What dietary supplements can i take while breastfeeding




















Many new mothers wonder if they need to take certain supplements or vitamins while breastfeeding to ensure their baby is healthy. Some mommies take vitamin D to ensure that their babies are getting enough of this essential nutrient for healthy bones.

Regular multivitamin and mineral supplements are also typically fine to take, although you should always talk to your doctor before taking any kind of supplement. In fact, many doctors recommend that moms keep taking their prenatal vitamins even after childbirth to ensure that both mom and baby are getting all of the nutrients they need. The first milk mommy makes is called colostrum — this is an amazing resource for your baby and is why short term breastfeeding is so important!

After colostrum, your body begins to make mature milk, which comes days after giving birth. This milk provides the vitamins and minerals that are essential for baby. Many moms choose to take a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of vitamin D to ensure they are getting enough nutrients in their own diet, as babies get vitamin D from breast milk and very minimal sun exposure.

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Our bodies make the vitamin naturally when we are out in the sun, but it is not recommended to expose your baby to sunlight due to the risk of skin damage.

Many babies need a vitamin D supplement because breast milk does not provide enough vitamin D. Exclusively breastfed infants need IU of vitamin D each day. Babies who lack this vitamin could develop rickets, so it's important to consult with your pediatrician to ensure your little one is absorbing all the vitamin D he or she needs. Breastfeeding mothers often worry that some foods like spices, garlic, beans or cabbage might make their baby gassy and irritable.

Food is rarely the cause, but if your baby seems particularly fussy every time you eat a certain food then avoid it. There is no need to avoid allergenic foods such as peanuts, egg or milk while you are breastfeeding. The amount of alcohol in your breast milk is the same as in your blood. Alcohol enters your breast milk 30 minutes to 1 hour after you start drinking. It takes about 2 hours for your body to get rid of the alcohol in each standard drink.

If you do have an occasional drink, feed your baby before you start drinking and express milk for the baby to have while there is still alcohol in your breast milk. Most medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding. However, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Take special care if your baby was premature, is sick or on medication. Some contraception is safe while you are breastfeeding, although you may have to wait until a few weeks after the birth.

Recommended forms of contraception for breastfeeding women are:. Complementary medicines include vitamins, herbal preparations, aromatherapy and homeopathic products. Like other medicines, complementary medicines can have side effects.

Do not assume that complementary and herbal medicines are safe when you are breastfeeding as they may not have been tested properly. Some may have very little information about their safe use while breastfeeding. Herbal preparations to avoid while you are breastfeeding include comfrey, coltsfoot, borage, aloe, black cohosh, feverfew, ginseng, licorice root and kavakava.

Herbal products that are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers include chamomile, echinacea used for a short time only , fennel, garlic, elderflower and ginger. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or call the NPS Medicines Line before you take any complementary medicine or herbal preparation while breastfeeding. It is best not to smoke if you are breastfeeding. The amount of nicotine in your breast milk is halved about 1. So if you smoke, do so right after a breastfeed.

The longer the time between a cigarette and the next feed, the better. Caffeine can pass into your breast milk and make your baby restless. Try to limit foods and drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea, cola drinks and energy drinks.

Newborn babies are particularly sensitive to caffeine. The amount of caffeine in your breast milk usually peaks about 1 hour after you consume it. You should not have more than mg of caffeine per day while breastfeeding. The following is a handy guide:. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Herbal preparations are not required to have the same level of testing and proof that they work as do prescription medicines. As a result, we know less about their side effects during breastfeeding. In addition to a multivitamin or additional supplements, making healthy food choices can also boost your nutrient intake.

To help with energy and keep you producing milk, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists ACOG recommend breastfeeding moms eat about to extra calories a day.

Generally speaking, for most women this equates to about 2, calories per day. Whether or not you should take supplements is a conversation you need to have with your doctor or a registered dietitian.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC says if you follow a restrictive diet, you may not get adequate nutrients through food, which increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies.

With that in mind, Ross says that supplementing with certain immune-boosting supplements, in addition to a multivitamin, is safe as long as you take a well-established brand that delivers safe dosages.

The key is not to exceed the recommended daily amount and to only take supplements that are proven safe to consume while breastfeeding. Moreover, Rachel Borton, PhD, director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Online Program and assistant professor of nursing at Bradley University, reminds us that each mom and baby has a unique individual health history.

Because of this, you cannot assume that every over-the-counter supplement is safe to consume, since breastfeeding moms will also be sharing the supplements through their breast milk with the infant.

Ross says dietary supplements like Airborne and Emergen-C are not recommended while breastfeeding since adequate medical studies have not been performed to show their effectiveness and safety. Taking immune-boosting supplements while breastfeeding can provide health benefits to both mom and baby. At a minimum, you should take a postnatal multivitamin or a product that includes the necessary nutrients for breastfeeding.

If you want to take additional supplements, check for safety, and make sure you are not exceeding the daily recommended dose.



0コメント

  • 1000 / 1000