Vitamin K for Baby and Oxytocin for placenta

[Sandi4Paul]

Hi had my 34 week appointment today and instead of my usual nice midwife i had a team of three (my MW was on training), so wasn't able to ask stuff, but on the bright side they mentioned things my normal MW hasn't.

We were talking about birthplan and they mentioned i may want to think about

1) Do i want baby given Vitamin K

2) do i want Oxytocin to help deliver the placenta.

well my book doesn't mention much about either of them.

Can people tell me why either of them would be given and what the pros and cons are of each?

thanks

Sandi

 

[valentine]

1) Do i want baby given Vitamin K

2) do i want Oxytocin to help deliver the placenta.

Hi Sandi,

1) There is lots about Vitamin K injections after birth online to research. There are pros and cons to the baby having the injection or getting oral doses (three within a month of birth, I think). My daughter had the injection.

2) I had a natural birth (no drugs) so went for a natural delivery of the placenta. I had a few contractions after my baby's cord was cut and delievered the placenta within 25 mins of my baby's birth. If you have the injection (into your thigh while delivering baby's shoulders, I think) then you will deliver the placenta much quicker - often by about 10 minutes after baby's birth. Its personal preference.

I hope this helps.

Valentine Xxx

 

[daftscotslass]

1) Here's a good link on Vit K - http://www.womens-health.co.uk/vitk.asp. Becky had the injection, you can also have it given orally but need to remember to give it!

2) Things are "supposed" to be a bit quicker with the injection and it is also supposed to reduce blood loss. However I wouldn't have it again - the midwife applied traction to (pulled) the cord to help it out after Becky was born as they do, it snapped and the placenta was stuck. Two midwives and an obstetrician couldn't reach it so I had to have a general anaesthetic to have it removed (normally would be done with a spinal or epidural but couldn't have this because of failed attempts previously). That isn't that common, though.

 

[LisaJ1986]

1, Angel had the injection. She didn't even notice i don't think. I let her have it as a 'just in case'.

2, I had the injection in my thigh for the placenta delivery. I wanted it out the way and it came straight away. I didn't even notice as i was too busy staring at my baby. I felt the relief though when it came out. I'd definately do it that way again.

 

[clairescunny55]

both my babes have had the vitamin k, and with both of them i delivered the placenta naturally

 

[Sherlock]

Re placenta delivery

The injection is meant to lessen blood loss after the birth. However, it only does so short term and often you then can bleed longer. Not having the injection is meant to mean more blood loss the first couple of days, then it drops off lots after that. So reverse of the injection.

I opted for Vit K injection and natural delivery of the placenta I had 2 days of heavy-ish bleeding then it more or less stopped.

 

[sarah113]

All mine had the vit k injection and with all of them i delivered the plcenta naturally

 

[LilysMummy]

I had a section and Lily had the injection (something about csections babies are highley advised to have it)

The surgeons got my placenta out whilst they were in there

 

[mum2A&L]

due to problems, it was recommended Alice had the vit K jab, and i took an oral dose for a good few weeks before i had Alice.

As for the jab to deliver the placenta - At the time, the MW said something, and i blurted il have everything and anything you are offering!! I don't think i really understood what it all meant at the time.


but next time around, i think i would like to deliver it naturally - it all felt a bit rushed, and it think allowing my body to do what it is designed to do would be a nice feeling (if you catch my drift).

 

[abcd1234]

Obviously i havnt had the baby yet but i've decided she'll have the vitamin K orally, i dont have to give it to her the midwife will, plus i'm not overly convinced of the point of it either though i know it wont hurt her.

I've said i havnt fully decided on what to do about the placenta but i really think i'll just deliver it naturally, though it may depend on how the birth goes.

 

[Sherlock]

Obviously i havnt had the baby yet but i've decided she'll have the vitamin K orally, i dont have to give it to her the midwife will, plus i'm not overly convinced of the point of it either though i know it wont hurt her.

While cases of vitamin K deficiency and haemorrhagic disease are very rare, having the jab/oral dosage could be a life saver. I pondered it during pregnancy and decided LO should have the jab.

My sister died from a vitamin K deficiency and the resulting haemorrhagic disease. This was about a week after birth. This was before they gave the vitamin K injection as standard and alas could not save her. Please know this was over 35 years ago so times have changed and had she been born today her life would more than likely have been saved by a simple jab.

End of the day its what the parents feel happy doing. Most opt for the vitamin K dose in one form or other. There are no side effects from it that I know of, so end of day, it can't hurt to have it I reckon.

 

[trixipaws]

i had both- apparently i agreed to the placenta one when i was quite far in labour (MWS didnt even get to my house til i was 5cm dilated so sometime after that!) i was in too much pain to kno what i was saying i think! but im glad i had it now as got the placenta out quickly so could enjoy time with my boyf and our new baby also the pain doesnt completely disappear until that thing's out! theres still a horrible dull period-pain-ish ache while its in so sooner out the better!

we took the vitamin K injection- apparently i couldnt even say yes or no when they asked me that one during labour lol so was asked shortly after the birth- i was too tired to make a decision so left it to my boyf who had more of his wits about him he said yes give her it so melissa had it and i can only say it mustve been a good choice coz she thrived straight away and had no newborn ailments or health problems

so i'd recommend them both

 

[leckershell]

Ryan had the injection and I had the placenta injection too, it was after I'd had Ryan and placenta came out pretty much immediately, I'd certainly do it again.

 

[ChocolateBill]

DS1 had the Vit K jab, He had a reaction to it.

DS2 had the Oral dose, he too had a reaction to it. Quite severly, and was quite poorly for a few weeks.

This time I WONT be letting anyone give Vit K to the baby.

If you have history of Dairy/Milk allergies in your family, think carefully. My 2 had reactions because they are allergic to Dairy and the Vitamin K contains Cow proteins.


I had the Jab to deliver the placenta both times. With DS1, they didnt give it to me quick enough after birth as DS had to be rushed away and resuscitated, and I ended up heamorraging.
With DS2, the jab was given literally seconds after he was born, and the placenta delivered minutes later

 

[maybebaby]

DS had the vitamin K injection because no matter how small the risk I wasn't prepared to chance him not having it. He had it the next day though, they said I shouldn't have to make the decision at 3am having just given birth so they left me a leaflet and told me they'd be back the next day so I could choose then.

I had wanted a natural placenta delivery, because I had a drug-free home birth and thought it'd be nice fot it all to stay 'natural', but the midwives were concerned about my blood loss so I had it and the placenta came out quite quickly. This time round I'm going to try to go natural again but am open to change if it's necessary for mine & the baby's health.

Good luck

 

[samandbump]

jack had the vit k injection and he was fine dont think he even cried
i presume i delivered placenta naturally as they never offered me a injection although i was pretty off it on gas and air so had no idea what was going on

 

[Rosieroo]

DD had vit k drops and DS had the injection. We were bullied into giving him the injection by the MW, she just went on and on (I wanted him to have the drops). I wanted him to have the drops to save any unnecessary pain, i.e. why have an injection when you have have it painfree. Ooooh they're so little with teeny legs, makes me feel bad just thinking about DS having it.

I had the jab for the placenta, choose it with DD didn't get a choice with DS they just jabbed me.

 

[Minxy]

I remember saying yes to the vit K, but I wasn't asked about the placental injection, they just did it

To be fair I was pretty distressed and lost a fair bit of blood and I would've opted for it anyway. It was probably on my birth plan but that didn't even come out the bag!

 

[Bee]

Re placenta delivery

The injection is meant to lessen blood loss after the birth. However, it only does so short term and often you then can bleed longer. Not having the injection is meant to mean more blood loss the first couple of days, then it drops off lots after that. So reverse of the injection.

I opted for Vit K injection and natural delivery of the placenta I had 2 days of heavy-ish bleeding then it more or less stopped.

I had the injection and my bleeding stopped quite early on and was only heavy for a bit

finlay had the jag

 

[Redshoes]

Isaac had the VitK oral doses, a baby usally has 3 after birth at differing intervals but Isaac only had 2 as he was being breastfed, but I think it's better for you to read up about it if you have concerns

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/health/vitamink/
http://www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol13No2/vitk.htm

Because I'd had an epidural and spinal block I had to have the injection to deliver the placenta, otherwise I'd have personally left it to nature before considering the injection. So cannot comment on the blood loss issue, though I lost very little personally even with forceps and an episiotimy.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/l ... ageexpert/
http://www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol11No3/3rdstage.htm