Choosing the Possibility of Losing a Child

Recently, I spoke to someone close to me who told me about the experience of losing her son to brain cancer when he was eight years old. They did everything they could. How horrific was the journey to try to save their son that she shared! The memories are vivid and painful still and, in my opinion, may last her lifetime.

I picked up The New York Times, and on the front page, Thursday, July 9, 2026, was an article about parents choosing to possibly lose a child, “As Parents Reject vitamin K, infant Hemorrhages increase,” by Maggie Astor.” She writes, “a study of electronic medical records found that 5.2% of the babies in the US went without the shot in 2024, up 2.9% in 2017, meaning tens of thousands more unprotected babies. Doctors have observed a further increase in the past two years.”

The following article quote, after reading that “several doctors described vitamin K deficiency bleeding cases as so horrific that they were seared in their minds, although they treat children every day,” is seared in my mind:

“ Dr. Donna Schoonover, a pediatric hospitalist in Washington, said she would never forget one image: an eye popping out of it socket from the blood pooling in an infant’s skull.”

The American Academy of pediatrics recommended the vitamin K deficiency shot in 1961, and infant bleeding became very rare in the United States. There is no question that the one injection is very safe.  However, just like more Americans are turning down vaccines for their children and babies, while the vitamin K shot is not a vaccine, rejection of it has risen alongside vaccine rejection among many of the same parents.

Misinformation on the Internet, on social media, and inaccurate claims bombard new parents, unsure of what to believe, and terrified of harming their babies.

“Dr. Kirk meets many parents on the worst days of their lives. She looks them in the eye, she said, and tells them: “I just want you to hear this from me and remember my voice saying this to you: this is not your fault. There is no way you could’ve seen this coming. There is nothing you could have done differently.”

“She looked at this mother (whose infant died because the parents chose not to give the baby the vitamin K injection) in the eye and told her it wasn’t her fault. She meant it. She knew the woman had believed she was acting in the child’s best interests.”

“But what I could not bring myself to say to her was, “there’s nothing you could have done, “Dr. Kirk said. “I just couldn’t say it.”

This end of the New York Times article leaves me wanting more. I hope you too want to contact the AMA and the American pediatrics Association to fix their websites.

The new parents could have given permission, as recommended, for one shot of vitamin K.

New parents need help, and they turn to the Internet. What do they find from the American Medical Association (AMA), the center for disease control (CDC), and the American pediatric Association (AAP)? In my opinion, only one is of help to new parents.

I went on the American Medical Association website to the page for Vaccines, Vaccinations & Immunizations

“Explore the American Medical Association's comprehensive resources on vaccines, vaccinations, and immunizations to stay informed about essential health measures. The AMA's articles cover the latest vaccine recommendations, safety information, and the importance of immunizations in preventing disease outbreaks. From childhood vaccines to adult immunization schedules, the AMA provides reliable guidance to help you make informed decisions and protect your health and the health of your community.”

I put vitamin K and then vitamin K injection in the search.

Nothing came up.

Then I went on the CDC, the United States government center for disease control, and prevention.  Short, to the point, but who knows to look here?

“WHAT TO KNOW”

“Since 1961, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended a single shot of vitamin K be given at birth. The shot protects against bleeding related to low levels of this essential vitamin. If you have concerns about vitamin K, please talk to your healthcare provider.”

Q:”What is vitamin K, and how do low levels of vitamin K and vitamin K deficiency bleeding occur in babies?”

A: “Vitamin K is used by the body to form clots and to stop bleeding. Babies are born with very little vitamin K stored in their bodies. This is called vitamin K deficiency and means that a baby has low levels of vitamin K. Without enough vitamin K, babies cannot make the substances used to form clots, called clotting factors. When bleeding happens because of low levels of vitamin K, this is called vitamin K deficiency bleeding, or VKDB. VKDB is a serious and potentially life-threatening cause of bleeding in infants up to 6 months of age. A vitamin K shot given at birth is the best way to prevent low levels of vitamin K and VKDB.”

I then went on the American Academy of pediatrics website, which says, “The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children. Explore our comprehensive resources.”

I got an impersonal AI response, so long, that I didn’t even bother to read. 

If the American Academy of Pediatrics cares about children, they have to communicate in a fashion to the parents that will make them want to read it.

I bet you don’t bother to read the following on the American Academy pediatrics website under Vitamin K. I put it in Italics and small print for emphasis at how awful it is.

Generative AI Overview

A single vitamin K shot given at birth protects newborns from dangerous bleeding that can lead to brain damage or death.

Open citation The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that every newborn receive a one-time vitamin K shot at birth to prevent life-threatening bleeding and its complications. Open citation This recommendation has been in place since 1961. Open citation The vitamin K injection is safe for newborns. Open citation It is not a vaccine and does not contain mercury. Open citation Babies are born with very little vitamin K in their bodies.Open citationThis is because vitamin K does not easily cross the placenta. Open citation Additionally, breast milk has low levels of vitamin K. Open citation It can take several months for infants to get enough vitamin K on their own. Open citation Babies' intestines also don't have many bacteria yet, so their bodies can't make enough vitamin K. Open citation This low level of vitamin K puts newborns at risk for dangerous bleeding problems.bOpen citation Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient that helps the body make blood clots to stop bleeding. Open citation

Adults and older children get vitamin K from foods like green, leafy vegetables, meat, dairy, and eggs, and healthy bacteria in their intestines also produce some vitamin K.Open citation

Babies who do not receive a vitamin K shot are 80 times more likely to have a severe bleed.Open citation Some sources state they are 81 times more likely to develop Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB).Open citation The most common site of bleeding is the brain.Open citationOne in five babies (20%) with a serious bleeding event from vitamin K deficiency will die.Open citation

 Often, there are no warning signs before a life-threatening bleed starts.Open citation Bleeding can happen internally, such as in the intestines or brain, which is particularly dangerous because parents cannot see it.Open citationBrain bleeding occurs in about half of all babies who develop VKDB and can lead to brain damage or death.Open citationThe risk of sudden bleeding can persist through 6 months of age.Open citationbVKDB can develop quickly, both internally and externally.Open citation

 There are three types of VKDB, with early-onset beginning within the first 24 hours after birth.Open citation

The vitamin K shot protects babies in two ways: part of the dose is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream, and the rest is stored in the liver and released slowly, providing a steady supply of vitamin K. Open citation An intramuscular vitamin K injection is recommended over an oral dose because oral administration can be absorbed inconsistently and requires multiple doses over several months. Open citation While some countries administer vitamin K orally, it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is less effective than an intramuscular injection.Open citation The vitamin K injection is given in the baby's thigh within 6 hours of birth. Open citation One shot is all it takes to protect a baby from VKDB. Open citation The AAP has endorsed the vitamin K administration policy for over 50 years.

Open citation It is proven to be safe and effective in decreasing VKDB in newborns. Open citation In the 1990s, there was concern about a possible association between the vitamin K shot and childhood cancer. Open citation However, multiple large-scale studies found no evidence to support this concern. Open citation

 Research on childhood leukemia further weakens the plausibility of a causal relationship, suggesting a prenatal origin for the disease. Open citation The AAP recommends Vitamin K1 should be given to all newborns as a single, intramuscular dose of 0.5 to 1 mg. Open citation For newborns weighing over 1500g, a single intramuscular dose of 1 mg within 6 hours of birth is recommended. Open citation Preterm infants weighing ≤1500g should receive a vitamin K dose of 0.3 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg as a single intramuscular dose. Open citation A single intravenous dose of vitamin K for preterm infants is not recommended for prophylaxis. Open citation Despite the success of vitamin K in preventing VKDB, the incidence of VKDB appears to be on the rise, attributed to parental refusal and the lowered efficacy of alternative administration methods. Open citation

 Pediatricians and other healthcare providers must inform caregivers about the benefits of vitamin K administration and the risks of refusal. Open citation If a newborn does not receive the vitamin K injection, their risk for bleeding, including brain hemorrhage with permanent brain damage, is 80 times greater, and breastfed babies are at higher risk. Open citation

 The vitamin K injection effectively decreases this risk to less than 1 in 100,000 newborns.Open citationThere is no reliable alternative available.Open citationWhile a newborn has the option of receiving a vitamin K injection at a later time, it may not be effective then. Open citation

The end of too much.

The CDC was the only place that effectively communicated about the efficacy of the vitamin K shot.

How many new parents know to look there?

I first looked at the American medical Association, which had nothing.

 I only looked at the American pediatrics Association after it was mentioned on the CDC website. I expect more than an AI rehash from pediatricians. They should just copy the CDC.

New parents do not want their babies to die. They don’t choose that choice, but their choice may increase the possibility of their losing a child. I think they just don’t know what to do.

How can we blame new parents who are bombarded with misinformation on the Internet to go to social media, when the medical doctors and medical associations are not effectively communicating online.

Grandparents and those who want to be grandparents, please advocate for better information for new parents. They won’t listen to us.  We haven’t been parents in over 30 years and they think we know nothing.

Please share.

Mema