Fat-soluble vitamin supplements (e.g., certain herbs, high-dose vitamins, and other dietary supplements) can be dangerous for infants who are breastfed through breast milk. Below is a list of some of the herbs and supplements to avoid while breastfeeding (use the links for more information). As there may be other supplements that are contraindicated during breastfeeding, always check with your doctor before taking any supplement. Of course, certain prescription medications taken by mothers can also be dangerous for breastfed babies.
Everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 mcg of vitamin D. Many people continue to take their prenatal vitamin while breastfeeding or start taking a postnatal supplement after delivery. According to health experts, vitamin D needs during breastfeeding far exceed the current recommendation of 600 IU per day (. Pregnancy depletes important nutrients from the body, such as folate, iron, vitamin D, fatty acids, and calcium (1,.
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 liquid is a good choice for those looking for an additional dose of vitamin D. If you are eligible to participate in the Healthy Start program, you can get free vitamin supplements without a prescription. If you have problems with constipation or an upset stomach, switch to a general-purpose multivitamin that contains 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). A dose of 2 softgels provides 586 mg of EPA and 456 mg of DHA, in addition to 1000 IU of vitamin D3, another nutrient that supports the immune system.
While the current daily recommendation for vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding is 600 IU, studies suggest that a daily intake of 6,400 IU is necessary to maintain optimal vitamin D levels in breastfeeding parents and breastfed infants (6, 7, 8, 9,. These supplements provide more than 1,000% of the daily value of vitamin C, which is not necessary, as the body can only use a certain amount of vitamin C at a time. To fill the gaps, many people who are breastfeeding consider taking immunostimulatory supplements in addition to the multivitamin they take every day after giving birth. If you're already getting Healthy Start coupons, ask your midwife or health visitor where you can exchange them for vitamins.
Most prenatal and postnatal supplements don't contain enough vitamin D or choline, an essential nutrient for fetal growth and development. Between the end of March and the end of September, most people age 5 and older are likely to get enough vitamin D from sunlight when they are outdoors. Breastfeeding mothers should take some type of daily multivitamin that contains 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). Studies suggest that a much higher dose of 6,400 IU a day is needed to maintain optimal vitamin D levels while breastfeeding, so you may need to take a vitamin D supplement in addition to the prenatal or postnatal supplement.
