Low/deficient in Vitamin D?

[diva det]

hmm sounds a bit of a hype for pentavite more than anything
twins were on pentavite for 12 months but were prem as you know - they were also on flaxseed oil
bubs would be getting all vitamins from your milk so no need to use a vitamin supplement- esp if a full termer


most people are vit D low- a throw back from slip, slop, slapping
the best way to boost your Vitamin D supply is to go for a walk in the sun!!!! Esp this time of the year when UV is low

also delaying cord cutting will boost vitamin D supplies as well as iron and other valuable vitamins so really push for that as well
i would do some really heavy research before starting on a mulit-vitamin that is unnecessary to do- it will just be wasted
mwah hun

[AnyDream]

I am following this thread with interest, I have taken an interest in Vit D levels after my recent adventures in breast cancer land - *all* of the ladies on our BC forum had very low levels of Vit D, myself included, and lack of Vit D has recently been implicated in a number of chronic health conditions. So yeah, it's pretty important.

I found this link: Vit D and pregnancy which pretty much talks about the recommendation, but there are some links to further reading at the bottom which you might find informative.

[CharlieBrownGirl]

Whilst I'm waiting for my bfp to appear... I've had Vit D levels of approx. 43 (almost normal but not quite there) for the past year. I've been encouraged to get out in the sun to increase this level and I'm also taking a supplement. I might try Ostelin as you have suggested OP.

WOW! I can't believe your little one is almost here :O

Hope everything works out well, I'll be interested in reading any other suggestions

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Hey ladies, my Vit D was low during my PG with DD2, she is having pentivite every day, the reason i was given was that children themselves do not obtain vit d from being outside in the sun like we do until after 1yr of age, therefore they get their Vit D through us during PG and through the supplement we take while BFing... If we are deficient or low they can be too.. Vit D helps with calcium also i believe and is a requirement to assist with bone development.

HTH, not sure how accurate but this is what the hosp and my GP have informed me.

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks for all the replies so far...

CBG, cheers hun GL for your continuing journey... see my last levels came up above 50 I think, which sounds like its pretty good? Not sure.

MD - thanks, will check out that link now... I didn't know about Vit D being linked to other issues... my mum has been Vit D deficient due to having coeliac disease and she has had a BC scare... she's also severely osteoporitic (sp?) due to the calcium malabsorption... but her stems from coeliac disease, which has caused the Vit D deficiency. I've been screened for coeliacs and don't have it.

Det - was it hard to give them the Pentavite? Might chat to you tomorrow about it. I got a leaflet from the FBC about it and it says that if you bubs is born Vit D low or deficient, it *can* lead to bone density issues and even a condition called "rickets" where they don't grow properly. Clearly I don't want that, but nor do I want to be forcing an unnecessary supplement on to the little man in his first year!

Kate - what have you decided so far? Have you started bubs on Pentavite?

The thing I found strange was that as I said my sister is also low in Vit D, diagnosed by her GP, who advised her to take Ostelin INSTEAD of going out into the sun. The GP said she'd prefer my sis to take a supplement and deal with any side affects rather than risk developing a melanoma. Seems a bit strange to me.

[OceanPrincess]

Look at this...

If a mother has a low level of vitamin D during pregnancy, the baby should also have a vitamin D supplement for at least 1 year and have some sun exposure. The supplement is a vitamin mixture such as Pentavite.

Breastfed babies
If a mother has low levels of vitamin D, breast milk is not a good source of vitamin D.

It was the breastfed baby bit I was intrigued by. So Vit D cannot be simply transferred by BM. Interesting...

[OceanPrincess]

This was from the Royal Women's Hospital in Victoria's website info about Vit D and pregnancy:

Baby

If a mother is vitamin D deficient, breast milk is not a good source of vitamin D, so babies need to be given extra vitamin D until they are weaned. Pentavite, which is a liquid multivitamin mixture available from pharmacies, is suitable for this. The dosage is 0.45ml per day. A midwife can show you how to give Pentavite to your baby before you leave the hospital.

I seriously don't think I'd be classified as "deficient", if my levels are back within normal range now after 8wks on supplement???

[OceanPrincess]

Ali I was just reading about sun exposure... I would not have thought of myself as someone who hides from the sun, its so strange... but I do slip slop slap so maybe it is that...

Anyway that's a good tip, two 10min walks I could do - to and from the train station would be enough. Even if it takes me a bit longer with my waddle

My calcium should be good as I have at least two serves a day (generally more) plus a calcium supplement.

I'm taking so many supplements that I rattle when I walk

[HotI]

Kate - what have you decided so far? Have you started bubs on Pentavite?

i have the pentavite in the fridge, but haven't given bub any yet. Was meaning to do a search or post a thread on here to get info first!

I am still taking the Vit D (ostelin) myself bbut also not sure whether i should continue when the bottle runs out.

I do not stay away from the sun, and spend time outside so not sure why my levels were low.