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Why vitamin K is important for newborns

The delivery of vitamin K injections for newborns has been routine practice in Australia since the 1970s.

In recent years, however, we have seen a decline in the number of Australian parents giving their babies vitamin K at birth.

This is a concerning trend, as vitamin K helps blood to clot and is essential in preventing serious bleeding in infants, which can often result in brain damage and even death.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at vitamin K injections and why it is essential and effective in protecting newborns.

What is vitamin K?

Vitamin K is a nutrient that helps blood clot. Without enough vitamin K, your body cannot produce the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding.

While adults can get vitamin K from leafy greens, certain oils, and gut bacteria that produce it naturally, newborns are born with very low vitamin K levels and cannot produce enough on their own right away. This is because:

  • Vitamin K does not cross the placenta well during pregnancy, so babies are born with limited stores.
  • Breast milk contains very small amounts of vitamin K compared to formula.
  • Newborn intestines lack the bacteria needed to produce vitamin K on their own, and it takes weeks to months for these bacteria to establish.

As a result, newborns are at risk for Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) – a condition where blood does not clot properly, leading to dangerous internal or external bleeding.

Why is it essential for newborns?

Babies are most vulnerable to developing VKDB in the first eight weeks of life, especially if they are born via instrumental delivery, such as forceps or vacuum extraction, or have an underlying liver disorder.

Vitamin K given at birth provides immediate protection by raising clotting factor levels quickly.

For healthy newborns, Australia’s guidelines recommend a one milligram injection at birth – usually in the thigh muscle.

There is also an oral option, which is administered via three 2mg doses at birth, at 3–5 days, and in the fourth week after birth. The final dose is not required for babies who mainly drink formula, as it contains vitamin K.

The easiest and most reliable way to give babies vitamin K is by injection. It’s important to note that the injection is NOT a vaccine; it is simply a dose of a synthetic form of vitamin K1 that begins to take effect within minutes. One injection just after birth will protect a baby for many months.

Vitamin K can also be given orally. As vitamin K is not absorbed as well when it is given by mouth and the effects don’t last as long, several oral doses are required to give enough protection.

Is it safe?

Yes. Vitamin K has been given to newborns in Australia for more than 30 years without any known problems.

Like any form of injection, there are risks. However, these are minimal and mostly temporary. They may include pain at the injection site, minor bruising or swelling, or an allergic reaction – which is extremely rare. In fact, as noted by the National Health and Medical Research Council, only one case of an allergic reaction has been reported globally since the injection was first introduced and none have ever been recorded in Australia.

Without the vitamin K shot, the risk of bleeding is up to 81 times higher.

The benefits of vitamin K for newborns far outweigh any potential risks, and include:

  • Immediate protection – the injection raises vitamin K levels quickly, providing full protection within hours.
  • Proven safety – decades of research and use show the injection is safe and well-tolerated.
  • Universal recommendation – endorsed by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), World Health Organization (WHO), and other major health organisations worldwide.

Concerning decline in vitamin K newborn injections

In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of Australian parents giving their newborns vitamin K at birth.

Last year alone, 2,572 babies in Queensland did not receive the vitamin K injection, up from 1,005 babies who missed out in 2020.

In Tasmania, coverage dropped from 99 per cent in 2021 to 97 per cent in 2025.

While New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia don’t track or have data available, it is expected a similar pattern has been occurring across the country.

This vitamin K refusal trend has also been seen in the United States, where opt out rates have nearly doubled in the last decade, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

This has led to a spike in babies bleeding to death in the US in recent years, as a direct result of vitamin K refusal.

A similar trend is being seen in Sweden, where bleeding episodes amongst infants aged 6 months or younger doubled between 2003 to 2021. A recent study noted a continued increase in the number of infants not receiving vitamin K at birth, putting more infants at a significantly higher associated risk of bleeding episodes.

Talk to your doctor

If you have any concerns or questions about vitamin K for your newborn, please speak to your doctor or midwife before giving birth.

If your newborn does not receive vitamin K at birth, you will need to watch very carefully for any symptoms of VKDB.

Please also make sure you see your doctor as soon as possible if you notice your baby has any unexplained bleeding or bruising and is over three weeks old with signs of jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin or whites of the eyes).

To make a booking at Illawarra Medical Centre to discuss any questions or concerns you may have, please contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or book online for an appointment.

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