Calciferol (Vitamin D)

• Calciferol is a form of Vitamin D
• It is used to supplement vitamin D in babies born before 32 weeks gestation or who weigh less than 1500g at birth
• These babies are prone to vitamin deficiencies and need help in absorbing as much as they can from their feeds
• Vitamin D is necessary to help the body deposit and keep calcium in the bones
• Calciferol syrup is given once a day by mouth as soon as your baby is tolerating full milk feeds
• It is unusual for a baby to go home on Calciferol with the treatment usually being stopped in the week prior to discharge
• Side effects of Calciferol are very rare and include poor appetite, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss