What is Vitamin K? Why is it so much necessary for the pregnant mother and the new born child? Where do we get it form? What happens if there is a deficiency? What are the remedies?
Before we go on to discuss what role
Vitamin K plays in a pregnant woman in bringing about a healthy childbirth, we would do justice by learning more about this Vitamins. Vitamin-K actually refers to the group of Vitamins that are otherwise called naphtha-quinones are fat soluble compounds and are found in plants. They provide
Vitamins to the pregnant mother through diet. This is Vitamin K1 the most common form of edible vitamins important for a pregnant mother.
The other type
Vitamin K2 are found in the human gut, made by bacteria and are manufactured for use under brand names like, Konakion, Mephyton Aqua MEPHYTON Phytonadione and Phylloquinone.
The natural sources from which the pregnant mother can obtain
Vitamin K are dairy products, cereals, meat, soybeans, canola, olives, beans, green peas, cauliflower, cabbage, watercress, asparagus, broccoli, spinach and so on. Generally pregnant women who have a balanced intake of these vegetables get Vitamin K in their diet and do not need to take an extra medication of them. Cooking these vegetables does not remove the vitamin K supplements from these vegetables.
Why is Vitamin K so much necessary?
Vitamin K is very much needed for clotting of blood in humans. Vitamin K is required by the liver for making necessary conditions for the clotting of blood. There can be disturbances in the functioning of liver in cases there is a deficiency of Vitamin K. It is very much necessary to maintain a proper level of
Vitamin K in the body as deficiency of this vitamin can lead to increased bleeding thus creating a risk factor for the pregnant mother in delivering the child. Deficiency can lead to defective clotting and an abnormal condition like Osteoporosis. Some drugs like sulfa-drugs, antibiotics, anti-seizure medications and salicylates can create deficiency in the body and so these drugs should be safely avoided by a
pregnant mother and advice of Doctor should be always sought in case the medicines have to be used.
Newborns who are only breast-fed run a risk of Vitamin K deficiency as human milk is truly low in
Vitamin K. In premature infants there is a risk of this deficiency. Infants whose mothers have to take anti-seizure drugs run the risk of a deficiency in Vitamin K. In Newborns, the Vitamin K deficiency may cause a bleeding disorder named VKDB which is a serious disorder but it can be treated with phylloquinone or Vitamin K1 injection.
A pregnant mother needs to be careful about her diet. She has to go for regular check ups with the doctor and if she is found with Vitamin K deficiency, immediate treatment is the best way to remedy. This can also save her from heavy
bleeding during pregnancy. Not only the mother, it is imperative for the doctors to take care of the neonate and treat them with special care.
Vitamin K deficiency is serious but it can definitely be treated. Therefore, if the mother and the family are careful about keeping healthy before and after child birth and also attentive to the health of the new born, there can be a very safe pregnancy and the ushering of a healthy bonny baby into this world!
