Did you ignore vit d advice?

[Cosmo89]

A lot in the news, following the tragic case of baby Jaiden, about pregnant women and vitamin d. Everything I've read/listened to is centred on why mothers choose to ignore midwifes advice on taking 10mg of vit d per day.

I'm really annoyed about this. I was never advised to take vit d (Lewisham, London) - only folic acid. I even asked whether I should and was told that they didn't have advice either way. I am taking it because it's in my multi vit (that I have chosen to buy, not available on prescription) and I'd read a few bits on the Internet (yes, including a small paragraph on the nhs site) pthat emphasised its importance. The idea that I am somehow choosing to flout well given, clear advice given to me directly by health professionals is complete rubbish.

Wondered what anyone else thought about this.

I had babies in 2006 and 2009. I had hyperemesis, so didnt really take the multivitamins properly but did try. I was advised about folic acid, offered a prescription but I bought pregnacare instead. I was never advised about vitamin d, I probably would be considered more 'at risk' as although I'm pale I wear a headscarf and long sleeves, so perhaps it should have been.

If advice had been offered I would have taken it. I bfed and attempted to supplement with vitamin drops but my babies spat them out, they were nasty smelt of iodine. I wasn't advised to give these either if I had been I would have persevered, despite the crying babies.

I am on pregnancy and no midwife has mentioned a need to take Vit D only folic acid.

Don't take any multi vits either as have always had a good diet and always forget. Having said that am feeling guilty this time round as diet has been a bit poor.

sorry that should have said pregnancy number 3.

I'm in Scotland and have been given 'NHS Healthy Start' vitamins by my midwife. These contain Vitamins C & D as well as folic acid. It seems to be standard in our local area for these to be given out, as neither me or my sister fit into the categories which leaflets and so on say are eligible for free vitamins. I think we can get them until our babies are a year old.

Obviously, as we are further North there is even less sunlight and perhaps more awareness of the problem?

I have problems with agoraphobia, so stay indoors a lot, if I had thought about it, I probably should have been on vitamin D for my own benefit before getting pregnant.

I think awareness of Vitamin D during pregnancy is still not widely known the way folic acid is, although it is the current advice, I'm not sure it has really got to those who need it. So yes, I think its a bit harsh to say it was women not following reccomendations, when they may well not have been told about it at all.

I haven't been advised to take anything. There is nothing in my notes about it, even amongst all the millions of 'helpful' leaflets that I was bombarded with.

Its fairly new advice and taking some time to trickle through to everyone i think. Saying that, Ive told friends how important it and theyve dismissed it as unnecessary. You can but spread the word.

My midwife did ask at my booking appt if I was taking a multivitamin (which I am) as we now need to take vitamin d.

I havent heard of the case of baby Jaiden, did he have a vit d deficiency?

The advice is badly given out, I agree. The guideline for pregnant women to take Vitamin D has been around since before WW2 and I guess it is assumed it will given as word of mouth since it has been around for so long or that we all just take prenatals off the shelf rather than just folic acid. Either way, I do agree it is very frustrating pregnant women and new mums to be essentially told off by the media for something that is rarely said at all, let alone in any clear manner.

flipflopper - Jaiden died of severe rickets.

I think it's really important to take it during pregnancy and breastfeeding and to supplement children aged 6 months upwards if they aren't getting 500 ml of formula per day. Because we live in the northern hemisphere and tend to cover up in the sun most of us are a bit bit D deficient. Even without full blown rickets low vit D is thought to make children more prone to fractures. And in adults they think it might be related to all sorts of things like cancer etc.

I take more or less alternate days pregnacare and the calcium one, osteocare, which also contains Vit D.

i spend more than long enough outside every day. no need. you don't need much exposure anyway to get enough so long as your diet is right to absorb it.

lady on R4 was questioned as to why this wan't being targetted (i was wondering why not actioned at all!) at those groups (darker skin, women that cover up) that are most at risk.

wasn't mentioned at any MW appt though was aware of guidance anyway.

I was never advised to take extra either. My sil did mention it when she was expecting her dc1 though. She was in Scotland too.

I did take it for 1st preg but on days I got out in the sun I skipped it, it was included in the standard advice then towards the end 2009 on the NHS website for pregnant women here

I'm pregnant again and have taken a higher dose between pregnancies having learned more about the benefits of vitamin D, and have dd on the wellkid supplement at the mo since the winter.

I'm in Scotland and my doctor advised me to take it as well as folic acid, she said it is what they are now advising. They didn't mention it in my first pregnancy 3 years ago. I've been taking pregnancy vitamins and it is included in them.

I'm pregnant and it hasn't been specifically mentioned to me but the midwife at my booking in appointment asked if I was taking any pre-natal vitamins. I've been taking Pregnacare Plus which includes the RDA of Vit D.

I have had literally no advice on what to take. In fact, I've never been asked about my diet,folic acid or whether I am taking supplements. As it happens, I am. I tracked down folic acid in India, now take pregnacare plus and an extra vit d supplement but that's only as I looked it all up myself. I had my booking in appt, which was 45 mins of filling in a form and a 5 min appt at 16 weeks where they tested urine, measured BP and listened to heartbeat and that's it until 28 weeks. I have left 2 messages with the community midwives about homebirth but nobody has called me back.

Seems like other people have had more advice than that! Or am I expecting too much this early in the pregnancy?

I asked my midwife at the start of my pregnancy if I needed to take it, she said no, it was more for overweight women and certain ethnic groups. Just advised folic acid, not even a multivitamin but I've been taking a sanatogen one anyway. The conflicting views on this do seem a bit worrying.

Vit d was discussed at my booking app, and also Lancashire hospital trust have a specific leaflet on vit d. I've made sure it's been in my pregnancy bits, and also tried to get to plenty sunshine too, but up north, it's not always easy!!

Most people would benefit from taking extra vitamin D, I actually credit taking 2500mcg Vit D3 helped me to conceive this time round. Unless you are a sunseeker I would say do your research and supplement away.