Do Moms Need Postnatal Vitamins | Hea Boosters

If you are a new mom, your body has gone through so many changes over the past few months. From feeling your little one inside you to holding your baby close to your chest, you have been through many ups and downs, both mentally and physically. This transition demanded a great deal of attention when it comes to your nutrition and general well being.

While you were nurturing your baby in the best way you can, your body relied heavily on the vitamins and minerals stored previously. Your postpartum self-care plan should include ways to replenish these nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to thrive while taking care of your baby and yourself.

Therefore, one of the ways to replenish all the nutrients is to have a well balanced diet. However, due to the hectic schedule and the busy lifestyle moms lead, sometimes, you may miss to fill these nutritional gaps. That is when vitamins and supplements come in handy.

Are postnatal vitamins important?

During your pregnancy, your body needs several nutrients like folate, calcium, and vitamin B12 more than it does during your entire lifetime. The need for nutrients increases when you are breastfeeding and prevents your body from going into nutrient deficiency.

While taking care of your baby, as a breastfeeding mom, you may often ignore your needs and fail to meet the recommended intake of iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D, E, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), choline, iodine, and other critical nutrients, which are essential in maintaining breastmilk production.

Your baby's brain develops rapidly during infancy and toddlerhood, and optimal intake of these nutrients is essential for your child. If you want to aid in the physical and mental development of your child, you need to think about how you can add more nutrients to your diet.

How long do you need to take postnatal vitamins?

Ensuring that you’re eating the right food and meeting your daily requirement of nutrients, both when you are expecting, and after you have delivered, is critical for your own recovery as well as for the growth and development of your baby. As a new mom, you should always include one of the below-mentioned nutrients and vitamins in your diet to meet the demands of your body. However, postnatal vitamins should be consumed as long as you are breastfeeding your child.

Postnatal vitamins are not much different from your prenatal vitamins, which your doctor must have recommended when you first found out that you were expecting.

What are the essential postnatal vitamins for moms?

Among a plethora of natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, we have listed some of the most essential vitamins that you should consume after childbirth in your postnatal period to ensure that your body is getting essential nutrients that were depleted during pregnancy, delivery and while breastfeeding.

1. Vitamin B12:

Cobalamin or vitamin B12 helps in the development of DNA and RNA proteins. It is very essential for the development and growth of new nerve cells, proper red blood cell development, and energy production for your baby. Vitamin B12 deficiency in you may affect your child’s nature, physical, and mental development.

Vitamin B12 can impact the nutrient quality of your breast milk and reduce the amount of B12 your baby is consuming. Breastfeeding moms need 1.5 micrograms of vitamin B12. An egg/100 g of paneer contains 0.6 micrograms of B12, which fulfils 40% of the required daily value. 200 ml of fortified soya milk is a good option for vegans providing 0.8 micrograms of B12, (53.3% of the daily value).

2. Vitamin D:

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that the body requires for many processes including building and maintaining strong bones. It also plays a critical role in the immune system, digestion, and heart function and helps in developing the strong teeth and bones of your baby. Breastfeeding moms need around 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.

A cup (237 ml) typically contains 2.6-2.9 micrograms of vitamin D. A cup of fortified soy milk can fulfil 26% - 29% of the daily requirement. A cup (237 ml) of orange juice can start your day off with up to 2.5 micrograms of vitamin D. This is approximately 25% of the daily requirement.

3. Choline:

Another essential nutrient that you should be consuming is Choline. It is very similar to folic acid and crucial for the brain development of your child and improving your immune function. The need for this nutrient is important during your pregnancy and it increases, even more, when you are breastfeeding. Choline is essential for your child’s memory and brain development.

4. Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is essential for healthy muscle growth and the development of your child’s motor skills. Vitamin E helps in improving immunity, boosts the production of red blood cells, and helps the body fight external infections. Apart from Vitamin E, you should also consume Vitamins A and C that can help you feel energized and repair your immune system.

The daily recommended dose of vitamin E is 7.5 - 10 mg.

Orange juice - 1 glass of unsweetened juice contains 0.71 mg, which forms 7.1% of the daily requirement of vitamin E. The effects of vitamin E are even greater when combined with vitamin C and oranges are abundant in the latter. A quarter cup of Salmon and other seafood has 2 mg of Vitamin E. Half a cup (100 gram) of Spinach contains 4 mg of Vitamin E.

5. Folic Acid:

Folic Acid is also known as Vitamin B9, which supports the development of red blood in your body. Apart from DNA and RNA build-up, regular consumption of Folic Acid is essential for the brain development of your baby. It is considered one of the most important nutrients that a new mom should consume to address postpartum hair fall.

Now, you know why you need vitamins as a new mom. It’s easy to get carried away with the beehive of activities and caring for your baby at the same time, but you should remember that taking care of yourself is also taking care of your baby. To give your baby the best and aid development, you need to take your vitamins regularly.

Studies:

Importance of vitamin D during breastfeeding:
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/diet-and-micronutrients/vitamin-d

Supplementation with micronutrients for breastfeeding:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26887903/