The midwife will give your baby an initial check, weigh them and offer to give your baby Vitamin K. If you are in a birth centre or obstetric unit, your baby will be labelled with your details.
You will have a chance to discuss newborn vitamin K during your pregnancy. It helps to prevent a rare but serious bleeding disorder called haemorrhagic disease of the newborn. It is usually given as an injection. This is the recommendation as the whole dose gets to your baby straight away. It is possible to give Vitamin K orally, although more doses will be needed, and this route is not as protective.
