Taking a daily multivitamin during breastfeeding makes breast milk more nutritious for the baby.

Early and ExclusiveBreastfeeding

A baby’s best startfor the first 6 months

Make sure you eat before taking your multivitamin.

You should take 1 capsule every day.

Drink liquids to help swallow your multivitamin.

How to take a Multivitamin Capsule

Every day you take your multivitamin, mark the matching date on the calendar.

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Track Your Daily Multivitamins:

Babies who are breastfed: • Developaspecialbondwiththeirmother • Arelesslikelytogetsick • HaveamuchlowerriskofSIDS

(SuddenInfantDeathSyndrome) • Arelesslikelytodevelopdiarrhea.

Mothers who breastfeed: • Recoverfromchildbirthmorequicklythan

mothers who do not breastfeed • Developaspecialbondwiththeirchild • Havealowerriskofdevelopingbreastcancer

and ovarian cancer later in life • Havealowerriskofdiabetesandpostpartum

depression

Nutrition and breastfeeding:

• Feedyourbabyassoonasyoucanafterdelivery.Your newborn should breastfeed within an hour after birth and will need to feed 10 or more times in a 24-hour period.

• Colostrum is the milk you will make in the first few days after the birth of your baby, and istheperfectfoodforyournewborn.Itis highly nutritious and strengthens a baby’s immunesystem.Ithelpspreventjaundice,viruses, and infections.

• Breastmilkisalsoanimportantsourceofenergy and nutrients in children aged 6 months up to 2years.Itcanprovidehalformoreofachild’senergy needs between 6 months and 1 year of age, and one third of the energy needs for children 1 to 2 years of age.

• Motherswhobreastfeedtheirbabiesneedslightly more food.

• Eatanutritious diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, lean meats, and dairy products.

• Breastfeedingwomenhaveanincreasedneedforvitaminsandminerals.Adaily multivitamin is an excellent way to help meet this need, since many women don’t get enough nutrients through food alone.

• Yourneedforfluids increases while you are breastfeeding. Drink plenty of water!

Breastfeeding has many benefitsBreast milk is the perfect food for your baby. It has all the nutrients your baby needs. Babies should begin breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life. How long should I breastfeed?

• Yourbabyshouldhaveonlybreastmilkforthefirst6months.Itisrecommendedthatyour baby continues breastfeeding for one year or longer.

• At6months,yourchildshouldbereadytoadd solid foods to their diet (in addition to breastmilk).

What about feeding my baby formula? • Yourbodycanmakeenoughmilktofeedyour

babyforitsfirst6monthsoflife.Unlessthereis a medical need, it is best if your baby only consumesbreastmilk.Breastfeedingismoreeconomical than purchasing formula to feed your baby, too!

Where can I go for help with breastfeeding? • Talktoyourdoctor,nurse,ormidwifewith

any questions you may have. Most hospitals evenhavebreastfeedingspecialistsonstafftohelp you breastfeed. Other mothers are great resources, too.

What’s the next step? • Tomeetthegrowingneedsofyourbaby,you

can start feeding solid foods when they are 6 months of age. Good food options to com-plementbreastfeedingincludeiron-fortifiedbaby cereal mixed with breast milk, or pureed vegetables, fruits, and meats.

• Breastfeedingshouldnotbedecreasedwhenstarting on solids.

• Foodshouldbegivenwithaspoonorcup,notin a bottle.

• Foodshouldbecleanandsafe. • Ampletimeisneededforyoungchildrento

learn to eat solid foods.

Common Questions