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After birth, your newborn will receive several key treatments to help give them the best start in life. These include a vitamin K shot and erythromycin eye ointment.
What to know about vitamin K
Many babies are born without enough vitamin K, which is crucial for helping blood to clot. It can be difficult before birth to know which babies don’t have enough vitamin K. Because of this, all newborns receive an injection shortly after birth.
If you have chosen to have your male newborn circumcised, a Vitamin K shot is absolutely necessary to help reduce any risk of bleeding with the procedure.
The most common side effect of the vitamin K shot is a rash at the injection site.
Erythromycin eye ointment
During the birth process, your baby is naturally exposed to a variety of bacteria inside the birth canal. After you give birth, a special antibiotic eye ointment is placed on your newborn’s eyes. It helps prevent eye infections. Without it, your baby could lose part or all of their eyesight.
The erythromycin eye ointment usually doesn’t cause any problems. Your baby’s eyes might be red or mildly irritated after the ointment is applied.
As always, don’t hesitate to speak to your clinician. They will be happy to give you all the information you need before you give birth.