are extra vitamins needed
Vitamin D is so important that your body makes it by itself -- but only after skin exposure to sufficient sunlight. This is a problem for people in northern climates. The babies who do need these supplements need them due to a lack of sufficient sunlight. Factors that put your breastfed baby at risk for vitamin D deficiency (rickets) are: 1  Baby has very little exposure to sunlight. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found in many foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy. Some very premature babies (weighing less than 1500 grams/3.3 pounds) may need extra vitamins and minerals, which can be added to their mother’s milk before being given to the baby. Following is more specific information on baby’s needs for certain vitamins and minerals. Still, it's possible to have too much vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that supports normal growth and development. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron. Because your body doesn't produce or store vitamin C, it's important to include vitamin C in your diet. For most people, a large orange or a cup of strawberries, chopped red pepper or broccoli provide enough vitamin C for the day. Any extra vitamin C will simply be flushed out of your body in your urine. For adults, the recommended dietary reference intake for vitamin C is 65 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day, and the upper limit is 2,000 mg a day. Your body must have vitamin D to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Too little vitamin D results in soft bones in children (rickets) and fragile, misshapen bones in adults (osteomalacia). You also need vitamin D for other important body functions. Vitamin D deficiency has now been linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, depression, weight gain, and other maladies. Vitamin B6. If mom gets adequate amounts of vitamin B6, then additional supplements are not necessary for a healthy baby. If mom is not getting enough vitamin B6, then adding additional vitamin B6 to mom’s diet will increase the levels in her milk to the required levels. Vitamin B1 (thiamine). If mom is getting enough thiamine, then her milk has enough for baby and supplements are not needed. If mom is thiamine-deficient, then adding additional thiamine to mom’s diet should increase the amount of thiamine in her milk (since this vitamin is water-soluble) to the necessary levels. The amount of vitamin E you need each day depends on your age. Average daily recommended intakes are listed below in milligrams (mg) and in International Units (IU). Package labels list the amount of vitamin E in foods and dietary supplements in IU.
Yes