{"id":32,"date":"2026-07-11T01:30:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T01:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maxinefilmes.com\/odelator\/vitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T02:16:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T02:16:02","slug":"vitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maxinefilmes.com\/odelator\/vitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports\/","title":{"rendered":"What I Can\u2019t Forget About the Babies Who Died After Not Receiving a Vitamin K Shot"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><main id=\"main\" class=\"wp-block-group content p-grid-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"wp-block-group p-grid-text-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<header class=\"wp-block-group entry-header is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3ce78d47 wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-opener\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-opener p-opener--small p-opener--left p-opener--order-hed-art-dek is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a77db08e wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-opener__art-wrapper is-layout-flow wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a77db08e wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure>\n\t\t<img\n\t\t\tclass=\"p-opener__art\"\n\t\t\talt=\"A pair of black ink footprints from an infant, showing detailed skin creases and toe marks, centered on a white background with several black bars covering redacted text at the bottom.\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"1149\"\n\t\t\theight=\"1149\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?w=1149\"\n\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg 1648w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=863,863 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=422,422 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=552,552 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=558,558 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=527,527 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=752,752 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=1149,1149 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=357,357 357w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=714,714 714w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=1600,1600 1600w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=800,800 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-LEADV4.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 60em) 100vw, (min-width: 1400px) 800px, 50vw\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\"\t\t\tfetchpriority=\"high\"\n\t\t\/><figcaption class=\"p-attribution\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-attribution__caption\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tFootprints of an infant in an autopsy report from Arizona<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-attribution__credit\"><br \/>\n                        Obtained and redacted for privacy by ProPublica<br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-opener__topic-title-dek-wrapper is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"p-opener__series wp-block-propublica-primary-term\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/series\/a-simple-shot\" class=\"wp-block-propublica-primary-term__link p-opener__series-link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tA Simple Shot\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"p-opener__hed  wp-block-post-title\">Tiny Footprints, a Blue Blanket: What I Can\u2019t Forget About the Babies Who Died of Vitamin K Deficiency<\/h1>\n<h2 class=\"p-opener__dek wp-block-propublica-dek\">\n\tThe deaths of these babies likely could have been prevented with a long-standard vitamin shot. For reporter Duaa Eldeib, their autopsy reports painted the clearest picture of the tragedy of their short lives.<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-article-meta-1 p-article-meta-1--left is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"p-article-meta-1__byline wp-block-propublica-byline\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-byline__photos\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/people\/duaa-eldeib\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"wp-block-propublica-byline__photo-link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?w=50\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?w=50 1x, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?w=100 2x\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"wp-block-propublica-byline__photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"50\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\theight=\"50\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-byline__right\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-byline__content\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-propublica-byline-text\">by <\/span><span class=\"wp-block-propublica-byline-profile\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/people\/duaa-eldeib\">Duaa Eldeib<\/a><\/span>\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"p-article-meta-1__pubdate wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-18T05:00:00-04:00\">May 18, 2026, 5:00 am<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-article-meta-1__section-actions p-article-meta-1__section-actions--left is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-article-meta-1__section-actions-container is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-news-over-audio-listen-button\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-b7003702 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"#news-over-audio-player\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" class=\"icon\"><use href=\"#am-symbol-play\"><\/use><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-propublica-news-over-audio-listen-button__label\">Listen<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-propublica-news-over-audio-listen-button__timestamp\">08:08<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"news-over-audio-player__super-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"news-over-audio-player__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"news-over-audio-player__loading-animation\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"icon\"><use href=\"#am-symbol-loader\"><\/use><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<iframe\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"about:blank\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"news-over-audio-player\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"292\"\n\t\t\t\theight=\"204\"\n\t\t\t\tscrolling=\"no\"\n\t\t\t\tframeborder=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"news-over-audio-player\"\n\t\t\t\treferrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-play-url=\"https:\/\/embed-player.newsoveraudio.com\/v6?key=U5u4k53XOI9fy337Nd4R3ueC6n5dz038&#038;id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.propublica.org%2Farticle%2Fvitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports\"\n\t\t\t><\/iframe>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"news-over-audio-player__close-button\" aria-label=\"Close\">\n\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\"><use href=\"#am-symbol-close\"><\/use><\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                <script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"svelte-config\">\n                    {\"componentName\":\"ShareToolsRebrand\",\"props\":{\"pageTitle\":\"Tiny Footprints, a Blue Blanket: What I Can\u2019t Forget About the Babies Who Died of Vitamin K Deficiency\",\"pageUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/vitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports\"},\"contextArray\":[]}\n                <\/script><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: contents\">\n                    <!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"share-tools\" data-pp-click=\"\" data-pp-location=\"share tools\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[0--><\/p>\n<div class=\"svelte-1ear6bd button--circle\" style=\"display: contents; 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--button-bg-color: var(--p-color-page-bg); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-gray-05); --button-border: 1px solid var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01); --button-font-size: var(--p-scale-4);\"><!--[--><!----><button data-button-root=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><!--[-1--><svg role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><title>Contrast<\/title><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"10\"><\/circle><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 18a6 6 0 000-12v12z\"><\/path><\/svg><!--]--><\/span><!----><!----><\/button><!----><!--]--><\/div>\n<p><!----> <label class=\"p-a11y\" for=\"dark-mode-toggle__select\">Change Appearance<\/label> <select class=\"dark-mode-toggle__select svelte-1l6vey\" id=\"dark-mode-toggle__select\" data-pp-change=\"true\" data-pp-category=\"change-mode\"><!--[--><option value=\"auto\" selected=\"\">Auto<\/option><option value=\"light\">Light<\/option><option value=\"dark\">Dark<\/option><!--]--><\/select><\/div>\n<p><!--]-->\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group article-body is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-notes--top wp-block-propublica-notes\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-note\">\n<p>ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/newsletters\/dispatches?source=%25source%25\">Sign up for Dispatches<\/a>, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"entry-content wp-block-post-content is-layout-flow wp-block-post-content-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I recently wrote about babies dying from a rare but fatal condition called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/more-parents-decline-vitamin-k-shot-newborns\">vitamin K deficiency bleeding<\/a>. To report the story, I analyzed hundreds of rows of data, contacted more than 50 hospitals and birthing centers, and filed nearly 90 public records requests. But autopsy reports \u2014 one record of how these babies died \u2014 painted the clearest picture of these tragedies.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m sharing some of the most critical lessons I learned from the autopsy reports in hopes of creating a greater awareness of this condition and highlighting what decades of research and interviews with dozens of doctors found: In almost every case, the deaths could have been prevented with a simple shot of vitamin K at birth.<\/p>\n<p>ProPublica is not sharing the babies\u2019 names, the dates or years of death, or the locations within a state to protect the families\u2019 privacy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-lead-in bb--size-xsmall-right p-bb--size-xsmall-right\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-read-more\">Read More<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-story-promo\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/more-parents-decline-vitamin-k-shot-newborns\" class=\"story-promo\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"story-promo__art\">\n\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"459\" height=\"306\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vitamine-k__preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=459&amp;h=306&amp;crop=1\" class=\"attachment-propublica-story-promo size-propublica-story-promo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/>\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"story-promo__info\">\n\t\t\t<strong class=\"story-promo__hed\">Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth<\/strong>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Babies need vitamin K to help their blood clot, but they aren\u2019t born with enough of it in their system. Two researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1943 for their discovery of vitamin K and its ability to form clots and stop bleeding in babies, and the vitamin K shot has been a standard intervention for newborns in the U.S. since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended it more than 60 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>But in recent years, parents have started refusing the shot. Although the vitamin K shot is not a vaccine, it has become entangled in the anti-vaccine movement. False and misleading information online has led some parents to believe the shot is harmful. In addition, some parents have voiced a desire for a more natural birthing experience, one without pharmaceutical intervention. And some simply don\u2019t want their babies to go through the pain of an injection that they don\u2019t believe is necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Hospital data and research studies have documented this shift. In December, a national study of more than 5 million births found that the rate of babies not receiving vitamin K jumped 77% from 2017 to 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that newborns who don\u2019t get the shot are 81 times more likely than those who do to develop late vitamin K deficiency bleeding. In many cases, there are no warning signs. The babies are healthy and happy just days and sometimes hours before they suffer catastrophic bleeding.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-explanatory-hed is-style-explanatory-hed--1\" id=\"h-1-the-role-vitamin-k-deficiency-played-in-the-babies-deaths\">1. The role vitamin K deficiency played in the babies\u2019 deaths<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium bb--size-medium p-bb--size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" js-autosizes height=\"720\" width=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=752\" alt=\"A heavily redacted medical document with personal information, including names, dates and locations, obscured by black bars. Under the \u201cManner\u201d section, \u201cNatural\u201d is checked. Under \u201cCause,\u201d two lines are highlighted in yellow: \u201c1: Vitamin K deficiency bleeding\u201d and \u201c2: Postnatal vitamin K prophylaxis not received.\u201d\" class=\"wp-image-77444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 2407w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,287 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,735 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,980 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1536,1470 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2048,1960 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,826 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,404 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,528 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,534 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,504 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,720 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,1099 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1672,1600 1672w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,383 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,765 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,1148 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1600,1531 1600w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence1-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2000,1914 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><figcaption class=\"attribution\"><span class=\"attribution__caption\">An infant\u2019s autopsy report from Minnesota<\/span> <span class=\"attribution__credit\">Obtained and redacted for privacy by ProPublica<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Not all deaths are investigated by a medical examiner or coroner, but I filed open records requests in several states and counties to obtain those that were. One of the first things that stood out was how clear the role of vitamin K was in many of the cases. Vitamin K deficiency was listed in the autopsies as the immediate cause of death or as contributing to it. Details about parents refusing the vitamin K shot also were usually included.<\/p>\n<p>In this autopsy from Minnesota, the medical examiner determined the baby died of vitamin K deficiency bleeding. The second line included the fact that vitamin K was not received as part of preventive care after the baby was born.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p-hide-print p-bb--size-full wp-block-propublica-ad-slot\">\n<div id=\"bsa-zone_1760102005055-6_123456\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Seeing vitamin K deficiency listed as a cause of death was important because it removed doubt that the bleeding could have been caused by another factor, such as an injury. The other autopsies I examined also used similar language.<\/p>\n<p>One of the challenges around vitamin K deficiency bleeding is the data. State and federal agencies don\u2019t track which babies don\u2019t get the shot and which babies suffer bleeds or die. Many medical experts told me that the number of deaths directly attributed to vitamin K \u2014 fewer than a dozen annually \u2014 are only part of the story. Hundreds of babies die every year from spontaneous bleeding in the brain. Some of those deaths, these experts said, likely are related to vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This has led doctors to call for better reporting and tracking.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-explanatory-hed is-style-explanatory-hed--2\" id=\"h-2-what-items-accompanied-the-babies\">2. What items accompanied the babies<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-propublica-position-large bb--size-large p-bb--size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" js-autosizes height=\"331\" width=\"1149\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=1149\" alt=\"A snippet of black text on a white background containing three descriptive lines. The first line is numbered \u201c10\u201d and mentions a hospital name band on a right ankle, with the baby\u2019s name redacted by a black bar. The second line states that the \u201cbody is dressed in a dry and unsoiled disposable diaper weighing 20 g.\u201d The final line, centered below, notes that a blue blanket accompanied the body.\" class=\"wp-image-77445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 2071w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,86 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,221 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,295 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1536,443 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2048,590 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,249 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,122 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,159 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,161 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,152 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,217 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,331 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2000,577 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,115 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,231 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,346 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence2-V3_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1600,461 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1149px) 100vw, 1149px\" \/><figcaption class=\"attribution\"><span class=\"attribution__caption\">Autopsy reports reviewed by ProPublica often included lines about what items the infants arrived with.<\/span> <span class=\"attribution__credit\">Obtained and redacted for privacy by ProPublica<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Most of the autopsies didn\u2019t just list medical findings. They contained summaries and descriptions, including a baby\u2019s weight, length, hair and eye color. One of the details that struck me is what the babies came to the morgue with: a hospital band around the ankle, an unsoiled diaper, a blue blanket.<\/p>\n<p>It reminded me of Tim O\u2019Brien\u2019s classic collection of linked short stories, \u201cThe Things They Carried,\u201d about what soldiers take with them, both physically and emotionally. These items were a heartbreaking reminder that these babies were just that \u2014 babies who had yet to take their first step or kick their first soccer ball.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-explanatory-hed is-style-explanatory-hed--3\">3. What the babies endured<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-propublica-position-large bb--size-large p-bb--size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" js-autosizes height=\"240\" width=\"1149\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=1149\" alt=\"A short paragraph of black text on a light gray background titled \u201cOpinion.\u201d The text describes a 1-month-old infant diagnosed with hemorrhagic disease of the newborn following a home birth without supplemental vitamin K. A sentence is highlighted in yellow: \u201cThe autopsy revealed subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage with cerebral edema and necrosis of the brain.\u201d The paragraph concludes by noting that no obvious inflicted trauma was identified.\" class=\"wp-image-77446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 2330w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,63 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,161 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,214 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1536,321 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2048,428 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,180 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,88 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,115 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,117 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,110 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,157 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,240 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2000,418 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,84 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,167 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,251 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence3-V2_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1600,334 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1149px) 100vw, 1149px\" \/><figcaption class=\"attribution\"><span class=\"attribution__caption\">Some reports, like this one from Alabama, described intracranial bleeding.<\/span> <span class=\"attribution__credit\">Obtained and highlighted by ProPublica<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The autopsies described, often in painstaking detail, what the babies endured. In this case of a 1-month-old from Alabama, the autopsy found that the baby had suffered subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which are types of bleeds that occur in different areas immediately on top of the brain. The first, subdural, occurs when blood collects under one of the layers of tissue inside the skull that protect the brain. A subarachnoid bleed occurs in the space below a different layer. A cerebral edema is a type of swelling in the brain, and necrosis of the brain is the death of living brain tissue. The autopsy also described the cause as \u201chemorrhagic disease of newborn,\u201d the previous name of vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which some clinicians still use.<\/p>\n<p>Autopsies are official records and often are written as such. I reached out to pathologists and other doctors to help me understand and translate the medical terminology. As agonizing as it was, it was important to document. Our job as reporters is to bear witness to the truth, as distressing as it may be.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-explanatory-hed is-style-explanatory-hed--4\">4. How hard doctors tried to save them<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-propublica-position-large bb--size-large p-bb--size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" js-autosizes height=\"201\" width=\"1149\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=1149\" alt=\"A snippet of black text on a light gray background, labeled with the letter \u201cf.\u201d The text reads, \u201cAt the time of hand-off, he again coded and was worked on for thirty to thirty-five minutes before resuscitative efforts were stopped at the request of infant\u2019s parents.\u201d\" class=\"wp-image-77447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,52 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,134 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,179 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,151 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,74 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,96 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,97 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,92 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,131 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,201 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,70 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,140 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence4-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,210 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1149px) 100vw, 1149px\" \/><figcaption class=\"attribution\"><span class=\"attribution__caption\">Many of the reports cited the attempts by doctors to save the infants\u2019 lives.<\/span> <span class=\"attribution__credit\">Obtained by ProPublica<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some of the autopsies had a section titled \u201cEvidence of Medical Intervention.\u201d In it, the pathologists described what steps the doctors and nurses took to try to save the babies. Doctors inserted tubes into the babies\u2019 airways, connected them to IVs, ordered blood transfusions. It\u2019s an excruciating section to read because if things had gone differently, the baby may have survived.<\/p>\n<p>In this case from Kentucky, the medical team attempted several lifesaving measures. Still, the baby coded twice. Doctors were able to resuscitate him the first time, but the second time, after about half an hour of trying to bring him back again, his parents finally told them they could stop.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-explanatory-hed is-style-explanatory-hed--5\">5. How tiny the babies were when they died<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-propublica-position-medium bb--size-medium p-bb--size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" js-autosizes height=\"742\" width=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?w=752\" alt=\"A pair of black ink footprints from an infant centered on a white page. Above and below the footprints are several rows of official form fields and identifying information, all of which have been redacted with solid black bars.\" class=\"wp-image-77448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg 2334w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=300,296 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=768,758 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1024,1010 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1536,1516 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2048,2021 2048w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=863,852 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=422,416 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=552,545 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=558,551 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=527,520 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=752,742 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1149,1134 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1622,1600 1622w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=400,395 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=800,789 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1200,1184 1200w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=1600,1579 1600w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Evidence5-V1_preview_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_embedColorProfile_true_quality_95.jpg?resize=2000,1973 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><figcaption class=\"attribution\"><span class=\"attribution__caption\">An infant\u2019s autopsy report from Arizona<\/span> <span class=\"attribution__credit\">Obtained and redacted for privacy by ProPublica<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The autopsies underscored just how preventable these deaths could have been. Seeing the tiny footprints of one of those babies in the autopsy records is a haunting reminder of that.<\/p>\n<p>Parents frame their baby\u2019s footprints to hang on the wall or tuck into keepsake boxes. The footprints often elicit a rush of happy memories.<\/p>\n<p>But when those footprints appear in autopsy records, they transform into a tragic reminder of how tiny the babies were when they died.<\/p>\n<div class=\"reporter-contact wp-block-propublica-reporter-contact bb--size-medium p-bb--size-medium\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-you-a-family-member-doctor-nurse-or-midwife\">Are You a Family Member, Doctor, Nurse or Midwife?<\/h3>\n<p>I want to understand more about why families decline a vitamin K shot. I know how difficult it is to talk about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/stillbirths-prevention-infant-mortality\">losing a child<\/a> and how hard it can be to <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/stillbirth-memorial\/\">process this kind of grief<\/a>. Words can\u2019t express how sorry I am for your loss. ProPublica\u2019s goal is to give the public the best, most trustworthy information. If you have a story to share, I hope you will reach out to me when you\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"reporter-contact__divider\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"reporter-contact__profile\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?w=70&amp;h=70&amp;crop=1\" class=\"reporter-contact__photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=863,863 863w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=70,70 70w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=422,422 422w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=552,552 552w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=558,558 558w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=527,527 527w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=752,752 752w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=1149,1149 1149w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=357,357 357w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=714,714 714w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=1600,1600 1600w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=800,800 800w, https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/20200121-duaa-eldeib-portrait-sized-1x1.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 70px) 100vw, 70px\" js-autosizes=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"reporter-contact__profile-details\">\n<p class=\"reporter-contact__name\">Duaa Eldeib<\/p>\n<p class=\"reporter-contact__prompt\">Send me your tips, stories and documents. Reach me by email or securely on Signal at 312-730-4797. I take the protection of my sources extremely seriously.<\/p>\n<p>                <script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"svelte-config\">\n                    {\n            \"componentName\": \"ContactToolsRebrand\",\n            \"props\": {\n                \"emailAddress\": \"duaa.eldeib@propublica.org\",\n                \"signalNumber\": \"312-730-4797\",\n                \"signalUsername\": \"\",\n                \"phoneNumber\": \"312-730-4797\",\n                \"buttonText\": \"Contact Me\",\n                \"buttonProps\": {}\n            },\n            \"contextArray\": []\n        }\n                <\/script><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: contents\">\n                    <!--[--><\/p>\n<div class=\"contact-tools\" data-pp-click=\"\" data-pp-location=\"contact tools\"><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!--[0--><\/p>\n<div class=\"svelte-1ear6bd\" style=\"display: contents; --button-bg-color: var(--p-dyn-color-black); --button-text-color: var(--p-dyn-color-white); 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Reach me by email or securely on Signal at 312-730-4797. I take the protection of my sources extremely seriously.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-right is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-95163ec0 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-top-color:var(--p-dyn-color-gray-01);border-top-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--p-spacing-3)\">\n<div class=\"taxonomy-pp_topic hide-print wp-block-post-terms wp-container-content-9cfa9a5a\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\">Filed under \u2014 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/topics\/health-care\" rel=\"tag\">Health Care<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link\" data-component=\"republish-link\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--9\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button wp-block-propublica-republish-link__open-button\">Republish This Story<\/button><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal--hidden\"\n\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\taria-modal=\"true\"\n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\taria-labelledby=\"propublica-republish-link-label7\"\n\t\taria-description=\"propublica-republish-link-description8\"\n\t><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__header\">\n\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__close-button\" aria-label=\"Close\"><br \/>\n\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\"><use href=\"#am-symbol-close\"><\/use><\/svg>\t<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__instructions\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal-hed\" id=\"propublica-republish-link-label7\">Republish This Story for Free<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal-license\" id=\"propublica-republish-link-description8\"><a rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)<\/a><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>\n\t\tThank you for your interest in republishing this story. 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(To inquire about syndication or licensing opportunities, contact <a href=\"\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#9ff3f6fcfaf1ecf6f1f8dfefedf0efeafdf3f6fcfeb1f0edf8\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"0b6762686e657862656c4b7b79647b7e696762686a2564796c\">[email&#160;protected]<\/span><\/a>.)\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\tYou can&#039;t use our work to populate a website designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\tWe do not generally permit translation of our stories into another language.\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li>\n\t\t\tAny website our stories appear on must include a prominent and effective way to contact you.\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__modal__copy\">\n\t<label><br \/>\n\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">HTML<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<textarea readonly tabindex=\"-1\"><\/p>\n<h1>Tiny Footprints, a Blue Blanket: What I Can\u2019t Forget About the Babies Who Died of Vitamin K Deficiency<\/h1>\n<p>I recently wrote about babies dying from a rare but fatal condition called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/more-parents-decline-vitamin-k-shot-newborns\">vitamin K deficiency bleeding<\/a>. To report the story, I analyzed hundreds of rows of data, contacted more than 50 hospitals and birthing centers, and filed nearly 90 public records requests. But autopsy reports \u2014 one record of how these babies died \u2014 painted the clearest picture of these tragedies.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m sharing some of the most critical lessons I learned from the autopsy reports in hopes of creating a greater awareness of this condition and highlighting what decades of research and interviews with dozens of doctors found: In almost every case, the deaths could have been prevented with a simple shot of vitamin K at birth.<\/p>\n<p>ProPublica is not sharing the babies\u2019 names, the dates or years of death, or the locations within a state to protect the families\u2019 privacy.<\/p>\n<p>Babies need vitamin K to help their blood clot, but they aren\u2019t born with enough of it in their system. Two researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1943 for their discovery of vitamin K and its ability to form clots and stop bleeding in babies, and the vitamin K shot has been a standard intervention for newborns in the U.S. since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended it more than 60 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>But in recent years, parents have started refusing the shot. Although the vitamin K shot is not a vaccine, it has become entangled in the anti-vaccine movement. False and misleading information online has led some parents to believe the shot is harmful. In addition, some parents have voiced a desire for a more natural birthing experience, one without pharmaceutical intervention. And some simply don\u2019t want their babies to go through the pain of an injection that they don\u2019t believe is necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Hospital data and research studies have documented this shift. In December, a national study of more than 5 million births found that the rate of babies not receiving vitamin K jumped 77% from 2017 to 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that newborns who don\u2019t get the shot are 81 times more likely than those who do to develop late vitamin K deficiency bleeding. In many cases, there are no warning signs. The babies are healthy and happy just days and sometimes hours before they suffer catastrophic bleeding.<\/p>\n<h3>1. The role vitamin K deficiency played in the babies\u2019 deaths<\/h3>\n<p>Not all deaths are investigated by a medical examiner or coroner, but I filed open records requests in several states and counties to obtain those that were. One of the first things that stood out was how clear the role of vitamin K was in many of the cases. Vitamin K deficiency was listed in the autopsies as the immediate cause of death or as contributing to it. Details about parents refusing the vitamin K shot also were usually included.<\/p>\n<p>In this autopsy from Minnesota, the medical examiner determined the baby died of vitamin K deficiency bleeding. The second line included the fact that vitamin K was not received as part of preventive care after the baby was born.<\/p>\n<p>Seeing vitamin K deficiency listed as a cause of death was important because it removed doubt that the bleeding could have been caused by another factor, such as an injury. The other autopsies I examined also used similar language.<\/p>\n<p>One of the challenges around vitamin K deficiency bleeding is the data. State and federal agencies don\u2019t track which babies don\u2019t get the shot and which babies suffer bleeds or die. Many medical experts told me that the number of deaths directly attributed to vitamin K \u2014 fewer than a dozen annually \u2014 are only part of the story. Hundreds of babies die every year from spontaneous bleeding in the brain. Some of those deaths, these experts said, likely are related to vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This has led doctors to call for better reporting and tracking.<\/p>\n<h3>2. What items accompanied the babies<\/h3>\n<p>Most of the autopsies didn\u2019t just list medical findings. They contained summaries and descriptions, including a baby\u2019s weight, length, hair and eye color. One of the details that struck me is what the babies came to the morgue with: a hospital band around the ankle, an unsoiled diaper, a blue blanket.<\/p>\n<p>It reminded me of Tim O\u2019Brien\u2019s classic collection of linked short stories, \u201cThe Things They Carried,\u201d about what soldiers take with them, both physically and emotionally. These items were a heartbreaking reminder that these babies were just that \u2014 babies who had yet to take their first step or kick their first soccer ball.<\/p>\n<h3>3. What the babies endured<\/h3>\n<p>The autopsies described, often in painstaking detail, what the babies endured. In this case of a 1-month-old from Alabama, the autopsy found that the baby had suffered subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which are types of bleeds that occur in different areas immediately on top of the brain. The first, subdural, occurs when blood collects under one of the layers of tissue inside the skull that protect the brain. A subarachnoid bleed occurs in the space below a different layer. A cerebral edema is a type of swelling in the brain, and necrosis of the brain is the death of living brain tissue. The autopsy also described the cause as \u201chemorrhagic disease of newborn,\u201d the previous name of vitamin K deficiency bleeding, which some clinicians still use.<\/p>\n<p>Autopsies are official records and often are written as such. I reached out to pathologists and other doctors to help me understand and translate the medical terminology. As agonizing as it was, it was important to document. Our job as reporters is to bear witness to the truth, as distressing as it may be.<\/p>\n<h3>4. How hard doctors tried to save them<\/h3>\n<p>Some of the autopsies had a section titled \u201cEvidence of Medical Intervention.\u201d In it, the pathologists described what steps the doctors and nurses took to try to save the babies. Doctors inserted tubes into the babies\u2019 airways, connected them to IVs, ordered blood transfusions. It\u2019s an excruciating section to read because if things had gone differently, the baby may have survived.<\/p>\n<p>In this case from Kentucky, the medical team attempted several lifesaving measures. Still, the baby coded twice. Doctors were able to resuscitate him the first time, but the second time, after about half an hour of trying to bring him back again, his parents finally told them they could stop.<\/p>\n<h3>5. How tiny the babies were when they died<\/h3>\n<p>The autopsies underscored just how preventable these deaths could have been. Seeing the tiny footprints of one of those babies in the autopsy records is a haunting reminder of that.<\/p>\n<p>Parents frame their baby\u2019s footprints to hang on the wall or tuck into keepsake boxes. The footprints often elicit a rush of happy memories.<\/p>\n<p>But when those footprints appear in autopsy records, they transform into a tragic reminder of how tiny the babies were when they died.<\/p>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/vitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports\" \/>\n<meta name=\"syndication-source\" content=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/vitamin-k-baby-autopsy-reports\" \/><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/pixel.propublica.org\/pixel.js\" async><\/script><br \/>\n<\/textarea>\t<\/label><\/p>\n<p>\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"wp-block-propublica-republish-link__copy-button\">Copy HTML<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/main><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Footprints of an infant in an autopsy report from Arizona Obtained and redacted for privacy by ProPublica A Simple Shot Tiny Footprints, a Blue Blanket: What I Can\u2019t Forget About the Babies Who Died of Vitamin K Deficiency The deaths of these babies likely could have been prevented with a long-standard vitamin shot. 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