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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Why Should Postpartum Mothers Continue To Take Prenatal Vitamins?

I m a nursing student, and I am filling out a drug card on prenatal vitamins. I need a good explanation for why postpartum mothers, breastfeeding or not, should continue to take prenatal vitamins. And, I need a better answer that It continues to provide them with essential vitamins and minerals, which is the best answer I have.
Sat, 1 Feb 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi and welcome to HCM. To meet increased nutrition needs during lactation, lactating women need more energy and vitamins from nutritious foods to meet their increased needs. Another important nutrient that lactating women need more of is folate, since this is excreted in breast milk at the mother’s expense. This means that if a mother isn’t getting enough for both herself and her baby, her body will pull from her own stores to ensure there is enough in the breast milk- putting her at risk of folate deficiency. Since prenatal vitamins provide higher amounts of folate, it’s a good idea to continue taking them throughout lactation. If desired, a regular multivitamin can be taken plus an additional folate supplement. A prenatal vitamin will fill in any vitamin and mineral gaps that a woman may not have received from her daily diet. Since lactating women burn an extra 500 calories each day (even more than during pregnancy) they need to replenish these calories and they need extra calories. Regards
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Why Should Postpartum Mothers Continue To Take Prenatal Vitamins?

Hi and welcome to HCM. To meet increased nutrition needs during lactation, lactating women need more energy and vitamins from nutritious foods to meet their increased needs. Another important nutrient that lactating women need more of is folate, since this is excreted in breast milk at the mother’s expense. This means that if a mother isn’t getting enough for both herself and her baby, her body will pull from her own stores to ensure there is enough in the breast milk- putting her at risk of folate deficiency. Since prenatal vitamins provide higher amounts of folate, it’s a good idea to continue taking them throughout lactation. If desired, a regular multivitamin can be taken plus an additional folate supplement. A prenatal vitamin will fill in any vitamin and mineral gaps that a woman may not have received from her daily diet. Since lactating women burn an extra 500 calories each day (even more than during pregnancy) they need to replenish these calories and they need extra calories. Regards