When should i stop taking prenatal vitamins

Amid sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, doctors appointments, and feeding schedules, there's tons to remember during the postpartum period. So do we really still need a prenatal vitamin after having a baby? 

By OBGYN and fertility expert Dr. Kenosha Gleaton

Amid sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, doctors appointments, and feeding schedules, there's tons to remember, and sadly to forget, during the postpartum period. For most of us, taking a prenatal vitamin is one of them. So do we really still need a prenatal vitamin after having a baby? 

Can I take prenatal vitamins after giving birth, and if so, for how long?

While most of us consider prenatal vitamins (PNVs) non negotiable during pregnancy, there is significant evidence supporting the benefits of prenatal vitamins even after delivery. Most OBGYNs recommend taking a PNV as long as you are breastfeeding. If not breastfeeding, then the general recommendation is to continue taking them until at least six weeks postpartum. 

What postnatal vitamins should I be taking after birth?

Many postnatal vitamins are available and may offer benefits including increased milk supply, enhanced energy, and better mood stabilization. Although most postnatal vitamins differ in their exact formulas, most will contain these beneficial ingredients:

• Omega DHA
• Helps with baby’s neurological development
• Improves mood and reduces postpartum depression

• B vitamins
• Improves energy for moms
• Improves sleep for babies

• Vitamin D
• Strong bones for mom and baby
• Immune system booster 
• Reduces postpartum depression

• Vitamin C
• Immune system booster

Postnatal vitamins can improve nutritional status for all moms; however, the increased physical demands from breastfeeding make proper nutrition even more important. In addition to the vitamins listed above, breastfeeding moms should look for vitamins containing:

• Iodine
• Ensures adequate newborn thyroid levels
• Prevents impaired neurological development

• Choline
• Improved cognition and greater memory in infants and children

Do prenatals help with lactation?

Although there’s no clear evidence that PNVs will increase milk supply, several studies suggest that the quality of breastmilk is enhanced with continued PNV use. Since many of the vitamins found in our prenatal can be traced into the bloodstream, it's a good idea to continue taking a high quality supplement such as Natalist Postnatal Multivitamin.

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Do I need to take postnatal vitamins if I'm not breastfeeding?

Even moms who are not breastfeeding will likely benefit from taking prenatal or postnatal vitamins. Pregnancy can cause many nutritional deficiencies including anemia and calcium deficiencies. These can be improved and even corrected by committing to a prenatal vitamin regimen for at least six months after delivery.

What can I take or do for postpartum hair loss?

Hair loss, often seen in the first year following childbirth, can be attributed to stress, hormonal fluctuations, and nutritional deficiencies. Fortunately, postpartum hair loss is temporary and can be improved. Hair health —including hair thickness, color, and strength—is somewhat impacted by diet and nutrition overall. Micronutrients play an important, but not entirely clear, role in normal hair follicle development and immune cell function. Certain vitamins and minerals are beneficial for maintaining different properties in the body, including hair, skin and nails. Learn more about prenatal vitamins for hair growth and health here.

Can you take prenatal and postnatal vitamins together?

Prenatal vitamins and postnatal vitamins have similar consistencies, thus it is not recommended to take both. If you’re having particular trouble with breastmilk production, consider taking a postnatal supplement with fennel seeds and coriander.

Don’t throw out the bottle!

Taking a prenatal vitamin is one of the easiest ways to ensure a healthy pregnancy and infant. But after those goals are achieved, don't discard that bottle! Continuing a high quality prenatal vitamin or starting a postnatal vitamin can help reduce postpartum depression, boost the immune system, and correct nutritional deficiencies seen with improper or restrictive diets.

Featured Image From William Fortunato

Enter prenatal vitamins. They’re an easy way to fill in any gaps and support both your body and your baby’s growth and development. Here’s what pregnant women need to know about them.

Why is it important to take prenatal vitamins?

Pregnant women have increased nutritional demands, both because of the needs of the baby developing inside and the changes that their body is going through to accommodate the pregnancy. While most women get sufficient nutrition through a well-balanced diet, it’s helpful to take a multivitamin to make sure that all the nutritional requirements of the pregnancy are met.

What are the benefits of taking a prenatal vitamin?

For certain vitamins and supplements, there are specific benefits. For example, folic acid supplementation helps to prevent certain birth defects (like spina bifida) in babies. Taking iron helps to prevent anemia (low blood count), which may lead to fatigue and fainting. Taking DHA (a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid) may improve fetal neural development and fetal growth when taken in the third trimester. Extra calcium is good for bones, and vitamin B6 may be useful for suppressing nausea in pregnancy.

Which key nutrients should women look for in a prenatal?

Although prenatal vitamins typically contain the full range of vitamins and minerals, the ones that are most important are folic acid, B vitamins, calcium and iron. Calcium and iron are particularly important because the requirements for these minerals are higher in pregnancy than they are for non-pregnant women.

However, these are the ingredients most often left out of gummy vitamins, which many women like because of taste and ease of use. So if they choose the gummy, they may need to take extra iron or calcium if these have been left out.

When to start and stop taking prenatal vitamins

You should start using a multivitamin that contains folic acid whenever you think you might conceive. Because the kind of birth defects that arise from a lack of folic acid start to form before many women even realize they are pregnant, it’s important to supplement this nutrient even before conception.

Other nutrient demands increase only after pregnancy starts, so it doesn’t have to be a “prenatal vitamin” until after the pregnancy test is positive. If you’re unable to tolerate the vitamin because you feel sick in the first trimester, it’s OK to start once you’re feeling better.

You should continue to take a prenatal vitamin for the duration of breastfeeding, however long that may be. This is because lactation (making breast milk) also increases nutritional demands, especially of calcium and iron.

Do prenatal vitamins have any side effects?

The ingredient that’s most likely to cause gastrointestinal side effects is iron, which may cause indigestion and constipation. There are different iron preparations available, so women who experience these effects with one vitamin may want to try a different vitamin that has a slower-release form of iron.

Other vitamins don’t necessarily have side effects, but may be harmful if too much is ingested. Too much vitamin A can have harmful effects on the fetus, but is fine when taken as beta-carotene, a plant-based precursor that’s safe. Too much iodine and fat-soluble vitamins (D, E and K) may also be harmful.

Finally, prenatal vitamins that pack in all these nutrients may be big—some women find them hard to swallow and they may cause gagging. Using a chewable alternative may be an option.

This advice applies to most low-risk women and pregnancies. There are certain cases (women who have had gastric bypass surgery, women with eating disorders or women carrying twins and triplets), where the nutritional needs are different. These women should contact their prenatal care providers about the best regimen of nutritional supplement to use.

Jonathan Schaffir is an ob/gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and a professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

How long do you need to take prenatal vitamins?

Do you have to take prenatal vitamins the whole 9 months?

Should I keep taking my prenatal vitamins after birth?