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Breastfeeding women may be advised to continue taking their prenatal vitamins. Image Credit: IT Stock Free/Polka Dot/Getty Images Prenatal vitamins are often recommended for use before, during and even after a pregnancy. Once your pregnancy is over, you may continue to benefit from your prenatal if you are breastfeeding. Without continual input from your doctor, you may be confused about when you can switch back to a standard multivitamin. Before you stop your prenatal, there are a few things to consider.
Prenatals During PregnancyIf you are pregnant, chances are you are already taking a prenatal vitamin every day. This is important: prenatal vitamins contain more vitamins and minerals than the average multivitamin, even one that is designed specifically for women's needs. While the first trimester of pregnancy is often stressed as an important time for prenatal vitamins to get the baby off to a healthy start, prenatals are important for the duration of your pregnancy. As your baby continues to grow and develop, he will need those extra nutrients. If prenatals are making you ill, try taking them with a snack or later in the day, but continue taking them unless told otherwise by your doctor. Prenatals After PregnancyAfter you've had the baby is not necessarily the time to stop the prenatals. If you are breastfeeding, you may wish to keep them in your daily routine. Breastfeeding moms are no longer growing a baby inside them, but they still are growing a baby outside of them: breast milk is all the nutrition babies need. The contents of a woman's breast milk depend on the nutrients she eats. The Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington recommends continuing your prenatal vitamin to ensure you get enough of many essential nutrients, such as folic acid, calcium and iron. Even if you are not breastfeeding, continuing prenatals will help you build up iron stores that were depleted during delivery. You can opt to change to a multivitamin at this stage; however, you should first check with your doctor to make sure a multivitamin is sufficient for your needs and those of your newborn, or if you should continue with your prenatal. Prenatals After BreastfeedingOnce your baby has been born and you are either not breastfeeding or you have stopped breastfeeding, it is ok to stop taking your prenatal. Some women choose to continue simply for nutritional needs; however, Columbia Health states that if you are not pregnant or planning a pregnancy, a prenatal vitamin may actually provide you with too much extra nutrition. Nonpregnant women need only about two-thirds the iron a pregnant woman needs. Women who take extra iron every day run the risk of developing iron toxicity over time, as the mineral is stored in the body. If not used, it can cause symptoms of digestive upset and even death. Planning the Next One?Women who are trying to become pregnant should start taking a prenatal vitamin a few months beforehand to prepare the body for pregnancy. If you chose to breastfeed your baby and are ready to start trying for the next one, your doctor may advise you not to stop taking your prenatal vitamin at all. Or, you may have only a few months of downtime between pregnancies. Whatever the case, involve your doctor whenever you are considering changing from one supplement to another, especially when it involves prenatal vitamins. Pregnancy + Parenthood Prenatal or Postnatal Multivitamin? Here’s When to Consider Making the Switch6 min read Article ContentChances are you’re well aware that a prenatal multivitamin is essential to help support the nutrient changes that come with pregnancy. But what people might not realize is that the postpartum period is actually even more nutritionally demanding than pregnancy itself, especially for those who plan on breastfeeding. And that means that a different kind of multivitamin—a postnatal multivitamin, to be specific—can be an important addition to a new parent’s daily routine.* But let’s get a little more specific about the difference between a prenatal multivitamin and a postnatal multivitamin—and when to consider switching over. People should consider taking a prenatal multivitamin when they’re thinking, trying, and when it’s time.People’s nutrient needs change as soon as they become pregnant, which is why we like to stick to the “3 month rule”—that is, aiming to start taking a prenatal multivitamin 3 months ahead of time. Of course, that timing isn’t always easy to pin down. But if you’re thinking or trying, it might be time to consider making the switch. To put it simply, prenatal multivitamins are designed to lend nutrient support during pregnancy. Our Essential Prenatal, for example, is formulated to help fill nutrient gaps in a birthing person’s† diet.* What are some key examples of nutrient demands that change during pregnancy? Let’s start with folate, a B vitamin that helps support neural tube development during the early stages of pregnancy. Many prenatal multivitamins will include folic acid, a synthetic form of folate. But since up to one-third of people have a genetic variation that makes it difficult to efficiently utilize folic acid, we prefer to use a cell-identical, bioavailable form of folate called 5-MTHF in Essential Prenatal.* Iron, omega-3 DHA, and choline are all other examples of nutrients women need more of to support the nutrient demands of pregnancy. The bottom line? Prenatal multivitamins are essential for anyone who is expecting.* Women should consider switching to a postnatal as soon as they give birth, and continue taking one for six months postpartum (or longer, if they’re continuing to breastfeed).*Baby’s arrival also ushers in a new (and often unparalleled) wave of nutritional demands, especially for lactating parents. Among the 29 essential micronutrients, lactation increases the demand for more than half of the essential micronutrients compared to pregnancy and other life stages. And our POV is that anyone who has recently birthed a child—whether they choose to breastfeed or not—deserves to feel supported in their body as they traverses those intense first months.* A quality postnatal multivitamin specifically formulated for this life stage can help support the nutritional needs of new parents. There are 15 nutrients in particular women should consider looking for in a postnatal multivitamin (all of which are included in our Essential Postnatal):
Some of these nutrients are consistent with most women’s nutritional needs whether they’re expecting, lactating, or not—just in slightly higher levels. Others are to help support nutritional demands associated with postpartum. Either way, a good postnatal multivitamin should help eliminate some of the guesswork around nutrition postpartum.* We created Essential Postnatal specifically for the arrival of a mother’s new nutrient needs for six months postpartum, and throughout lactation. Featuring the aforementioned 15 key nutrients in obsessively-researched forms, just two (vegan-friendly!) pills a day help support bone health, brain health, lactation support, and normal immune function. Also, to help encourage healthy habits and make taking your multi more of a pleasure and less of a chore, we took into account common multivitamin-related grievances, like stomach upset and unpleasant taste—opting for delayed-release capsules designed to dissolve later (translation: you can take them on an empty stomach), and adding a food-grade minty tab to our bottles to nix odors and keep things fresh. The way we see it? No funky smell (or vitamin-induced nausea) should get between you and your Ritual.* A word on the minty tab: It’s infused with pure peppermint oil from Yakima, Washington—and nothing else. We added the tab to our bottles exclusively to enhance the flavor experience, as multivitamins that contain omega-3 DHA can often have aromas reminiscent of the ocean due to the presence of fish oil, or in our case, omega-3 vegan algal oil. Even though none of Ritual’s multivitamins are formulated with peppermint inside the capsules (only the food-grade bottle insert contains peppermint), our commitment to Traceability—and the importance of providing safety assurance to our breastfeeding community—led us straight back to our roots: science. We hired an external consulting firm to investigate the relationship between the peppermint in our minty tab and how it relates to milk supply. This firm conducted a toxicological assessment of exposure to peppermint during both pregnancy and lactation, which confirmed our own rigorous research findings: that the levels of peppermint in our minty tab do not pose any safety risk. That said, talking to your doctor about any specific concerns is never a bad idea.* Consider your macro needs, too.Prenatal and postnatal multivitamins are great options to support micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) needs for pregnancy and postpartum. But it's important to consider macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat) as well. Exhibit A: People need more protein during pregnancy and lactation to help support the increased nutrient demands that occur during these life stages. In fact, the amount of protein deposited in maternal and fetal tissue increases over the course of pregnancy.* (1,2,3,4) It's a big reason why we developed Essential Protein Pregnancy & Postpartum for this life stage specifically—and added choline for good measure.* When to switch back to a regular multivitamin?Once people hit the six month mark after birth and are no longer lactating, a regular multivitamin, like Essential for Women, should help support nutrient needs. For those who are still breastfeeding, we suggest sticking with a postnatal multivitamin. Pretty simple, right?* And as always, check with your physician if you have any specific questions about supporting your nutrient needs during this important time. New parents—you got this. †As a health company that adheres to standardized nutrition research—which is often reliant on assigned sex at birth—we face some unique challenges regarding our gender-specific messaging. Our decision to use gendered terms is, unfortunately, a result of these limitations in nutrition research. In cases where complying with the binary distinction is necessary for scientific accuracy purposes, we want to make it very clear that we recognize a person’s gender identity might differ from their assigned sex. References:
Meet Our Science TeamWhat happens when a Harvard trained physiologist, a biochemist, and a registered dietician walk into a lab? The answer: Ritual multivitamins. Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, PhD, RD, VP of Scientific Affairs at Ritual Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian. She received her training from Penn State University and University of Connecticut where she researched dietary patterns, chemosensory perception and community nutrition. Her dietetic work is focused on promoting healthy eating habits by translating the science of nutrition into practical information for the public. Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, PhD, RD, VP of Scientific Affairs at Ritual Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian. She received her training from Penn State University and University of Connecticut where she researched dietary patterns, chemosensory perception and community nutrition. Her dietetic work is focused on promoting healthy eating habits by translating the science of nutrition into practical information for the public.
Dr. Nima Alamdari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Nima Alamdari is Chief Scientific Officer at Ritual. He was previously faculty at Harvard University where he researched muscle metabolism in health and disease, and is currently an Honorary Professor of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter. Dr. Nima received his PhD in Muscle Physiology and a First Degree in Biochemistry from The University of Nottingham in the UK. He has authored many original articles in internationally-renowned, peer-reviewed journals and presented at world-leading conferences in the sports science, exercise physiology, and nutrition fields. Dr. Nima Alamdari, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Nima Alamdari is Chief Scientific Officer at Ritual. He was previously faculty at Harvard University where he researched muscle metabolism in health and disease, and is currently an Honorary Professor of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter. Dr. Nima received his PhD in Muscle Physiology and a First Degree in Biochemistry from The University of Nottingham in the UK. He has authored many original articles in internationally-renowned, peer-reviewed journals and presented at world-leading conferences in the sports science, exercise physiology, and nutrition fields.
Dr. Luke Bucci, PhD, CCN, CNS, Research and Technical Fellow Dr. Luke Bucci received a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas and has over thirty years of experience in the nutrition industry, encompassing all aspects of scientific applications. He has brought blockbuster products to market, written books, patents and numerous articles, and developed certification programs for clinical nutritionists. Dr. Luke Bucci, PhD, CCN, CNS, Research and Technical Fellow Dr. Luke Bucci received a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas and has over thirty years of experience in the nutrition industry, encompassing all aspects of scientific applications. He has brought blockbuster products to market, written books, patents and numerous articles, and developed certification programs for clinical nutritionists. Meet the AuthorVictoria Hoff, Writer Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career. Victoria Hoff, Writer Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career. ShareHow long do I take Prenatals postpartum?If you're not nursing, your OB-GYN may suggest that you continue taking prenatal vitamins postpartum for at least six months after giving birth. Why? This ensures you're still getting the nutrients you need after a demanding nine months, allowing enough time for your nutrient stores to be replenished.
How long should I take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding?"After delivery, continue to take your prenatal vitamin, which contains the extra vitamins you need," says Dr. Mathes. How long can you keep taking the prenatal vitamins? "I'd say to continue taking your prenatal vitamin at least while you're breastfeeding," advises Dr.
Can I still take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding?Breastfeeding mothers need to take some sort of daily multivitamin that contains 100 percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). If you wish, you can continue to take your prenatal vitamin or mineral supplement – however, it contains much more iron than needed for breastfeeding.
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When do you stop taking prenatal vitamins after giving birth
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