Supplemental Vitamins for Breastfeeding Newborns

K.,

There is lots of new data and evidence that shows we need much more vitamin D than what has been previously recommended. I think for infants/toddlers they recommend 400 IUs per day. For adults, like yourself, it's much more.

My naturopath recommends 4,000-6,000 IUs for me daily, but my levels in my blood work were very, very low. There's a company called Carlson's that makes vitamin D drops that are tasteless and you can take in addition to your prenatal. They aren't cheap, but they are pure vitamin D. Most supplement stores, and perhaps Whole Foods, should carry them. They even make a lower dose bottle for babies. Speak to your son's pediatrician to see what he/she recommends.

Glad to hear you're taking care of yourself too! It can be so hard to remember to keep ourselves in optimal health after having a baby!

1 mom found this helpful

sunshine is all you really need, for more reasons that just vitamin D. sun is the natural and best source.

Hi, K.. First of all, congrats on your new little one and I think it is awesome you are breastfeeding! What a wonderful new beginning for your little boy. Keep up the good work. It can be hard in the beginning but gets easier (easier than formula even) and is so worth it.
As for the Vitamin D, it is a good idea to supplement if you live in the Pacific Northwest. My pediatrician doesn't like Trivisol, says it has added artificial flavoring and sugars. She just gave us pure Vitamin D and said to use it all throughout the year, except for summer (usually enough sunshine in summer to allow for enough Vitamin D, just need 15min in the sun without sunscreen). Hope this helps!

Personally I think the suggestion that a breastfed baby needs a supplement is ridiculous. Just make sure that you are getting enough vitamin D and that your baby gets exposure to sunlight. I didn't give the supplement to my baby, but it has to be your own decision. Kudos to you for at least questioning why and not just doing it because it is recommended.

The vitamin D helps baby absorb calcium. My doctor told me that vitamin D doesn't come through breast milk even if you're taking prenatal vitamins. I gave my daughter a multi-vitamin drop, not straight vitamin D. This is what her pediatrician recommended.

Yes, K., I would take the vitamin D. Even when you take the prenatal, it's usually not enough. Most of us don't get enough vitamin D, which is very important, especially if you live in Washington.

Is the vitamin D supplement for you, or for baby? I take a prenatal and am breastfeeding, but don't take vitamin D too. I do try to make sure I get 10 minutes or so of sun exposure each day though since that's the best way for the body to get vitamin D.

My pediatrician did recommend that we give our daughter a multivitamin at about 2 months to make sure that she was getting all the vitamins that my breastmilk might not be providing. She's now 2 and very healthy.

Hi K.,

Yes, you should supplement your baby's breastfeeding diet with vitamin D. Vitamin D doesn't come to your baby through your breastmilk. The Carlson drops mentioned earlier for babies are really easy because you can just place one drop on your nipple right as you begin breastfeeding and let your baby suck it off while breastfeeding, or on a pacifier or nipple of a bottle of pumped milk. Whatever works best for you and your baby.

Good Luck,
S.

You should try TriVisol (not sure if I spelled it correctly). I used that with my son while I breastfed. In the winter I plan on giving it to him again since we won't be outside as much. Good Luck!

Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium for strong bones and teeth. It is not found (at an effective level) in breast milk but is added to formula. Your body needs the vit-d also, so it absorbs what is in your pre-natal vitamin and does not pass on a significant amount to the baby.

We found one made by Enfamil called D-Vi-Sol, not easily found but we did finally find it at Babies R Us, it's enough for about two months and cost about $12.

You can get vitamin d from the sun, but if the ped is suggesting you give it to your baby then the baby probably needs it. Also, if reports show that even adults aren't getting enough vit-d from the sun then how can we assume our infant will.

Congrats! on breastfeeding. I've been trying for three weeks now and it isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Keep up the good work.

It sounds like everyone has already given the same info on Vitamin D that I would have, but I just wanted to applaud you and give you support. Congrats on breastfeeding. Like someone else said, I'm sure that all of this is extremely difficult as a teenager, but you're already doing something so great for your son. And good for you for being a proud mama too. Keep up the good work!

i just want to say that i think it is great that u are choosing to breastfeed. my daughter also gave them to me with both of my breastfed children. i was told that caucasian children really should take them. dont know about that but it is what i was told. good luck.

Breast milk is without Vitamin D, even if the mom is taking a supplement. Sunshine everyday will be good in the summertime, but an infant supplement with Vit D should be taken in the wintertime.

K.,

I'm going to add the same advice about the vitamin D drops. I recommend the pure vitamin D that is tasteless. I started my son on Tri-vi-sol per a hospital doctor's request (but now I'm wondering if that pharmaceutical company is directly correlated with that hospital.) I'm not sure if it was the dye or the flavoring but my son spit up every time I gave it to him. I asked my pediatrician about it and he said breastfed babies don't need those other vitamins found in tri-vi-sol, just the vitamin D and my son probably wasn't tolerating it because of the dyes and flavoring. Also, I try EVERYTHING I give to my son and it tasted HORRIBLE.

I got the vitamin D tasteless drops-and yes they do cost more but you're only giving them one small drop a day-and he's NEVER had a problem with them in the six months I have given them to him. He actually wants them now. I'll say, "vitamins?" and put a drop on my finger and he opens up wide vs. me forcing a whole dropper of the nasty stuff down his throat.

L.
http://dardinelle.com

Vitamin D is an important nutrient. Being a teenager, your body is still not done growing, so at least check the label on your prenatals to see how much vitamin D is in them, and give a call to your doctor to see if that meets the recommended amount. It is also okay to ask your doctor why he/she wanted you to take the vitamin D...perhaps you have a deficiency showing in your blood work.

Is it for you, or the baby? I tried giving my first born a vitamin supplement, and after being spit up on, gave up. He is now 4 and very healthy. Just get outside every day (avoid hot afternoon sun of course).

K., I have been following Vit D studies and according to research we are not getting enough Vit D in our food, our sunshine and our supplements. Go to http://www.lipidjournal.com/article/S1933-2874(09)00276-1... to learn more.

Shaklee has just upped their Vitamin D in their multi-vitamins (prenatal) called Vita-Lea and their baby and kids vitamins because of the study.

Shaklee is on the cutting edge and is over 50 years old and they have been "green" for over 50 years.

Interested in learning more go to www.shaklee.net/a_leading_edge and learn more about the company.

N.
SAH wife, mom, grandma, and wellness coach

I wasn't sure if you were talking about vitamin D for the baby or for you. I'm assuming it's for you since you mentioned taking prenatal vitamins. My name is C. and I'm a 62 yr old retired OB nurse who just found out about the greater need for Vitamin D throughout your life. Also, we living in the northwest do not get enough sun so we really need extra of it. IF you Google Vitamin D3 which is still actually vitamin D you will be amazed at how many areas of your body it can help. The old standard was 400 mg, but now they are saying we need 4000 and seniors citizens may need 8000. The maximum safe dosage is not more than 10,000.

First of all, good for you for not only breastfeeding, but taking such an active interest in your son's well-being. So many teen moms are too self-centered to properly care for a child. Of course, teens SHOULD be self-centered. It comes with the territory. That's why teen parenthood often doesn't work out well.

And to answer your question...yes, yes, YES! Please give your sweet baby vitamin D supplements. So much research is being done on vitamin D, and the results are staggering. Many health problems could be avoided if only we got enough D.

In October, the pediatric academy upped its recommended daily dosage of vitamin D in kids to 400 iu's. That's double what was previously recommended. They found that 70% of all kids in the US were vitamin D deficient.

Please read this article detailing how important D is for kids: http://www.thenhf.com/articles/articles_801/articles_801.htm

My kids both took Tri-vi-sol vitamin drops (which have vitamins A, D, and C) when they were infants and breastfeeding. You can get them at most drug stores.

My pediatrician and OB said the same. Apparently, we need to take so much vitamin D in order for it to reach the baby through the breastmilk and prenatals do not have enough. I believe I was told between 4000-6000 IUs?

Just wanted to edit to add that my pediatrician and OB said that we should be taken the supplement. They didn't mention anything about giving the baby a drop or anything.

Hi K.,
I don't have much advice but I just wanted to say Congratulations and good for you! I'm sure it must not be easy being so young - I give you so much credit. As a side note, I am breastfeeding (a 9 month old) and my doctor never mentioned Vitamin D supplements but I will have to ask her about it... Best of luck!

Hello K.,

congrats on your decision to breastfeed! It is a very rewarding experience, once you get the hang of it.
If you get at least 15 minutes of daily sun exposure without sunscreen (a little more if you are African American) your body will produce enough vitamin D itself for you and your baby.
However if you don't get that much sun exposure or once the weather gets worse it would be good to take a supplement.
Enjoy your baby!

There is a really good book for breastfeeding mommies of all ages. It is call "Mother's Food" by Hilary Jacobson. It gives wonderful information about herbs and foods to use to help production and herbs and foods to stay way from that decrease production or create problems for baby's digestion.

You can pick it up at the lactation clinic at St. Vincent Hospital or order it online through Amazon.

Are you getting outside in the sun for about 15 minutes a day (after that - use your sun screen)? Are you drinking fortified juice or milk with vitamin D? If you are doing both of these and taking prenatal vitamins, my understanding is that you are getting enough, that this amount is sufficient. I'm an older new mom and my doc never mentioned vitamin D supplements. You are probably okay. You can always ask for a blood test to see if there is a deficiency if he is that concerned.

Good luck to you and your little one and I hope you have support from your mom and other moms around. You might try to find a new moms group at one of the local hospitals. If you gave birth at St. Vincent or Portland Providence, then you can go to the new mom's group there for free for the baby's first six months. They will hook you up with a play group and you will get to discuss all the wonderful times or concerns of motherhood with other new moms and a nurse that leads the group.

Again, good luck to youand your little one.
D.

the vitamin d is for your baby...yes, you should give it to him

It helps with calcium absorption.

Just to add to what everyone else has said. My doctor said that even though I take vitamins, breast milk has zero vit D in it. My baby is 3 months and I was told this just a few weeks ago. So you should give the baby the drops that they give you.

Awesome job for breastfeeding! Actually, probably not, even though the aap reccmmends it, more so in the winter, when there is less sun exposure. It's also more of a concern if you have dark skin...You can buy vitamin drops, but beware, they stain...

PS, have you heard of Teen MOPS?

http://www.mops.org/page.php?pageid=85

Court Street Christian Church
1699 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97301
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Meets: TH at 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Hi K.,

Formula is fortified with Vitamin D which is why your doctor is recommending that you supplement since you are breastfeeding. The amount of Vitamin D in your prenatal is not enough for your little one. You can either take an additional amount of 4,000-6,000 IU to be sure that enough will get passed on to your baby through your milk or you can just give your son supplement. Good for you for breastfeeding him, its the absolute best gift you can give. Good job!

Vitamin D is something in particular that your breastfeed baby needs. I'm guilty of not giving my baby her supplemenet everyday. However, very recently they've linked Vitamin D deficiency to numerous problems with children, so YES we really do need to give it to our babies. Especially in the Pacific NW where we typically get less sunlight, Vitamin D is a very important and needed supplement.

Best of luck!!!

Hi K.,
I've read down through all the advice given, and I concur with Nadyne. We just returned from a Shaklee conference, and Vitamin D was one of the issues covered because they have just increased the amount of Vitamin D in their vitamins for babies, children, and adults. Shaklee has done their homework and always have for over 50 years. Unfortunately doctors aren't necessarily always on the cutting edge, and you can often go to five doctors and get five different opinions! But the science is there. Nadyne has already given you the website to check it out, as well as her's or ours is www.shaklee.net/sampleshc. One thing that was mentioned is that 3/4 of the U.S., we don't get enough sun exposure, so it isn't just the Pacific Northwest.

Hi! I'll add another congrats on your baby and also say what a great choice you've made to breastfeed!

One thing, take it or leave it- I breastfeed and take a prenatal. When my baby was littler, i took Cod liver oil (unfortunately it's expensive- about $25 a bottle that lasts about 2 months or so) but if you take it (and it is flavored so doesn't taste like fish) it is a natural source of vitamin D. In addition, it also will give your baby Omega 3's which are really good for brain development. When my baby turned 9 months or so, I started giving it directly to her.

I have read that the guidelines on the amount of Vitamin D that people should take have changed recently and that supposedly we all should be getting more than we originally thought. It is really supposed to be good for kids.

My advice would be if you can afford to buy an extra supplement, then go for it, but if it's not in your budget, then it's great that you're still taking a prenatal and breastfeeding, and just eat as healthy as you can- your baby will really thrive on your healthy breastmilk!

Good luck!!