Best Postnatal Vitamins for Breastfeeding Moms
There are so many things that change after having a baby. Obviously, you have a new baby to take care of, and that can be overwhelming enough.
But, as you well know, or soon will, your body is experiencing a LOT of changes as well. Physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically. That’s a lot of change.
One other thing to consider after having a baby is your prenatal vitamin. It has been an essential part of your world for months to help your baby grow, but it may be time to reconsider.
After giving birth, you may need to switch vitamins. Here are the best postnatal vitamins for breastfeeding moms switching from prenatal vitamins.
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Table of Contents
What are postnatal vitamins?
Postnatal vitamins are a type of multivitamin supplement that contains specific nutrients that help breastfeeding moms produce enough milk for their babies.
Many women may wonder what the difference between prenatal and postnatal vitamins really is. The two are different for a couple of reasons.
* Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, which helps with the development and growth of the fetus while it is still developing.
* Often prenatal vitamins contain more calcium and magnesium because both are needed for the growing baby’s development.
* Postnatal vitamins are important for breastfeeding mothers and can help improve their moods, give them more energy, and improve their overall mental wellness and recovery.
* Many postnatal vitamins contain more iron because the mother needs it to build up her blood levels to have enough nutrients to breastfeed her baby.
How to choose a postnatal vitamin?
When choosing a postnatal vitamin, make sure that it is a multivitamin and not just one specific nutrient. It’s important to get all the nutrients your body needs in order to recover after giving birth and keep up with breast milk production for your baby.
Benefits of Taking Postnatal Vitamins
There are many benefits to taking postnatal vitamins, including:
* Improved milk production and supply. Postnatal vitamins help your body keep up with the demands of breastfeeding so that you can feed your baby. This can also help you avoid anemia, which can happen when your body does not get enough iron.
* Better moods. Postnatal vitamins can help with improving your moods. Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are very real and can happen to anyone. When you’re in a healthy state of mind, your baby feels more secure.
* Reduced stress. Taking postnatal vitamins can help you be less stressed about what is going on around you- like when the baby cries.
* Restful sleep. Postnatal vitamins can also help you get a good night’s rest so that you feel refreshed when you wake up. This will also give you more energy to take care of things such as breastfeeding, which requires plenty of energy and dedication to your baby.
* Increased energy levels. Taking postnatal vitamins can also help you have plenty of energy to take care of yourself and the baby. This will help prevent you from feeling drained by the end of the day.
* Improved digestion. When you are going through pregnancy and breastfeeding, it can cause a lot of stress on your digestive system. Taking postnatal vitamins will help improve the way food travels through your digestive tract so that you don’t get run down and fatigued.
* Better skin. The vitamins can help improve your complexion and make you look healthier overall, which will help you feel good about your postpartum recovery.
* Healthier hair and nails. Taking postnatal vitamins can also improve the way your hair and nails look, giving you a better physique overall.
* More stable energy levels. When you are breastfeeding, your body will tend to experience dips in energy as the blood flow is diverted towards the milk so that it can be produced. Taking postnatal vitamins can help stabilize these fluctuations so that you don’t feel tired or drained by the end of the day.
Important nutrients for breastfeeding moms:
Before taking a postnatal vitamin, it’s important to understand the key components of postnatal vitamins. You’ll want to keep these vitamins in mind as you’re shopping for the best postnatal vitamin for you.
Calcium is vital for helping the body recover after childbirth. It also helps to make the muscles strong and your bones healthier, which is important when breastfeeding since you need free movement in your arms to hold and feed your baby.
Iron is essential for breastfeeding mothers because it helps to balance out the blood loss that occurs during childbirth.
Vitamin B6 is needed in order to keep your nervous system healthy and give you a sense of well-being. It also helps with boosting your energy levels so that you can be a happier mother.
Choline is another nutrient that is important for breastfeeding mothers because it helps to keep the brain and nervous system healthy.
Another important vitamin for breastfeeding moms is Vitamin B12 because it helps to keep your eyes and skin healthy. It also keeps your brain in good shape as well.
Check the vitamin label for Vitamin D also. Vitamin D helps breastfeeding moms fight depression. It also keeps your immune system healthy, which can help ward off colds and other illnesses caused by a weakened immune system. Vitamin D is also an essential nutrient for breastfeeding babies to absorb calcium and phosphorus. A lack of Vitamin D in a breastfed baby can cause a softening and weakening of the bones called rickets.
Vitamin E is another important vitamin that breastfeeding moms need to keep their immune systems strong. It also helps with keeping the body in good shape, helps with the production of red blood cells, and can help lower cholesterol levels.
Best Postnatal Vitamins for Breastfeeding Moms
New Chapter Postnatal Vitamin
The New Chapter Perfect Postnatal vitamin is an excellent postnatal vitamin option for ANY mom. This postnatal vitamin contains all of the important nutrients your breastfeeding body needs– Folate, Vitamin B, Vitamin B6, Iron, VitaminD3, Iodine and so much more.
New Chapter uses a fermentation process to create a super broth that also contains a probiotic. This prenatal vitamin is gentle enough you can even take it on an empty stomach which is important if you aren’t eating at the same time every day.
All of the ingredients in the New Chapter Postnatal Vitamins are organic, Non-GMO verified.
Pink Stork Total Postnatal + DHA
Another great postnatal vitamin option is the pinkStork Total Postnatal PLUS DHA. Much like their gummy counterpart, you’ll see below, the pinkStork vitamins are all non-GMO, gluten, dairy, and soy-free.
PinkStork is a woman-owned and woman-run company so they understand the unique needs of postpartum women. They’re dedicated to creating products that help women recover well after giving birth.
Naturelo Postnatal Multivitamin
Naturelo Postnatal Vitamins are plant-based postnatal vitamins. These postnatal vitamins contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals postpartum women needs.
They chose to use naturally sourced and bioactive ingredients that are gentle on the stomach and easy to absorb.
An added bonus to this particular postnatal vitamin is that they’ve added a blend of organic, milk-boosting herbs like Fennel, Fenugreek, and Blessed Thistle that help stimulate milk production.
Mama Bird Postnatal Whole Food Vitamin
If you’d like to have a whole food postnatal vitamin, Mama Bird Postnatal Vitamins would be a great choice for you.
This vitamin is designed to help promote energy production, supports healthy immunity, improves memory and brain processing speed (which every exhausted postpartum mom needs), and is made with vegan, organic superfoods, probiotics, and digestive enzymes which allow your body to gently absorb the vitamins.
These vitamins are non-GMO and contain no dairy, soy, nuts, or gluten.
Budget-Friendly Postnatal Vitamins
MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Multivitamin
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly postnatal vitamin, you should try the MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Vitamin.
This vitamin for moms who have just had a baby helps support your nutritional needs, as well as the needs of your baby. Choline will help support your baby’s brain development, moringa leaf will help support your breast milk production, and other key vitamins and nutrients are there to help meet your body’s continual physical needs.
Mama’s Select Postnatal Plus Vitamins
Another budget-friendly postnatal vitamin that may be right for you is the Mama’s Select Postnatal Plus vitamins.
Mama’s Select postnatal vitamins are made using a gentle vegetable capsule which allows for easy digestion. Adequate levels of essential vitamins and minerals will help support your needs as your body heals, as well as your baby’s needs for breast milk.
This postnatal vitamin also includes Methyl Folate and Methylated B vitamins for women who carry the MTHFR gene.
GO BIOTIX Postnatal Vitamins
GO BIOTIX Postnatal Vitamins are gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and vegetarian.
This postnatal vitamin contains all of the essential vitamins and minerals postpartum women need.
Add to that Moringa, which is the most nutritious leaf on Earth, and you’ve got a great postnatal vitamin. This leaf is a superfood that helps lactating women produce more breastmilk, which is you’re a breastfeeding mom you totally understand the importance of adequate milk production.
They’ll also help by enhancing your mood, increasing your energy levels, and keeping your body healthy.
Best Organic Postnatal Vitamins
Actif Organic Postnatal Vitamin
The Actif Organic Postnatal Vitamin is a great postnatal vitamin if you want an organic postnatal vitamin. They’re also non-GMO, gluten-free, and BPA-free.
Actif postpartum vitamins contain all of the necessary vitamins and minerals postpartum women need, as well as Choline, which helps support healthy brain development.
Best Gummie Postnatal Vitamin
pinkStork Total Postnatal Gummies
Not everyone can swallow pills, which is what makes the pinkStork Total Postnatal Gummies a fantastic postnatal vitamin option.
These postnatal gummies are gluten, dairy, soy, and gelatin-free. They’re all non-GMO and contain all of the important postnatal vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
Best Liquid Postnatal Vitamins
Mary Ruth’s Prenatal+Postnatal Liquid Multivitamin
I had no idea there was a liquid postnatal vitamin option, but when I was doing my research I came across Mary Ruth’s Postnatal Multivitamin.
If you want a prenatal and postnatal vitamin all in one, this will be a great postpartum vitamin for you. This liquid postnatal vitamin is vegan, non-GMO, contains no soy, dairy, gluten, or sugar.
This postnatal vitamin that isn’t a pill is an excellent option for women who can’t swallow pills.
Postnatal Vitamins FAQ
Should you take postnatal vitamins?
Taking postnatal vitamins is not an absolute must for breastfeeding moms as long as they have a healthy diet. However, if you are not getting enough nutrients from your diet, then a supplement may be helpful in preventing or treating some common problems that breastfeeding moms face.
Are there any side effects of taking postnatal vitamins?
Most women don’t experience any adverse effects from taking postnatal vitamins unless their body doesn’t actually need the vitamin their taking. Some of the most common side effects caused by excessive doses of vitamins are nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, headaches, and upset stomach or migraines.
These side effects usually subside as soon as you stop taking the vitamins and help is available from a medical professional if they continue. If the symptoms are severe or do not go away, then it’s time to consult with your doctor.
Why are postnatal vitamins important?
Aside from helping breastfeeding moms produce sufficient breast milk, postnatal vitamins contain several important nutrients such as folic acid and iron. Folic acid is vital in preventing anemia while iron helps with the production of red blood cells which promotes healthier circulation.
How long should you take postnatal vitamins?
The length of time that you’ll need to take postnatal vitamins will depend on how long you are breastfeeding. If you’re just a few weeks into it, then the supplements can be helpful because they provide energy and nutrients that help with milk production. Once your baby reaches its first year or so, you should have a conversation with your doctor and determine whether or not you should continue taking the vitamin.
Can I take postnatal vitamins if I’m not breastfeeding?
ABSOLUTELY! As it says, it’s a postnatal vitamin. Although there are important nutrients and vitamins in postnatal vitamins that breastfeeding women need, there are so many daily essentials that all postpartum women can benefit from.
How do postnatal vitamins work?
Postnatal vitamins contain essential nutrients such as iron and calcium that postpartum mothers need to replenish the nutrients that they have lost. If you’re having trouble sleeping or your mood is low, then it would be a good idea to talk with your care provider about whether or not a postnatal vitamin is a good choice for you.
Postnatal vitamins are not an absolute necessity but they can be helpful in replenishing some of the essential nutrients that breastfeeding mothers often lose when giving birth. Postnatal vitamins can help postpartum women with milk production, improving their mood, and preventing some common health problems that breastfeeding women have. These are some of the best postnatal vitamins for breastfeeding moms and I hope you’ve found the right one for you!
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