💉 Vitamin K Injection in Newborn

✅ Answer: (d) Provide protection against bleeding until intestinal flora is established

📖 Why is Vitamin K Given to Newborns?

Vitamin K is essential for the production of blood clotting factors (II, VII, IX, and X), which help prevent excessive bleeding.

👉 Newborn babies naturally have:

• Low vitamin K stores at birth
• Sterile intestines (no normal gut bacteria)
• Very little vitamin K in breast milk

Because intestinal bacteria that normally produce vitamin K are not yet established, newborns are at risk of bleeding.

🩺 Why is Option (d) Correct?

A single intramuscular Vitamin K injection is given soon after birth to:

• ✔ Prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) (formerly called hemorrhagic disease of the newborn)
• ✔ Provide protection against bleeding until the baby’s intestinal flora develops and begins producing vitamin K

👉 Therefore, Option (d) is the correct answer.

❌ Why Other Options Are Wrong?

(a) For thermogenesis
❌ Thermogenesis means heat production. Vitamin K has no role in maintaining body temperature.

(b) To establish intestinal flora
❌ Vitamin K does not help establish normal gut bacteria. Intestinal flora develops naturally after birth.

(c) Stimulate vitamin K production in the body
❌ Vitamin K injection does not stimulate production of vitamin K. It directly supplies the vitamin needed for blood clotting until gut bacteria begin producing it.

📝 Key Facts About Vitamin K

📌 Exam Tip: Every newborn should receive 1 mg IM Vitamin K soon after birth (term infants) to prevent Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). Remember: Vitamin K is for clotting, not for immunity or intestinal flora development.