Since decades, pediatricians have been debating on whether infants should be given vitamin supplements during lactation. Let’s find out with this article Vitamin Supplements During Lactation - Are they Necessary?

Arguments on vitamin supplements during lactation: Although mother’s milk is considered a complete source of nutrition during lactation, doctors still suggest giving vitamin supplements during lactation because the mother’s milk is low in Vitamin D – a fact most of us probably don’t know. It is important to avoid deficiency of vitamin D as it could further lead to potential diseases like rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, if not taken seriously.

Why is it important?: Deficiency of Vitamin D can happen to your infant if he is not getting enough sunlight. This can happen if you are living in an area where there is no sunlight at all, or living in a colder region or you are dark-skinned. However, this deficiency can easily be avoided by exposure to ultraviolet light and vitamin supplements during lactation. However, opponents to the first part of this theory claim that infants younger than six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight due to the potential risk of skin cancer. Hence, they recommend mothers to take vitamin supplements during lactation.

400 IU of Vitamin D should be taken every day: According to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all children, including infants, are recommended to get 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day. Experts say that such an amount is practically impossible to receive through breast milk by an infant, who needs to get most of its nutrition from lactation. Hence, it advises mothers to take vitamin supplements during lactation.

Why medics don't prescribe vitamin supplements for lactation?: Recent surveys showed that doctors shy away from prescribing vitamin supplements during lactation because they want mothers to breast-feed their babies as long as possible. According to Seattle Children's Hospital pediatrician Dr. Kenneth Feldman, "If we would say the breast milk really isn't complete and tell mothers that you need something extra, then that might be an inhibition to breast-feeding." Read related articles here

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