Do I need postnatal vitamins?
Just vitamin D, for most new mums. Take 10 micrograms a day, at least in autumn and winter. But if you breastfeed, your tablet doesn’t cover your baby. They need their own drops.
On this page
Do I need postnatal vitamins?
Most new mums need one: vitamin D. The NHS says everyone, including breastfeeding women, should consider 10 micrograms a day in autumn and winter.
The rest usually comes from food. The NHS says you can usually get all the other vitamins and minerals you need from a varied, balanced diet.
| Supplement | How much | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | 10 micrograms a day | Everyone, from October to March. All year if you have darker skin, are rarely outdoors or cover most of your skin. |
| Vitamin B12 | As your GP or health visitor advises | Vegan or other restricted diets. Foods with added B12 may do instead. |
| Folic acid | 400 micrograms a day | Anyone planning another baby, ideally from 3 months before trying until 12 weeks pregnant. |
| Iron | Only if a test shows you need it | People a GP finds are low in iron. |
Sources: NHS: breastfeeding and diet; NICE NG247; NHS: pregnancy vitamins
Find your row, then check the tablet you already have against it.
Which vitamins do I need when breastfeeding?
The same vitamin D, at the same 10 micrograms. NICE gives one dose for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding. You don’t need a special breastfeeding diet.
Got a 25 microgram tablet? That’s still within NHS limits. The NHS says don’t take more than 100 micrograms a day, as it could be harmful, and that 10 is enough for most people.
- Below 10 micrograms a dayBelow the NHS daily amount.
- 10 up to 100 micrograms a dayWithin NHS advice. 10 suits most people.
- Above 100 micrograms a dayOver the NHS limit. Could be harmful.
Source: NHS: vitamin D
Some labels give IU (international units) instead. 10 micrograms is 400 IU, and 100 micrograms is 4,000 IU.
Vegan? Ask your GP or health visitor about B12. See signs of low B12.
Does my baby need vitamin D if I take it?
Yes, if you breastfeed. Your tablet is for you. The drops are for your baby.
The NHS says breastfed babies need 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day from birth, whether or not you take vitamin D yourself.
| How your baby feeds | Daily drops | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfed, birth to 6 months | Vitamin D, 8.5 to 10 micrograms | Needed whether or not you take vitamin D. |
| Breastfed, 6 to 12 months | Vitamins A, C and D | The UK advice for this age. |
| Less than 500ml of formula a day | Vitamin drops | Healthy Start says they can have drops. |
| 500ml of formula or more a day | None | Formula already has vitamins added. |
Sources: NHS: vitamins for children; NICE NG247; Healthy Start
Give one product only. The NHS says don’t give cod liver oil and vitamin drops together, because cod liver oil has vitamins A and D too.
Your health visitor can tell you where to get drops.
Is a postnatal multivitamin worth it?
Only if it matches your row in the first table. For more on multis, see do I need a multivitamin.
Look for 10 micrograms of vitamin D. If you take more than one product, add up the vitamin D, and keep the total under 100 micrograms.
Breastfeeding and taking folic acid? The NHS says it’s usually fine, but check with a pharmacist or doctor first.
Some vitamins are free. Healthy Start tablets hold folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin D. You can get them until your baby’s 1st birthday, if you qualify for the scheme (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Looking for a supplement to boost milk supply? The NHS diet page doesn’t list one. Call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 for help with feeding.
Your postnatal vitamin checklist
- Take 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, at least from October to March.
- Take it all year if you have darker skin, are rarely outdoors or cover most of your skin.
- Keep your total vitamin D under 100 micrograms a day.
- If you breastfeed, give your baby 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D drops a day from birth.
- Planning another baby? Take 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, ideally from 3 months before trying until 12 weeks pregnant.
Sources: NHS: breastfeeding and diet; NHS: vitamin D; NHS: vitamins for children
Do I need iron after birth?
Only if you’re low. The NHS says iron deficiency anaemia is often caused by blood loss or pregnancy, so it’s worth knowing the signs.
Signs include tiredness, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats, paler skin or headaches. A GP will usually check with a blood test. See low iron levels.
If you need iron tablets, the NHS says you can usually take them while breastfeeding. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.
Losing hair or feeling foggy? Read postpartum hair loss and postnatal brain fog.
Your 6 to 8 week postnatal check is a good time to ask about vitamins. You can request it yourself.
When to speak to a GP
Book an appointment if:
- You think you might have iron deficiency anaemia: tiredness and lack of energy, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats, paler skin than usual or headaches.
- You’re feeling sad or anxious, or have other worries about your mental health. Tell your doctor or health visitor.
- You eat a vegan or other restricted diet and want advice on B12.
- You take other medicines and want to start folic acid. Tell your doctor first.
- You’re planning another baby and you or the baby’s father has a neural tube defect (a problem with how a baby’s spine or brain forms), a relative of either of you has one, you’ve had a pregnancy affected by one, you have diabetes, you have a blood condition such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia, or you take medicine for epilepsy or HIV. A GP can prescribe a higher dose of folic acid.
Taken more multivitamin tablets with folic acid than the label says? Get help from NHS 111.