Why Vitamin Supplementation Shouldn’t Stop Postpartum

August 3, 2016

There is a great deal of emphasis on prenatal vitamins and their importance during pregnancy. But many women may not realize the importance of consuming recommended nutrients postpartum and while breastfeeding.

Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively for up to six months after delivery.^1,2 Because of the many benefits breastfeeding provides to both mothers and babies, the ACOG and the AAP recommend that new moms continue breastfeeding as other foods are introduced in months seven to 12.^1,2

Babies who are breastfed exclusively depend on their mothers to provide the nutrients needed to support their growth and development. For this reason, moms who breastfeed their babies need increased nutritional intake to restore their reserves and support infant growth.^3,4 When women breastfeed, the nutrients they consume are preferentially partitioned to mammary glands at the expense of their own reserves. This is nature’s way of ensuring that infants obtain the vital nutrients they need to survive.

Key Nutrients to Support Nutrition for Mom and Baby While Breastfeeding

While women are breastfeeding, they should pay particular attention to the amount of each of these nutrients they consume each day.

Calcium and Vitamin D – Because their infants’ vitamin D needs are so high, mothers often experience loss of bone mass while breastfeeding.⁵ Calcium and vitamin D work hand in hand to help keep mothers’ bones strong while their babies’ bones and teeth are developing.⁵
Probiotics – Both moms and babies benefit from these little microbes. Probiotics help regulate the microbes in the gut and support gastrointestinal and immune health in moms and babies.
DHA – Up to 50% of omega-3 stores are lost in pregnancy, and six months are needed to restore them postpartum.⁶ For moms, DHA can help reduce the risk of postpartum depression and improve infant sleep.^7-10 For babies, DHA can improve cognitive and motor skills.^6,11-13 Plus, DHA aids in immune development and reduces inflammatory responses.^6,11-13
B Vitamins – As a natural energy booster, B vitamins can help moms adjust to the ‘round the clock schedules that comes with the arrival of any new baby.

Vitamins to Supplement Mom & Baby Postpartum

Prenate^® Restore is a once-daily, lactose-free and gluten-free soft gel vitamin that supports expecting mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, specifically while breastfeeding. While it’s designed to support the needs of breastfeeding moms and their babies, it is also appropriate during pregnancy. This means expecting moms can start supplementation before the arrival of their babies and continue through delivery and postpartum. Prenate^® Restore can help infants achieve optimal physical growth and promote brain, immune system and gut development.^14-16

To help provide nutritional support for mothers and babies, the Prenate^® Vitamin Family offers prenatal vitamin coupons for Prenate^® Restore. Talk to your doctor to see if Prenate^® Restore may be right for you to help fill nutritional gaps.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION.
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

REFERENCES: 1. Breastfeeding: maternal and fetal aspects. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 361. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2007 (Reaffirmed 2013); 109:479-480. 2. Eidelman A, Schanler RJ. Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics. 2012; 129(3):e827-e841.DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-3552. 3. Picciano MF. Pregnancy and lactation: Physiological adjustments, nutritional requirements and the role of dietary supplements. J Nutr. 2003; 133(6) (suppl): 1997-2002. 4. Breastfeeding report card: United States 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/breast-feeding/pdf/2014breastfeedingreportcard.pdf. Published July 2014. Accessed April 17, 2015. 5. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and bone health. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center Website. https://www.bones.nih.gov/sites/bones/files/pregnancy_bone_health.pdf. Published January 2012. Accessed April 17, 2014. 6. McGregor JA, French JI. Optimizing perinatal and maternal nutrition: omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid. Female Patient. 2008; (Suppl):19-23. 7. Cheruku SR, Montgomery-Downs HE, Farkas SL, Thoman EB, Lammi-Keefe CJ. Higher maternal plasma docosahexaenoic acid during pregnancy is associated with more mature neonatal sleep-state patterning. Amer J Clin Nutr. 2002; 76:608-613. 8. Akabas SR, Deckelbaum RJ. Summary of a workshop on n_3 fatty acids: current status of recommendations and future directions. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 83(Sup- pl):1536S– 1538S. 9. Wojcicki JM, Heyman MB. Maternal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and risk for perinatal maternal depression. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2011; 24(5): 680–686. 10. Markhus MW, Skotheim S, Graff IE, et al. Low omega-3 index in pregnancy is a possible biological risk factor for postpartum depression. PLoS ONE. 2013; 8(7) e67617:1-12. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0067617. 11. Carlson S. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in pregnancy and lactation. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009; 89(Suppl):678–684. 12. Greenberg JA, Bell SJ, Van Ausdal W. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2008; 1(4)(Suppl):162-169. 13. Prescott SL, Barden AE, Mori TA, Dunstan JA. Maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy modifies neonatal leukotriene production by cord-blood-derived neutrophils. Clin Sci. 2007; 113:409–416. 14. Koo WW, Warren L. Calcium and bone health in infants. Neonatal Netw. 2003; 22(5):23-37. 15. Helen IB, Smith L, Saarem K, Saugstad OD, Drevon CA. Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children’s IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics 2003; 111(1):e39-e44. 16. Hurry A, Laitinen K, Rautava S, Korkeamaki M, Isolauri E. Impact of maternal atopy and probiotic supplementation during pregnancy on infant sensitization: A double-blond placebo-controlled study. In Exp Allergy. 2008; 38:1342-1348.