HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Vitamin K & your baby
Huaora K me tāu pēpi
We all need vitamin K to help our blood clot properly. A newborn pēpi (baby) has a lower level of vitamin K in their body. This means they can occasionally get a bleeding problem called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). The way to stop this happening is to give the pēpi some extra vitamin K.
After birth you will be asked if you want your pēpi to have vitamin K to reduce the chances of them getting VKDB. They can either have it by mouth or as an injection.
The links below give more information about vitamin K and why it is offered to newborn pēpi.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Te Whatu Ora – Vitamin K and your baby
Information about Vitamin K and Vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
- KidsHealth – Vitamin K for newborn babies to prevent serious bleeding
Information about Vitamin K and pēpi, including why pēpi have low levels of Vitamin K.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2024.
SourcesReview key: HIENB-439053
