MegaFood | May 2021

We know that nutrition during pregnancy is important and unique, which is why switching to a prenatal multivitamin is one of the first recommendations your doctor will make. But what about after you give birth? Most of us are told to keep taking our prenatal multi while breastfeeding, but postnatal life requires the unique nutritional support of a postnatal multi.

Why postnatal health matters

When we shift from prenatal to postnatal, our nutritional needs shift with it. For instance, during pregnancy, iron demands soar as moms produce more blood to carry oxygen to the baby. After birth, the need for iron drops significantly (from 27mg down to 9mg).^{Footnote 1} Similarly, our need for folate dips (from 600mcg to 500mcg).^{Footnote 2} Continuing to take your prenatal once you’ve delivered, and it’s possible you’re getting ‘too much of a good thing’ when it comes to a handful of nutrients.

While we may need less of some nutrients, the postpartum period actually sees an increase in a number of them, too! Choline, a member of the B vitamin family, may help support healthy cognitive development in babies during pregnancy and the first months of life,* and is recommended at 550mg after pregnancy, compared to 450mg during.^{Footnote 3} We see a similar increase in iodine (220mcg to 290mcg)^{Footnote 4}, which is vital to the development of the baby’s nervous system during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Once they’re born, babies can regulate higher levels of iodine, hence the increased need during the postnatal period. Vitamin A sees perhaps the biggest jump (770mcg all the way up to 1300mcg)^{Footnote 5} while breastfeeding because it’s needed to “nourish all of the barriers of the baby’s mucosa, like nose, mouth and GI tract” says Dr. Low Dog, MegaFood's Chief Medical Advisor and expert in women's health and dietary supplements. It’s also necessary for a healthy immune system.*

Doctor Low Dog offers a simple way to consider why it is so important to ensure you’re getting what you need once you’ve welcomed your baby: “If you’re breastfeeding, you’re providing all of the nutritional needs for your baby — and you can’t give what you don’t have. If you don’t have enough of the right nutrients, the baby can end up lacking. But babies try to take what they need, even at the mother’s expense, so moms can actually be left rather depleted. And if mom is getting too many things, that can be hard and not safe for her.”

We intentionally crafted our Baby & Me 2 Postnatal Multi with Doctor Low Dog, our Chief Medical Advisor, to meet these shifting nutrients demands and ensure you and your newest addition are getting the nourishment you need. We’ve done the research and heavy lifting for you, so you can soak up those newborn snuggles and focus on what matters!

Love the details? Read on to learn more about our Baby & Me 2 Postnatal Multi:

• Formulated to support optimal nutrition for mom after birth with key nutrients like vitamins C, D3 and E, plus minerals like iodine and chromium to meet changing nutritional demands while breastfeeding*
• Contains choline to help support baby’s brain development*
• Moringa leaf is included to help support milk production*

Like with all our products, we’re obsessed with quality. The Baby & Me 2 Postnatal Multi is Non-GMO Project Verified, certified Glyphosate Residue Free, tested for 125+ herbicides and pesticides, vegetarian, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, and soy. For optimal support while breastfeeding, we suggest pairing the postnatal multi with other formulas from our Baby & Me 2 line, such as the DHA & Choline and Probiotic + Prebiotic. Continue to take your postnatal multivitamin until you are no longer nursing, or if you become pregnant.

Done breastfeeding? Check out our women’s multivitamin options - from tablets to a delicious soft chew and a gummy - our collection helps to fill nutrient gaps and support your daily health!

Shop all women's health products.