Breastfeeding vitamins

The most important vitamins during breastfeeding are vitamin D (essential for the baby's bone growth), vitamin B12 (essential for neurological development), and vitamin C (which supports the immune system). Calcium, magnesium and iron are also crucial to prevent deficiencies and maintain the mother's energy levels.

During breastfeeding, nutritional needs increase to meet both your needs and those of your developing baby. Here are some essential nutrients during this period:

Proteins: essential for growth and tissue repair, they are crucial for milk production. The requirement is more than twice the average recommended intake for women.

Vitamin B6, B12, and folates: they contribute to energy metabolism and the development of the baby's nervous system. 

Vitamin D: it contributes to calcium metabolism and supports the immune system. Our vitamin D breastfeeding Sunny Mummy covers your increased needs.

Calcium: essential for bone health and the baby's rapid development. 

DHA: the omega-3 fatty acid crucial for the healthy development of the baby's brain and vision. It is also essential for the mother's brain and mental wellbeing. Our omega 3 pregnancy is perfectly suited to the needs of breastfeeding mothers. 

Iron: after childbirth, blood loss increases the risk of anaemia. Iron is also essential for maintaining good energy levels. Taking our iron supplement for pregnant women can be continued during breastfeeding. 

Iodine: very important for the baby's brain development and the proper functioning of the mother's thyroid.

Zinc and vitamin C: they support the immune system and promote good healing after childbirth. 

Magnesium: involved in muscle and nerve function and energy metabolism, it is essential for maintaining energy levels, reducing stress and supporting emotional wellbeing. Our magnesium bisglycinate Mama-gnésium helps to cover your needs.

A varied and balanced diet should cover your needs, but supplements may be necessary in certain cases to ensure adequate levels in the body. 

You may need to take breastfeeding vitamins, as nutritional needs are very high during breastfeeding. Micronutrient requirements increase compared to pregnancy, with the exception of vitamins D and K, calcium, fluoride, magnesium and phosphorus. Requirements for vitamins A, B6 and C, iodine and zinc increase by more than 50% for breastfeeding mothers. 

For DHA, it can also be difficult to meet your needs and those of your child, as reserves have been depleted during pregnancy. Moreover, the level of this compound in breast milk depends on your intake, so it is important to consume enough to support your child's healthy development. 

According to studies by ANSES and a recent survey conducted in 2024 covering 15 years of data, it appears that adults do not consume sufficient amounts of vitamins A, C, D, E, K, as well as choline, magnesium, calcium and potassium.

These deficiencies are largely due to factors such as soil depletion linked to modern farming practices (crop rotation, use of chemicals), pollution, the consumption of processed foods, and today's lifestyle. For example, for many raw fruits and vegetables, notable decreases have been observed in proteins, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin C. These reductions range from 6% for proteins to 38% for riboflavin. In particular, sweetcorn, red-skinned potatoes, cauliflower, green beans, green peas and chickpeas have seen their iron content drop by 30 to 50%.

It may therefore be worth taking a breastfeeding food supplement in order to meet her own needs and those of her child. Being mindful of what you eat is partly for yourself, to avoid deficiencies and fatigue. It is also to ensure that all essential nutrients are passed on to your baby (in some cases your body draws on your reserves to transfer them into milk, and for certain compounds this depends on what you consume). 

It may be worth taking them to ensure all your needs are covered. A varied and balanced diet is not always sufficient to prevent deficiencies. 

For many trace elements (except iodine and selenium), the level in breast milk remains stable regardless of the mother's status, which could worsen any existing maternal deficiencies (our body will find ways to source enough at our own expense). The same applies to B vitamins and DHA, whose levels in breast milk depend on your intake, and therefore on your diet and any supplementation you may be taking. 

It can also be very beneficial for your health. Postnatal depletion occurs when a mother's body has given up its own nutrients to support foetal growth before birth and during breastfeeding. When these are not replenished, postnatal depletion can occur. This manifests as various symptoms, such as brain fog, exhaustion, memory loss, and even post-partum depression. 

Adequate nutritional status is essential to support breastfeeding, but nutrients alone will not significantly increase milk production. They need to be consumed in sufficient quantities to meet both your needs, which will be reflected in the quality of the milk for certain nutrients (iodine, selenium, vitamin B, etc.) but will not have a major impact on the quantity produced by the body. 

To stimulate your milk supply, the most important thing is to put your baby to the breast frequently, including at night, and for as long as they wish.