Multivitamins and Bfing - can I take them?

[Holymoly321]

Can I take multivitamin supplements whilst breastfeeding? DS2 is 12 weeks and I feel I need more vitamins inside me as I'm exhausted etc with having to deal with DS1 who is 2years!

smiling - if these are normal multi-vits, and not something outside the mainstream, they are essentially food supplements, and cannot harm you or your baby.

Your HV should be able to confirm this.

thanks guys. Hey BB! How's it going? have just cat'ed (sp) you so check your email! Two kiddies is hard work my friend, but totally worth it (I hope!) ha ha!

The normal multivitamins DH uses says not to use if pregnant or breastfeeding because of the Vitamin A. I'm still taking pregnancy vitamins while breastfeeding.

Vitamin A is an issue in pregnancy - but it's mega doses of it that's the issue. It's really not an issue in bf....

If the DH say you need to be cautious, then I do wonder why. What on earth do they think will happen if normal multivits are taken?

Multivits when bf best thing since sliced bread imo. I wouldn't take any with vit A in at any time, you can get toxic build up. Most contain betacarotene which the body converts to vit A only if it's needed so safe and no build up. I also wouldn't take any with iron in either for the same reason, it't toxic if you don't need it, body can't easily get rid of it.

No one is suggestng taking mega doses of anything, or more than the manufacturer's recommended dose...talk of 'toxic' is scary and unnecessary. Vitamin A is in infants' and children's vitamin drops. Multivitamins for adults are safe when breastfeeding - and most of these contain Vitamin A.

I disagree. I would chose a multivitamin with vitamin A as betacarotene not one with Vitamin A.

I also wouldn't take iron (unless it was Flurodix) without a blood test from GP to show I was iron deficient.

As I said I think they are a good thing, I take them myself, but I disagree with you on the toxicity issue.