When it comes to taking care of yourself and your baby, postnatal vitamins can play an important role. But what exactly are postnatal vitamins and why would you need them? In this blog, we will discuss the purpose of postnatal vitamins and how they can help new moms stay healthy and happy during their postpartum journey.
What Are Postnatal Vitamins?
Postnatal vitamins are specifically designed for a woman’s body during her postpartum period. The vitamins include essential nutrients that new mothers may be deficient in to maintain energy, health, and nourishment for both mother and baby.
According to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), these multivitamins can contain additional minerals or herbs that have been suggested to facilitate healing after birth or potentially reduce the risk of certain conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Postnatal vitamins differ from prenatal vitamins in that they do not contain folic acid, which is essential for preventing neural tube defects in the baby before birth but it is not necessary once the baby has already been born. These types of vitamins offer a wide range of benefits including helping to replenish depleted levels of iron, zinc, and vitamins A, E, B6, and B12.
Why Do New Moms Need Postnatal Vitamins?
It is especially important for women who have just given birth to take postnatal vitamins as there is a greater need for essential nutrients during this time due to the changes happening in their bodies such as the loss of fluids during labor or breastfeeding needs. Postnatal vitamins are one piece of the puzzle on the road to recovery after giving birth. The book 'The Fourth Trimester' is a valuable guide on your healing journey.
The purpose of postnatal vitamins is to help women recover faster by providing much-needed nourishment while also boosting energy levels often depleted by lack of sleep associated with being a new mom. They also help support bone remodeling that occurs while nursing which can cause calcium deficiencies leading to fragile bones in both mama and baby.
Additionally, studies have found that postpartum depression is strongly correlated with nutrient deficiencies so supplementing with quality post-birth multis can aid in mood stability as well as provide overall health benefits for both mommy and baby through improved maternal nutrition status throughout breastfeeding months.
What Should Parents Look For In Postnatal Vitamins?
When choosing a quality postpartum multivitamin there are certain key ingredients you should look out for such as Iron, Folate (which replaces Folic Acid), vitamins A & E, Zinc, and Calcium. This combo helps meet nutritional needs during pregnancy recovery; however, depending on individual needs additional supplements such as magnesium or omega-3 fatty acids may be needed too. Below we will discuss the ingredients further:
Key Vitamins To Look For In Postnatal Vitamins
- Iron – New moms tend to lose large amounts of blood during labor making Iron an essential mineral for red blood cell production replacing lost hemoglobin. Additionally Iron works together with oxygen helping tissues all over our body work at optimal capacity so low levels should be avoided at all costs!
- Folate (Folic Acid)– Also known as Vitamin B9 folate helps form red blood cells and supports cell growth & development while also aiding in repair processes especially those linked with low mood & fatigue associated with the first few months after childbirth; making it an essential part
- Vitamin A & E – Both these antioxidants act together to combat free radicals (harmful agents generated by environmental pollutants) thus promoting general well-being while protecting new mama’s skin from premature aging.
- Zinc – This micronutrient found in naturally occurring food sources helps increase immunity strengthening white blood cells to fight disease; It also plays an important role when it comes to cognitive function development among babies whose mothers had taken adequate amounts.
- Calcium – Essential when it comes to preserving bone mass particularly important when mothers are nursing their little ones; Calcium also prevents muscle cramps and pain often experienced within weeks after giving birth though proper hydration must be maintained too!
Other Important Ingredients
In addition to the abovementioned ingredients other beneficial additions found within most pre/postnatal multi-vitamin supplements include DHA/EPA omega fatty acids as well as probiotics beneficial bacteria aiding digestive function; Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) targets cellular sites increasing energy stores.
Dosage And Forms Of Postnatal Vitamins
Post Partum multi-vitamins are available in several forms ranging from tablets/capsules, soft gels, chewable tablets, liquid drops, gummies, etc; dosage amount depends on the type chosen.
Conclusion
Postnatal vitamins play an important role when it comes to taking care of both mommy's and baby's health after childbirth. With so many options available today it can be hard choosing one that meets all your unique requirements. To get started on the path to postpartum wellness, why not check out our article “The 11 Best Postnatal Vitamins To Maximize Your Health” for more information on which postnatal vitamin product is best for you?
