When I delivered my son Noah seven months ago, I got the breastfeeding speech:
"Make sure you breastfeed your baby," lactation consultants told me. "Your milk has all the nutrients your baby needs."
True, it is imperative that new mothers at least try to breastfeed. Breastmilk is easily digestible, has an abundance of nutrients that can boost a baby's immune system, it helps a baby grow... and has so many other benefits.
But be wary: Breastmilk is not always nature's perfect food.
Turns out many new mothers are Vitamin D deficient.
You know... vitamin D.
You get it mainly from milk products and spending some time outside in the sun. But many women, especially African Americans, are lactose intolerant. No milk... no vitamin D.
In addition to this, those of us who live in northern cities with long winters lack sunshine time... so no vitamin D source there.
And lack of vitamin D can expose your child to a rare childhood disorder called rickets. It's the weakening of the bones that often goes undetected for several months.
In a story that I produced for our 10 p.m. newscast tonight, we interviewed a mom whose two year old daughter was diagnosed with rickets after a minor fall caused the little girl to break her leg.
And hear from the mom of a preemie, who is now supplementing her breastmilk with vitamin D to make sure her new baby has an extra fighting chance.
This is a story new moms really need to hear.
Because while wonderful... even breastmilk sometimes need that extra boost.
