Boosting Postnatal Wellness: The Power of Supplements - A guide

This is a question that I get from many of my clients and it’s a very valid one as we are constantly hearing the importance of prenatal and pregnancy vitamins, but typically as our days and nights suddenly get very busy with getting used to our newborns new schedule, for many women our attention is diverted away from being able to think about our own needs and there is a big lack of understanding or education in what type of nutrients our bodies might need in this 4th trimester. So read on to get the lowdown on supplementation in the post natal period

What are postnatal supplements?

Just as in pregnancy, vitamins and minerals in supplementation form can be a vital part of our recovery post birth, as well as important for our babies health if you are breastfeeding. They tend to contain important nutrients which help support both mother and baby, as you enter a restore and repair stage and your baby continually develops. Particular vitamins, minerals and nutrients which are important for us mamas post birth are, Iron, Iodine, magnesium, zinc and B12. Our baby also vitally needs good levels of Vitamin D, Iodine and Choline. Both mama and baby also require good levels of Omega 3 fats. There is a distinct gap in nutrient requirements between what’s required in pregnancy and in the post-natal period, for example we don’t need so much folate/folic acid as in pregnancy, so although it’s fine to finish off any pregnancy multi vits its worth switching to investing in boosting your levels of the above as soon as you can.

Can I not just eat foods that have these above vitamins, minerals and nutrients, instead of taking a supplement?

Of course, it’s essential to eat a healthy diet in your post-natal period to get everything your body needs and set you on a healthy path to recovery. However, if your breastfeeding, pumping breast milk or have undergone a long and depletive birth process with high blood loss levels, its particularly vital that you take this time to replenish and heal and this can be difficult to achieve by just diet alone.

What are the benefits of post-natal supplementation for a mother?

- Helping heal your body post birth

- Helping to balance your hormones once you stop breastfeeding

- Helping to prevent post-natal depression or anxiety

- Can help regulate sleep as well as manage stress

- Boost immune system health and reduce infections

- Help increase energy

Are there any side effects of post-natal supplements?

Similarly to pregnancy supplementation, some common side effects can include, gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, nausea or general stomach upset. You can help avoid these symptoms, which are often related to high levels of Iron, magnesium or vitamin C, by taking them with food, not on an empty stomach, looking for formulas which contain ‘Glycinate’ formulations of vitamins and minerals which are known to be more gentle on the stomach, as well as taking them before bed to reduce digestive symptoms....this is particularly good with Iron and magnesium.

How long should I take a post-natal supplements for?

It’s recommended that you try to be consistent with taking them for at least 6 months post birth or at least as long as you breastfeed for. If your having any symptoms of chronic exhaustion, low mood or anxiety, poor memory or concentration, frequent infections, insomnia and headaches, these may be signs that you are struggling with post-natal depletion and might require some tests to ascertain certain vitamin and mineral levels in your body, along with more targeted supplementation. For example, getting your iron levels or thyroid function tested could be helpful. In these instances, working with a qualified nutritional therapist such as myself can be really useful to help create a personalised plan for your post partum recovery, which may include specific testing, supplementation and dietary recommendations for your individual health status.

If you would like to find out what your individual requirements are to keep you and baby healthy post-natally, or would like help to find the best post-natal supplement for you, book your free enquiry chat with me today by clicking the below link

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