Many moms wonder whether to keep taking their prenatal vitamin once the baby arrives. The CDC’s answer is “maybe.” It depends on what you eat and what’s in your vitamin, because some of your needs go up while you breastfeed and one goes down.

The short version

  • Some needs rise: while breastfeeding, you need more iodine (290 mcg a day) and choline (550 mg a day), and your needs for vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin A, and folate stay high or go up, according to the CDC.
  • Iron drops: from 27 mg a day in pregnancy to 9 mg. Many prenatals contain 27 mg, so check with your provider about whether yours still fits.
  • A vitamin may help: the CDC says diet alone may not give breastfeeding women enough, and that providers should work with you to decide which supplements are right.
  • Check the label: not every prenatal has iodine or choline, the two nutrients that rise the most.
  • Seafood: the same FDA fish advice applies while breastfeeding: 2 to 3 servings a week of lower-mercury fish.
  • If you could get pregnant again, the CDC’s 400 mcg of folic acid a day still applies.

What changes after birth

Your daily needs shift in both directions when you move from pregnancy to breastfeeding. These amounts come from the NIH and the National Academies’ recommendations for women 19 and older:

Nutrient Pregnant Breastfeeding
Iron 27 mg 9 mg
Folate 600 mcg DFE 500 mcg DFE
Iodine 220 mcg 290 mcg
Choline 450 mg 550 mg
Vitamin B12 2.6 mcg 2.8 mcg
Vitamin D 600 IU (15 mcg) 600 IU (15 mcg)
Omega-3 (ALA) 1.4 g 1.3 g

Iodine and choline are the two that rise. Both pass into breast milk, and both are easy to miss: about 1 in 4 prenatals have no iodine, and fewer than half contain any choline. See Iodine in Pregnancy and Choline in Pregnancy.

Iron works the other way. Most women don’t have periods while breastfeeding, so the amount you need falls. A prenatal with 27 mg is above that, though it’s still under the 45 mg upper limit. If you lost a lot of blood during delivery or have been told you’re anemic, ask your provider about iron. That’s a separate question from your daily vitamin. See Iron Levels in Pregnancy.

Where to get these nutrients

The CDC points to these foods for the nutrients that rise during breastfeeding:

  • Dairy, eggs, meat, and lower-mercury seafood for iodine, choline, and B12
  • Seafood that’s low in mercury but rich in DHA, such as salmon, sardines, and trout
  • Beans, lentils, and dark leafy greens for folate
  • Vitamin A-rich vegetables

Seafood while breastfeeding

Mercury in fish can pass into breast milk and may affect a baby’s developing brain and nervous system, according to the CDC. It recommends the same FDA and EPA advice as in pregnancy: 2 to 3 servings (8 to 12 ounces) a week of fish from the “Best Choices” list, or 1 serving (4 ounces) a week from the “Good Choices” list, and no fish from the “Choices to Avoid.” See DHA and Omega-3s in Pregnancy for the lists.

Calories and caffeine

Breastfeeding mothers generally need an extra 330 to 400 calories a day compared with before pregnancy, according to the CDC. Caffeine passes into milk in small amounts, and about 300 mg a day or less (2 to 3 cups of coffee) usually doesn’t affect a baby. If your baby seems fussy or jittery after you have a lot of caffeine, cut back.

Choosing what to take

The CDC says providers should work with breastfeeding women to decide which supplements make sense. A good time to ask is your postpartum visit. Bring the bottle and ask whether to keep your prenatal, switch to another multivitamin, or add something on its own.

When you read the label, look for:

  • Iodine. The American Thyroid Association recommends that women who are breastfeeding take 150 mcg of iodine a day as potassium iodide, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 150 mcg plus iodized salt, according to the NIH. Your diet adds to this.
  • Choline. Any amount helps, but prenatals usually contain little. Eggs, meat, fish, and dairy are the main sources. See Choline in Pregnancy.
  • Iron. Compare the label with the 9 mg you need now.
  • Folic acid. If you could become pregnant again, the CDC still recommends 400 mcg a day.
  • An independent testing seal from U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF, or ConsumerLab.

Add up everything you take, including any separate iodine or iron, so you stay under the upper limits. The CDC’s iodine and choline amounts apply for as long as you breastfeed.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan

Breastfed babies of women who eat no animal products may get very little vitamin B12, which can put them at risk of nerve damage, according to the CDC. Iron can also be a concern, because plant foods have only the type that’s absorbed less well. The CDC advises that providers work with vegetarian and vegan mothers to decide whether they need supplements of choline, zinc, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, iodine, or omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA). Bring this list to your appointment.

If you have a thyroid condition

Ask your provider before taking an iodine supplement. Too much iodine can cause thyroid problems, and some people react at amounts that are safe for most, according to the NIH.

Your baby’s vitamins

Your baby’s own needs are a separate question. Ask your baby’s pediatrician about vitamin D and iron for your baby. See Iron for Breastfed Babies.

What to do now

  • Bring your prenatal vitamin to your postpartum visit and ask, “Should I keep taking this?”
  • Check the label for iodine, choline, and iron.
  • Keep eating dairy, eggs, and lower-mercury fish if you eat them, and aim for an extra 330 to 400 calories a day.
  • If you’re vegetarian or vegan, ask about B12, iron, iodine, choline, and DHA.
  • If you could become pregnant again, keep getting 400 mcg of folic acid.

Related reading

Sources

Updated November 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your health care provider.