The First 15 Series continues as we discuss baby medications, specifically in today’s episode, Vitamin K Injection. This is a decision you will be making, whether you know it or not, for your baby and will be done pretty shortly after birth. Usually by your nurse after the first hour, or even in the recovery room while you are getting cleaned up in the OR.

This episode takes most of the researched information from a book by Dr Sara Wickham called Vitamin K and the Newborn, and you can find it easily on Amazon! I highly recommend her well researched and easy to reach publications to help you make decisions for you and your baby during pregnancy.

A quote I mentioned in the episode I wanted to write out for you here so you have it, and you can also find in the book, that can be helpful to decide how to manage this decision, especially if you are hesitant to supplement. By Dr Edmund Hey “Babies who do not feed soon, well and regularly are at measurable risk of bleeding once their limited reserves of vitamin k are exhausted. All babies who are not well enough to be fed at birth need a supplement because their vitamin K stores will only last 1-3 days. A few breastfed babies will develop transient VKDB if they are not given a small supplement at birth, probably because early intake is poor. A very small number of breastfed babies risk a sudden serious bleed when 2-12 weeks old if not offered a regular supplement, usually because an unrecognized liver disorder has impaired fat-soluble vitamin absorption.”

Join the Hospital Childbirth Crash Course now at https://myfriendsanurse.com/crashcourse and get a behind the curtain look and birth in the hospital system and how to prepare to get the birth you want in it!

00:06 Understanding Vitamin K and Its Importance

01:31 Statistics and Research on Vitamin K

01:50 Book Recommendations and Author Shoutout

03:18 Decision-Making and Parental Choices

03:27 Routine Administration and Parental Awareness

05:50 Refusal Rates and Medical Recommendations

06:22 Understanding VKDB and Its Prevention

09:51 The Role of Healthcare Providers and Patient Advocacy

14:05 Vitamin K: Types, Sources, and Administration

18:30 PI DAY Acronym for Decision-Making

29:34 Oral vs. Injection: Effectiveness and Compliance

32:53 Downsides and Side Effects of Vitamin K

33:42 Injection Side Effects and Risks

35:37 Concerns About Vitamin K Additives

37:08 Vitamin K Dosage Concerns

39:22 Potential Downsides of Vitamin K

42:31 Exploring Alternatives to Vitamin K

48:26 Breastfeeding and Vitamin K

52:48 Making Informed Decisions

57:54 Conclusion and Resources

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership

Shoshie joins us as a mental health consultant and social worker with Family Tree Wellness in the Los Angeles Westside area.

She provides mental health support for pregnancy, postpartum, fertility challenges, parenthood, trauma, loss and beyond. She works with a team of therapists both in person and virtually, who have extensive training and expertise in perinatal mental health, infertility, mood and anxiety disorders.

In today’s episode we dive into how we can plan for the immediate postpartum period, what to do when weird sh*it happens, and why it is so crucial to remember that the new mama needs mothering.

00:00 Welcome to The Birth Link

01:32 Personal Postpartum Experience

03:58 Understanding Postpartum Mental Health

05:15 Meet Soshie

06:50 Mental Health Support for New Parents

09:11 Recognizing the Need for Help

12:17 Postpartum Blues vs. Postpartum Depression

19:38 Planning for Postpartum Well-being

23:57 The Importance of Support Systems

27:52 Balancing Independence and Support

32:42 Setting Boundaries and Accepting Help

34:16 Leadership and Communication in Birth

38:56 Dealing with Birth Disappointments

42:08 Maintaining Identity and Self-Care

49:09 Seeking Professional Help

54:26 Final Thoughts and Resources

Connect with Shoshie on Instagram: @familytreewellness_

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok

FaceBook

Edited and Produced by Vaden Podcast Services

We continue in The First 15 Series by diving into what the hospital calls The Golden Hour, that precious time we can spend with our baby, bonding skin to skin with a limited amount of interruptions.

We will discuss the benefits that have been proven during this time and the importance of a more hands off approach during this period. I will also discuss how the push and sell of this hour can actually be detrimental to the parents who may have that time interrupted, or never get it at all.

Where is the balance and how do we best approach this topic to receive the benefits, tune into our own biological needs, and limit the grief and disappointment when it doesn't look like we had planned? Join me now!

Don’t miss this week’s LIVE workshop where I will lift the curtain of the hospital birth system to empower you to the birth you want and deserve! Don’t get stomped on at the hospital door, find your voice and how to use it! Register here: https://myfriendsanurse.com/onlineworkshop1010

00:39 Exploring the Golden Hour

04:29 The Importance of Skin-to-Skin Contact

09:57 Hospital Policies and Practices

19:51 Challenges and Realities of the Golden Hour

31:13 Historical Context

32:33 Transition to Postpartum Care

33:02 The Golden Hour: Benefits

34:46 Unrealistic Expectations and Mental Health

36:56 Personal Experiences and Challenges

40:18 Communication and Support During Birth

50:55 Understanding the Golden Hour Stages

55:25 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Topics

Resources:

What People Get Wrong About the ‘Golden Hour’ After Birth, Catherine Pearson, 2/8/22, Huff Post

Health Education Associates, Inc, based on the research of Widstrom, et al.

Acta Paediatr. 2019 Jul; 108(7): 1192–1204. Published online 2019 Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/apa.14754

More from My Friend's a Nurse:

Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

Stay Connected:

Instagram

TikTok