During the lactation period, the child may need a group of vitamins. Follow the following article to learn about lactation vitamins.

Breast milk contains many lactation vitamins that are important for the good development of the baby, with the mother sometimes needing to take some nutritional supplements.

Here is an explanation of lactation vitamins

The importance of lactation vitamins

The World Health Organization recommends the importance of breastfeeding, especially during the first six months of pregnancy, because of the many benefits of breast milk.

The benefit of breast milk lies in the fact that it contains many lactation vitamins that are important for the infant to develop normally.

The mother''s intake of nutritional supplements and lactation vitamins is important to ensure that the milk contains all the necessary nutrients. Also, good nutrition for the mother during pregnancy, and some physiological and environmental factors, are among the things that affect the milk''s containment of lactation vitamins.

Doctors usually recommend taking some lactation vitamins, because they are not available in sufficient quantities in breast milk.

Types of lactation vitamins

There are many lactation vitamins that must be included in the components of the milk that the child eats, and they include the following:

1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for the formation of strong bones and teeth in a child''s body, and a child needs daily at least 10 micrograms of vitamin D to help the child grow properly.

In most cases, breast milk does not contain sufficient concentrations of vitamin D, so the mother is always advised to take nutritional supplements that contain it.

The mother''s intake of a daily dose of vitamin D of about 100 micrograms is sufficient to obtain adequate concentrations for the growth of the child.

2. Vitamin B6

Or what is also called pyridoxine, which is one of the types of vitamin B that is found in many foods, such as: legumes, eggs, and is also found in the form of nutritional supplements.

Some research indicates that taking vitamin B6 for a week after giving birth increases the milk secretion well in the mother.

3. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is present in large quantities in breast milk, especially in the first days after birth, which is what makes breast milk yellow.

Therefore, infants who do not receive breast milk need higher amounts of vitamin A in their formula.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is essential for maintaining healthy membranes of the eyes and lungs and protecting them from damage.

There is adequate amounts of vitamin E in breast milk, so it is not necessary to take it as a supplement.

5. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants that heal wounds and strengthen the immune system. There is a good amount of vitamin C in breast milk, and there is no need for the mother to take excessive amounts of it.

In the event that the child is not breastfed, it is preferable to have a good amount of vitamin C in his milk formula.

6. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin in the metabolism of folic acid, a deficiency of which in children leads to some neurological problems.

It is usually recommended to take vitamin B12 after childbirth to reach appropriate concentrations of it in breast milk.

Vitamin B12 deficiency in women is associated with some problems related to malnutrition, or poor absorption in the digestive system.

7. Folic acid

Folic acid is important for the manufacture of proteins in the infant''s body, and it is present in low concentrations in the first days of birth and then increases with the passage of time.

Mothers most in need of nutritional supplements

Some mothers may need to take nutritional supplements that contain lactation vitamins more than others, because of the following:

The birth of a child with some health risks, such as: low weight.

Mother following a bad diet during pregnancy or being a vegetarian.

The mother underwent weight loss surgery.

The doctor determines whether the mother really needs nutritional supplements based on the tests that are done during pregnancy.