my son is 6 weeks and is completely on breast milk. should i give vitamin drops just to make sure he is getting all the vitamins? is there a disadvantage of giving vitamin drops. i will ask his padetrician tomorrow but i thought i will ask the experienced moms here. :-)
happy holidays and thanks for your responses!
2006-12-12 09:00:02 · 4 answers · asked by newmomma 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
He doesn't need vitamin drops. What you can do is make sure you are taking your vitamins, eating healthy and you can take a dha and ara supplement (expecta) for healthy eye and brain development.
2006-12-12 09:12:32 · answer #1 · answered by jc2006 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The disadvantages are that you babies system is not designed for synthetic vitamins. Synthetic vitamins particularly iron interefere with the absorption of vitamins from breastmilk, which is why babies breastfed exclusively for 7 months have almost NO cases of anemia, and those started on iron fortified cereal have a high rate of anemia.
Vitamin drops can also be aspirated which can cause lung infection.
Why mess with a system that is already perfect?
Here is a link: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins.html
and a few quotes:
"The American Academy of Pediatrics (Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk) states:
No supplements (water, glucose water, formula, and so forth) should be given to breastfeeding newborns unless a medical indication exists... Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth."
"AAP recommendations on specific vitamins are noted below.
Some very premature babies (weighing less than 1500 grams/3.3 pounds) may need extra vitamins and minerals, which can be added to their mother's milk before being given to the baby. "
The big one you will hear is Vitamin D, which isn't actually a vitamin.
""Intermediate- and dark-skinned children who were breast-fed without vitamin D supplementation were at risk for the disease. Among identified cases, the mothers were frequently veiled, did not receive vitamin D supplementation following delivery, and infrequently ingested milk (thus eliminating a potential dietary source of vitamin D)... A subset of residents in Canada are particularly at risk for nutritional rickets, including darker-skinned, breast-fed infants whose mothers adhere to a diet that is low in vitamin D and have limited sun exposure." [p. 43-44]"
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-d.html
LLLI2: In some rare cases, some breastfed babies benefit from vitamin supplements. If the mother is undernourished and if she and the baby is dark-skinned and they both stay out of the sun for months at a time and the mother does not consume enough vitamin D enriched foods such as milk, only then is there a possibility of increased risk of rickets.
AAP3: Vitamin D (and iron) may be given before the age of six months in selected groups of infants. Vitamin D for infants whose mothers are vitamin-D deficient or for those infants not exposed to adequate sunlight.
http://www.infactcanada.ca/breastmilk_and_vitamin_d_adequac.htm
2006-12-12 17:20:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should definatly give him the vitamin drops. Kudos on nursing ( I wasn't able to) but you have to remember that even your diet isn't 100 perfect all the time so the vitamin drops will be a great addition to his nutrition.
2006-12-12 17:05:16 · answer #3 · answered by Mama Ro 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
your son should be getting all his vitamins via your breastmilk.....toooo much iron will make it hard or damn near impossible for your baby to have a bowel movement........i suggest you start vitamin drops when he is just starting table foods to ensure proper nutrition
2006-12-12 17:17:02 · answer #4 · answered by Lori C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋