Vitamins and minerals in your diet

Vitamins
Postpartum and breastfeeding moms are encouraged to get the nutrition they need from food instead of supplements. If you eat a balanced diet and get the recommended servings from the “Daily Food Guide,” you probably will not need to continue taking prenatal vitamins. However, you may continue taking your prenatal vitamins after birth for up to six weeks. Check with your health care provider for recommendations.

Vegans
Mothers who are vegetarians and avoid all animal products will need to take vitamin supplements.

Calcium
If you do not eat milk, cheeses, or other calcium-rich dairy foods, talk with your health care provider or a dietitian about taking a calcium supplement.

Iron
If you had a major blood loss during delivery, you may feel especially weak and tired, short of breath and have a poor appetite. The loss of blood has depleted the iron in your body. Here are some suggestions to help replenish your iron stores:

• Eat food high in iron to help your body form new red blood cells. Iron comes in two dietary forms: Iron contained in animal tissue (meat, fish, poultry) and iron in vegetable products. The kind of iron found in meat, poultry and fish is the best choice, because the iron is better absorbed by your body.
  Learn more about iron-rich foods
• Vitamin C will enhance iron absorption, so consume juices or foods high in Vitamin C at the same time as you consume food high in iron.
• Cook with cast iron pots to add more iron to your diet.
• Avoid drinking black tea. Tanic acid, which is naturally found in black tea decreases iron absorption.
• You may need an iron supplement. Check with your healthcare provider.