How much Vitamin D are you taking?

[Jen78fl]

Hi all. Well, from everything I have heard, it sounds like Vitamin D in higher doses is safe during breastfeeding.. Right now I am taking 1000 IU but I am thinking maybe I should be taking more because it seems like I always have a sore throat trying to come on. I try to take extra zinc to stop it which normally works but I just dont want to end up getting sick all the time this fall/winter.. Just curious how much you all are taking? Does anyone know how much Vit D is in breastmilk? I am thinking I read it is a small amount. I would like for my DD to get some also to help protect her... She is not on regular milk so BM would be her only source of Vit D. Anyway I appreciate any advice!

jennifer

[CrunchyChristianMama]

My DD and I both take Carlson's drops (she takes the baby version). So I get 2,000 IU a day and she gets 400 IU. Plus I drink raw milk that has D in it as well and sometimes take Cod Liver Oil which also had D in it.

[rachelagain]

I take 2000 to 4000, but I'm not sure how much goes through breastmilk- one nutritionist told me it would get through and then yesterday another one said it doesn't pass into breastmilk. So was planning to do an internet search on that. I have my 2 yr taking 1000. We live in Montana, so we won't get any vit. D from the sun till next summer.

[PatioGardener]

Vit D does pass through breastmilk, but I am not sure how much passes - that is, how high Mama's levels need to be for baby to get enough. But there was a stusy where Moms were taking 2000 or 4000 IU/day and that positively affected baby's levels.

[SuburbanHippie]

I'm taking 10,000 IUs/day and nursing a 2 year old. It's overcast here and will be for the next 6 months.

[MountainMamaGC]

I live in Canada and I take 5000 IU/day and once in a while I will sneak 1000 IU to my 18 mo DD. There are drops you can buy for babies. I recommend Baby D drops. All you need is one drop on your nipple or a paci. One drop contains 400IU. They are tastless unlike the Vi-Sol brand. My DD would throw up the Vi-Sol solution. I tasted it and I knew why.

[Jen78fl]

Thanks everyone for the info!

[curious&eager]

I've heard some Vitamin D will pass, but it is a very small amount. My pediatrician recommended the same product. She said I could give ds poly-vi-sol or Carlson Baby D drops. But, they she said that she knew I would like the Baby D drops better since I'm like everybody else on here- breastmilk is perfect, babies don't need anything more. But, they don't always get enough sunlight, so the Baby D drops are perfect. So easy, tasteless (I think), and not staining like the poly-vi-sol that I used for two days before I switched.

Here's the product we're all talking about
http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-Vitamin-D-Baby-Drops
I've heard Whole Foods carries it if you have one nearby.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by curious&eager

I've heard some Vitamin D will pass, but it is a very small amount.

Actually, it seems that only a small amount is passing through breastmilk because moms have such low levels themselves. There is evidence that if mom is getting enough, baby can get enough through breastmilk alone. (Here is one cohort study http://www.solarien-verbaende.de/pdf/studien_7.pdf - there are others including randomized controlled trials, I just don't have access to them right now.)

ETA: Another cohort study http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs.../bfm.2006.1.59