What is a common outcome of Vitamin K deficiency in newborns?

Vitamin K deficiency in newborns is primarily associated with easy bruising and bleeding. This is due to the essential role that Vitamin K plays in the synthesis of certain coagulation factors in the liver, notably Factors II (prothrombin), VII, IX, and X. A deficiency can lead to an insufficient production of these factors, thereby impairing the blood's ability to clot effectively.

Newborns are particularly vulnerable to Vitamin K deficiency because they have low stores of Vitamin K at birth, and their intestines are not yet colonized with bacteria that help synthesize this vitamin. As a result, the baby is at risk for a condition known as "hemorrhagic disease of the newborn," which can manifest as easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from the umbilical stump, or even more serious internal bleeding.

While other conditions such as hemolytic anemia, neurological impairments, and increased blood clotting have their own causes and considerations, they are not the direct consequences of Vitamin K deficiency in this context. The hallmark signs are specifically associated with bleeding tendencies, making easy bruising and bleeding the most accurate outcome when considering the implications of Vitamin K deficiency in newborns.