Hepatitis B
It is routine practice in Australia to offer Vitamin K to every newborn baby. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary to create the normal blood clotting mechanism in our bodies, to prevent and control excessive bleeding. Babies are born with a natural degree of Vitamin K deficiency, however in rare cases these levels can reduce even further after birth, creating an unsafe deficiency.
If this occurs, the condition is called 'Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding' or 'VKDB' (previously known as Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn or 'HDN'). As a way of preventing VKDB in a few babies, all parents are encouraged to give their newborn baby some form of supplement of Vitamin K soon after they are born, as a precaution.
Your caregiver usually administers Vitamin K when your baby is being weighed and measured, an hour or so after the birth. You can choose between 1 injection soon after birth or 3 oral doses (by mouth). The 1st dose is given soon after birth, the 2nd dose at 3 to 5 days of age and the 3rd dose at one month of age. It is important that all 3 doses are given if you choose the oral method.
If you wish to find out more information about Vitamin K, to help you understand why it is given, or help you make an informed decision about how you would like your baby to have the vitamin, you can read
Vitamin K. This section also includes some FAQ's if you are considering declining it for your baby.
Hepatitis B vaccination
Hepatitis B vaccinations are now routinely offered to all newborn Australian babies as part of the
National Australian Immunisation Schedule (since May 2000). The first (of 4) injections are given to the baby within 7 days of the baby's birth. The subsequent injections are given at 2, 4 and then either 6 or 12 months (depending on which Australian state you live in).
You can find out more about the Hepatitis B vaccination in
hepatitis B for babies.