Re: Vitamin K for newborns?

[Guest guest]

[] Noticed your discussion of Vit. K and wondered whether anyone

has thoughts on giving oral Vit. K to newborns?

[MAP] Wouldn't that be a little too young to worry about osteoporosis? :-)

Humor aside, bearing in mind I have approximately ZERO knowledge about

infant nutrition, my " common sense " tells me it sounds completely

insane and ridiculous to give a newborn any supplements, barring rare

medical situations. I mean, why would anybody even consider such a

thing? I had understood that unaccompanied mother's milk had

performed well historically. :-)

Mike

SE Pennsylvania

The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay

[Guest guest]

But you need to remember that mother's milk is only as good as the food she

eats.

Enjoy! ;-)

Judith Alta

----Original Message-----

[] Noticed your discussion of Vit. K and wondered whether anyone

has thoughts on giving oral Vit. K to newborns?

[MAP] Wouldn't that be a little too young to worry about osteoporosis? :-)

Humor aside, bearing in mind I have approximately ZERO knowledge about

infant nutrition, my " common sense " tells me it sounds completely

insane and ridiculous to give a newborn any supplements, barring rare

medical situations. I mean, why would anybody even consider such a

thing? I had understood that unaccompanied mother's milk had

performed well historically. :-)

Mike

SE Pennsylvania

The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay

[Guest guest]

Mike-

>Humor aside, bearing in mind I have approximately ZERO knowledge about

>infant nutrition, my " common sense " tells me it sounds completely

>insane and ridiculous to give a newborn any supplements, barring rare

>medical situations. I mean, why would anybody even consider such a

>thing? I had understood that unaccompanied mother's milk had

>performed well historically. :-)

While I agree that in what *should* be the standard case, which is to say

healthy babies born to healthy parents who've been following sound

nutritional principles, I think your own robust health has once again

blinded you to the realities of the world around you: most people are very

malnourished and unhealthy, and unfortunately, that includes babies --

probably the vast majority of babies born today.

That said, the actual vitamin supplements given to babies are horrendous

garbage and should be stopped immediately, but IMO it's likely that *some*

kind of supplementation probably should be given to many or most them, and

of course to their mothers as well.

-

[Guest guest]

Here's a link that might provide some info:

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/vitktop.html

We had a hospital delivery of our kid - but we opted out of the Vitamin K

injection. I suspect that most kids get the injection without any parental

consent. I think it's more important that the baby gets the cord blood -

most hospitals clamp it too soon.

-Dan

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/7/2004 10:03:18 AM Central Standard Time,

writes:

one thing to consider is that most babies are deficient of vitamin K.

excellent diet? well keep in mind soil depletion and the effects thereof.

that said this can be overcome with careful attention and use of herbs by

the mom pre and postpartum...

vitamin K is not one of those " usual " easy issues...it is hard for a woman

to get a good store of vitamin K. just my opinion........

in Christ,

stefanie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all your responses and helpful links. Not sure what I have

decided on the issue...it just doesn't seem right to give a newborn a

vitamin supplment w/in the first hour of life, but perhaps due to

weakened genetics and poor nutrition, it has become necessary in some

cases. Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell just which babies need

it. I have certainly eaten a very healthy diet over the last 3 years,

but I am a product of this culture--fed soy formula and raised on a

low-fat, high sugar, and processed foods diet up until that point so

maybe eating healthfully the last 3 years is just not enough...

Thanks, everyone!

>

> Hi All,

> Noticed your discussion of Vit. K and wondered whether anyone has

> thoughts on giving oral Vit. K to newborns?

> Thanks,

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Keep in mind, too, that this is an injection. And as such, I

guarantee you

> this will be pharma-grade vitamin K extract or synthetic, not a

plant-based

> one (you can't inject plants into people or they die)

>

i'm know that www.birthwithlove.com carries an oral vitamin K, i

*believe " it is plant based but am not positive.....i've had three

babies born at home so far, we've never done any of those extras.

they are quite healthy!

in Christ,

stefanie

[Guest guest]

Hi Sp,

Thanks for your response. We were only going to give the oral form

which is a plant based source, but now I'm thinking , like you, that

supplementing my diet w/ the oral dose should be enough.

We are saying no to eye drops, Hep B vaccination, Group B strep

testing and just about everything else. We are planning a home birth

so it's much easier to do this. I haven't looked into PKU testing yet,

but was considering it about 1 week after birth since apparently the

results are more reliable then. Would love any info you have regarding

this test. In Minnesota where I live, I believe they test for about 12

genetic conditions, but as I said, I need to do my research on this.

> ,

>

> Our first baby is coming in January, and I'm saying no.

>

> > it just doesn't seem right to give a newborn a

> > vitamin supplment w/in the first hour of life

>

> Keep in mind, too, that this is an injection. And as such, I

guarantee you

> this will be pharma-grade vitamin K extract or synthetic, not a

plant-based

> one (you can't inject plants into people or they die)

>

> Plus, most pharm-payloads have to be delivered on something else. Those

> binding agents are not always innocuous. It's worth knowing what it is.

>

> > but perhaps due to

> > weakened genetics and poor nutrition, it has become necessary in some

> > cases.

>

> Scare tactics. Don't believe it. The only reason they even worry about

> vitamin K is for clotting concerns, and there are only a few things that

> should make it an issue at all:

> - Circumcision on day 2

> - Birth with forceps or suction (ie, something that roughs the baby

up and

> _could_ cause some internal bleeding)

>

> My view on this is to just have my wife supplement orally for the next

> month, just to give the baby a boost through the placenta, but unless

> there's some real issue, it seems ridiculous.

>

> > Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell just which babies need

> > it.

>

> Why can't they just test the baby's blood? They already draw blood

for PKU

> tests, so how hard it is to test Vitamin K counts at the same time?

>

> It's easier/cheaper to just mass-inject, and there could be a profit

motive

> for the shot-makers too.

>

> Oh, and one other comment. Doctors used to give B12 injections to

help with

> some common ailments, but pressure from above has driven doctors to stop

> this practice, unless a test reveals a deficiency.

>

> So why is B12 a no-no w/out a test, and K is a must even w/out one?

>

> Could it be because B12 is an easy way to treat some otherwise expensive

> (ie, profitable) health problems?

>

> > I have certainly eaten a very healthy diet over the last 3 years,

> > but I am a product of this culture

>

> 3 years is probably enough. I know that Price observed a common

3-year gap

> between births(for a woman to recuperate herself) when he studied

some of

> his tribes.

>

> I'd expect that you'll be ok too.

>

> Anyhow, I can't say I've been through it yet, but Vitamin K doesn't

seem to

> be a hard one to avoid in the hospital, compared to other stuff.

>

> Maybe getting off-topic here, but here are three more questions for

> post-birth baby:

> - Eye drops

> - PKU Test

> - Hep B vaccination

>

> Have you thought about those yet?

>

> Contact me off-list and I can share the stuff I've found so far.

>

> Sp

> -------------------------------------------

> Phelan

> Sequoia Consulting - Internet solutions that make sense

> http://www.sqcn.com