WHO recommendation on haemorrhagic disease prophylaxis using vitamin K

Recommendation

All newborns should be given 1 mg of vitamin K intramuscularly after birth (i.e. after the first hour by which the infant should be in skin-to-skin contact with the mother and breastfeeding should be initiated).

(Recommended)

Publication history

First published: December 2012

Updated: No update planned

Assessed as up-to-date: September 2012

Remarks

• This recommendation has been integrated from the WHO Recommendations for management of common childhood conditions: evidence for technical update of pocket book recommendations, in which the GDG for that guideline determined it to be a strong recommendation based on moderate-quality evidence. 
• No further remarks were noted. 
• The evidence supporting this recommendation can be found in the source guideline document, available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44774/1/9789241502825_eng.pdf

Related links

WHO recommendations on intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience

(2018) - full document and evidence tables

Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: A guide for midwives and doctors

Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Newborn Care: A guide for essential practice

WHO Programmes: Sexual and Reproductive health

Maternal Health

Newborn Health

Citation: WHO Reproductive Health Library. WHO recommendation on haemorrhagic disease prophylaxis using vitamin K (February 2018). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization.