Get Ready...3 Questions at Once

#1 Going to the fireworks is big deal for my kids.... so when my youngest was three weeks, we compromised. We parked where you could see them and stayed in the car. I don't think it is a good idea to go on the field with a baby that tiny.

#3 Stick her in the sun. 15 minutes a day. She will get all the Vitamin D she needs. Lay her on a blanket in front of a window. Bammm. Vitamin D!!

1. If you can stay far away from the main part of the fireworks or have an option to go inside it will probably be ok. Or know you may have to leave. It's worth a try.
3. I never heard about the vitamin supplement until 2 weeks ago and heard about it from 2 friends and my ped all within 2 days. I got the polyvisol (Vit A-D) liquid. It is gross! My daughter is 2 months is breastfed. She doesn't take a bottle daily. CVS flavored it for me ($2.99) and it's a little better. I am trying it in her bottle later today. Apparently there is a rise in vit D deficiency in kids so they are recommending it now.

#3 - I can only respond to this one - breastmilk and sunlight ARE more than enough to keep your baby safe and healthy. Don't let your doctor or the pharmaceutical companies push you into thinking you need more than what nature created to keep your baby healthy. The possible side-effects are not worth it

#1 Forget the fireworks...I wouldn't take a 3 week old around a crowd like that! Her immune system is not strong yet and I would be just as worried about what she could catch. I hate to admit it but I always eyeball the parents who bring these 3 and 4 week old babies to outside festivities like amusement parks and whatnot. I always wait until the babies are at least 4 weeks though my husband still likes us to limit outings until they are 6 weeks.

#2 I've nursed three children so far and dyed my hair at least a handful of times with each with no problems. My roots are showing right now too and I am just under 7 weeks from having our 4th so I can tell you, I will be getting it done at least by the holidays. LOL

#3 As I said, I have nursed three children. I have NEVER been told to give my children vitamins and we had pediatricians in MD (2 different offices) and one that we've been with since we moved to NY. NONE of them have ever told me to do that. What they have told me to do was to make sure I continue taking my prenatal vitamins for as long as I am nursing which I am sure benefits BOTH, them AND me. As for exposing the baby to sunlight...just remember NO sunscreen until 6 months old. Other than that, put a little bonnet on her and go outside for a few minutes a day. You don't have to be in direct sunlight for her to get the benefits.

CONGRATS!!!

Updated

#1 Forget the fireworks...I wouldn't take a 3 week old around a crowd like that! Her immune system is not strong yet and I would be just as worried about what she could catch. I hate to admit it but I always eyeball the parents who bring these 3 and 4 week old babies to outside festivities like amusement parks and whatnot. I always wait until the babies are at least 4 weeks though my husband still likes us to limit outings until they are 6 weeks.

#2 I've nursed three children so far and dyed my hair at least a handful of times with each with no problems. My roots are showing right now too and I am just under 7 weeks from having our 4th so I can tell you, I will be getting it done at least by the holidays. LOL

#3 As I said, I have nursed three children. I have NEVER been told to give my children vitamins and we had pediatricians in MD (2 different offices) and one that we've been with since we moved to NY. NONE of them have ever told me to do that. What they have told me to do was to make sure I continue taking my prenatal vitamins for as long as I am nursing which I am sure benefits BOTH, them AND me. As for exposing the baby to sunlight...just remember NO sunscreen until 6 months old. Other than that, put a little bonnet on her and go outside for a few minutes a day. You don't have to be in direct sunlight for her to get the benefits.

CONGRATS!!!

1. If you go, I'd bring her. Just make sure to put a hat over her ears (and maybe your hands too.....) when the fireworks are going off. Otherwise, I"D PERSONALLY just go sit in a vehicle to watch them with her or inside a building.........

2. I've heard of many women doing this. I permed my hair after our kids were born (and I was breastfeeding.)

3. I'd skip the vitamin D. Just spend a little time out in the sun a couple times a week. Or in front of a sunny window! In my opinion, God knew what he was doing when he made women able to breastfeed. We didn't supplement EITHER of our kids and we are not going to be giving our next any vitamin d supplement either!

Ditto to Vicandjulie S. to everyting - and also, besides spending time safely in the sunshine for the Vitamin D, try eating more foods rich in it yourself and that way you will pass it on to her.

1. Yes, it's okay. I took my little one last year, he was 3 weeks old too. He was fine. They arent phased by much at that age.

2. Yes, you can color your hair. I am bf'ing & only do it when I absolutely need to....more so b/c of time.

3. I never gave either of my kids vitamins until the age of 2. Breastmilk is the perfect food! Stick to your gut on this.

I had a recent discussion with a mother of a newborn who mentioned her ped recommended the supplement but hadn't four years before when her older daughter was a newborn. I think lots of docs are just getting on board with it. My ped suggested the prenatal vitamins I continued to take while breastfeeding would suffice for my son, but if she changes her mind when I have a second baby, I will listen.

I think these message boards are great, but they don't take the place of solid medical advice by a trained, educated doctor who knows your child and is actually qualified to make judgements and dictates. It's one thing to ask for advice on teething remedies, etc., quite another to ignore or decide to circumvent a medical diagnosis.

Get as much info as you can mama, but be sure to inform your ped if you decide not to follow her advice.

I think you need to have a conversation with your pediatrician about the vitamin d drops rather than seek advice on a message board. She is the professional and is there to help you and your baby. If you don't feel comfortable asking questions than find a new Ped. Our pediatrician told me the same thing also explaining that there has been a rise in cases of rickets. Nothing is perfect and things change. I'm sorry and my no means am I trying to be rude, but my husband is a new doctor and it's frustrating when patients don't communicate and instead seek medical advice or opinions from message boards. Your doctor is there to help you and answer your questions and give you enough information so you feel like you are making the final informed decision. Best of luck to you and your new baby.

1. i really dont know....sorry

2.yes maam you can dye your hair while breastfeeding, i mean the only way it might "get in " is if rubbed on the scalp, so um thats not good for a lot of reasons, and even if it did penetrate the scalp it wont get into the milk supply.

however the fumes are a little noxious so dye your hair in a separate room from the tike

3. pediatricians are not lactation cunsultants. Breast milk IS perfect. Even if at first it may not be, the flow and vitamin mineral content adjust to your babies needs. You may be deprived of vitamin d, or fatty acids, or protien, or whatever else because your breast leeches all it needs to care for the baby away from you. Mothers milk is so highly advanced and mysterious, it even contains opiates that are specific to your child, addicting her to ensure a healthy appetite., survival of the species.

you need to eat right, because if you dont, your body will rob you.

I am a little concerned that your pediatrician may not have your best interest in mind if she can make such a bold statement as "breast milk doesnt have enugh vitamin d". not 'your" or "some"

but all?
highly suspect and makes me wonder if there is not some benifit she might recieve from reccomending this "trivisol"

yes, if you are worried about your vitamin d, a 20 min walk aday in the stroller, really couldnt hurt

1. I'd keep a newborn away from loud noises. There can also be smoke around fireworks, which is not good for the lungs.

2. I use henna to color my hair because I have chemical sensitivities and there are toxins in most hair colors. You can absorb toxins directly through skin, and they can find their way into breast milk. Damage from chemical exposure is cumulative, and doesn't tend to show up until years, and many exposures, later. We won't necessarily know why our kids developed sensitivities, or neurological problems, or endocrine problems, or even cancer. But we may wonder, after an illness emerges, whether exposing them to things like toiletries or cleaning products were contributing factors. And often, they were. Why subject our precious babies to unneccesary risks?

Henna is available in a broad range of colors (won't lighten hair, though), and is available at health food stores. It's also fabulous for conditioning and adding gloss. It does tend to wash out gradually over a few weeks.

3. Exposure to sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. Don't give her enough sun to color her skin, though. You don't want to cause damage. 15 minutes in the early morning or late afternoon should do it. And bathing removes the factors that help produce vitamin D, so the exposure is best before a bath or several hours after.

You say "people were so-so" about the supplement. Are these casual users, or people who have done research into the value of supplements? It takes a fair amount of education to find out what's worthwhile and what's not, and most of us don't have that kind of background. I've been studying the pros and cons for years, and still have questions about some supplements; am convinced that others are a good idea. If I read about adverse reactions or potential danger, I'd be concerned. Otherwise, it's probably a good idea to give the supplement. A, C, and D are generally believed to support health, as long as used in reasonable doses.

1. I know that they make little ear muff looking sound blockers for kids to wear, that would be my recommendation to use if you absolutely had to go. Otherwise, I would opt out of the fireworks.
2. Use a wash out, ammonia free hair dye. Natural Instincts works well.
3. Girl...u live in FL! BM is perfect and you can increase the vitamin D for your baby by YOU getting more via the sun. 15 min of unprotected time in the sun works best. Not for baby but for you. (just so we're clear). Baby's too young for that just yet.

vitamin D supplements are not necessary unless you have risk factors(darker pigmentation, living at higher latitudes), and even then, you would monitor it rather than assume the worst, unless your child is never outside of the house. and just to make sure you are aware, vitamin D is NOT a true vitamin like the others. it is a metabolic product our body makes on its own.

to give you an idea, "The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—50 times more than the US government's recommendation of 200 IU per day!"

obviously, a few minutes of sunlight here and there should be plenty to keep anyone healthy. and i think anything our body makes the natural way is healthier than just popping a pill.

and i must correct one of the posts i read. YOUR BREASTMILK IS THE PERFECT FOOD EVEN IF YOU YOURSELF ARE NOT EATING PERFECTLY. as long as you eat enough calories from the different food groups, the milk will be fine. whether its a grilled chicken breast vs chicken nuggets, your milk is just using protein. a nursing mother, however, shouldnt eat chicken nuggets all the time for her own health. clearly not every woman in american eats healthy. and as with most things, although breastmilk has less vitamin D, the amount it does have is more usable(like iron, you may want to read up on that as well)-
"Although human milk typically contains less Vitamin D than fortified infant formulas, the Vitamin D in breast milk is highly bioavailable. Breast milk contains substances that facilitate and enhance the absorption of nutrients"

other articles talk about the fact that since foods themselves are not the provider of vitamin D in humans, sunlight is, therefore if we suffer from too little vitamin D, we actually suffer from sunlight deficiency.

and im not saying there arent babies who may have gotten rickets, but you need to make decisions on the chance of something actually happening to your baby by looking at all the factors, instead of your fears. doctors always want to have a prescription for everything instead of letting us use the natural, amazing way are bodies work to make vitamin
D, or the most wonderful, natural food our bodies produce. my mother in law was told that formula was nutritionally better for her babies than breastmilk, my mother was told to put cereal in my bottle at 3 weeks. clearly, doctors do not always have the right answer.

Hair dye I believe is just fine... I used it while pregnant and when I BF and both of my baby girls are healthy and have no problems, but I would suggest asking your pedi/OB for any question like that! :)
Back a few years ago many pedis told parents to put their infants on their bellies, now we put them on their backs. Getting sun was a good thing and now we should lather up with sunscreens. Whole milk was great for us now they recomend 2%. There are so many things that change, some for the better and some (IMO) for the worse. Back 50 years ago people were just fine and are now living happy and healthy. I would discuss the Vit D thing with your doctor more. I was never told to use it with either child and though I BF for a short time (not that I didnt want to go longer) my kids were just fine. Though there are many things that change in the end it is the parents disission. I dont get doctors, I mean their is a new study saying hold off on juice as long as possible, however they want to tell parents that they should use juice in the cereal instead of formula!!!! Congrates on the baby and I hope all works out!

1. they are loud, so I would use caution. can you put on those headphone things that block out noise? my hubbie has some for when he goes to the range, I let her use them that day
2. they do say it is safe. I know that highlights are okay bc they do not sit on your scalp....they caution stuff sitting on your scalp more than highlights. but since you are getting married (congrats) you might want to be just a bit less cautious and I understand that. can you just highlight to look okay? if not be sure to tell them you are nursing and make sure you go to a place that appears knowledgeable (while nursing not the time for a cheap dye you want the good stuff) then after the wedding you can let your hair 'look bad' LOL until you are done nursing (I am nursing an almost 19 mo old so I feel your pain and bad hair)
3. I was told to supplment too. formula has stuff added to it and our milk is 'all natural' I also read the lit and was not sure what to do. I did give her the drops a few times, but she started to refuse them and cry.....then I tasted them and almost threw up! so I decided to go w/ the no side LOL......I know that is not super helpful, just what I did
do you have a LAC or go to LLL?? they are super helpful w/ nursing questions. xo good luck

1. No on the fireworks- unless you think she will sleep through it.
2. It is fine to dye your hair while breastfeeding.
3. Both my girls took Tri-Vi-Sol for the 1st 6 months while I was nursing.

I would skip the fireworks, but that does not mean you can not go socialize and just leave right before the noise starts.

I gave my boys both Vit. D drops. They where born in the UK in the winter and the days are short and the sun weak then, so they have all new moms give them to their babies. They did not like the taste, but I would give them just before a bottle to rinse the taste out and it was fine. Since it is July, and if you are in a sunny part of the nation, than sunlight would probably be sufficient, but vitamins never hurt anyone that I know of.

Yes, you can dye you hair.

1. my daughter loves fireworks, and even thunderstorms. try covering her ears when things get loud.

2. my doctor told me that dying is safe when youre pregnant... as long as youre not doing it continually. the way she explained it to me was that a hairdresser could be pregnant and still do their job. i think the same goes for when youre breastfeeding. i breastfed my daughter for 8 months and my doctor, pediatrition, and lactation consultant all agreed that hair dye is fine.

3. my pediatrition told me the same thing about vitamin d and breastmilk. i used enfamil poly-vi-sol. it doesnt taste or smell the greatest and it will stain clothes, so i pumped a bottle's worth of milk and mixed the vitamins in the bottle each night for her. later when she could have solids i just mixed it in her cereal.

I'm not sure about the first two questions, but regarding the third? I totally disagree with your pediatrician. Your breast milk is the safest, healthiest most wholesome thing you can give to your baby. Babies have been sustained on it for hundreds of thousands of years. Cavemen didn't have vitamin D supplements! I'd be hesitant to give a tiny baby any kind of supplements, vitamins, medications, etc. No way!

Fireworks...my daughter wasn't very old at all the first time we took her to watch fireworks. She nursed the whole time and fell asleep! They were at Disneyland so lots of booming music and huge crowds and she didn't care. If she's not bothered by the noises around her already she may be just fine.
Never changed my hair color so I can't help with that ;)
Vitamin D. The recomendation is probably due to the upping of the "recommended amount" a child should get. We are not supposed to take our children out into the sun anymore and when we do we're supposed to slather them with sunscreen and protective clothing which prevents the body from getting the sun it needs to make enough Vit D. That is all well and good, helps prevent cancer. You can put your child by a sunny window, they get sun when riding in the car through the window. When my first child got mild jaundice after birth we put him near the window, it was overcast and rainy and miserable when he was born but he still got enough sun to make enough Vit D etc to have it go away with no other interventions other than making sure he nursed on demand. You can give your baby enough safe time in the sun to make enough Vit D. I can't remember but I know it's such a small amount of time 5-10 mins type small. It's a knee jerk "one size fits all" response to the recommendation.

Vit D is the rage now- the truth is that if you and your little one get some sun that makes Vit D on your skin- we have become crazy about sunscreen, and have thereby cause a lack of D- I'd say too early.
Personally my vote is NO on the fireworks for 3 week old.
There are natural dyes- do some research and look hao you feel best.
best, k

S.,
#1. I, personally would not take a new baby to the fireworks show.

#2. I bleached my hair with all my daughters while breastfeeding, they seemed perfectly full, content and not harmed in any way, which brings me to #3 I am not a big vitamin person, I always gave my girls and now the three Grands that we are raising a multi-vitamin once a day. I think TOO many vitamins are just as bad as not enough, my breast milk made for happy, healthy babies. Things change so quickly in the medical community one day a study shows one thing and then another study shows something else...I always believe to trust your own judgement, perhaps asking this question online, like on WebMD?
Happy 4th! A.

For your first question, no I wouldn't take a newborn to fireworks. Not sure if it would harm her hearing but she could be exposed to bugs, it's hot, she shouldn't be going out too much at that age. She will never remember it, as well as she'll see plenty in her lifetime. Even though it's at church, fireworks are late at night and their are a lot of drunks that go out on holidays, stay home with your daughter this year.

I think you are fine to dye your hair.

I breastfed my children and didn't give them supplements, I continued to take my pre-natal vitamins.

Congrats on your little baby girl!!!

You have plenty of intelligent answers so Im sure you feel better about your decisions but I will answer too
1- No. I would sit out this 4th of July fireworks- the crowds would be a concern also it will startle baby. Overstimulation due to the noise, people etc.
2- Yes it is safe to dye your hair-if you still feel a little nervous, just get highlights which dont absorb in your scalp. Or find a stylist that uses organic or natural dyes (like Aveda)
3. My pediatrician only recommended extra vitamins when my son was on formula. Breastmilk is the perfect amount of nutrition and you live in FL where you get it from the sun. And its summertime! I would just nurse and I am sure baby is getting everything it needs.

1. daughter probably won't even notice the fireworks - sit her in her car seat and you can pack a towel on both sides to cover her ears and muffle the sound.
2. I died my hair throughout my pregnancy with no problems.
3. I didn't supplement when my child was 3 weeks. Breast milk should have what she needs - and a couple minutes of sunlight a day is your insurance!
Good luck!

I would say the fireworks might bother the baby. If they are really noisy perhaps watching from inside your church rather than outside.

I dyed my hair while pregnant and breastfeeding. All 3 of my children are fine.

Since when doesn't breast milk have enough of anything? It's the BEST you can offer your baby. Whoever this person is who suggested breast milk doesn't offer enough of anything, perhaps she should research the benefits of breast milk before passing out bad information. Your baby is getting the very best you can offer. Do not supplement with anything else.

1. Sure, just make sure her ears are covered. I took my 3 DAY old, covered his ears the whole time with my hands and he slept through the whole thing.
2. Done it. All my kids are fine.
3. Trust the experts, not an online opinion.
Good luck!

I did not supplement and my kids are fine. Rickets is a stretch for a breastfed baby in the United States. Heck, I spent the first three years of my daughter's life in the third world doing humanitarian work and I never heard of those kids getting rickets. I've trained to be a lactation consultant (have not finished my intern hours yet for certification) and in our education, supplementation was not necessary. Do take her out in the sun for a walk every day. That's good for both of you.

2. Go for it. One dye job won't hurt your baby.

3. Babies are born with two natural fears: falling and loud sounds. She's too tiny to be subjected to those noises. Her fear instincts will kick in.

Congratulations!

1. The sound of the fireworks will probably scare her, and depending on how loud could damage her ears. I would probably try to find some ear muffs or something to muffle the sound.

2. Yes you can dye your hair, make sure you are in a well ventilated room or the baby is not around you. The chemical fumes could irritate baby's airway.

3. Breast milk is NOT perfect. What goes into you, goes into baby, period. What does not go into you, does not go into baby. Only you know how well balanced your diet is or is not and used properly suppliments (like a multivitamin) for you might be a good idea.

My ped also recommended a vitamin D supplement when I was breastfeeding. I think she was the only pediatrician among my friends that did, but she seemed more proactive about keeping up on the current medical literature than a lot of doctors. (LOVE her!) Anyway. But she wanted us to use a supplement that was strictly Vitamin D, and it was very hard to find. She ended up convincing the pharmacy next to her office to carry a liquid drop that was just Vitamin D. So that was great, but I have never found it anywhere else. And I have since seen an older medical journal article that advised against the straight vitamin D supplement. so, who knows! As an aside, I recently had my own physical and bloodwork done. And lo and behold, I had a vitamin D defficiency. (not that I'm breastfeeding anymore, just saying.) And I am not great about keeping suscreen on myself. I do spend less time in the sun than I used to. But I get out as much as I can, and I live in South Florida for goodness sake. So there is plenty of sunshine to be had.

PLEASE don't buy into the mentality that just because somebody else kids didn't have/take/do something and they are fine, that there is no reason to change things. That's ridiculous! They didn't have tylenol or the polio vaccine or shoes for heaven's sake in the caveman days. But I don't use that as an excuse to not use them now. Medicine advances. Scientific studies are conducted. We learn things. Would you knowingly put your child to sleep in a crib with bars too far apart to prevent them from getting their head stuck, just because you slept in one as a child and are clearly fine? I wouldn't! We don't accept the status quo for so many things. But for some reason, when it comes to raising our children everyone gets so incredibly defensive of the way they did it, or the way "it's always been done".

I am NOT a doctor, but I am a reserach biologist and a mother. So I went online (just now) and did some checking. There have been quite a few studies on the topic of Vitamin D in breastmilk published in incredibly reputable medical journals. It looks like much of the recent research has come out of the The Medical University of South Carolina. I don't know who funded the studies, but it's not like they were conducted by one of the drug companies.

Here are some interesting tidbits from articles I found in the Official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. One in particular is titled, "Vitamin D Deficiency in Children and Its Management: Review of Current Knowledge and Recommendations":

1) suprisingly there are cases of rickets in the US. There is no current estimation of the prevalence, but at least 228 cases have been detailed in the published literature in the USA since 1986. But this does not in any way mean that is all of the cases that existed. But it does appear all or most of these cases were in children, 96% of them breastfed.

2) from the article, "It should also be recognized that in other parts of the world, nutritional rickets remains a public health problem."

3) studies indicate rickets is more common in dark-skinned infants, but studies have found severe vitamin D deficienies in light skinned children as well.

4) deficiencies are more prevalent in winter and in the northern US than in summer or in the southern US. (As you might expect.)

5) From the journal article referenced above, "Although human milk is the best source of nutrition for term infants, vitamin D content of breast milk is insufficient to meet the recommended intake of vitamin D." and "...exclusive breastfeeding without sun exposure would provide....far below the recommended minimum intake..."

6) The amount of sun exposure necessary for infants and children to maintain the necessary levels of vitamin D is currently unknown.

7) The proper wavelengths of UV light needed for the skin to produce vitamin D only reach the earth's surface between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and not at all during the winter.

8) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended a vitamin D supplement for breastfed infants back in 2003. So it's not exactly breaking news. Although, apparently a lot of pediatricians haven't gotten on board, for whatever reason.

My recollection from my conversations with my pediatrician back in 2007/2008 are that they were currently researching whether or not the mother taking the vitamin D supplement was sufficient for it to be passed into the breastmilk, or if it was indeed necessary for the infant to take the supplement directly. I didn't find any recent information on that, so that would be a good question for your pediatrician.

If you aren't comfortable with you pediatrician's recommendation, ask more questions. Don't base your decision on what "everyone else" did or is doing. Why it is suddenly so "cool" now to use herbal remedies for EVERYTHING but outright defy everything your doctor tells you (just because it MIGHT be a push from the pharmaceutical companies) is completely beyond me. Discuss the "more sunlight" option with your ped if that is something you are more comfortable with.

Good luck. I hope this information helps you make an informed decision. Please feel free to contact me if you would like copies of the articles I found.

1. I would pass on fireworks this year with a newborn present.
2. I would not do any on-the-scalp dye jobs, although foiling highlights are ok (I'm a former hair stylist and also BF'd)
3. My doc didn't tell me to supplement w/ Vit D when I was nursing and I didn't. I live in CA, a sunny state, and I see you do, too. I'm sure you are getting enough Vit D if you're an outdoor person. BTW, my daughter is 5 now and is extremely healthy.

1) no, too loud could damage her hearing.
2) I don't know about this one , but I'd say likely yes it's fine.

3) I never supplimented while breastfeeding. it's summer the sunshine should give her enough vitamin D.

1) I too, think fireworks may be too loud and startling for her.

2) Most store bought and stylist used hair coloring are safe to use while breastfeeding.

3) If breastmilk was not the most perfect and tailored food it was for human beings, we'd have been extinct long ago. You eat at least a decently nutritional diet and allow some outside time (sunlight causes Vit D production) - things will be great!

1. I say no fireworks, but I am paranoid too.
2. Dye away! It's not going to affect your milk.
3. Shame on your pediatrician! As long as you are eating a balanced diet and getting out in the sun (without sunscreen) for a total of an hour a week you will have everything your baby needs for the first 12 months of her life. Your doctor should know that.

I can help with the fireworks!! It should be fine so long as you sit back a bit from where they are shooting them off and muffle the sound with couple blankets around her ears. Or you could find a good parking spot and watch them form inside the car. I know the paranid feeling.... I'm still one of those moms and my little man is almost 4! Hope you have a great weekend!

1. I wouldn't take her to the fireworks myself. If you do, sit back away from them as much as possible, and be prepared to go home early if it's too much.
2. I would hold off on the hair dye.
3. I would eat Vitamin D rich foods myself to increase it in the milk, and make sure she gets a little sun.

I would say make sure you are getting out both of you in the sunlight. The baby may not be able to make the vitamin D yet but if you are getting out and making it yourself you will pass it on to the baby.

Personally, I wouldn't dye my hair with all the chemicals while preg. or breastfeeding. But I don't do it at all for the same reason. But I think just once for your wedding wouldn't hurt. Its accumulative so just don't keep doing.

I think you could take her to the fireworks. If it seems too loud muffle it with something like a blanket over her ears.

Fireworks: No, I would not take a newborn baby to a fireworks display/show. The sound from fireworks is very close in decibels as a construction zone. So, I would skip the fireworks this year. Even if you were to muffle baby's ears it would not be enough. Great chance of hearing loss. It woulld be less damage to place an IPod in baby's ears; which we know no one would ever do. So this year you need to park a mile away and watch from the distance or skip the display.
Hair Dye: Go ahead and get your hair colored. Just be sure baby does not go with you to the salon. Make sure the chemicals are rinsed out well. Congrats on giving your baby the best gift ever of breastfeeding her. COngrats on the Wedding!
Vit. D: Yes it is the "new trend" to add a Vit. D supplement. A study came out that related the low levels of Vit. D to some bone growth issues and some mental/physical delays. Also since we are aware baby can not be in the sun, we know that not as much Vit. D is being absorbed. I do not believe I am saying this, but you can increase your Vit D or just buy a straight Vit. D supplement if you choose. I never supplemented with it as my children are older and this is a new trend from the past 2 years.
Hope this helps. Congrats on your new little one & to your new married life!

i would not take your newborn to fireworks, and I'm not sure about dyeing your hair (my guess is "better safe than sorry" since you are nursing, but that's just me). And I did supplement my little one with Trivisol 3X weekly (at the advice for our ped) because I nursed for the first year.

1) I would NOT take a baby to a fireworks show. Too loud

2) I'm a healthy nut so I would probably not dye my hair unless you use one of those more "natural" types at Whole Foods, but ask your pediatrician to be sure.

3) Many people are deficient in Vitamin D these days. Probably because we avoid the sun or use sunblock to protect our skin. I don't think you would want to expose a baby to much sun, but why not ask your doc about it. I don't know about Trivisol. I have a supplement powder that I think is top of the line but is not recommended until the baby is 6 months old.