Vitamin K

Vitamin K shots are recommended by the NHS for newborns. It helps to prevent bleeding in the brain by promoting clotting. In the course of our birth journey we've come across countless instances of contrasting arguments for every decision you have to make, e.g., shot or no shot. You name it, and there's a book promoting it and another one disparaging it. One study in the 90's concluded that Vitamin K shots increased the chance of leukemia. But despite the fact that this study has been shown to have been flawed, and several subsequent studies have shown that no link exists, the debate persists on baby web sites, in books, and in mommy circles everywhere. In my mind, this is a simple example of letting fear take over the decision-making process. As a scientist, I realize that the answers science provides are, by the very definition of science, never perfect. The extreme cost of making bad parenting decisions increases the import of any doubt. I consider this a healthy dose of skepticism. It's unhealthy, however, if it is simply an uninformed version of raw fear.

Parenting questions seem to produce a lot of philosophizing. Being a pragmatist, I suppose I've developed one philosophical principle thus far: relax and consult the experts. (Do I sound like Obama?). No reason to get an MD or a qualification in homeopathy to give birth. Better to get a degree in recognizing experts -- like Dierdre, Jackie, our parents, etc. The triage nurse who took 10 minutes to get us water while Jenny managed to have 5 contractions was not an expert.

Quinn didn't agree with our decision on the Vit K shot, but I know he ain't no expert in that topic (at least not yet).