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Vitamin K at birth
Key facts
- Vitamin K helps your baby’s blood to clot.
- Babies need more vitamin K than they get during pregnancy or from breast milk.
- Parents of all newborns are offered a vitamin K injection for their baby soon after birth — you will be given information about it during your pregnancy.
- This helps prevent babies from becoming vitamin K deficient.
- Without the injection, they are at risk of developing a bleeding condition.
What is vitamin K?
Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that your baby’s body needs to work properly. Vitamin K helps their blood to clot and prevents bleeding.
Why is vitamin K important for my baby?
Babies do not get enough vitamin K during pregnancy or from breast milk. Without enough vitamin K they are at risk of developing conditions called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) or haemorrhagic disease of the newborn (also referred to as HDN).
Vitamin K deficiency (Opens in new tab) bleeding is very rare, affecting less than 1 in 100,000 babies. However, it can be very serious.
VDKB can cause bleeding in your baby’s brain. This condition may result in brain damage and even death.
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding mainly affects breastfed babies.
By about 6 months of age, your baby will have their own supply of vitamin K.
How is vitamin K given?
Vitamin K can be given as an injection or as liquid drops (orally).
Vitamin K injection
Australian guidelines recommend babies should have one injection of vitamin K soon after birth. This is because the injection is the simplest and most reliable way for your baby to receive the vitamin K they need.
Oral vitamin K
Liquid vitamin K drops are given into your baby’s mouth using a small syringe with no needle. However, your baby’s body cannot absorb vitamin K well when given this way. So, they are not the best choice for every baby.
Some babies can’t have oral vitamin K, including if:
- they were born prematurely or are unwell
- they are unwell when a dose is due
- you took certain medicines while pregnant — including medicines for epilepsy (Opens in new tab), blood clots (Opens in new tab) or tuberculosis (Opens in new tab)
How are liquid vitamin K drops given?
If you choose oral vitamin K drops, your baby will need 3 doses by mouth. All of these must be given at the right time for it to work well.
- The first dose is given at birth.
- The second dose is given at 3 to 5 days of age.
- The third dose is given when your baby is 4 weeks old, if they are fully breastfed.
The second dose can be given in hospital at the same time as your baby has their newborn screening test, or by your doctor, midwife or child health nurse.
It’s important to remember to arrange your baby’s third dose when they are 4 weeks old.
If your baby vomits within one hour of swallowing the vitamin K, it is possible they will need another dose.
Can all babies have vitamin K?
Australian guidelines recommend that all babies have vitamin K to protect their health.
If your baby is premature or very small, they might need a smaller dose of vitamin K. You can talk about this with your doctor or midwife.
Your doctor or midwife may tell you it is very important that your baby has a vitamin K injection if you have an assisted delivery (by forceps or vacuum). That’s because there’s a higher chance your baby could have a haemorrhage (bleed) if they are born this way.
Does vitamin K have any side effects?
Vitamin K has been given to babies in Australia for more than 30 years and there haven’t been any known problems.
Some studies have suggested there may be a link between vitamin K and childhood cancer. However, The National Health and Research Council in Australia has thoroughly investigated this claim and found no link.
Speak with your doctor, midwife or nurse if you have any questions or concerns about the safety of vitamin K.
How do I get vitamin K for my baby?
During your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will talk with you and offer vitamin K for your baby. You will need to give your consent for your baby to be given vitamin K.
Depending on your decision, your baby will receive vitamin K soon after birth to help protect their health. A doctor, midwife or nurse will give it.
They will record your baby’s vitamin K doses in their personal health record.
Does my baby have to have vitamin K?
Parents can choose whether to give their baby vitamin K. However, giving vitamin K is an easy way to prevent a very serious disease.
Health authorities in Australia recommend that all babies are given vitamin K to support their health. This includes babies who were born prematurely or are sick.
Your healthcare team will give you written information so that you can make a shared decision. They are available to answer any questions or discuss concerns.
If you decide not to give vitamin K, it’s important to closely watch for signs of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
What should I look out for?
See your doctor, midwife or child health nurse if your baby:
- has unexplained bleeding or bruising
- is showing signs of jaundice (yellow skin or whites of the eyes) after they are 3 weeks old
Babies with liver problems have a higher chance of bleeding, even if they have had vitamin K.
How much does vitamin K cost?
In Australia, vitamin K injections or oral vitamin K drops for newborn babies are free. The cost is covered by Medicare. You do not have to pay for it.
Resources and support
The National Health and Medical Research Council has information in multiple languages on vitamin K for newborn babies (Opens in new tab).
Find out how we develop and review our content.
Last reviewed: May 2026
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Vitamin K for newborns | NHMRC
Vitamin K helps blood to clot. Administering vitamin K soon after birth prevents serious bleeding in infants. By the age of around 6 months, infants have built up their own supply of vitamin K. An NHMRC joint statement recommends that all newborn infants receive vitamin K.
Vitamin K and newborn babies | Better Health Channel
With low levels of vitamin K, some babies can have severe bleeding into the brain, causing significant brain damage.
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in the Newborn | Ausmed
Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), previously known as haemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDNB), was first identified over a century ago. It describes bleeding in the newborn that is not due to traumatic birth or haemophilia. Caused by vitamin K deficiency due to insufficient prenatal storage of vitamin K, combined with insufficient vitamin K in breast milk, HDNB presents as unexpected bleeding, often with gastrointestinal haemorrhage, ecchymosis and intracranial haemorrhage.
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