[ProteinQueen]

You can have my books!!!!

[Tasha]

Originally Posted by Norman Yeah I only found out about this after my girls had had it too... Having said that - I gave them formula and that has fish oil in it - yuck! I didn't realise that until after they'd first had it either . In all honesty in their case it's probably good that I didn't know as I didn't have to wrestle with my conscious over them having it or not! Having said that - if I ever have another - and they're well - I think I wouldn't give it to them. I find (as with most things!) it depends on the midwife how it's reacted to if someone refuses - I'm not aware that anyone would put pressure on someone if they didn't want it - depends how well informed the midwife is of the minimal risks of needing it - and if the baby was at risk because of traumatic birth etc.... Is the oral vit K veggie does anyone know - I have in my head that it is - but I could have just made it up!

This is awful that they are not advertising it, informed choice should be given every time.

Norman there is one formula on the market that doesnt have fish oil in it, I know because my cousin a strict vegan for many years has scoured the market for her son (if you wanna know which one pm me).

[EvieMay]

I opted for the oral Vit K with baby no 3 but I didn't want it at all really. Can anyone tell me what the evidence and statistics are that show it is really necessary, I have my doubts tbh. I just feel, and it's only my humble opinion of course, that if only one baby in a 10,000 would benefit from being given Vit K then should we be giving it to every child just in case even if there is the slightest risk of adverse effect? Isn't there a point where the risk of adverse effect of giving Vit K outweighs the risk of Vitamin K deficiency itself? Is it not recognisable and treatable anyway? Why treat every child regardless of need?

[ProteinQueen]

Mads this is what I was trying to say at the start of the thread but you put it so much better! I honestly don't know if I would give it to my child so I don't feel I can recommend it to others, but again that comes down to informed choice-or lack of it. I can see the point if there has been a really traumatic birth but don't feel it's necessary for EVERY baby.

[goddessmomma]

Don't know if this answers any part of your question Mads but it is suggested in the article that that the need for routine administration vitamin K came about with the medicianalisation of the third physiological stage of labour. Cutting the cord before it has had chance to stop pulsating prevents the baby benefiting from the blood volume and compositon regulating factors of which included in this is blood clotting factors. It is suggested that those who wish not to use vitamin K should have a physiological 3rd stage to compensate for this. A study in Argentina showed that in a controlled test in which 276 healthy newborns were involved and three groups that were randomly picked the group which had there cord cutting delayed by three minutes after birth had higher iron levels than the groups that were clamped at fifteen seconds and one minute. Like everything though they are not committing themselves but suggest that in the future delayed cord cutting could be well up there in the debate about vitamin K, xxx

[EvieMay]

Thanks GM, that is fascinating, isn't it? The more you medicalise birth the more you have to compensate by medicalising further it seems. Or is that too simplistic a view?

[goddessmomma]

Originally Posted by Mads Thanks GM, that is fascinating, isn't it? The more you medicalise birth the more you have to compensate by medicalising further it seems. Or is that too simplistic a view?

No hun you are spot on. If we stopped messing about with what Mother Nature has had under control since time began we would fair a lot better. xxxxxxxx

[ProteinQueen]

I just love this place!!

[Ani]

Hi everyone, this is a good thread... so if you were caring for a woman who you knew was a strict vegetarian, would you volunteer the information about what was in the vitamin k injection? Or would you only tell if she specifically asked? I'm gonna post this question over on the grown ups site to see what they say too....

[ProteinQueen]

Good question! I think me being me would have to tell her but I have to admit I'm not sure if I would be brave enough to say it in front of a midwife. So definetly when I am qualified but as a student I'm not sure. Tough one.