Do I need to continue on prenatals?

Question

I am only nursing at night now, and I do pump during the day . I give formula in between with DHA and ARA in it. Do I need to continue pre-natals? Or can I resume my regular woman's once a day vitamins?

Answer 1

if the womens vitamins are suitable for those nursing, then i cant see why not.

Nichola x*x

Answer 2

yes my doctor said it helps your hair not to fall out : )  

Answer 3

"If you eat a reasonably-well balanced diet, vitamin supplements are not considered necessary for breastfeeding mothers.

This is even true for mothers who are eating for three during tandem nursing, or while breastfeeding during pregnancy (see Nutrition for mom in our Nursing During Pregnancy and Tandem Nursing FAQ).

According to Nutrition During Lactation (Hamosh, 1991):

"The evidence does not warrant routine vitamin-mineral supplementation of lactating women... Encourage lactating women to follow dietary guidelines that promote a generous intake of nutrients from fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, calcium-rich dairy products, and protein-rich foods such as meats, fish and legumes. Such a diet would ordinarily supply a sufficient quantity of essential nutrients... Encourage sufficient intake of fluids -- especially water, juice, and milk -- to alleviate natural thirst. It is not necessary to encourage fluid intake above this level... Calcium, multivitamin-mineral supplements, or both may be advised when dietary sources are marginal and it is unlikely that appropriate dietary practices will or can be followed.""

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/vitami...

"Formula Supplements.  In the randomized trial, one group received a standard formula, another group received a formula that had been supplemented with DHA from fish oil, and a third group received a formula supplemented with both DHA and arachidonic acid from an egg phospholipid.

Outcome Measures.  Mental and Motor Scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 12 months of age; vocabulary and gesture communication scores from the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories at 14 months of age.

Results.  There were no statistically significant differences for either the Bayley Mental Scale or the Bayley Motor Scale, neither when the analysis was restricted to the three randomized formula groups nor when the analysis included all four groups. However, the DHA formula group had significantly lower scores on two of the MacArthur scales: the DHA group scored lower than the nonrandomized human milk comparison group on the Vocabulary Comprehension Scale, and the DHA group scored lower than the randomized control formula group on the Vocabulary Production Scale. Moreover, additional analyses both in the formula groups and in the human milk comparison group found significant negative correlations between DHA levels and vocabulary outcomes.

Conclusion.  We believe that additional research should be undertaken before the introduction of these supplements into standard infant formulas."

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cg...

Answer 4

You can go  ahead and resume your once a day, most people continue prenatal because it is easier to swallow and some say digest (?). As an WHP, there is really no harm in using prenatal as a vitamin for you we do them ever day, however if you feel more comfortable with your once a day go ahead that is just as good. The difference between the two is prenatal has more folic acid, and other supplements including fiber. If you can maintain a well balance diet , you do not even need one a day for women. On the other hand if you have some sort of anemia that requires supplement then go ahead.

Answer 5

You should continue some type of vitamin, I would think just the womans vitamin would be okay, although prenatals have added benefits. And no it does not help your hair not to fall out. My son is 6 months and I have been taking prenatals since getting pregnant and my hair is still falling out in clumps.  If your not paying much more for the prenatals though than the regular, I would stick to them just to be safe. But as long as you've got something you should be fine. Maybe call and ask your OB.