There is no scientific evidence that there is a standard shortage of vitamin K in human milk. It is very un-logical and rather un-scientific to speculate that the food that has kept our species going and thriving and getting overabundant all over the world is insufficiant in nature. (no, empted as I am, I won't go on this forum go into the logic and science of removing a perfectly healthy piece of skin from a pefectly healthy and functional bodypart.
The habit of adding vit. K is based on the fact that a very, very small percentage of breastfed children will suffer from blood-clotting problems. In the time this was measured in my country it were about 10 children of the whole birth chort of 200.000, presumably half of them somewhat breastfed at that time in history, that would make 0.001%. In the time these things were investigted breastfeeding routines were to cry about: first feeds not within several hours pp, restricted feedings and feeding duration (3-5-7-10 minutes per breast per feed, increasing per 1-2 days ''to prevent nipple damage'') and almost standard topping up. Whatever vit K is in breastmilk will hardly reach the baby that way.
The fat-soluble vitamin K is in mature milk and in colostrum and if children will be allowed to feed ad lib ad fundum from minute 1, they will have all they need.
Again, like with so many cases. vit. K defiency is not a breastfeeding issue, but a not-breastfeeding issue.
Warmly,
Gonneke, IBCLC, retired LLLL, MOM in soutern Netherlands.
--- On Sat, 3/28/09, Darilyn CUmmings <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Darilyn CUmmings <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [LACTNET] Vitamin K
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 9:05 AM
I wanted to see if anyone had any recent studies or information about Vitamin
K in Breastmilk. Is there enough? Is the Vitamin K shot really necessary right
after birth for exclusively breastfed babies? The information in the archives is
a little older and I wanted to see if there was any new information.
A mom went to get a circumcision done at 9 days old. The mother had
refused the vitamin K shot, and is exclusively breastfeeding. The doctor
refused to do the circ without the vitamin K shot. He stated there was no
vitamin K in breastmilk and that it would be necessary. Shouldn't the baby
have enough vitamin K by day 9?
Thanks for any information.
Darilyn
LLL Leader
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