When it comes to pregnancy and nursing, it's essential to make sure you're getting the right nutrients. A daily multivitamin supplement (or the prenatal vitamin you took during pregnancy) can act as an insurance policy to help cover any nutritional deficiencies. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all pregnant people take a prenatal vitamin and folic acid supplement to fill nutritional gaps and prevent developmental abnormalities at birth, such as spina bifida. Iron has been added to many breakfast cereals, and if your blood iron level drops, a general practitioner or midwife will suggest that you take iron supplements.
Women who are breastfeeding need even more nutrients than during pregnancy. During this time, greater amounts of vitamins A, B3, and B12 are necessary. Adequate levels of these vitamins, with the exception of vitamin D, can be obtained by following a healthy and varied diet. As in pregnancy, a daily vitamin D supplement is required for breastfeeding women.
In addition to eating a healthy diet, your doctor may want you to take a prenatal supplement to make sure that you get enough of the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy pregnancy. Between prenatal vitamins and food, you should be able to get enough vitamin A, and supplementation other than prenatal vitamins is not recommended. You can get supplements at pharmacies and grocery stores, or a general practitioner can prescribe them for you. While some herbal supplements may be safe to take during pregnancy, there are many more that might not be. Any supplement containing vitamin A, high-dose multivitamin supplements, and fish liver oil supplements should be avoided. In supplement form, folic acid (around the early stages of pregnancy) and vitamin D supplements are recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and vegan pregnant women may need vitamin B12 supplements, among other nutrients.
In addition, several studies have shown that probiotic supplementation can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, postpartum depression, and childhood eczema and dermatitis. In a review of five randomized studies involving 6,105 women, daily folic acid supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of neural tube defects. Learn more about taking medications during pregnancy, including over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements, and vitamins. It is recommended that all pregnant women in Australia take folic acid, iodine and vitamin D supplements. Some women (all those under 18 and those receiving certain benefits) may be entitled to receive free vitamin supplements of folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin C through the Government's Healthy Start program (www. It may be advisable for pregnant women, especially those with a genetic mutation in the MTHFR gene, to choose a supplement that contains L-methylfolate to ensure maximum absorption.
