FSA recommend 10 mcg of vitamin D if breastfeeding

[Liloosmum]

The Food Standard Agency recommends taking 10 micrograms of Vitamin D a day if breastfeeding. They say that you should get enough of other vitamins with a balanced diet.

www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/baby/breastfeed/

I think Vitamin D is needed for bones and teeth. My fingernails have all broken during the past couple of weeks and wonder if it could be connected. Does anyone take Vitamin D?

I take multivitamins which include vitamin D but more because I'm not getting enough sleep and am prone to colds than because I'm bfing

I would, yes. I don't think you pass on much vitamin D through breastmilk but most babies receive too little of it because they spend so much time indoors and protected from the sun. You may want to supplement the baby's intake too unless you're giving them formulat too - Abidec do a good multivitamin liquid.

The long-term effects of vit D deficiency are not good.

DD and I spend hours and hours outside each day so i don't bother. Even in this weather.

At London latitudes, the UV index isn't high enough at this time of year to supply you with enough vitamin D even if you're managing to get the recommended 15-30 minutes of sunshine on the skin without sun block (and who gets that much sun or exposure in Britain in November? ).

NHS and FSA advice is also to supplement vitamin D throughout pregnancy but not many mums/HVs/GPs seem aware of this.