By: Heather K. Beasley
Ok, so let’s talk about baby and what is really important to have on hand. Although we try out best as parents to keep our little one’s well, illness happens. Believe it or not, it is great to get that immune system working!!! This port will be broken up into two sections; VITAMINS and MEDICATIONS you need when baby is sick. Ok, let’s get into it.
Firstly, shortly after birth, babies need VITAMIN D. Even breastfed babies need it!
Daily oral vitamin D supplementation (400 IU) is recommended for breastfeeding infants
O’Callaghan KM, Taghivand M, Zuchniak A, et al. Vitamin D in Breastfed Infants: Systematic Review of Alternatives to Daily Supplementation. Adv Nutr. 2020;11(1):144-159. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz098
Let’s understand a little bit about this Vitamin! Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin. This means that fat-soluble vitamins are in the foods in our diets that contain fats. (FYI, all fats are NOT bad, but we will tackle that later.) Our body absorbs and processes these vitamins like it does other fats.
Now WHY is it so important to have Vitamin D?
Heres where I gotta get a little heavy in the science.
Vitamin D deficiency means the body doesn’t get enough of that vitamin associated with many diseases. One disease that is extremely harmful and painful is Ricket’s disease. Although I must point out that Ricket’s is extremely rare, it causes very weak bones and potentially can cause skeletal deformities.
Outside of supplementation, there are two other ways to get VitaminD. There are THREE ways to get Vitamin D, in fact:
1. Diet (foods rich in Vitamin D. eg., salmon, egg yolks, mushrooms) Basically all of the foods that an infant shouldn’t consume in the first months of life.
2. Sun Exposure. Before 2 months, infants should also limit sun exposure. Even beyond 2 months, infants should use the appropriate sunscreens approved for infants and use hats to be safe.
3. Supplementation that we mentioned above.
As a scientist, I must point out that the amount of vitamin D in the breastmilk is largely dependent on the mother’s diet. This means, if the mother is deficient in vitamin D, so is the breastmilk she gives her baby. Supplementation for the mom is also important, which is why breastfeeding moms should continue taking prenatal vitamins when breastfeeding. Additionally, the breastfeeding mother should consult with her primary care physician and/ or OB/GYN for any concerns about vitamin D deficiency y. A simple blood draw will reveal Vitamin D levels.
There is a racial health disparity between Black and White women as it relates to Vitamin D deficiency.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “Low levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D are common among black Americans.”
Powe CE, Evans MK, Wenger J, et al. Vitamin D-binding protein and vitamin D status of black Americans and white Americans. N Engl J Med. 2013;369(21):1991-2000. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1306357
This means that Black women, in comparison to White women, have lower vitamin D levels. This is partially due to less sun exposure, but this is more of a reason to be aware of supplementation for breast milk. Additionally, my research shows that Black women have higher circulating calcium. 1,2
I alternated three different vitamins for the first two years of baby girls. Life. Firstly, I used the poly-vi-sol when she was first born because I did, as I’ve previously mentioned, had to supplement until I got the hang of breastfeeding. The smell and taste are simply awful due to the iron. After I exclusively started breastfeeding, however, I switched to the vitamin D drops by Wellements. I enjoyed this organic brand. I did alternate that and the TRI-VI-Sol depending on availability at my Walgreens. I will break down the other key vitamins in the upcoming post. Stay tuned.
As always, I am a scientist and not a medical doctor; therefore, PLEASE consult your pediatrician and/or family doctor before supplementing your child’s diet! 🥰
References