yeah, I'm between not giving him any, or the oral doses.
Since ALL babies are born with lower levels it just doesn't make sense to me that it is not meant to be that way, and injecting them with that much so soon after birth seems too much for me.
From what I've read there seems to be a connection between children developing cancer and children getting the vitamin K shot too, although the risk of cancer with the shot is lower than the risk of internal bleeding without it etc.
What I would like the most is to take a vitamin K supplement from now on, and keep taking it for a little while while breastfeeding, to make sure my breastmilk has a lot of vitamin K, and let nature work the way it's supposed to kind of... and only let them give him the tablets IF he is born by ventuose or forceps or similar which could cause internal bleeding.
I also read that epidurals can have an impact on the need of vitamin K as well, so I'm thinking that if I manage to get through everything naturally, then breastmilk should be enough, but if there are complications I'll let him have the pills. I'm wondering what my midwife will think of that though...
What I come across a lot when reading up on this is that doctors or midwives often say that they've seen babies suffer from internal bleeding, getting brain damage etc, and seen what it's done to them, so they would definitely do the shot, but the thing is, I know a three year old girl who has leukemia, and I really don't want to put my child at a risk of that either!
I read somewhere (but don't take my word for it) that 1 of 3 babies who had problems because of not getting the shot were born without any complications, while the rest had complications of some sort, or the mother was on medication for something, had been drinking etc, so I'm thinking that in that case if my baby IS born WITHOUT complications then the risk of leukemia with the shot and the risk of internal bleeding without the shot might be quite leveled... and honestly, then I'd rather trust nature...
Also, alcohol or other drugs can increase the risk of the cranial bleeding (the blood clotting problem has to do with the liver), and I've never drunk any alcohol in my life, or done drugs, and not been on any medication during my pregnancy except some paracetamol, and all my blood tests, urine tests, blood pressure etc have been "perfect" as my midwife says, so I just feel like in my case not having the injection might be as good, or even better than having it (if the birth goes well).
At the same time it's hard to make a decision like that when the normal practice is to give the babies the injection!! It's like... how can I defend my position when it's done in hospitals all over England (and the states and other places) all the time....
PS. I only had JensBumps reply when I started typing this, but noticed now that I posted that more people had replied. I don't mean to argue or anything with anyone! Just writing down my thoughts about it.