My Baby and Me

52 proper growth. The mother sometimes does not consume a diet that can provide all these nutrients. Breast milk then draws these nutrients, like iron and calcium, from the mother's body and provides them to the baby to some extent. As a result, the mother's body tends to develop deficiencies, and the baby too may not have adequate amounts of all the nutrients. How is vitamin D beneficial for the baby? Vitamin D is produced in the body upon exposure to sunlight. It is also obtained from certain foods like oily fish. However, if the mother is not exposed to sunlight adequately or does not consume fish, the vitamin D levels in her body can be low. Thus, breast milk will not contain enough vitamin D. This vitamin is required for the growth and strength of the bones and muscles. Vitamin D is also linked to the prevention of rickets in infants.

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