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Original poster

Breastfeeding and Vitamin D

27 replies

Wonderwoman101 · 05/05/2017 17:07

Hello, not sure where to post this so here goes.

My DD is nearly 6 months and Ebf, I have only been told recently that I should have been giving her vit d drops! My HV should have told me. My question is has anyone been doing this or not been doing this and should I be worried?

OP posts:

shopaholic85 · 05/05/2017 17:12

I didn't know either until we went to a HV led session on weaning when DD was 3 months. I went straight out and brought some A, C, D and iron drops. We tried for a week but she hates it and most went down her bib anyway. We've stopped and will be adding to purees instead when we start weaning her at 6 months.

Try not to worry as think it's fairly new advice. None of my nct group who are breastfeeding have been doing it either.

Pinkheart5917 · 05/05/2017 17:12

My babies had and still have the drops

The nhs advice of vitamins for children www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vitamins-for-children.aspx

Chinnygirl · 05/05/2017 17:12

I don't have kids but my nieces had extra vt. D

Daffodils07 · 05/05/2017 17:13

Did you have vit d in pregnancy? I was told that if you didn't to give vitamin d from 1 month.
If you did then 6 months.

Fruitcorner123 · 05/05/2017 17:13

I thought this was only from six months. If i am wrong which i could be then both mine weren't given any supplements until six months and they are both fine healthy 4 and 6 year olds so try not to worry and just give her the supplements from now on.

Fruitcorner123 · 05/05/2017 17:14

Just seen its fairly new advice. Really don't worry she will be fine.

talulahbelle · 05/05/2017 17:16

I take a 3000iu vitamin d spray, this should ensure my breast milk has enough in without further supplements needed for DD.

DontFundHate · 05/05/2017 17:18

My HV said I didn't need to but only later did I read on NHS that I should have I was told that if I was taking vitamins anyway for me then no need to give to baby before 6 months anyway. But anyway I'd say no need to worry, just start offering the vitamins now

Waddlelikeapenguin · 05/05/2017 17:18

talulahbelle

I take a 3000iu vitamin d spray, this should ensure my breast milk has enough in without further supplements needed for DD.

I've done this for all of mine.

Dottie39 · 05/05/2017 17:20

HV told me that so long as I am taking my vitamins then I do not need to supplement baby whilst he is still breastfeeding.

Frazzledmum123 · 05/05/2017 17:23

I'm not doing it. I personally have a thing against vitamin supplements so refused to give my older two the multi vitamins my hv suggested too. Personal choice but mine are quite outdoorsy and I try and wait a while before putting on the sunscreen (within reason obviously), neither of them nor me have suffered for it xx

user1493022461 · 05/05/2017 17:27

I was given a bottle for my youngest to give from birth, but not for my older ones, the advice is newish. We usually forgot though.

None of them have rickets, but it is a good idea to give it!

Sunshinegirl82 · 05/05/2017 17:29

I was told to take a breast feeding multi vitamin which would mean the breast milk would have enough vitamin d for the first 6 months. After that to give Ds supplements directly. I just put it in his food. I wouldn't worry!

gandalfspants · 05/05/2017 17:31

I think it changed while I was pregnant and I thought I should just take Vit D myself if breastfeeding, I missed that current advice was for DD to have vitamins. I'm doing BLW at the moment and she's meant to have vitamins mixed with food but since most of it goes on the floor she's not really having those either.

I raised it with my HV and she said as long as my diet is ok she'll be fine.

RoseGoldProsecco · 05/05/2017 17:33

We were told not until she was 6 months. Nct friend with a different doctor was told from birth!

I wouldn't panic. If you're feeding them well and taking them out for a bit of sunlight each day (not sunburn!), esp if you have darker skin, it should be absolutely fine :)

Sauvignonblanket · 05/05/2017 18:42

I missed this guidance until you mentioned it and am in your position with DD2. EBF DD1 didn't have the drops until 6 months and was fine though.

InfinityPlusOne · 05/05/2017 18:54

neither of them nor me have suffered for it

Well not yet you haven't but it's a longer term issue. You are potentially causing problems for them down the line. Vit D is necessary for proper calcium absorption so it affects their future bone density. Think of all the women having problems now with osteoporosis and the like. And that is far from the only role that Vit D plays.

Frazzledmum123 · 05/05/2017 19:56

Personal choice. I have not suffered so far and neither have my parents or grandparents and none of us had it, a lot of the problems you are talking about are more likely a genetic thing imo but if you disagree then that's fine too. Personally, and I am not a medical person so admit I could have it wrong but I don't agree with pumping your body full of artificial things. I don't agree with artificially low fat foods either, I think you should have everything as natural as possible so if you eat a balanced diet and go out in the sun, imo that is far better for you. IMO though, not saying you are wrong and I don't think you should be making me out to be either as let's face it, even the professionals change their mind regularly on advice. And no, I don't eat perfectly before anyone asks, I eat junk too but I do feel very strongly about this for some reason

InfinityPlusOne · 05/05/2017 21:03

In this part of the world you can only get VitD from sunlight from May-September (and not always then either) so for the rest of the year you can't get your RDA from the sun.

It's usually not until after 65 that issues become apparent and just because there are no cases in your family now, that certainly doesn't mean it will always be the case.

It's up to you put in my view an ounce of prevention and all that.

londonrach · 05/05/2017 21:06

Recent nhs weaning talk i went to said...if bf baby needs supplement from birth, if ff from 6 months. Talk to hv if worried.

TeddyIsaHe · 05/05/2017 21:08

What!! I didn't know this was a thing! Totally clueless ftm here obviously. Dd is 4 months, ebf so should I be giving her drops? I take a high dosage of vit d anyway for psoriasis so hoping that's enough. Will look into vitamin drops now then, thanks for posting op!

EatTheChocolateTeapot · 05/05/2017 21:15

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, excess produced during the summer is stored in the liver and body fat.
But still a good idea to supplement mum or baby:
kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins/#VitaminD

Frazzledmum123 · 06/05/2017 08:27

Infinity- both my parents are over 65 and gp lived into their 90's without issues. Yes you never know but don't understand why all of a sudden this is a thing when previous generations were completely fine.

Just doesn't sit well for me but then I'm odd

MamehaSan · 06/05/2017 09:31

This is interesting - I think the advice must have changed in the last couple of years. I gave DS1 a vit supplement from 6 months (as per the advice at the time) but now it looks as though you should give it from birth? I'm taking multi vits, so does this mean that DS2 (newborn) is covered...?

Frazzledmum123 · 06/05/2017 09:54

I think the advice I was given was I should be taking them myself and when we start weaning at 6mths, introduce them to baby, either by giving directly or adding it to their food

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