A big part of recovering from having a baby is properly taking care of yourself. I️ definitely didn’t do a great job of this with my first daughter, but I️ quickly learned that it was important before having my second! There is of course the obvious – taking care of your mental health – after pregnancy, but also certain things that help you physically recover over time. That’s where these vitamins and supplements for postpartum moms come into play.
My Favorite Vitamins and Supplements for Postpartum
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I️ will obviously start by saying that you should always consult your doctor before starting anything new, especially while pregnant or breastfeeding. The products that I️’m recommending are things I️’m comfortable using at this point, but it’s worth confirming their safety with your own doctor for peace of mind!
Prenatal Gummy Vitamins – I’ve basically been taking prenatal vitamins since 2013. Doctors always recommend starting them before getting pregnant and then continuing while nursing, and that has basically been my life for the past 6-7 years(!). They include higher levels of iron and folic acid than a regular multivitamin. I️ have to take gummy vitamins because regular vitamins make me nauseous for some reason!
Collagen – I️’ve professed my love of collagen many times, but it’s a very helpful supplement for postpartum moms since it can improve your hair and skin. If you’ve ever had a baby, you probably know postpartum hair loss is insane! I️ also dealt with terrible skin after my first daughter was born (which is when I️ finally started splurging on skincare), but consistently using collagen has made a huge difference in my overall skin tone and texture. I️ just put a scoop in my coffee in the morning!
Lactation Support – I️ was taking all. the. supplements. with my first daughter to maintain my supply, since I️ was working in an office and had to pump. I️ found that fenugreek worked well for me, and that’s what I️ continue to reach for when my supply dips a bit (for my 2nd and 3rd daughters, it usually coincided with either me having a cold or not drinking enough water). I️ noticed my supply dropped a bit since I️ started working out at Burn Boot Camp, which is a lot more intense than Pure Barre, so I️ have been taking these lactation supplements regularly.
Protein Powder – I️ often have a hard time getting enough protein in my daily diet, so I️ like to use protein powder in protein pancakes, oatmeal or a smoothie. Since I️ don’t eat dairy, my protein powder options are more limited, but I️’ve found one that I️ really love.
Elderberry Gummies – My whole family jumped on the elderberry train over a year ago and we’ve never looked back! My girls used to get every illness that went around their preschool, but I️ noticed a decrease this past school year with them consistently taking elderberry gummies. I️ tried not to take elderberry during pregnancy, but I️ started taking them again after having Brynn to help keep myself healthy and not pass any germs along to her. I️ don’t know how much credit goes to elderberry for this, but my husband has been sick twice since we moved to Charlotte and I️ didn’t get it either time!
Melatonin – I️ noticed that getting to sleep at night had become more of a struggle over the past few years, but I️ was afraid to try melatonin despite the good things I️’ve heard about it. With Brynn waking me up in the middle of the night, I️ was finding it hard to get back to sleep and I️ was waking up exhausted most mornings – so I️ finally decided to try melatonin. I️ chose an extremely small dose (and I only take half a dose) and the one I️ take also has L-Theanine, which is good for promoting relaxation. It truly makes all the difference and I️ am so much more well-rested when I️ take this.
Probiotic – I️’ve taken probiotics off and on over the past few years, but had stopped for a while because I️ didn’t like the one I️ was using. I️ finally did some research and landed on this one and I️ really like it. My girls also take their own probiotic and I️ think that, along with elderberry, has really helped them avoid sickness – so hopefully mine has the same impact!
Cranberry Extract – I️ never had any issues with UTIs, but I️ dealt with a persistent one after having my third baby. I️ ended up taking two antibiotics (which I️ don’t love, but it was necessary) and it finally went away. After that, I️ researched and researched because I️ didn’t want it to happen again. I️ started by adding a cranberry extract supplement to my daily routine and also the probiotic I️ mentioned above helps, because it has d-mannose (which is good for preventing UTIs).
I️ know some people are hesitant to buy vitamins and supplements for postpartum on Amazon, but I️ always make sure to carefully read reviews and research brands before purchasing. So far, I️’ve had only positive experiences and I️ find that Amazon generally has better pricing, especially if you do the Subscribe & Save option (which is great for those vitamins and supplements you take daily!).
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Jaclyn from Coffee, Pancakes, and Dreams
Brittany from Dreams and Coffee
Mary Leigh from Live Well Play Together
Tiffany from Lake Life State of Mind
Lindsay from Lindsay’s Sweet World
Keri from Cultivate an Intentional Life
The best way to take care of your own babies is to take care of yourself first! We’ve also buy vitamins on Amazon and have never had an issue.
That is so very true! You can’t pour from an empty cup <3
Orgain is my favorite protein powder and I just started taking collagen. So many great ideas here!
Orgain is so good! If you haven’t tried the Peanut Butter Chocolate flavor yet, definitely give it a try! <3