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Why do newborns need a vitamin K shot at birth? Pediatricians hear this question a lot. Here’s the simple, science-backed answer. During pregnancy, vitamin K doesn’t cross the placenta well. And newborns don’t yet have the gut bacteria that help make it. Breast milk and formula don’t provide enough. That combination can put even healthy babies at risk for serious bleeding. The vitamin K shot provides reliable protection right away. Oral vitamin K exists, but it’s less reliable at preventing dangerous bleeding in newborns.