Which vitamins should I continue after delivery?

Last reviewed July 23, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineThe priority to continue after delivery is vitamin D (10 mcg / 400 IU daily), recommended for all breastfeeding women, and exclusively breastfed babies usually get their own vitamin D drops too. Take iron only if a blood test shows you're low (common after heavy bleeding or on a plant-based diet), consider a breastfeeding-appropriate multivitamin for gaps while avoiding high-dose vitamin A, and ask about B12 and iodine if vegan; high-dose folic acid is no longer needed unless planning another pregnancy. Confirm specifics with your clinician.

The key one to continue is vitamin D - recommended for all breastfeeding women (10 mcg / 400 IU a day in the UK). Many women also keep taking a supplement while breastfeeding, and your needs depend on your diet, whether you breastfeed, and your iron levels. Confirm specifics with your midwife, health visitor, or GP.

Vitamin D

• Recommended daily for breastfeeding women, and often continued by everyone in autumn and winter.
• Breast milk is naturally low in vitamin D, so exclusively breastfed babies are also usually given their own vitamin D drops.

Iron

• Not routine for everyone, but often needed if you had heavy bleeding, a low blood count, or are vegetarian/vegan.
• Only take iron if a blood test shows you need it - see heavy periods and anemia for the symptom picture. Iron helps counter postpartum fatigue when you're actually low.

Multivitamins and breastfeeding

• A breastfeeding-appropriate multivitamin can cover gaps, but it's not a substitute for a good diet.
• Vitamin A should not be taken in high doses; avoid supplements that push it high.

Vegan or restricted diets

If you're vegan or eat a limited diet, ask about vitamin B12 and iodine, which can run low and matter for you and your breastfed baby.

What you can usually stop

Once you're no longer pregnant, high-dose folic acid taken for neural-tube protection is no longer needed unless you're planning another pregnancy soon.

Continue vitamin D as the priority, add iron only if tested low, and get individual advice for restricted diets.

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