Vit D supplement for newborns

[pacifica]

My doctor now recommends Vit D supplement for newborns that breastfeed. I've been taking it, hoping to goes through to breastmilk, but I haven't found any articles to support that. What are you mama's doing?

[angelpie545]

Meh, I've barely read any research on this one, but I'm supplementing based on a few factors. #1-some research has shown that higher Vit. D levels may be a factor in avoiding the flu. #2-My ds is very pale (he has a different father than my girls; they have an olive skin tone, he does not) and we live in the PNW, which doesn't get much sunlight during the year. #3-I'm try very hard to make sure my diet is rich in nutrients, but I'm wheat and dairy intolerant so some extra insurance doesn't hurt since I'm breastfeeding nearly exclusively (ds has started solids).

[Adaline'sMama]

I took a calcium + D supplement for the first couple of months. I still take prenatal vitamins, so I also get vitamin D there. From what I understand all peds recommend a D supplement. They give out a free sample that the company that makes it gives to them. I try to let DD get plenty of sunlight instead of giving her any supplement.

[rhiOrion]

My ped recommended TriViSol for DD. She said it was specifically for the vitamin D. I went and bought it. But I never opened it. She's already taking Zantac twice a day, I couldn't imagine trying to get another dropper of meds/vitamins into her. Plus I thought that it was silly to buy a multi-vit if just D would work. So I went to whole foods and bought just some infant vitamin d. It's tasteless and you only need one drop. I'm not great about remember to give it, but I have been known to take it myself

[Ammaarah]

I'm going to give Carlson's vitamin D drops to my baby, who will arrive around the beginning of December. They are tasteless and don't contain all the added stuff in Trivisol/Polyvisol, and they're not made by a formula company if that is important to you. I gave Trivisol to my now 5-year-old daughter and she would spit it up. I'm sure the Carlson's drops will be very easy to get in a baby and I won't worry as much about messing up gut flora or anything - it's a tiny drop of oil and vitamin D.

We simply aren't made to give lots of vitamin D in our milk, and people around the globe are deficient due to clothing choice, food choices, smog, and lifestyle. When I was first tested, my D level was in the toilet and it's taken years to get it in a better range. I think vitamin D supplementation for breastfed or formula fed babies is a good idea.

[Stitches]

I think vit D is really important for the immune system, I'm pale skinned people and I live at a northern latitude, in a province with one of the highest rates of MS in the world (I've read some interesting stuff about the link between vit D deficiency and MS, and I have a number of close relatives with it) so I don't see any reason to not supplement. I take a large dose of vit D myself but I still supplement my DD and will this next baby. I don't like using d-vi-sol as it has artificial colour and flavor and you have to get a whole dropper full in, which is a real pain. I found some drops at the health food store that is just literally one drop a day, and no artificial ingredients. Works for me.

[pacifica]

Thanks folks! I'm going to look into the one drop vit d, because there's no way my baby will want this whole dropper the doctor prescribed every single day. It tastes like crap!! I've been taking it to up my levels for her breastmilk, but I'll get her some too.

[jcregan]

I tried the tri vol sol (or whatever that is) stuff with DD when she was a baby after the ped. recommended it.. she threw it up and it came out her nose and was pretty traumatic for both of us... I never used it again (I was not that sold on the importance anyway). She was born in May so we tried to do lots of walks a tad of sunshine here and there.

Since then I have found a lot more evidence supporting the importance of vit. D and since I live with long winters I was considering this issue again for the next baby.

So glad I read this thread and now know that there is another option out there. I will definitely be looking for these drops!

[jeminijad]

I specifically sought out one without iron, but did give D-vi-sol from 8 weeks (when I went back to work and DD drank expressed BM.)

[caned & able]

Take your child out in the sunlight. It is still summer time. Vitamin D is produced as a hormone in conjunction with the sunlight and baby's skin.

And cod liver oil also when winter comes...

[mwherbs]

I second the sunlight suggestion and for you to get sunlight in pregnancy.
There is some research being done in one of the Carolina's and one of the researchers had previously did some work with Greer and maternal supplementation to benefit breastfed babies, I think that the daily amount they were suggesting is 4000 a day for breastfeed mom, but l will get back to you later with a citation if I can find it- so if it is winter or you are not able to get in the sun cuz of work, then supplementing you seems like the better choice

[mwherbs]

Here is a link to a full text review done in 07 -- I think that this article speaks to the heart of the matter in that maternal deficiency = breastfeeding infant deficiency treat mom's health and it will support the baby.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2084036/

[jcregan]

mwherbs - thanks for the link! I am bookmarking it for future reference.

[karen1968]

I haven't read that study, but just from personal experience, I believe in the "maternal deficiency = breastfeeding infant deficiency" theory. My DS had infant caries (tooth decay) starting at ~15 months. I had at least one cavity at every dental appointment since he was born (hadn't had a cavity in 20 years!). We were both tested for Vit. D - he was low and I was at the extreme low end of normal (25 and 32, FWIW). We both supplement now, although not every day and not on days where we are outside a lot. I've had Stage II melanoma, so I do limit non-sunscreen exposure time for both of us.

The Carlson drops are great - we have the 1,000 iu ones, and I give DS one and take 4 myself. DS also gets a chewy fish oil supplement, and I am currently taking DHA supps (more comprehensive fish oils when not pregnant). I think it is helping, as we both have healthier teeth now.

[nia82]

The ped recommended Trivisol when DS was 4 months old, but not before. I looked into it and found it to be junk! I instead bought Carlson's D drops and also supplement myself with a healthy dose of D3. In summer I try to get as much sun as possible (of course not for tanning or something, but playing outside, to get a healthy dose) but in Woyming winter lasts for 8 months, so supplementing is important for all of us.
BTW my vitamin D levels were tested after I had been taking 5000 IUs for 8 weeks and I came in in the middle field. I wonder how low I must have been before!

[crystal_buffaloe]

I take it, and I make sure we both spend time outside every day. I read that even 5 minutes a day will get a baby what she needs in terms of Vit D (though that's probably completely uncovered).

[pacifica]

Ordered my carlson vit d's yesterday!

[OkiMom]

I didn't give it to either of my girls. One, I don't think they would have taken it and two we live in a very sunny place and are outside at least 30-90 minutes every day. With my second the family doctor I was seeing told me instead of trying to get her to take it just make sure we go outside daily (which I was doing anyway) since he didn't recommend what the clinic was prescribing.. I forgot what it was that they had for the kids to take.

I limit non-sun screen exposure to play ground time. If we are going to be out all day (like when we go to the zoo, botanical gardens etc) I put sunscreen on them since they burn easily. I might consider it more for the baby Im due with because they are predicting a raining winter time, its already raining several days a week, which makes getting enough sun more difficult.

[angelpie545]

Oh, just wanted to add-I use Carlson's. I had no idea Trivosol was gross like that-I'm glad I never tried it!

[Lady Lilya]

I recommend the brand Pure Encapsulations for vitamin D. They make a drop form that is tasteless and each drop has plenty in it.

But for DS I always just used the sunlight method. He liked, even from a very young age, to be outdoors as much as possible. I think the sound of the wind in the trees was very calming for him.