Multivitamins The milk produced by a well-nourished woman has ample amounts of vitamins. However, poorly nourished women with vitamin deficiencies will produce milk that is deficient in vitamins. A few cases of vitamin-deficient milk and poor infant growth have been linked to a strict vegetarian diet in lactating mothers who weren’t taking vitamin supplements. Human milk is relatively low in vitamin D, but this vitamin is synthesized in the skin in ample amounts if a person is exposed to sunlight. Dark-skinned individuals require more sunlight exposure than light-skinned persons. Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets (softening of the bones producing bowing of the legs and other bone deformities). A few cases of rickets have occurred in exclusively breastfed babies. The babies in whom rickets occurred were at particular risk because they were dark-skinned and received very little sun exposure. To prevent any chance of rickets, some physicians prescribe multivitamin drops for all breastfed infants instead of singling out those who get little sunshine exposure. Multivitamin preparations are used for this purpose because they actually are cheaper and more accessible than plain vitamin D. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements may be required for premature infants and those with special health problems. Ordinarily, no vitamin or mineral supplements are necessary for healthy, breastfed infants of well-nourished mothers. Nevertheless, some doctors routinely prescribe liquid multivitamin preparations for breastfed infants “just in case.” This practice probably does no harm beyond the added expense and hassle of trying to get your baby to take the vitamins. However, a few mothers report that their infants react adversely to vitamin preparations, either refusing them or acting fussy afterward. If that is the case with your baby, ask your doctor whether a valid indication exists for prescribing the supplements.
