One-time injection prevents spontaneous bleeding in babies

Pediatricians are concerned about the growing number of parents in the United States who are opting not to have their newborn babies receive a vitamin K shot. Newborns lack vitamin K, leaving them vulnerable to spontaneous bleeding, which can be deadly. Pediatrician Steven Blatt, MD, explains why vitamin K is essential for newborns. He’s a professor of pediatrics and director of the general pediatrics division at Upstate. “The Informed Patient” is a podcast that covers health, science and medicine, featuring experts from Central New York’s only academic medical center. Upstate Medical University has four colleges (Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Graduate Studies); a robust research enterprise; and an extensive clinical health care system that extends way beyond Syracuse. For more information, please visit: https://www.upstate.edu/informed/