Vitamin K deficiency bleeding was previously known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. The passage explains its prevention and the reasons for low neonatal vitamin K levels.
Prevention
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Routine vitamin K prophylaxis at birth has considerably reduced the incidence of vitamin K deficiency bleeding.
Why neonates have low vitamin K levels
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Transplacental transfer of vitamin K is poor.
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Breast milk has a low vitamin K content.
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The neonatal gut lacks colonization by bacteria that synthesize vitamin K.