After you have a baby, everything changes. Your body, routine, diet, and sleep schedule are all drastically different from your prenatal life. Because of all of these changes, your body is going to need extra support. One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting everything you need is a postnatal supplement – but how long should vegans take postnatal vitamins?
Why Supplements Are Important for Postpartum Care
After pregnancy and during breastfeeding, your body is depleted of some of the most essential vitamins and minerals as you give those nutrients and energy to your new baby.
According to The Natalist, “postnatal vitamins can be a great fix for meeting increased demand and can provide benefits such as increased milk supply, enhanced energy, and better mood stabilization.”
With a well-structured vegan postnatal supplement, you can replenish dozens of nutrients in one easy step. There are some very important vitamins and minerals that need to be present in a postnatal supplement to best support your health as well as the health of your baby if you are breastfeeding.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals In Postnatal Supplements
When searching for a vegan postnatal vitamin, you need to be on the lookout for certain ingredients. Keep in mind that moms who breastfeed can see some benefits in these vitamins for their babies as well.
Vitamin D
While we do produce Vitamin D naturally when we are exposed to sunlight, it’s important to supplement Vitamin D, especially in the first several months postpartum. Babies aren’t quite ready for sunbathing in the early months of life, so taking a Vitamin D supplement can also help breastfeeding moms supply Vitamin D to their babies.
Thiamine
Thiamine is a vitamin that enables you to convert carbohydrates into energy, and, at the same time, supports your nervous system, muscles, and healthy heart function. Thiamine is also helpful for newborn brain development.
Niacin
Niacin plays an important role in postnatal restoration. According to Healthine, “as with all B vitamins, niacin helps convert food into energy by aiding enzymes. Specifically, niacin is a major component of NAD and NADP, two coenzymes involved in cellular metabolism. Furthermore, it plays a role in cell signaling and making and repairing DNA, in addition to acting as an antioxidant.”
Folate
Folate is vital in postnatal care. It can aid in cell renewal, supporting a healthy heart, and red blood cell development.
Choline
Choline is a nutrient that assists in the upkeep and maintenance of the nervous system.
How Long Should Vegans Take Postnatal Vitamins?
There is a lot of information out there about how long vegans should take postnatal vitamins. The general rule of thumb is about six months postpartum. However, if you are breastfeeding, some doctors recommend that you should continue to take supplements until you stop breastfeeding for your own nutrient intake as well as the nutrients you are supplying to your child through your milk.
Vegan, Gluten-Free Postnatal Supplements from Vegan Life Nutrition
Vegan Life Nutrition is releasing a NEW Postnatal Supplement Bundle this September that contains all the vitamins and minerals listed above, as well as dozens more! These bundles will be 100% vegan, non-GMO, certified gluten-free, cruelty-free, and contain no artificial colors.
Discover more about our Postnatal Vitamins.
Vegan Life Nutrition
Vegan Life Nutrition offers a complete line of nutritional products for vegans and non-vegans alike, using nothing but the cleanest, highest quality plant-based ingredients to support your healthy lifestyle. Shop our complete line of products here.
