In Australia, vitamin K is offered by caregivers as either:
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A single injection on the day of the baby's birth (1mg - 0.1mls, or 0.5mg - 0.05mls for very small premature babies), |
OR
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3 Oral doses (2mg per dose, or 0.2mls per dose). These should be given on:
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| 1. |
The 1st dose on the day of the baby's birth. |
| 2. |
The 2nd dose around about days 4 to 7 after the birth, usually when the baby receives their Newborn Screening Test. |
| 3. |
The 3rd dose when the baby is 1 month old. This may need to be done by your local doctor or early childhood health worker. |
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NOTE: If your baby vomits within 1 hour of having their oral Vitamin K the dose will need to be repeated.
The Vitamin K should be recorded on your baby's personal health record book.
The advantage of an injection is that it is a one off dose and there is no need to remember to give further doses.
The disadvantage of an injection is that it can be briefly painful for the baby, and holds small risks of bruising and infection at the skin site of the injection (less than 1%).
The advantage of the oral doses is that it is not painful for the baby and does not carry the small risks of the injection.
The disadvantage of the oral doses is that parents need to remember to give their baby all the doses.