Newborn Procedures: Eye Ointment and Vitamin K

There are several newborn procedures that take place directly or soon after your baby is born, and it’s one of our goals to help parents reach a full understanding of each practice long before birth so they can decide what is best for their child.

Two common procedures are the application of an eye ointment and an injection of vitamin K. These practices have been routine in many countries for decades, but an increasing number of doctors, midwives, and parents are conducting more research on whether these are necessary 100% of the time.

Eye Ointment: What Is It and Why Is It Used?

The eye ointment applied to newborns is usually an antibiotic, such as erythromycin. Its primary purpose is to prevent eye infections caused by exposure to bacteria during childbirth. Historically, the concern was about Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, which can cause severe eye infections in newborns, potentially leading to blindness. Chlamydia is another infection that can be passed from mother to child during delivery, and the ointment also offers some protection against this.

Why are more and more parents opting out of the eye ointment procedure?

• While these infections are serious, they’re mainly an issue if the mother has an STI. If the mother is STI negative, the risk of an eye infection is extremely low.

• The ointment used can cause temporary vision blurriness, which might interfere with early bonding and eye contact between newborn and parents.

• When antibiotics are overused, there is the potential for developing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While the risk is small in the case of eye ointment, some parents prefer to avoid unnecessary antibiotics.

Vitamin K: What Is It and Why Is It Given?

Vitamin K is a vitamin needed to clot blood. Newborns naturally have low levels of vitamin K since it does not pass through the placenta very well. This puts them at risk for a condition called Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), which only occurs in about every 1 of 10,000 infants. However, this condition can lead to serious, often fatal bruising,bleeding, and/or brain hemorrhage. It is completely unpredictable which babies will be affected and which will not.

To prevent VKDB, newborns are routinely given a vitamin K injection shortly after birth. A single injection provides protection for months, giving the baby time to naturally build up their own vitamin K levels.

Are there any reasons to not give Vitamin K?

• Some parents are hesitant to give their newborn an injection immediately after birth, preferring to minimize medical interventions.

• Others are concerned with administering anything synthetic, preferring natural approaches to increasing Vitamin K levels (such as through diet or oral supplements). Unfortunately, breast milk supplies very little Vitamin K, so babies do not get an adequate amount of the vitamin until they start eating solid foods. 

The decision on whether or not to administer Vitamin K is nuanced. While VKDB is extremely uncommon, the consequences are devastating. 

Not sure which direction you want to take with newborn procedures? We’ll be more than happy to discuss your options during appointments and come up with a plan that works best for your family!