Which newborn vitamin is routinely administered at birth?

Which newborn vitamin is routinely administered at birth?

• A. Vitamin D supplement
• B. Vitamin C supplement
• C. Vitamin K (phytonadione) injection
• D. Vitamin A supplement

Answer: (C)

Vitamin K given by injection at birth is routinely given to prevent hemorrhagic disease in newborns. Newborns have very low vitamin K stores and their gut isn’t yet colonized with bacteria that synthesize vitamin K, so they’re at risk for serious bleeding because clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X can’t be produced efficiently. Administering phytonadione intramuscularly shortly after birth fortifies the baby's ability to form clots and greatly reduces this risk, including the chance of intracranial hemorrhage. Vitamin D supplementation is commonly started after birth, especially for breastfed infants, to prevent rickets, but it is not given as a single routine injection at birth. Vitamin A and vitamin C are not standard newborn injections at birth in most settings.

Vitamin K given by injection at birth is routinely given to prevent hemorrhagic disease in newborns. Newborns have very low vitamin K stores and their gut isn’t yet colonized with bacteria that synthesize vitamin K, so they’re at risk for serious bleeding because clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X can’t be produced efficiently. Administering phytonadione intramuscularly shortly after birth fortifies the baby's ability to form clots and greatly reduces this risk, including the chance of intracranial hemorrhage.

Vitamin D supplementation is commonly started after birth, especially for breastfed infants, to prevent rickets, but it is not given as a single routine injection at birth. Vitamin A and vitamin C are not standard newborn injections at birth in most settings.