urgent vitamin D supplement for baby

[mammalicious]

i'v been told breastfeed babies need to supplement with vitamin D from near birth for development of healthy bones? i totally didn't know this and havn't given any to my baby girl who is nearing 4 months. I'm told that i should take her into the doctor right away to try to remedy her lack of it for the past 3 months and that if i don't supplement her with it, there is chance of "ricket" (?)

how is the vitamin D taken? syrup? should i be worried?

[Valencia]

I've heard recently on TV that the best form of Vitamin D is from the sun. If you're worried get your baby out for some sun bathing, such a fine weather today, though a bit chilly. With vitamin A&D, it's syrup form of course. Beware of overdosage, since I've read about an excessive overdosage case resulting in irreparable damage to the liver. That's why I don't buy cod liver jelly candies.

[leungpapamama]

hi mammalicious,

Breastfed babies usually suffer from two kinds of deficiency,namely Vitamin D and iron. The amount in vit D in breastmilk is usually sufficient for baby growth unless the mother is malnutritious or the baby is suffering from certain kind of disease which affect the absorption of vit D. You can supplement the breastmilk with polyvisol which provides a decent amount of Vit D and other vitamins.

I really doubt that your baby will get ricket but do check with your doctor if you really worry.

Hope these information will help.

[leungpapamama]

BTW, as your baby is 4 month old now, you will start to give her solid food soon. She will get all the nutrients from food then (with or without supplements).

[mammalicious]

thanks so much for the info... i was quite worried when someone said this to me last night about not having had supplemented her for 3.5 months. she made it sound so bad.

have called the doc and he said not to worry.. it's not necessary over here as there is sunlight and even if she isn't out often, its okay..

[LLL_Sarah]

You might be interested in the following information from La Leche League International,
Should My Breastfed Baby Be Receiving Vitamin or Fluoride Supplements?
http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/vitamin.html

“Vitamin D--Exclusively breastfed healthy, full-term infants from birth to six months who have adequate exposure to sunlight are not at risk for developing vitamin D deficiency or rickets. Rickets occurs because of a deficiency in sunlight exposure, not because of a deficiency in human milk.

La Leche League International's THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, 3rd Edition, lists the following risk factors for vitamin D deficiency:
• Dark skin
• Consistent coverage of skin with clothing or sunscreen when outdoors
• Live in areas where there is little sunlight for parts of the year or do not go outdoors
• Live in areas of heavy air pollution, which blocks sunlight
• Mother is vitamin D deficient”

Research suggests that people of colour, especially religious or cultural groups who wear enveloping clothing should expose their babies' uncovered cheeks to sunlight for just 20 minutes a day to get the needed vitamin D. In cases where this is not possible or the mother is not getting adequate vitamin D, doctors may prescribe a vitamin D supplement for the baby. Rickets has rarely been found in fully breastfed infants. This is true even in northern climates where there is less exposure to sunlight, which activates the formation of vitamin D. Research has shown that human milk contains adequate vitamin D for at least the first six months of life.

The Department of Health in Hong Kong do not suggest that breastfeed babies have extra Vitamin D. This is because Hong Kong has huge amounts of sunlight, even in the winter.

Best wishes,
SARAH