Isn’t it amazing how your body can create new life? You now have your little bundle of joy in your arms. But that doesn’t mean care for your body stops. Hence, this is where breastfeeding supplements come into play and can greatly help you recover from pregnancy and childbirth.
According to experts, several nutrients in your body are depleted during pregnancy and breastfeeding, such as folate, calcium and vitamin B6. And if you’re a breastfeeding mother, you’ll need to take sufficient vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D, DHA, choline, and iodine. By doing that, you can produce quality milk that ensures optimal development for your baby.
Why take breastfeeding supplements? 
Experts recommend that on top of a well-balanced diet, nursing mothers should consume breastfeeding supplements. It should be for as long as they are breastfeeding.
And even if a new mother is not breastfeeding, doctors recommend the intake of breastfeeding supplements. Duration should be for at least six months postpartum.
Why six months? This is because breastfeeding supplements nourish your body with a unique range of nutritional needs that your breastfeeding supplements may not necessarily provide. Hence, it is important to consider which brand of postnatal supplements is best suited for your body.
Drinking breastfeeding supplements
Postnatal supplements and vitamins are typically taken by new mothers to help support their nutritional needs after giving birth. Here is a general guide for how to take postnatal supplements and vitamins:
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Read the label: Before taking any supplement or vitamin, it’s important to read the label and instructions carefully to ensure you are taking the right dosage and following any other recommendations or precautions.
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Check with your healthcare provider: Generally, it’s always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or vitamin regimen, especially if you are breastfeeding or have any underlying health conditions.
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Take the supplement or vitamin as directed: At any rate, follow the instructions on the label or as directed by your healthcare provider. This may involve taking the supplement or vitamin at a specific time of day, with or without food, or in combination with other supplements or medications.
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Store the supplement or vitamin properly: Basically, store your supplements and vitamins according to the instructions on the label. Some supplements and vitamins may need to be kept in a cool, dry place, while others may need to be refrigerated.
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Keep track of your supplements and vitamins: Moreover, it’s important to keep track of which supplements and vitamins you are taking and when you take them. This can help you remember to take them consistently and can also be helpful for your healthcare provider to know.
Additionally, it’s important to note that postnatal supplements and vitamins are not a substitute for a balanced diet and should not be used to replace food.
Hence, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about your specific nutritional needs after giving birth and follow their recommendations.
What do babies get from breastfeeding supplements?
Generally, postnatal supplements are nutritional products that are designed to help support the nutritional needs of new mothers after giving birth. Basically, they may contain a variety of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other compounds. Basically, anything that is important for the health and well-being of new mothers.
Additionally, babies do not typically take postnatal supplements directly. However, if a mother is breastfeeding, the nutrients in the supplements she takes may be passed on to the baby through her breast milk.
Moreover, some postnatal supplements may also contain ingredients that are believed to support the production and quality of breast milk. With that, it can indirectly benefit the baby.
Hence, it’s important to note that postnatal supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet and should not be used to replace food. At any rate, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider about your specific nutritional needs after giving birth and follow their recommendations.
9 best breastfeeding supplements for mums
With a lot on your plate as a new mum, choosing the right breastfeeding supplements may not be on top of your list. But you don’t have to worry because we’ve rounded up the best breastfeeding supplements that you can choose from.
| Best for… |
Brand |
| Best Postnatal Vitamin for Increasing Breast Milk Supply |
Actif Organic Postnatal 25+ Vitamins |
| Best Overall Vitamins |
MegaFood Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins |
| Best All-in-One Vitamin |
Mama Bird Postnatal Multi + 100% Natural Vitamins |
| Best Postnatal Vitamin for Postpartum Depression |
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Postnatal Vitamins |
| Best Vegan Postnatal Vitamin |
NATURELO Postnatal Multivitamin |
| Best Postnatal Vitamin for Tea Lovers |
Pink Stork Recovery Bundle |
| Best Postnatal Vitamin for Mothers with MTHFR |
Mama’s Select Postnatal Plus Vitamins |
| Best Low-Constipation Postnatal Vitamin |
Blackmores Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding Advanced |
| Best Softgel Postnatal Vitamin |
Nature Made Postnatal Multivitamin
|
Best Breastfeeding Supplements for Mums
Best Postnatal Vitamin for Increasing Breast Milk Supply
If you are struggling with your milk supply, give the Actif Organic Postnatal 25+ Vitamins a try. Not only do these breastfeeding supplements contain all the essential nutrients to support healthy brain development in babies, it also helps in boosting your energy level and mood as well.
Breastfeeding mothers can expect an increase in milk supply by up to 50%, and there is also feedback about an oversupply!
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, Gluten-free, BPA-free
- No after-taste
- Increases milk production
- All natural ingredients
Best Overall Vitamins
If you want to avoid the hassle of switching breastfeeding supplements throughout your journey of pregnancy and breastfeeding, MegaFood Prenatal & Postnatal Vitamins are the breastfeeding supplements for you.
Made from organic fruits and vegetable extracts, these postnatal supplements are tested and free from more than 125 herbicides and pesticides.
Since you’re already consuming these postnatal supplements from pregnancy, you don’t have to worry about any digestive issues it may cause your newborn.
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, Gluten-free, no dairy, soy or glyphosate residue
- Vegetarian postnatal supplements
- Prenatal and postnatal vitamins in one
- All natural ingredients
Best All-in-One Vitamin
Nothing is more convenient than the all-in-one Mama Bird Postnatal Multi + 100% Natural Vitamins, which contains more than 25 vitamins in addition to folic acid and B12.
Just one capsule from these postnatal vitamins contains enough nutrients to sustain you for a day, as well as boosting your energy and increasing your milk flow.
A neuro-nutritional postnatal supplement and postnatal vitamins that support your brain health, this postnatal vitamins is truly an all-in-one!
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, Gluten-free, no dairy, soy or yeast
- Vegetarian
- Increases milk production
- All natural ingredients
- Improves mood, sleep, memory and focus
Best Postnatal Vitamin for Postpartum Depression
This is the official postnatal vitamins of the American Pregnancy Association, so the Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Postnatal Vitamins is the ideal supplement to take if you are experiencing postpartum depression and mood swings, two common struggles after giving birth.
It gives not only your mood a huge boost but your skin too! This postnatal supplement is lemon flavoured and has no aftertaste. It is also rich in Omega-3, which supports your baby’s neurological development.
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, gluten-free, no dairy or soy
- Omega-3 rich
- Lemon flavour
- Improves mood and postpartum depression
Best Vegan Postnatal Vitamin
If you’re vegan, look no further than the Naturelo Postnatal Multivitamin! The ingredients are all plant-based and contain all the essential vitamins and minerals.
This supplement has also been proven to boost milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. In addition, it provides nourishment for your baby’s brain, heart, and bone development.
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, Gluten-free, no dairy, soy or gelatin
- Vegan
- Increases milk production
- Supports baby’s brain and bone development
Best Postnatal Vitamin for Tea Lovers
For all the tea-loving breastfeeding moms, you’re in luck! This Pink Stork Recovery Bundle comes in a set of three products – a postpartum body tea, a postpartum metabolism tea, and a bottle of postnatal vitamins.
Give your mood and energy level a boost when you drink the strawberry and passionfruit flavoured recovery tea and the herbal sweet Hibiscus metabolism tea, which you can enjoy either hot or cold.
Meanwhile, the postnatal vitamins not only contain all the essential nutrients for you and your baby, it also soothes your mood swings and promotes lactation.
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, Gluten-free, No sugar/sweetener
- Vegetarian
- Bundle of postnatal vitamins and two teas
- Increase milk production
- Improves mood
- Supports speedy postpartum recovery
Best Postnatal Vitamin for MTHFR mothers
What sets Mama’s Select Post-Natal Plus Vitamins apart from other postnatal supplement brands is that it contains MethylFolate and Methylated B vitamins.
These nutrients in this postnatal supplement are ideal for mothers with mutated MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) gene, which can cause higher risk for miscarriages, preeclampsia, or a baby born with birth defects, such as spina bifida.
The postnatal supplement formula helps you relieve the stress of caring for a newborn while boosting your mood and energy level, and is sufficient in providing nutrients to support you in breastfeeding your baby.
Product Highlights:
- Non-GMO, Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Vegetarian postnatal supplement
- Increases milk production
- Supplements for mothers with mutated MTHFR gene
- Improves mood, energy and postpartum depression
Price Comparison Table
Here’s a price table of the best postnatal vitamins for a quick comparison:
Other brands worth trying
Best Low-Constipation Postnatal Vitamin
Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Advanced is a supplement specifically formulated for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Advanced contain a range of nutrients that may be beneficial for both the mother and the developing baby.
The nutrients found in Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Advanced include:
- Folic acid: a B vitamin that is important for the healthy development of the baby’s brain and spinal cord
- Iron: helps to prevent anaemia during pregnancy
- Calcium: essential for the development of the baby’s teeth and bones
- Omega-3 fatty acids: may help to support the development of the baby’s brain and eyes
- Vitamin D: helps the body absorb and use calcium
- Vitamin B6: may help to reduce the risk of morning sickness during pregnancy
Additionally, the Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Advanced have a bioavailable iron form with little constipation and nausea. Moreover, the Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Advanced have 20 vital components found in this food, including 12 vitamins, 7 minerals, and odourless omega-3 fatty acids.
It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any dietary supplement like Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Advanced, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They can help you determine the appropriate dosage and ensure that the supplement is safe for you and your baby.
Product Highlights:
- Enhanced with added Selenium, Biotin, Chromium, Vitamin B5, and higher levels of Vitamin D3.
- A bioavailable, low-constipation and low-nausea form of iron.
- Contains 20 essential nutrients, including 12 vitamins, 7 minerals and odourless omega-3 fatty acids.
Best Softgel Postnatal Vitamin
Nature Made Vitamins (Postnatal) is a dietary supplement specifically formulated for women who have recently given birth. These soft gels from Nature Made Vitamins (Postnatal) are a good option because Nature Made Vitamins (Postnatal) are made with essential vitamins and minerals to help you and your baby.
Additionally, Nature Made Vitamins (Postnatal) are designed to provide essential nutrients that may be lacking in a woman’s diet during the postpartum period.
The Nature Made Vitamins (Postnatal) supplement contains a range of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, iron, and calcium, which may be important for the health and well-being of both the mother and the nursing infant.
It is important to note that while Nature Made Vitamins (Postnatal) supplements can be a useful way to fill nutrient gaps in the diet, they are not intended to replace a healthy, balanced diet and should be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle.
It is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
Tips on buying breastfeeding supplements online
