What about the today show this morning - vit. D

[naupakamama]

: : "If babies are exclusively breastfeed then they have to get a vitamin D supplement." "Of course breast is best, but they can't get all their vitamins that way" "Babies on formula will not need the supplement." "You can add the supplement [that only breastfeed babies need] to formula."

GRRRRR Where to even start. I know why I only rarely watch this show.

We have been living in cold climates for upwards of 80000 years and have only KNOWN about vitamin D for 100 years. So, yeah, we must not make enough in BM...

[isabchi]

[homewithtwinsmama]

THAT must be why my four children have rickets! NOT! Never supplemented any of them and they are hale and hearty. In fact my one daughter has bone overgrowth issues and just had two foot surgeries to fix it. So stupid, just a little sunlight each day on hands and face. Which members of the AAP own stock in vitamin companies??

[mom2snugbugs]

Originally Posted by homewithtwinsmama

Which members of the AAP own stock in vitamin companies??

The same ones that own stock in the formula companies...

[KirstenMary]

Yeah, well, my 19 month old was just diagnosed as severely Vitamin D deficient. She has been put on 8000 IUs/ daily until she shows a detectable level. I have been told that many, many BFd babies are D deficient but have not had blood tests to confirm the deficiency.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

Yeah, well, my 19 month old was just diagnosed as severely Vitamin D deficient. She has been put on 8000 IUs/ daily until she shows a detectable level. I have been told that many, many BFd babies are D deficient but have not had blood tests to confirm the deficiency.

This is the reason I think that we (lactavists) need to talk about vit D and not let the formula companies, vit D makers, the media etc run the show.

Exclusively breastfed babies can have low Vit D levels. This doesn't mean that breastmilk is somehow any less perfect than it has always been - it just means that some moms are vit D deficient, and therefore can't pass the vit D along in their breastmilk.

At this point the only issue we know babies get from low vit D is rickets, but there is now evidence that some cancers may be more common in people with low vit D levels. And there is research into MS and autism as well.

Vit D isn't a problem in the north for people who eat traditional diets high in vit D containing foods - but unfortunately not all of us get our fish oils etc. And lighter skinned moms likely get less sun even in the summer, as well as protect their fair skinned babies.

I think that education about vit D, with testing, for the mother is a much better solution than supplimenting babies (unless they are low and need it, as the above poster's baby) who may be at risk. If we took this stand, then it would be about the health of the mother, not the comparison of breastmilk to formula.

(This is really only applicable to people living in the northern US, northern Europe, northern Asia and Canada. The rest of the world can get enough vit D from face and hand exposure. In the north no amount of sun will make vit D in the winter months - we just don't get the right wavelengths. Which explains the fish oils in the traditional diets.)

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

This is the reason I think that we (lactavists) need to talk about vit D and not let the formula companies, vit D makers, the media etc run the show.

Exclusively breastfed babies can have low Vit D levels. This doesn't mean that breastmilk is somehow any less perfect than it has always been - it just means that some moms are vit D deficient, and therefore can't pass the vit D along in their breastmilk.

At this point the only issue we know babies get from low vit D is rickets, but there is now evidence that some cancers may be more common in people with low vit D levels. And there is research into MS and autism as well.

Vit D isn't a problem in the north for people who eat traditional diets high in vit D containing foods - but unfortunately not all of us get our fish oils etc. And lighter skinned moms likely get less sun even in the summer, as well as protect their fair skinned babies.

I think that education about vit D, with testing, for the mother is a much better solution than supplimenting babies (unless they are low and need it, as the above poster's baby) who may be at risk. If we took this stand, then it would be about the health of the mother, not the comparison of breastmilk to formula.

(This is really only applicable to people living in the northern US, northern Europe, northern Asia and Canada. The rest of the world can get enough vit D from face and hand exposure. In the north no amount of sun will make vit D in the winter months - we just don't get the right wavelengths. Which explains the fish oils in the traditional diets.)

Yes.

In addition, I keep my blond, blue-eyed baby out of the sun. And when we are in the sun, she wears sunscreen. My daughter's endo, though, is making me feel like my breastmilk is to blame.

[studentmama]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

Yes.

In addition, I keep my blond, blue-eyed baby out of the sun. And when we are in the sun, she wears sunscreen. My daughter's endo, though, is making me feel like my breastmilk is to blame.

Which it's not. Think about the whole sunscreen issue. People have not been using sunscreen for that long, in fact it is recommend if you are not going to do a vit. d supplement, you should get out in the sun for a little bit a couple times a week without sunscreen. Before the widespread use of sunscreen I would be willing to bet there weren;t very many instances of vit d deficiency.(This is not to say sunscreen isn't important.)

[KirstenMary]

Originally Posted by studentmama

Which it's not. Think about the whole sunscreen issue. People have not been using sunscreen for that long, in fact it is recommend if you are not going to do a vit. d supplement, you should get out in the sun for a little bit a couple times a week without sunscreen. Before the widespread use of sunscreen I would be willing to bet there weren;t very many instances of vit d deficiency.(This is not to say sunscreen isn't important.)

Exactly.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

My daughter's endo, though, is making me feel like my breastmilk is to blame.

How frustrating! Did the endo give you any info about increasing the vit D in your diet or your sun exposure? Any help or support at all with breastfeeding? There has been an interesting trial that showed that supplimenting the mother increases the vit D in breastmilk - your endo should be aware of that.

I think, unfortunately, the automatic response for many MDs is to blame the breastfeeding. Baby too thin - feed formula. Baby low in iron - feed formula. Baby low in vit D - feed formula (or formula company made vitamins or blame the breastmilk). The first thought should be "How can I help this baby to get the nutrients it needs through exclusive breastfeeding".

I just hate that breastmilk is being compared to formula for vit D, and being 'proclaimed' to be lacking. We need to get the word out to moms that breastmilk has enough vit D if they have enough vit D - and teach how they can get tested for Vit D levels and then increase their vit D levels if needed.

[isabchi]

I read somewhere that even a very pale people who regularly are in the sun are less risky than people whom put sunscreen and take sun one in a while.
We need sun to be and stay healthy and everything in moderation.

[homewithtwinsmama]

Originally Posted by KirstenMary

Yes.

In addition, I keep my blond, blue-eyed baby out of the sun. And when we are in the sun, she wears sunscreen. My daughter's endo, though, is making me feel like my breastmilk is to blame.

See, I have always made a point to have my babies in full sun for 10-15 minutes BEFORE I applied sunscreen--all blond and blue like daddy. And we eat a lot of fish and Vit D foods. Your daughter's endo is a fool. You child can be deficient for many reasons that have nothing to do with breastmilk. Its like the dentists who always blame breastmilk for dental caries...:

[naupakamama]

OP here.

The doctor on the today show even went out of her way to say that it doesn't matter how much vit. D the mom ingests - it doesn't change breastmilk amounts :

They also said that EVERYONE has to take supplements because as a society 40 percent of us are deficient. What? So because other people are unhealthy and don't eat well, I have to buy and take supplements? And they didn't mention natural forms like cod liver oil. It was calcium + vit. D that we ALL need (sarcasm). And you could eat _fat free_ yogurt. vit. D is FAT SOLUBLE. You absorb very very little from fat free dairy.

Even from a mainstream health prospective, this story was irresponsible.

Di

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by naupakamama

OP here.

The doctor on the today show even went out of her way to say that it doesn't matter how much vit. D the mom ingests - it doesn't change breastmilk amounts :

OMG. This is just an outright lie! The research was done in 2004.

Hollis, BW and Wagner, CL. 2004. Vitamin D requirements during lactation: high-dose maternal supplementation as therapy to prevent hypovitaminosis D for both the mother and the nursing infant. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 80(6): 1752S-1758.

Originally Posted by naupakamama

Even from a mainstream health prospective, this story was irresponsible.

yes yes yes!

[guestmama9904]

im sure some children are suffering from d deficiency but it just seems so weird to need to supplement a breastfed baby's diet with a powder that goes in a bottle of formula. perhaps a breastfeeding moms diet is more impotant than we would like to believe? many women in usa are on low fat diets where the only milk they drink is skim, they dont eat much fresh fish ect, therefore they are deficient in vit d. unfortunately traditional western med docs recomend a low fat diet to lots of patients. not to mention the pressure to eat "healthy" ie. low fat, from celebreties and the culture in general. i remember when i was pregnant my mom was concerned that i only drank whole milk, she thought it would be bad for me and the baby! i also craved whole milk yogurt and meat, all foods containing lots of nutrients including vit d and fat.

[laurdsed]

I have noticed that since I began supplementing my kids' diets with Vit. D. that they are sick much less often. We only take the supplement in the dark, winter months. Though we weren't tested, I think we were Vit. D deficient (I did not supplement my babies younger than 6 months). My midwife has a really good article on how to get Vit. D supplemented naturally in foods here.

I also give a dissolvable tiny tablet that is inexpensive. Kal D-Rex chewables, 400 IUs. A baby over 6 months could eat these.

Even though the FDA minimum requirement is only 400 IUs, there are studies out there (sorry, no links to back this up), that suggest it should be much, much more. I believe in Canada the recommended supplement of 1000 IUs.

There is also a lower cancer risk with those who get more Vit. D.

Looking forward to the thaw today here in Wisconsin. :

Laurel

[fyrflymommy]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

At this point the only issue we know babies get from low vit D is rickets, but there is now evidence that some cancers may be more common in people with low vit D levels. And there is research into MS and autism as well.

Hmmm...I wonder if babies can have joint pain due to low vit D? I thought that I had arthritis last year, but it turned out that I was deficient in vit D and had to take large doses of it for a month.

fyrfly

[naupakamama]

I absolutely agree about the wonders of vit. D (and C and A as well). I, for instance, do not believe in sun block at all. I think sun moderation (and slow tolerance build up) and covering up are healthier. I grew up in Hawaii with very freckley fair skin that doesn't tan. I almost never burned because I listened to my body. There are some studies that show that nearly all cancers (including skin cancer) rates are much higher in the northern US then the southern US - and that it is indirectly proportional.

However, what got me about this story is the idea that babies pre-6 months HAVE to HAVE a medical vitamin supplement IF they are breastfeed. And their way to give this supplement was with formula in a bottle - wtf! And that we all HAVE to supplement specifically with refined vit. D, rather then change our diets or life styles.

Di

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by naupakamama

OP here.

The doctor on the today show even went out of her way to say that it doesn't matter how much vit. D the mom ingests - it doesn't change breastmilk amounts :

This is really odd. The NHS is having a push on Vitamin D, especially in darker skinned women and babies, because in most of the UK you're too far north to get enough Vitamin D from the sun in winter. The newspaper article I read specifically said that breastfeeding mothers should take a Vitamin D supplement to ensure their babies got enough.

Vitamin D is a real problem--the NHS is seeing more cases of rickets these days. And some BF babies might require supplementing, but it's not the rule.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by AlexisT

The newspaper article I read specifically said that breastfeeding mothers should take a Vitamin D supplement to ensure their babies got enough.

I really think this is the way to go. Stop supplimenting breastfed babies with virgin guts and start increasing vitamin D in their mothers! More sun, vit D rich foods, vitamin D suppliments - whichever works best for the individual mother.