Hi,I have several different thoughts on Vit K, they do contradict each other a bit, Firstly, with regards to supplementing, most women would supplement pre-pregnancy and first three months with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects- so why would you not consider the same for HDN- HOWEVER why does mother nature give babies"low levels" of vit K ???,With regards to giving oral vit K,we try so hard to promote breast feeding and avoid BMS;obviously for many reasons, but one of them being it (BMS) changes thebalanceof the GI system, so why introducea preparation thatis specially prepared for IM administration- surelyitwould cause some sort of irritation/ unbablanceto the GIS.It is such a big topic, and I am probably a bit of a fence sitter on it,I suppose it's just a decision each parent has to make,
with (hopefully) an informedconsent.VickySue Cookson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Brenda,The surveillance is the reporting of neonates suspected of having HDN caused by low levels of vit K - not a randomised trial - everyone agrees an RCT would be impossible due to the low numbers of babies who do have problems, and the difficulty proving that the problem is caused by whatever vitamin K deficiency may be. Levels of vitamin K drop due to other problems such as liver or gut related pathologies - most of the babies who have died from late onset K deficiency have in fact had undiagnosed liver problems.And the discussion around diet, supplements etc is interesting, but if you spend enough time around big hospitals and see the pitiful state a lot of women are in these days -
obese, addicted to coca cola, first choice of a meal after birth is a Big Mac, than you start to see a whole picture of why we might need to make sure people are getting some food groups. Hmm,Sue Thank youSue, So. why haven't hospitals in Oz been given this info when they are administering this drug, mainly IM (perhaps ineffectively)on a daily basis to 100's of babies ?? The healthy neonates aside, what if it doesn't work effectively on the 'at risk' babies it was designed to assist? Are they part of a randomised
trial,happening without parental consent ? Brenda - Original Message - From: Sue Cookson To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 8:11
PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Re: Hi,With the new Konakion MM it's the other way around. It has been designed by increasing it's absorbability in fat to be more affective if given orally. It has NOT been proven to be as effective as the old Konakion in being absorbed by the IM route. They are waiting to see if the surveillance of the new Konakion through Australia, Switzerland and a few other countries is as effective IM as it is oral. The oral route has been found to give a higher vit K cover than the IM route over a few weeks.THere is so much misinformation about vit K. It is available to the baby through breastmilk and maternal supplementation does increase neonatal serum K levels. What more do we want??And by the way, all formla fed babies should be excluded from any study due to the addition of vit K to formulas. ie babies planned to be
formula fed do not need vit k!!Suestudent midwifebirth practitionervit K has been my research assignment for the past three years If a solution is designed to be given IM is it absorbed effectively if given via the GI tract ? No mention of this in the literature accompanying the Konakion. Most IM meds are NOT designed to be administered or guaranteed by the pharmaceutical company to be effective if given orally. It may be neutralised by gastric secretions, I am unaware of any research re this. Anyone else know of any ?If you are going to introduce a foreign substance into the GI tract of a baby you'd want to have a good reason be sure that it was being absorbed wouldn't you ?With kind regards Brenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au- Original Message -
From: "diane" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 6:48 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Re: Apart from the fact it tastes like Sh** (very bitter). Been reading about Vit K all day today . Seems like a pretty good option as far as the statitistics go. http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/_files/ch39.pdfthey recommend further research into the effectiveness of supplimenting brestfeeding mothers to increase the vit K in breastmilk as an effective suppliment.Di - Original Message - From: "Kelly @ BellyBelly" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 5:30 PM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] Re:Just a side question if that's okay - what are your opinions on oral vitamin K versus injection?Best Regards,Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support -Original
