1001 reasons why babies need to receive vitamin K right after birth
When learning about what a newborn should do immediately after birth, have parents ever wondered: Why does the baby need a vitamin K injection?
What is vitamin K and why is it so important for newborns?
Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble vitamins consisting of three main types:
+ Vitamin K1: Mainly from green vegetables and fruits
+ Vitamin K2: Mainly from animal meat or bacteria that normally reside in the human intestine
+ Vitamin K3: Synthetic vitamin, derived from water-soluble vitamin K
The presence of vitamin K ensures that the blood clotting process occurs normally, preventing spontaneous bleeding; at the same time, it helps enhance the immune system, facilitates calcium absorption along with many minerals,…
Why should vitamin K be injected into children immediately after birth?
+ The body of a newborn only contains a very low amount of vitamin K
+ The gut microbiota of the baby at this time cannot yet synthesize vitamin K on its own
+ The essential source of vitamin K for infants in the neonatal period is mainly provided through breast milk; however, the vitamin K content in breast milk is low (2-5mcg/liter)
Therefore, all newborns are at risk of vitamin K deficiency. Injecting vitamin K immediately after birth is considered a proactive preventive measure to avoid conditions such as intracranial hemorrhage, meningitis, which are common around one month of age, minimizing severe complications for the child. Parents should also know that vitamin K supplementation for children can be done in two ways: injection or oral. However, the injection method is commonly applied as it is easier to absorb compared to the oral form, suitable even for children at risk of bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency.
At Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, all babies receive free vitamin K vaccinations immediately after birth by a team of experienced nurses and technicians, ensuring maximum safety.
In addition, the baby is also provided with early newborn care methods such as: delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, health checks, bathing, and massage. When family members request, the hospital is ready to support services: umbilical cord plasma therapy, jaundice phototherapy, newborn screening by heel prick blood test, hearing screening, congenital heart disease screening with leading cardiovascular specialists, umbilical cord blood storage,… Thanks to this, the baby has more good luck and the best health foundation!
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