition called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (known as VKDB).
What is vitamin K?
Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that’s needed for your baby’s body to work properly. Vitamin K helps the blood to clot and prevents bleeding.
Why is vitamin K important for my baby?
Babies do not get enough vitamin K during pregnancy or from breast milk. Without enough vitamin K they are at risk of developing a disease called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB).
While vitamin K deficiency bleeding is very rare, affecting less than 1 in 100,000 babies, it can be very serious.
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding can cause bleeding in your baby’s brain. This condition may result in brain damage and even death.
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding mainly affects breastfed babies.
By about 6 months of age, your baby will have their own supply of vitamin K.
How is vitamin K given?
It’s recommended that babies are given a single injection of vitamin K shortly after birth.
Can all babies have vitamin K?
It’s recommended that all babies have vitamin K.
If your baby is premature or very small, they might need a smaller dose of vitamin K. You can discuss this with your doctor.
Your doctor may strongly recommend that your baby has a vitamin K injection if you have an assisted delivery (by forceps or vacuum). This is because there is an increased chance that your baby could have a haemorrhage (bleed).
Oral vitamin K
Some services may offer liquid vitamin K drops. However, the vitamin K drops are not absorbed well by the body, so your baby will need several doses.
- The first dose is given at birth.
- The second dose is given at 3 to 5 days of age.
- The third dose is given when your baby is 4 weeks old, if they are fully breastfed.
The second dose can be given in hospital at the same time as your baby has their newborn screening test, or by your doctor or child health nurse.
It’s important to remember to arrange your baby’s third dose when they are 4 weeks old.
If your baby vomits within one hour of swallowing the vitamin K, they will need another dose.
Can all babies have oral vitamin K?
Some babies can’t have oral vitamin K, including if:
- they were born prematurely or are unwell
- they are unwell when a dose is due
- you took certain medicines while pregnant — including medicines for epilepsy, blood clots or tuberculosis
Does vitamin K have any side effects?
Vitamin K has been given to newborns in Australia for more than 30 years without any known problems.
Some studies have suggested that there may be a link between vitamin K and childhood cancer. However, The National Health and Research Council in Australia has thoroughly investigated this claim and found no link.
How do I get vitamin K for my baby?
During your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will ask you whether you want your baby to have vitamin K. Your decision will then be noted on your file.
Based on your decision, your baby will receive vitamin K soon after birth. It will be given by a doctor, midwife or nurse.
Make sure that your baby’s vitamin K doses are recorded in their personal health record.
Does my baby have to have vitamin K?
It’s your choice whether to give your baby vitamin K. However, giving vitamin K is an easy way to prevent a very serious disease.
Health authorities in Australia recommend that all babies are given vitamin K. This includes babies who were born prematurely or are sick.
If you decide against vitamin K you need to watch very carefully for signs of VKDB.
What should I look out for?
See your doctor or child health nurse if your baby:
- has unexplained bleeding or bruising
- is showing signs of jaundice (yellow skin or whites of the eyes) after they are 3 weeks old
Babies with liver problems have a higher risk of bleeding, even if they have had vitamin K.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How much does vitamin K cost?
In Australia, vitamin K injections or drops for newborns are free. The cost is covered by Medicare.
Resources and support
Speak to your doctor or midwife about vitamin K for your newborn.
Other languages
The National Health and Medical Research Council has information in multiple languages on vitamin K for newborn babies.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.