Breastfeeding mothers who struggle to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet may find a multivitamin supplement useful. The Centrum vitamin product line offers a variety of multivitamin supplements, but does not have a specific product geared toward the needs of nursing mothers. If you are interested in taking a Centrum multivitamin supplement, talk to your doctor to learn about which products would be most appropriate for your specific situation.
Vitamin and Mineral Intake
The recommended dietary allowances of many vitamins and minerals are higher for breastfeeding women than for those that are not breastfeeding. Ideally, you should strive to meet your additional vitamin and mineral requirements when breastfeeding by increasing the amount of nutrient-rich foods you eat. Foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain bread and cereal, dairy products, lean meats, fish and legumes. However, some women may not be able or willing to eat an appropriate breastfeeding diet. These women may benefit from taking a multivitamin supplement like Centrum vitamins. Always talk to your doctor to determine if supplementation is right for you.
Centrum Vitamins
The Centrum brand offers vitamin supplements specifically geared toward a certain gender, age group or lifestyle. Although Centrum supplements contain similar contents, the specific amount of each vitamin or mineral varies depending on the product. Most Centrum products will meet some, but not all, of a breastfeeding woman's vitamin and mineral requirements. In addition, some Centrum products contain supplemental herbal ingredients, such as ginkgo biloba and ginseng. Although some herbal ingredients are safe to use while breastfeeding, others are not. Always check the ingredient list on the bottle of your Centrum vitamin supplement. If there is any ingredient that concerns you, call a doctor for advice.
Recommended Dietary Allowances
While you are breastfeeding, your recommended dietary allowance is 1,200 to 1,300 mcg of vitamin A, 115 to 120 mg of vitamin C, 15 mcg of vitamin D, 19 mg of vitamin E, 1.4 mg of thiamin, 1.6 mg of riboflavin, 17 mg of niacin, 2.0 mg of vitamin B-6, 500 mg of folate, 2.8 mcg of vitamin B-12, 7 mg of pantothenic acid, 35 mcg of biotin and 550 mg of choline. The recommended dietary allowances of minerals while breastfeeding is 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium, 9 to 10 mg of iron, 310 to 360 mg of magnesium, 700 to 1,250 mg of phosphorus, 12 to 13 mg of zinc and 5.1 g of potassium. Keep in mind that the recommended dietary allowances are just guidelines. Your doctor may recommend additional amounts, especially if you are deficient in a certain vitamin or mineral or if you have a medical condition that interferes with the way your body absorbs these nutrients.
Considerations
Women's breast milk is generally not affected by nutritional intake unless a severe deficiency or malnourishment is present, and most women in the United States do not have this problem, notes the breastfeeding website KellyMom.com. Getting too much of certain vitamins, particularly vitamins A and E, may even be dangerous. These vitamins are stored in the body and concentrate in breast milk, and the excess amounts may harm a breastfeeding baby. On the other hand, getting extra vitamins or minerals may have certain benefits as well. For example, water-soluble vitamins may increase breast milk levels. When deciding whether or not to use a Centrum multivitamin supplement, always talk to your doctor to make sure you are getting an appropriate and safe amount of each vitamin and mineral.
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