Prevention of Vitamin K Deficiency Phytonadione 0.5 to 1 mg IM (or 0.3 mg / kg for preterm infants) is recommended for all neonates within 6 hours of birth to reduce the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage due to birth trauma and of classic hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (risk of increased bleeding 1 to 7 days after birth).