If synthetic oral vitamin K is Certain medications and antibiotics during pregnancy or labour It is interesting to note that respected medical journal The Lancet used, there is much more increases risk of a brain bleed and their use should be avoided unless way back in 1977 stated “We conclude that healthy babies, contrary Is routine use of likely to be toxic side effects. deemed absolutely necessary. to current beliefs, are not likely to have a vitamin K deficiency... the The blood brain barrier is Avoid circumcision – it’s a highly traumatic procedure which can result in administration of vitamin K is not supported by our findings..” not developed until around heavy bleeding. On a final note, Paediatrics & Child Health 1997 2(6):429-31 states Vitamin K for the 6 months, the liver does “There is a lack of definitive answers to many clinical questions. Potential Isn’t it worth considering assessing which babies might be at risk by not produce bile until 4-6 harm to the baby must also be considered” months, and the stomach is looking at their circumstances surrounding maternal health, medication/ newborn really very permeable until the first drug use during pregnancy and labour, trauma during birth etc so that For the sake of your children’s health, be informed parents. breastfeeds, so any other toxins an individualised appropriate protocol of care for newborns can be or additional ingredients in the implemented using natural forms of Vitamin K supplementation? Vitamin K product may not be And finally, of course planning for a natural, drug free, full term birth with good practice? delayed cord clamping and as little medical interference as possible is dealt with adequately. the best way to go. As mentioned earlier, Vitamin K is routinely given to all newborns shortly after birth either For further information on Vitamin K refer to the following: Vitamin K is made by the by intramuscular injection or orally, but like all routine prescriptive 1. ‘Vitamin K - An alternative perspective’, by Sara Wickham care there is always the question of whether it is entirely necessary, intestinal bacteria, but as the digestive tracts of newborns are usually 2. AIMS Occasional paper – ‘Vitamin K in relation to haemorrhagic or if in fact it is even safe. sterile to start with they do not have the ability to make Vitamin K instantly. The Vitamin K injection or drops are actually an ‘overdose’ for disease of the newborn’, by Joan Donley. AIMS - www.aims.org.uk The reason for administering vitamin K to newborns is to protect the the baby and there is probably a good reason why newborns only have 3. ‘Vitamin K: A flaw in the blueprint?’ from the Midwifery Digest baby from a condition called Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn a little. (MIDIRS, Sept. 2001). MIDIRS: www.midirs.org (HDN), which was first described by a doctor called Townsend in 1894. It is now referred to as Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). Statistically, Another worrying health concern relating to routine prescription of 4. Neurosurgeon, Dr. Russell Blaylock, and others write here about 1 in 10,000 babies are thought to have some form of bleed at, or Vitamin K for newborns is discussed in Midwifery Today E-News (Vol and this site is fully referenced - http://legaljustice4john.com/ sometime after birth. 2, Issue 19) which has a special article on Factor V Leiden (FVL) – a jaundiceVitKshotNewborns.htm Belinda J Ambrose genetic condition which increases the chances of blood clots developing. Babies at risk of developing HDN/VKDB include prematurity/low birth Depending on the area, between 3-10% of Caucasian people carry the 5. http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/Vitamin-K-Does-Your-Baby- Chiropractor, weight babies, babies with infections, drug and antibiotic exposure FVL gene; no stats are given for people from other ethnic groups, and it Really-Need-It- Wellness Advisor during pregnancy or labour, babies with liver disease, poor maternal is implied that it is a Caucasian anomaly. The baby of someone carrying 6. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding – does it really exist? http://www. and Mum of three health, difficult birth, forceps/ventouse assisted delivery, C section and FVL has a 50% chance of carrying it too, and the author speculates that maternity.org.nz circumcision. routine administration of Vitamin K could be dangerous for these babies. However, there can be side effects with routine Vitamin K supplementation. How many women are routinely tested for this condition? If they are not, Complications associated with Vitamin K supplementation can ironically then routine Vitamin A administration could be putting their babies at cause the very thing that it’s supposed to prevent – neonatal morbidity risk. and mortality. With all these worrying side-effects and complications, wouldn’t it make Dr. Louise Parker was quoted in the British Medical Journal in 1998: “It more sense to reduce the incidence of developing HDN/VKDB by other is not possible, on the basis of currently published evidence to refute means? the suggestion that neonatal IM (intramuscular injection) vitamin Here’s my advice....During pregnancy eat Vitamin K rich foods like dark K administration increases the risk of early childhood leukaemia.” leafy greens, blackstrap molasses, green tea, and egg yolks. Supplement Further study has still not been carried out, and no studies, period, with probiotics - the beneficial bacteria in the gut actually produce Covering 30,000 homes Do you run a business within the ● for carcinogenicity, mutagenesis or impairment of fertility have been and businesses throughout ● Vitamin K. Darras Ponteland Tyne Valley area? conducted with Vitamin K1 Injection. the Tyne Valley Hall Breast feed your infant immediately after birth to give them a natural Jaundice is a common sign of Vitamin K overdose. Jaundice can cause Heddon Do you want to promote an event? ‘dose’ of Vitamin K - it is interesting to note here that policy on vitamin K on the Wall kernicterus (brain damage from high bilirubin levels) and haemolysis ● undermines the mother and discourages breastfeeding because doctors HEXHAM ● Horsley (destruction of red blood cells), as reported in journals such as the British Do you have a story to tell? say that breast milk does not contain enough Vitamin K. Breast milk is ● Corbridge ● NEW ● Ryton ● Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1996. ● actually the perfect nutrition for your baby providing you have taken Ovington ● Clara Vale ● ● ● Do you want to do an aditorial to good care of your own nutrition! ● The manufacturers of synthetic Vitamin K actually warn on the product ● ● Mickley PRUDHOE ● Greenside promote yourself fully and explain inset: “Severe reactions, including fatalities, have occurred during and Riding Mill ● Stocksfield ● Coalburns immediately after intravenous injection of phytonadione (Vitamin K)...” Issue 33 - March/April 2014 your business philosophy to our readers? Death is listed as a possible adverse reaction of both injected and oral

Vitamin K. Issue 34 - May/June 2014 The Tyne Valley Express is the only FREE Our magazine is not just full of adverts, we

These reactions are alarming to say the least. I recall the birth of my A free publication for the people of the Valley publication going to the majority of the have features on local events, people and firstborn – ‘high risk’ for developing HDN/VKDB so we decided to homes within the Tyne valley. organisations. give her the Vitamin K orally but after coughing, choking and almost asphyxiating on them – there was no doubt she had a reaction to the We deliver around 30,000 magazines Our magazine is available to view 24/7 online In this packed issue In thisTYNE RIVERS packed TRUST issue- Ups and Downs of the river ANDERSON & GARLAND - What’s hot & What’s not. Tyne Rivers Trust – Let’s get involved! drops; we stopped giving them to her immediately. We later found KIELDER OBSERVATORY - Seeing stars in our region. We offer free advert design by our own in Spirit ofHIDDEN Africa TREASURE – Making - History a direct under difference our feet. every issue! As a small locally based out oral Vitamin K carries the risk of anaphylaxis and after researching it Anderson & Garland – Investing in the old and the new house design team. A free publication for the people of the Valley company we can provide a tailored further decided against Vitamin K for my other children. package to suit your advertising needs. Rates to suit any budget So what exactly is in routinely prescribed Vitamin K for newborns? The vitamin K injections administered by hospitals and manufactured by Merck and Roche and Abbott contain benzyl alcohol as a preservative. You will find conflicting studies looking at safe low levels of this in Contact Michael today for any help or advice neonates. Vitamin K injections also contain hydrochloric acid, lecithin and acetic Telephone: 01661 852 684 Email: [email protected] acid as phenol propylene glycol. The Vitamin K injection can be in a base Check us out at www.tynevalleyexpress.co.uk to see out full rate card of poly-ethoxylated castor oil, some use animal fat. I certainly wouldn’t choose to have any of these ingredients injected into any of my babes.

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