Vitamins for nursed babies?!?!?!

[Classical Country Mama]

Just got back from my ds' two-month checkup, where I was told he needs a vitamin supplement (A, C, and esp D) because he is "only" breastfed. I went ahead and grabbed the vitamins since I was out and going out is something I can rarely do--and saw when I got home this particular multi-vitamin is produced by Enfamil.

 

Enfamil?? OK, so is this some kind of racket? Is it true babies don't get enough vitamin D in breastmilk, or is Enfamil trying to get in on the non-formula market??? This is the first time I've heard such a claim, and I find myself highly skeptical.

 

Anyone else heard such a thing?

[Mrs Mungo]

I never gave my breastfed babies extra vitamins.

 

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins.html

 

 

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/vitamin.html

 

http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Recipes--Nutrition-For-Children/Ask-Dr-Sears-Vitamin-Overdose

 

eta: quote from Dr. Jack Newman's site

 

Breastfeeding babies need extra vitamin D - Not true! Everyone needs vitamin D. Formula has it added at the factory. But the baby is born with a liver full of vitamin D, and outside exposure allows the baby to get the vitamin D from ultraviolet light even in winter. The baby does not need a lot of outside exposure and does not need outside exposure every day. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is stored in the body. In some circumstances (for example, if the mother herself was vitamin D deficient during the pregnancy) it may be prudent to supplement the baby with vitamin D. Exposing the baby to sunlight through a closed window does not work to get the baby more vitamin D.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Mrs Mungo

[SproutMamaK]

Edited - Mrs Mungo beat me to it.

[FaithManor]

Well, my mid-wife always said that the babies did not need supplemental anything as long as I was healthy and eating a healthy diet. She emphasized that I eat dairy and make sure that I got adequate exposure to sunlight for the vitamin D and when the weather cooperated, wanted baby to get some sunlight as well. If one eats a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, plus proteins, and sources of vitamin D, then I can not see why a breastfed infant would need vitamins. Sounds like a drug-company scam to me. Hopefully there will be someone on the board with specific medical knowledge that can answer your question.

 

Faith

[runmiarun]

My pediatrician told me the same thing for my now-2 year old when I was bfing him. And that same brand was all I could find at the drugstore. I called a good friend who was a pediatrician in another city and had breastfed her 4 kids. She recommended holding off on the vitamins and taking him outside in only his diaper for 15-30 minutes in the morning in the sunshine every day before it got too hot or sun was up too much to cause sunburn. I tried the vitamins first (so I could tell my ped I tried) by dropping them into the back of his throat so he wouldn't fight so much but this went over like a brick wall. Evidently babies don't like the taste. I tried mixing it in his cereal, no luck there either. While doing these, I was taking him outside as well since none of the vitamins were staying down. At our next appt, I told the ped what I was doing and how he wasn't taking the vitamins no matter what so he never mentioned it again. I do know vitamin d is not passed along in the breastmilk since we only make enough for our bodies to use. Getting out in the sunshine for an hour a day (ages 12 and older) will provide enough vitamin d for that day, at least that what 3 doctors have told me when I asked.

[TracyP]

I have never given my breastfed babies vitamins. I have had 4 different docs due to moves - 2 were pro breastfeeding and never mentioned vitamins, 1 was pro bf'ing and went so far as to say vitamins for bf newborns was a crock, 1 had the opinion that formula was better :confused: and insisted that vitamins were needed. The answer seems pretty obvious to me.;)

 

Oh and I 3rd (or whatever it is) the suggestion for natural Vit D (the sun).

[Robin's Song]

I had #4 three months ago and the ped wrote my breastfed ds a prescription for polywhatever vitamins. I threw it away. :tongue_smilie:

[Annie]

We have a very pro breastfeeding (but vaccine cautious) pediatrician who recommends vitamins for at least two weeks before any vaccinations, just to be sure their body is in the best possible shape to deal with them.

 

Having said that, the vitamins have been sitting, unopened, on my counter the last three weeks. I haven't been able to talk myself into giving them.

[abbeyej]

I never gave my babies vitamins. But if I were doing it now? I would make a concerted effort to get them daily naked time in the sun from May-Sept and I would supplement vitamin D from Sept-May. And while my babies were exclusively breastfed, I would do this regardless of nursing vs bottle.

 

Also important for Mom to get plenty of vitamin D as well.

[kesmom]

IMHO unless there is a supply/calorie issue, a nursing baby doesn't need anything made by a formula company. But wouldn't that be great for their profits! :rolleyes:

 

I would do whatever you feel most comfortable doing.

[LuvToRead]

With my first baby, I gave her vitamins. Her Dr. said she needed them. With 2nd baby, we had a new Dr., and he was against the vitamins for breastfed babies. My first Dr. was older, and maybe that's the reason. The 2nd Dr. was fairly young with 3 young breastfed kids of his own.

[tennismomkelly]

I was told the same thing by my ped and I ignored the advice. FWIW, all 3 of my exclusively BF kiddos are as healthy as can be.

[sbgrace]

I didn't for my babies but knowing what I know now I would do a vitamin D3 supplement for sure. There are drops of D3 by Carlson's and that is what I would use for babies or I would have supplemented myself at high enough levels to give them what they needed. In my case I was low so I'm not sure I could have given enough myself even had I been aware I was low and supplemented. Most of us are low in vitamin D. Unless you know your level is 50 or above I'd assume you are also low.

 

In reality unless you have normal D levels and supplement at very high levels (I think it's around 5,0000 to 6,400 IU per day for a nursing mom depending on the study you folllow) you aren't giving the baby the RDA they need. Vitamin D levels in infancy have long term effects. I regret that there is no way my kids got enough.

 

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/bfm.2006.1.59

 

http://blog.oregonlive.com/themombeat/2008/11/breastfed_babies_may_need_more.html

Le Leche league is now recommending supplementation. That's pretty huge I think.

"Health care professionals now have a better understanding of the function of vitamin D and the amounts required, and the newest research shows this is only true when mothers themselves have enough vitamin D. Statistics indicate that a large percentage of women do not have adequate amounts of vitamin D in their bodies....Health care providers may recommend that women who are unsure of their vitamin D status undergo a simple blood test before choosing not to supplement."

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/researchPregnancy.shtml

One of the great mysteries in human biology is the fact that most human breast milk is deficient in vitamin D. How could Nature overlook such an important nutrient in the "perfect food?" One possibility is that most human breast milk is deficient in vitamin D because most mothers are deficient in vitamin D.

That was us and knowing what I know now I would make a different choice. Edited June 28, 2010 by sbgrace

[Ravin]

Getting baby sunlight, and introducing meats and iron-rich veggies as first foods (particularly organ meats) around 6-8 months instead of cereal (which has no real nutrients and only very poorly absorbed synthetic ones added), and eating a healthy, varied diet yourself mean baby shouldn't need vitamins.

 

Somehow, the human species has survived without the Enfamil company up until this last century. My inclination is to continue doing so. :tongue_smilie:

[stripe]

I had a very irritating encounter with a nurse at the peds' office because she seemed to think that I needed to get lots of sun in order to produce vitamin D in breastmilk OR that my baby needed vitamins. The idea that my baby got sun and that I took a vitamin was, to her, utterly irrelevant.

 

There are other brands of vitamins besides those produced by Enfamil, including those with only vitamin D, if you are concerned about that.

[Guest mrsjamiesouth]

Just got back from my ds' two-month checkup, where I was told he needs a vitamin supplement (A, C, and esp D) because he is "only" breastfed. I went ahead and grabbed the vitamins since I was out and going out is something I can rarely do--and saw when I got home this particular multi-vitamin is produced by Enfamil.

 

Enfamil?? OK, so is this some kind of racket? Is it true babies don't get enough vitamin D in breastmilk, or is Enfamil trying to get in on the non-formula market??? This is the first time I've heard such a claim, and I find myself highly skeptical.

 

Anyone else heard such a thing?

 

 

I was told this repeatedly with my last child. I asked the Dr. some questions and was told the vitamins help prevent Rickets. Rickets are a lack of vitamin D. If the baby is light skinned spending 5-10minutes outside a day will provide your baby with enough vitamin D. For darker skin colors add some time, up to 20 minutes.

I refused to give the vitamin to my child, I feel that Breast milk is perfect and there is nothing you should add.

[golfcartmama]

I didn't give them to my kids at all (7 and 4). I did start with cereal, etc around 4-5 months. Everything I've read says as long as you eat a good diet and introduce fruits/veggies by 6 months then the baby is getting what they need. If you exclusively bf for a year with no solids, then you might need to supplement after 6 months...something about the iron being gone by then?? Can't remember.

[Carol in Cal.]

This was about 12 years ago.

 

I thought that if babies had grown up fine for millenia without that supplementation, my DD could do so as well. I did continue to take Stuart's Prenatal Vitamins the whole time I was BFing, and I drank a lot of smoothies, ate a lot of salads, and drank a TON of nonfat milk as well.

 

I felt pretty strongly about not giving anything except BM until I was good and ready. DD nursed exclusively for 8 months, and right around the time I finally introduced some solid food, she had a blood test that showed very good iron levels, despite the fact that that was deemed to be impossible by the experts during that period because it was more than the 6 months of maximum storage of newborn iron, because I was slightly anemic during the last 2 months of the pregnancy, and because supposedly there is very little iron in BM. Later they found out that although there is not very much iron in BM, it is highly absorbable. However, iron in iron drops is drastically less absorbable than in BM, and giving iron drops changes your digestive tract to make BM iron less absorbable as well!

 

And lately you don't hear ANYTHING about iron drops for babies, I don't think.

 

Having had that experience confirmed me in being pretty hardcore about 'nothing but...'

 

I'll bet that soon they are going to find that babies do fine without this supplementation. They might even find that it's harmful. I would eat a well-balanced diet, as natural and vitamins and iron-rich as possible, get plenty of rest and fluids, spend a little time in the sun pretty often, and not supplement. YMMV.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Carol in Cal.

[texasmama]

I never gave my breastfed babies vitamins.

[Moxie]

Babies have been around a lot longer then Enfamil or Gerber. I don't do vitamins and I don't do canned baby food or cereal and my kids are the picture of physical health. Our first ped. wanted me to give them vitamins but we left her for a number of reasons. Our current ped. (who I really respect and trust) has never said a word about it.

[joannqn]

My ped's wife breastfed his six children for 11 years. He's never suggested supplementing, checks their iron by looking at their hands and eyes, etc. When I asked about calcium because we are on a dairy free diet, he responded that babies in countries that don't consume a lot of dairy seem to be doing just fine. Gotta love that guy.

 

That said, I'm currently supplementing my little one by crushing up one of my calcium/magnesium/zinc/D supplements and adding it to 1/2 teaspoon of Emergen C with a little water. Because of our lead paint issues, she needs certain vitamins and this is the easiest way I've found so far to get them in her.

[NanceXToo]

Nonsense! Your baby gets everything s/he needs from your breastmilk. Sadly, many pediatricians are just not very informed when it comes to breastfeeding.

[Giraffe]

While I agree mostly with the no vitamins for BF babies, DD's pediatrician advised us to give them to her for one very big reason - vitamin D. We were in the cloudy Pacific Northwest with very little sun so I wasn't getting enough D to pass on through my milk and there was no sun for DD to bask in herself. Yes, babies have been around a lot longer than Enfamil and Gerber, but my pediatrician was a young nutty crunchy woman herself and said she understood our surprise at the recommendation, but that it was only because of our geographic situation.

[Dinsfamily]

This thread is interesting to me because my ped recommended supplementing my 3rd because I was bf'ing. I thought it was strange because I exclusively bf my other two and had never heard of such a thing. My other boys had three other peds while I was nursing them (we move a lot). I did give my little guy vitamins because we are a supplementing family and I liked the idea that I could give him something before he was 2 which is when we started the other boys. However, now that I think of it, my boys have gotten plenty of vitamin D since we moved to Tx. It would have made more sense to supplement when we lived in Boston or San Francisco. I will probably do more research into infant vitamin brands before we have our next.

[Dinsfamily]

While I agree mostly with the no vitamins for BF babies, DD's pediatrician advised us to give them to her for one very big reason - vitamin D. We were in the cloudy Pacific Northwest with very little sun so I wasn't getting enough D to pass on through my milk and there was no sun for DD to bask in herself. Yes, babies have been around a lot longer than Enfamil and Gerber, but my pediatrician was a young nutty crunchy woman herself and said she understood our surprise at the recommendation, but that it was only because of our geographic situation.

 

This makes sense to me growing up in the NW and now living in Tx.

[Forget-Me-Not]

Just got back from my ds' two-month checkup, where I was told he needs a vitamin supplement (A, C, and esp D) because he is "only" breastfed.

 

:banghead: When are health care professionals going to finally learn that *BREAST MILK*, not formula, is the gold standard by which all other infant foods/milks/supplements should be measured? Grrrrrr.

 

I never gave my kids extra vitamins. I'm on the fence about Vit D, but I've never given it. My kids get a lot of sun.

[smrtmama]

No need to give any vitamins to the exclusively breastfed infant, except possibly Vitamin D (though LLL has protocols on mega-dosing vit D in mothers in order to increase levels in breastmilk, as an alternative to giving vit D directly to the babies).

[VA6336]

My pediatrician recommended giving my breastfed infant daughter the Poly-Vi-Sol (the one without iron) and we did for a while. He did it not because she was breastfed, but because she was low in certain vitamins/nutrients. I can't remember now what they were. There was bloodwork done first. He did not encourage it for an extended period of time. Once she started on cereal, he said to quit. My third child was a failure to thrive (just stopped growing at 6 weeks and wouldn't no matter what we tried-turns out he has food allergies, but that's a whole 'nother story!) and in addition to many adjustments to get him healthy, we did use the vitamins. Again, only until he was obviously healthy and didn't need them.

 

If your pediatrician is saying give the kid vitamins based only on the fact that the child is exclusively breastfed, you can probably ignore it. Was there some other reason for the recommendation? Is your child low on the height/weight chart? Do you live in a place where you don't get much sun? Just make sure there isn't an *actual* reason.

[Katiebug_1976]

I have never heard of such a thing and I thought I had been around the block a few times! I would be very cautious about anything "foreign" or other than breast milk that I gave my baby.

[Mommyof4ks]

I was told that because we live in the south, and my kids are outside daily that I did not need to supplement with vit D while exclusively bfing.

[zaichiki]

According to our pediatricians over time --

 

first baby needed fluoride (BTW He now has white spots on his teeth.)

second baby needed poly vi sol (with iron)

third baby needed poly vi sol (with iron)

fourth baby needs tri vi sol (just A,D, C and no iron b/c it's in the baby cereal she's beginning to taste)

 

I think the recs vary over time and with the pediatrician. My first two got everything prescribed. The third got it when I remembered. I think my fourth has gotten 5 doses in her life. Heh. (I'm a lot more forgetful as I age.)

[Geek]

Yeah! I am SO glad they are recommending this now. I welcome the opportunity to tell my daughter's story again, so thanks! :-) She was exclusively breastfed until 6 months, and then I added solid food in with the breastfeeding.

 

When my now-8yo daughter was just turning 1, she broke her femur by simple falling from a standing position by letting go of my fingers (not walking yet). Full-body x-rays, genetic tests, all sorts of blood tests and scans, consultations with experts, numerous appointments with a bone specialist, long phone conversations with researchers around the country resulted. We needed to hire a lawyer and nearly had our children taken from us.

 

The only thing they could find for sure was a Vitamin D deficiency. We had to add--legally at that point!--large doses of measured, Rx liquid calcium carbonate to her diet, as well as a potent source of Rx vitamin D.

 

Of ALL the physicians and researchers we dealt with, NOT ONE of them had made the connection that I had made--and discussed with them: Women who breastfeed are more apt to wear sunscreen and put it on their infants, and spend less time in the sun. I kept telling them, "Think of the demographics!" and I could see wheels turning again and again.

 

This was in Houston, though we dealt with researchers around the country. It appears someone was listening! :applause:

 

(I know La Leche League wasn't. I went all the way to the top and explained this to them, and all I got out of them was "Breast milk has everything the baby needs!" Well, not if the mom doesn't have it in her diet. It won't magically get in there.)

 

I was told that because we live in the south, and my kids are outside daily that I did not need to supplement with vit D while exclusively bfing.

Uh, yeah. We were living in Texas when this happened and had been there for the previous 10 years. We were outside daily. But I wore sunscreen and spent a good deal of time in the shade. Edited June 29, 2010 by Geek

[Geek]

 

Nonsense! Your baby gets everything s/he needs from your breastmilk. Sadly, many pediatricians are just not very informed when it comes to breastfeeding.

Please read my story. It is NOT nonsense. Your baby does NOT get everything s/he needs from your breastmilk by magic; it must be in the milk in sufficient levels for your baby to get it.

[LaissezFaire]

I fully believe that breastfed babies get all they need from breastmilk alone.

[keptwoman]

:banghead: When are health care professionals going to finally learn that *BREAST MILK*, not formula, is the gold standard by which all other infant foods/milks/supplements should be measured? Grrrrrr.

 

Exactly. Anyone who utters the phrase "only breastfed" would get zero of my attention to their advice from that point on.

I am however, not a sunscreen person, and there is no way I'd be putting it on a baby.... all those chemicals. A little sun never hurt anyone, and that's coming from a woman who lives under the ozone hole. Not that I have ever worried about Vit D, I've never even heard of a deficiency in Vit D except on this forum. I just don't like too many chemicals, and I do like sun.

Edited June 29, 2010 by keptwoman

[sbgrace]

Studies have shown that even those who get lots of sun without sunscreen in places where sun is good year round (i.e. Hawaii) are often low. I can link studies if anyone wants them. You can live in a sunny place and get mid-day sun and still be low. There are lots of potential explanations for that but it's a fact.

 

It doesn't matter what a person believes. Reality matters and this is an important area. Reality doesn't bear out that typical breast milk the has everything the baby needs when it comes to vitamin D.

 

 

Do not assume you have adequate D and are providing enough to your baby without testing your levels and reading research in this area--some of which I linked above.

[Hedgehogs4]

if you are taking vitamins you should not need to give them to your babies. with my first i did not take vitamins. he caught every cold that blew by. with my second i took a very high quality supplement and she was HEALTHY!

 

i did not vaccinate either.

[Joanne]

Here is my opinion. Most Dr's are very agreeable to the drug/product reps that come by their office. It is BIG, BIG, BIG business. They often accept the samples and agree to market the product.

 

Formula companies *absolutely*, positively and without a doubt want the business of breastfeeding families. Their history in that regard is clear.

 

New "research" in terms of health and nutrition has an interesting and provocative history. I can name a long list of things I've heard since 1966 that turned out to be complete bunk - even after approval, "hype" and great marketing campaigns.

 

While this thread does have a dramatic story included, it is anecdotal and counter to anthropolgical history.

 

1) Doctors still typically know little about breastmilk/breastfeeding. Their advice often runs counter to successful breastfeeding.

2) Doctors often quickly believe the slick research of marketing reps.

3) Companies exist to make money. They will manufacture a need to do so.

4) Vitamin "D" is the most recent "hype". I'm not a believer.

[stripe]

I also think it's worth noting when vitamins are pushed, but outdoor play is not. Outdoor play does have other benefits (e.g. exercise and mood enhancement). It's certainly worth considering.

[Classical Country Mama]

So here's my update--after consulting La Leche League (who says most babies do not need to supplement, http://www.llli.org/FAQ/vitamin.html) as well as my local lactation consultant (who says beware of doctors who only receive their breastfeeding "education" via pharmaceutical companies), I've elected not to do the supplements.

 

For those of you who wondered, the pediatrician's office based their prescription for vitamin supplements solely on the fact I am breastfeeding. All blood and other tests for both me and the baby have come back normal. *

 

I did, however, take the baby, strip the cute little chubby guy down and head out in our bright Virginia sun for half an hour! :)

 

Thanks so much to all for your input & advice & stories. Since my last baby was five years ago, I feel like a first-timer all over again!!

 

* Note that this is the same office who tried to get me to supplement with formula when the baby was a week or two old--he has reflux and wasn't gaining weight fast enough for their taste, but they wouldn't believe me about the reflux, saying all babies have "colic." After I FOUGHT them, he is now on zantac, is pain-free, and gaining weight.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I haven't read all the responses, but I nursed both of my babies, the second one exclusively (first one had to supplement and quit all together after 4 months, due to my health), but my pediatrician never said anything at any time about giving my breastfed babies vitamins.

[Geek]

 

I fully believe that breastfed babies get all they need from breastmilk alone.

I used to believe that, too, and I proselytized anyone who would listen. But my life changed that.