Lack of Vit D in breastmilk causing rickets???

[Bouncingturtle]

Was with some friends the other week, myself and one of my friends are expecting. One of my non-pg friends mentioned something she had read about some breastfed babies getting rickets due to lack of vit d in breastmilk and that's why formula is recommended. This doesn't sound right to me - vit D is formed by the action of sunlight on the skin(though you can get supplments containing it), and in fact there was a recent news story on BBC website say that our keeness to ensure our babies are not exposed to sunlight (due to risk of sunburn etc.) means there was an increase in case of rickets(caused by a lack of vit D). It mentions that 20 mins of sunlight would make the recommended daily amount of vit D to avoid this.
Can anyone else shed any light(excuse the pun!) on this? I'm very keen to try bf, but I know my friend is in two minds, and I hate for her to be put off by false information.

bolleaux
this is not a reason not to bf
bf and a walk in the pram in daylight is all that's necessary for a normal child.

If she's worried she can ask for vit D drops as a supplement (they do this routinely in some v northern countries like Canada where daylight and/or getting out of the house is an issue)
Very good page about it on Kellymom here

Thanks for that - I thought that was the case, no idea where my not pg friend got that info from - i'll shall tell my other pg friend about it.

NB she is right, there was a BBC news story about it, but it was News ('shock horror one child had rickets!') not Health Advice ('all children will get rickets unless you do xyz')

Search the mumsnet archives for this, bouncing, as we have discussed it a few times.

You are right to be sceptical about what you friend has heard. Vit D is indeed added as a supplement to formula (as it is removed when the cows milk is skimmed to make formula) but this does not mean formula is 'better' than breastmilk, which also has a biologically appropriate amount of Vit D in it already

Modern lifestyles cause some concern in some circles, especially for Asian or black babies, as the UK sunlight is weak and basically, some of us don't get out in it often enough. It's not an issue with infants - the mother's own Vit D will have given the baby stores of it in pg, and her breastmilk adds to it - but older babies need more of it, and if they stay indoors a lot or else only venture out covered top to toe with no skin showing at all, they won't get their quota.

Now, this can be resolved by goig outside most days for a short time (don't know if it has to be 20 mins) or if this is really not possible for some reason, giving supplements of Vit D after the age of about six months if the baby is breastfed.

Nature evolved breastmilk over many hundreds of thousands of generations, and of course the VitD in it is what babies need - but nature assumes we are outside more than many of us are in the 21st century.

Hope this explains it. There are very few cases of rickets in the UK, just to put the 'risk' into perspective.

Rickets is indeed caused by a deficiency in Vit D, and as the sun is one of the main sources of the stuff, can be due to that. Breastmilk doesn't contain excessive amounts of vit D but that is easily overcome by taking your baby out for a walk every day. If you are worried and your baby's due in winter when you're unlikely to go out much you can actually get vitamin D drops to supplement. You are right though, babies should have some sun exposure, a few mins at a time to build up to your 20 mins or 2 hours a day (depending on where you live).

The advice re formula is rubbish, I mean, the human race would have died out from rampant rickets and various other deficencies if what your friend said was true. This is a typical crappy urban myth based on ignorance. Breastmilk is the only perfect food for infants, formula is a substitute and should only be used if and when breastmilk isn't available. It is certainly not superior to breastmilk in any way and people who say it is are not at all well informed.

Oops, slow typing!

In much of Europe you are advised to give vitamin d supplements (drops) to b'fed babies over a month and under a year due to lack of regular exposure to sunlight (and increased use of sunscreens). My Swiss paed was surprised this wasn't so in UK but suspect the relatively low rate of b'feeding exclusively beyond 6 weeks may render it less necessary to advocate. It is already added to formula.

However simply leaving their head uncovered outside for a short period each day, not necessarily in direct sunlight, is usually sufficient but some climates make even this very difficult to do in the winter months. hth

if your worried then lying baby in sunlight, on the floor from window with no clothes on, will help.

there is no issue with bf not having enough vit D.

Yes, this definitely matches up with some other stuff I've read. My friend is due in a few weeks, so shouldn't have too many problems getting plenty of fresh air and sunlight with her babby, but then again looking at forecast lol...
I'm due in Dec, but am determined to get out and about even if it's only just walking up and down the streets few times a day!
Brangelina - love your comments on about advice re: formula - you've hit the nail on the head there!