When it comes to taking dietary or herbal supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding, it's important to be aware of the potential risks. While supplementing with some micronutrients and herbs is safe for pregnant women, many of them should be avoided or avoided in large quantities. Always check with your doctor before adding any additional supplements, in addition to any prenatal vitamins you are taking. It's worth paying attention to making sure you're getting enough nutrients such as calcium, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin B12 and DHA while breastfeeding, but supplements aren't a must for everyone.
Biotin, or vitamin B7, is an essential nutrient that plays a key role in metabolic function and is found in foods such as beef, salmon and eggs. Despite what you've heard, research shows that it probably won't help your hair regain its luster during pregnancy. Supplementing is generally considered safe if you're having trouble filling up your biotin dose, as long as your doctor gives you the green light first. Just stick with an option that provides the recommended 35 mcg daily and avoid taking very high doses. Are you thinking of trying collagen supplements to improve your skin or nails? Studies have shown that collagen is safe for the general population, but there isn't much research that focuses specifically on breastfeeding or pregnant women.
Therefore, the safest thing is to wait until after weaning. Magnesium plays a role in more than 300 biochemical functions in the body, including the entry of calcium into bones. It's important to make sure you consume the recommended 310 mg (for women ages 19 to 30) and 320 mg (for people age 31 and older) a day while breastfeeding, although women who breastfeed aren't particularly at risk of a deficiency. In addition, supplemental magnesium can be harmful at high doses. So, try to get the mineral from foods such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, peanut butter, and black beans.
If your doctor determines that you're not meeting the requirements, you can discuss options for taking supplements safely. Do you have trouble following that old advice about sleeping when your baby sleeps (even if you're exhausted)? While melatonin is often used as a sleep aid, try following sleep strategies without supplements to help you fall asleep. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there isn't enough research on melatonin to determine if it's safe for women who breastfeed or for pregnant women. Add a spoonful of ground turmeric to your cooking if you want. But avoid taking turmeric capsules or supplements to improve your health until after weaning.
While culinary doses of the spice are generally considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, not much is known about the safety or risks of taking turmeric pills according to the NCCIH. If you must take an herbal or homeopathic supplement, talk to your doctor first and be cautious. If you're having trouble getting the recommended 2.8 mcg a day through food, talk to your doctor about taking supplements. Take the smallest dose you can and take the supplement right after breastfeeding to minimize the amount of the supplement that could end up in breast milk, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). That said, a daily multivitamin supplement (or the prenatal vitamin you took during pregnancy) can act as an insurance policy to help cover any nutritional gaps. The debate about the benefits of dietary supplements and herbal remedies goes beyond the rational need to use them for specific indications during pregnancy.
A survey presents a series of publications on cases of proven harmful effects after the use of herbal preparations during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) include vitamins, dietary supplements, aromatherapy, and homeopathic products. A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time but it's especially important if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. And unlike pharmaceutical products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't require supplements to be tested or proven safe before they go to market. The review rejects popular understanding about the safety and potential benefits of herbal products for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always do your research to make sure you're buying a safe product; buy only supplements that have been certified by NSF International or USP; and talk to your doctor first.
