Breastfeeding Mommies, have you heard this?

Question

according to the Pediatrics Journal breastfed babies are at risk for having a vitiman D deficiency. If further says breastfed babies should be given a Vitiman supplement within the first 2 months of life.

Has anyone else heard this?

My son is now 4 years old but I never heard this while he was breastfed.

Answer 1

yes; that is accurate. I have three kids; 5, 2, and 10months. Only for the 10-month-old was I told to give the vitamin D drops.

Because you get most of the D that you need from the sun, it may not be necessary as long as your baby gets enough sun. I live in Wisconsin and my last baby was born in October (the beginning of our "indoor season") so that's why my doctor recommended the drops. If your pediatrician has not mentioned it, it may be because you live in a warmer area where your baby will be getting plenty of sun.

If your baby does not get enough vitamin D/sun, he or she could contract Rickets. I don't know what that is but it doesn't sound fun!

Formula fed babies may not recommended to take the vitamin cuz it's in formula already, I'm not sure.

Answer 2

Heard of it, and just to be safe, I give my exclusively breastfed 3.5 mo old tri-vi-sol every day (contains A, C & D), since she was 5 weeks old.

The body doesn't store tons of vitamin D. Instead, your body manufactures it as soon as you are in sunlight. I guess in the caveman days, when humans were in the sun constantly, it wasn't a worry -- your body manufactured plenty of vitamin D. And breastmilk didn't need to contain much vitamin D because the baby would get it from the sun (and breastmilk still doesn't have enough D in it). But today with the ozone problems and skin cancer and polution, babies aren't in the direct sun much. And when they are, they are covered with clothes or shaded material or sunscreen -- none of which allow the body to absorb the suns rays via the skin to in turn produce the necessary Vitamin D.

At least that's what the theory is.

Answer 3

There is a very low risk for babies who have dark skin and/or are seldom exposed to the sun. Vitamin D is actually *not* a vitamin but a hormone that is produced in the skin when exposed to natural light. (That's why there's little of it in human milk.) A few minutes of sunlight a day is all that is needed to prevent a deficiency except if the baby has very dark skin or lives at very high latitudes. See sources section below. Rickets isn't actually a nutritional deficiency, it's a *lifestyle* deficiency.

Answer 4

It's not that it's a vitamin deficiancy, more like a lack of vitamins that can be good for them. Just like it's good for adults to take daily vitamin supplements.
The reason they say that breastfed babies need the supplement is because they already add that stuff to infant formulas.

Answer 5

Yes there is a Vitamin D deficiency in breast milk. Your doctor should've told you. You should give your baby Vit.D drops until 1 years old and then when you give your child cow's milk, you can stop the vit.d. Your baby can get Vit. D from the sun so if your baby goes outside in the sun for at least 2 hours a week the Vit.d is not necessary. I know your child is 4 years old and I am sure very healthy but this info is for other users... Thanks

Answer 6

My baby is two months old and I just talked about this with my pediatrician. I was told that Vitamin D helps with the proper closure of baby's fontanels (soft spots). Breastfed babies older than four weeks should be getting vitamin D.

Answer 7

contained in the commencing up breastfed babies ought to mattress fed greater generally than each and every 2 hours. you're meant to place them to the breast every time they decide on it. it must be 10 min between feedings or 30, yet that's the way you build your milk supply. it somewhat is overwhelming in the commencing up, yet persist with it. that's what i've got study from the l. a. Leche internet site. I failed at breastfeeding my 1st 2 situations because of the fact i replaced into informed to in hassle-free terms feed them each and every 2 hours, and the nurses contained in the well-being facility supplemented with too lots formula and stretched out their tiny tummies. I wasn't producing sufficient milk because of this, and that that they had already had a flavor of the elementary life with the bottle, so as that they did no longer decide directly to nurse. I plan on attempting returned with this new attitude and sense i would be greater helpful at it!

Answer 8

yes, breast milk does lack vitamin D. You don't have to sunburn your child to get it though. Sitting inside next to a window for 15-20 per day will suffice. If you live in where there is no sun for 6 months at a time take the tri-vi-sol drops, otherwise go outside. enjoy the nature while it lasts. ;-)

Answer 9

Babies have been thriving on breast milk ever since there were babies, and nobody gave them any supplements. If the mother's diet is good and the baby has no health problems, then why ruin nature's perfect food?

Answer 10

I have breastfed both my children, and my pediatrician hasnt said a word. My daughter is 11 mths old now, and I will bring this up at her next visit.