Update on Kaitlin's doc appointment

Kaitlin'smom wrote: Okay so yesterday I took off work to take Kaitlin to the doc, called them at 8:10a and got a appointment at 10:30. Poor thing she was naping and I had to wake her up to get her ready to go to the doc's office. Well it was kinda raning but we got there and got in and she now weights 12lbs 9oz 24 1/4 inch long and 16 in head cir. so is in the 50 club! Hehehe 50% height 50% weight 50% head! WTG doc says she is perfect! We talked about foods, stage 1 until 6 months then stage 2, told me about a vitimam I should get for her. I asked about sunscreen she said I can put some on her exposed skin, and to bathe her when we get home if I do. She would rather her have sunscreen on than get burnt. Other wise 6 months is the best. She is strong and healthy. Then came the 3 shots! she did not jerk this time just cried alot. So I gave her some medicine to make her feel better. She was fine until about 5p when the hurt from the one shot really started to bother her. She was kinda cranky last night but she still slept good. She was a little cranky this morning (usually very happy in am!) so gave her a little more pain med. and now she is snoozing. has been for almost an hour. So other than some discomfort she seens ok! Well thats all for now I will see you all again on monday!

PS HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MOMS AND TO BE MOMS!

jdkjd replied: I'm glad she did so well at the doctor's office. I think the shots are more traumatic for us than for them.

Happy Mother's Day to you too!!

MommyToAshley replied: I'm glad she is doing well and the shots didn't bother her too much.

Just curious, what is the vitamin supplement? I thought if you are BF, then you don't need to supplement with vitamins?

Roxworld replied: Glad to hear she's doing so well. dee beat me to it....but I am curious about the vitamin as well. Aidan isn't taking any, and his Ped hasn't mentioned anything....so maybe I will....hehe.

supermom replied: Glad she's doing so good - sounds like she's growing right along. Hugs to you and her - and sure she'll feel better by tomorrow....

Kaitlin'smom replied: She is doing great the shots only bother her for about 24 hours she took a long nap saturday morning 3 hours! I was shocked but she is back to her happy self. The ped recomemded Tri Vil Sol (I think the spelling is right). Its a Vitiam D supp. She said that even though she is BF that they (not sure who) has found that vitiam d does not pass though the BM very well. And recomened this, So I am getting it today (i went to 3 places and it was not on the shelf, it had to be ordered). I am gonna do some reading before I get it and give it to her just cauce I have no clue what vitiam D does or what its good for!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Vitamin D:

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that has long been known for its important role in regulating body levels of calcium and phosphorus, and in mineralization of bone. The term vitamin D actually refers to a group of steroid molecules. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol is generated in the skin of animals when light energy is absorbed by a precursor molecule 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Vitamin D is thus not a true vitamin, because individuals with adequate exposure to sunlight do not require dietary supplementation. There are dietary sources of vitamin D, including egg yolk, fish oil and a number of plants.

However, natural diets typically do not contain adequate quantities of vitamin D, and exposure to sunlight or consumption of foodstuffs purposefully supplemented with vitamin D are necessary to prevent deficiencies.

Vitamin D is well known as a hormone involved in mineral metabolism and bone growth. Its most dramatic effect is to facilitate intestinal absorption of calcium, although it also stimulates absorption of phosphate and magnesium ions. In the absence of vitamin D, dietary calcium is not absorbed at all efficiently. Vitamin D stimulates the expression of a number of proteins involved in transporting calcium from the lumen of the intestine, across the epithelial cells and into blood.

(taken from: http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pat...o/vitamind.html )


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I've also been recommended by my Ped to give Zach Vit. D drops, but he also told me that some formulas have Vitamin D. My Ped also told me that if I didn't want to spend the $$ on Vit. D drops, to take Zach out in the sun during the day. (with sunscreen on of course...) so his daycare provider takes him (and the other 2 kids she watches, one 11month old and 1 4 year old) on 2 walks during the day, in her double stroller, the 4 year old holds the side of the stroller, and we take him out for a walk jsut before dinner.

(did you know that if you do 15-20 minutes of excersice - walking, joggin, crunches - before eating, it actually naturally increases your metabolism? Which is why we go walking BEFORE dinner rather than after. Sometimes we go after too...but I get lazy. )

Kaitlin'smom replied: WOW thanks Zach's mom! You have saved me some time!

the ped did tell me about sunlight but with the risk of skin cancer and sunburns this might be better. I do take her outside with hats and thing when its nice out. but now that I read that I will probably go ahead and give them to her.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: You're welcome, they seem to be very important!!

I don,t worry about the drops as much...msotly because Zach's formula contains some vitamin D.

Kaitlin'smom replied: ya it sure does. Since she will have nothing to do with bottles I cant give her fomula (hehe unless I freez it like a popsicle) I will get the drops and give it to her.

Now I just wonder about possible side effects................oh the joys of parenthood!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.
Vitamin D should not be administered to patients with hypercalcaemia. It is advised that, if possible, women receiving pharmacological doses of Vitamin D do not breast feed their infants as this may lead to the development of hypercalcaemia in the infant.
Hypercalcaemia during pregnancy may produce congenital disorders in the off-spring and neonatal hypoparathyroidism.

WARNING:
The safety in pregnancy has not been established.
The effects of Vitamin D may be reduced in patients taking barbiturates or anticonvulsants.

SIDE-EFFECTS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
Excessive intake of Vitamin D leads to the development of hypercalcaemia and its associated symptoms including hypercalciuria, ectopic calcification, and renal and cardiovascular damage.
Vitamin D should be administered with caution to infants as they may have increased sensitivity to its effects and should be used with care in patients with renal impairment or calculi, or heart disease, who might be at increased risk of organ damage if hypercalcaemia occurred.
Plasma phosphate concentrations should be controlled during Vitamin D therapy to reduce the risk of ectopic calcification.
Dietary supplementation with Vitamin D may be detrimental in persons already receiving an adequate intake through their diet and exposure to sunlight since the difference between therapeutic and toxic concentrations is relatively small.


(taken from: http://home.intekom.com/pharm/lennon/calcifer.html )

I guess I should also have added:

KNOWN SYMPTOMS OF OVERDOSAGE AND PARTICULARS OF ITS TREATMENT:
Vitamin D is the most likely of all vitamins to cause overt toxicity. Infants and children are generally more susceptible to its toxic effects. The vitamin should be withdrawn if toxicity occurs. The initial signs and symptoms of toxicity are those associated with hypercalcaemia. Other signs include muscle weakness, apathy, headache, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, bone pain, ectopic calcification, proteinuria, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. Chronic hypercalcaemia can lead to generalised vascular calcification, nephrocalcinosis and rapid deterioration of renal function. Treatment of hypervitaminosis D consists of immediate withdrawal of the vitamin, a low calcium diet, administration of glucocorticoids, and vigorous fluid support.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: And from another source:

( http://waltonfeed.com/self/health/vit-min/d.html )


Rickets is a disease that occurs in children who do not get enough vitamin D. Healthy babies are born with enough D in their bodies to last them 9 months without getting symptoms of a deficiency. Vitamin D is fat soluble, so it will stay in the body much longer. Mothers, make sure you are getting enough vitamin D to keep your baby healthy. Usually parents don't notice their baby has rickets until they start walking. Their bones are too weak to support their little bodies and their legs bow under the pressure. If you watch carefully, you can see early signs of rickets. The baby is restless, sweats profusely, and when sleeping, often turns their head from side to side so much that it rubs off their hair. When children's bodies don't get enough vitamin D, they cannot absorb enough calcium and phosphorus to mineralize and harden their bones and teeth. These spongy bones cause bowed legs, knock-knees, enlarged joints, pot belly, and beading of the ribs. Their teeth will likewise become soft and irregular shaped. A baby's head grows the fastest at 3 months of age. If the child has a vitamin D deficiency at this time, their head will become abnormally large and square shaped with bulging sides. You can also determine if your child has a deficiency by testing their blood calcium and phosphorus levels. Unfortunately, rickets is a disease that cannot be cured completely and victims will always be short in stature. A good way to make sure your child doesn't get rickets in the first place is to let them play outside every now and again. My Grandmother, a nurse, used to sun each of her babies for 15 minutes, two or three times a week.

When you are an adult and don't get enough vitamin D, you get a disease called osteomalacia. In this disease, your bones become soft and more easily bendable. Sufferers can experience deformities of the spinal cord, thorax, limbs, and pelvis. Vitamin D deficiency can also speed osteoporosis along. This disease is characterized by having light porous bones that break very easily.

You can also get too much vitamin D. When this happens, you have a large amount of calcium in your blood because of the extra amount absorbed from your digestive system and the extra amount taken from your bones. All this extra calcium has to go somewhere, and in this case, hormones don't take the extra calcium to your bones. It gets deposited in your organs! You don't have to be a genius to understand that a bunch of hard calcium stuck in your heart, liver, kidneys, muscles, ect. is very detrimental to your health. Calcium hardens your organs which can be especially scary when you consider your heart. Detrimental effects can still occur months after you stop ingesting so much vitamin D. Toxicities have been known to occur on as little as 45 mcg a day.

One really simple way to avoid the horrible effects of vitamin D deficiency or toxicity is to avoid large dose vitamin D suppliments and get out and enjoy the sunshine! Your body will only make as much as it needs.