Do Newborns Need a Vitamin K Shot and Eye Antibiotics?
Itâs common after your delivery for doctors to give your baby vitamin K and eye antibiotics. But many parents wonderâŚis it really necessary?
Vitamin K Shot at Birth
Adults and children get vitamin K through their foodsâlike leafy green vegetablesâand through bacterial processes that take place in your gut. Babies donât get a lot of vitamin K through the placentaâŚbreastmilk doesnât have much either. If youâre nursing, youâll especially want your baby to get some extra vitamin K.
Vitamin K helps blood clot and prevents serious bleeding. So, itâs very important that your little one gets a dose of vitamin K when they enter the world (and the AAP thinks so too!).
How Vitamin K is Given to Newborns
Most hospitals and doctors give a quick, tiny vitamin K shot. Some use drops, but it doesnât have a good taste and many babies spit it out! Of course, parents arenât excited about giving their little bug a shot post-birthâbut itâs by far the easiest (and quickest) way for you to have peace of mind that vitamin K is preventing the risk of a serious disorder or complications.
Antibiotic Eye Ointment for Newborns
Ilotycin is an antibiotic ointment that is routinely put in the eyes of all newborns. Itâs intended to prevent eye infections from common bacteria that can be passed on during birth or from STIâs. While STIs can be treated or cured with medication, your STI status can affect your delivery.
How Eye Medicine is Given to Newborns
Most hospitals will apply antibiotic ointment to a baby's eyes immediately after birth (some states mandate this by law, but parents can refuse it). The treatment has been around since the 1800s and was originally used to prevent blindness if the baby was exposed to gonorrhea. There are very few complications that can result from the medicine, but itâs not necessary if youâve had good prenatal care and donât have gonorrhea.Â
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