Articles

Key takeaways

• Newborns are offered vitamin K to prevent serious bleeding.
• The Hepatitis B vaccine protects against liver infection.
• Newborn screenings check for important health conditions.
• You can discuss all choices with your healthcare team.

Recommended preventative care right after birth

Right after your baby is born, some routine preventative care is offered. These treatments help protect your newborn's health from the very beginning. Your midwife will provide information about these options.

One important treatment is a vitamin K supplement. Vitamin K helps blood to clot, which stops bleeding. Newborn babies have very little vitamin K in their bodies and a small number of babies can bleed because of this. This is known as vitamin K deficiency bleeding, or VKDB. Although this condition is rare, it can be serious. This is why a vitamin K supplement is recommended for all newborns to help prevent it.

How vitamin K is given

The vitamin K supplement is offered straight after your baby is born. You will be asked if you would like your baby to have it within 24 hours of birth. It is your choice whether you agree to it.

There are two ways for your baby to have vitamin K:

• By injection – This is a single injection given soon after your baby is born. It is usually given in the thigh and is very safe.
• By mouth – If you choose the oral supplement, the most common form is Konakion.

If your baby receives Konakion by mouth, the number of doses depends on how they are fed:

• Formula feeding – Your baby will only need two doses in the first week as formula milk already contains vitamin K.
• Breastfeeding – Your baby will need two doses in the first week, plus a third dose when they are one month old.

Understanding newborn screening and immunisations

Another important way to protect your baby is with a vaccine for an infection that affects the liver (Hepatitis B). It can lead to long-term liver problems, including serious liver disease. This virus can pass from an infected person's blood or body fluids.

If you have Hepatitis B during pregnancy, the virus can pass to your baby. This can happen before, during, or after birth.

Up to one in three babies infected this way may develop serious liver disease. The Hepatitis B vaccine helps to greatly reduce your baby's risk of getting infected.

Hepatitis B immunisation schedule

If you have Hepatitis B and you choose for your baby to have Hepatitis B immunisation, your baby will need immunisations at specific times:

1. Within 24 hours of birth (sometimes with an injection of antibodies).
2. At 4 weeks old.
3. At 8 weeks old.
4. At 12 weeks old.
5. At 16 weeks old.
6. At 1 year old, followed by a blood test to check that the vaccine has worked and your baby is protected.

It is very important that your baby has all six doses of the vaccine. The doses at 8, 12, and 16 weeks are part of their routine infant immunisations.

Other newborn screenings

Your baby will also have other standard health checks. These screenings help identify any rare but serious health conditions early.

Newborn blood spot test

This test screens for nine rare but serious health conditions. These include conditions that affect breathing and digestion (cystic fibrosis) and a condition that affects red blood cells (sickle cell disease). A small sample of your baby's blood is collected by pricking their heel. This is why it is sometimes called the heel prick test. This test is usually done when your baby is 5 to 8 days old.

Early screening allows for quicker monitoring and treatment if a condition is found.

Newborn hearing screening test

This test helps identify babies with permanent hearing loss as early as possible. This means you can get support and advice straight away. If you give birth in hospital, the test may be offered before you go home. Otherwise, it is usually done within the first few weeks, up to three months of age.

Making informed decisions for your newborn

Making decisions about your newborn's care is an important part of parenthood. Your healthcare team will encourage you to ask questions. They will also support your personal decisions.

Vitamin K for your baby

The NHS recommends vitamin K for all babies in order to decrease the risk of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding. Your midwife may have already spoken with you about this during your pregnancy. You can choose for your baby not to have the injection or ask for the vitamin to be given by mouth. You can discuss what is best for your baby with your partner and healthcare team.

Hepatitis B vaccine

If you have Hepatitis B, you could pass the infection to your baby. The Hepatitis B vaccine for your baby greatly reduces this risk.

It is understandable to worry about vaccine safety. There is also a lot of misinformation about vaccination. However, there is good evidence that recommended vaccines are safe and help protect babies from serious illness.

Talking to your healthcare team

Your healthcare team is there to support you. Ask your midwife or doctor for more information about newborn screening and immunisations. Your decisions will be respected.

Your baby's first routine immunisations are offered at 8 weeks old. Further immunisations follow at 12 and 16 weeks, and at 12 months.

Your GP or health visitor will discuss these with you. If you miss an appointment, simply book another one as soon as you can.