[jkl123]

Our Pedi wants Jack to take Vitamin D supplements, as there isn't enough vitamin D in breastmilk. However, it appears to bother his bellyand he often burps hours later and it still smells like the drops. I would think if infants really need vitamin D, God would have made sure breastmilk has it. Are Vitamin Ddrops really necessary at this point?

[ruthann8]

Some people do think they are needed and some don't. I have never given them to Ellamae and her doctor has never recommended them. He has only suggested for me to take a prenatal vitamin.

[twinzplus3]

I'm one that doesn't believe in giving them. I really believe that if babies needed Vitamin D it would be in breastmilk in greater quantities. I think that if it's not in there now, then it's because babies don't need as much Vitamin D as scientists and doctors seem to think they do. I could go on and on as it's a topic I feel strongly about, but really consider the following:

*Your breastmilk changes as your baby ages to suit his needs.
*Breastmilk changes according to when you give birth--the earlier your baby is, the more fat content in your breastmilk.
*Breastmilk changes according to the bugs that are in your house and picks up those antibodies and feeds them to your baby.
*Breastmilk changes according to the time of day. . .sometimes you have more foremilk and sometimes more hindmilk--due to the pattern of your babies sucking.
*I just read a study that indicates preliminarily that perhaps breastmilk might also change in response to the amount of sunlight you get.
Your body knows how to change breastmilk for all these circumstances, yet I'm supposed to believe that it doesn't know that babies need more Vitamin D? I just don't buy it.

Okay so that was probably more than you wanted to know but I do not, nor have I ever given vitamin D drops to my babies.

[mcmama]

Mine never had them either. Seems silly if the baby is breastfed. If they irritate, I would stop.

I am not a big believer in vitamins anyway.

[jkl123]

I pretty much thought the same things, so I appreciate the reassurance. I would think also that breastmilk would have the vitamin, if needed by infants at this age.
Now, I just have to convince DH it's OK to stop them... he tends to think whatever the DR says is the way it should be. It'll be interesting when I bring up vaccines with him, now!

[lavatea]

What's the iron content of breastmilk like? Our pedi wants me to be giving Aiden Polyvisol because his iron was low. Is that due to breastfeeding as well?

[twinzplus3]

Breastmilk isn't deficient. It has all the iron that babies need. However, sometimes some babies do not absorb iron the way they should. So no, it's not because of the breastfeeding. . .but if he's low on iron, I'd consider the poly vi sol.

[Magic_Mikki]

Hm. Never heard of giving a breastfed baby Vitamin D drops. Strange doctor.

[twinzplus3]

Nay--this is actually a pretty common debate. Some docs will say to do it. . .some don't.