Postnatal care supports the special needs of breast feeding mothers. With essential nutrients in a one-a-day combination, Postnatal Care provides mother and baby with everyday vitamins, minerals and nutrients required during this demanding time.

Recommendations For Use:

• Breast feeding mothers.

Contra-Indications:

• None

Dose:

• Take one tablet daily of:
  - Multi-Vitamin and Mineral
  - Calcium Complex
  - DHA

Contains No:

• WHEAT, GLUTEN, MILK DERIVATIVES, YEAST, SUGAR, FLAVOUR, PRESERVATIVES, ARTIFICIAL COLOUR OR FLAVOUR.

Pack Information:

• Each box contains 20 days supply of 3 important supplements for breastfeeding mothers.

Tablet 1: MULTI-VITAMIN AND MINERAL

Ingredients:

Ingredient Information:

Ferrous Fumarate

• The average iron intake of NZ women during pregnancy is between 11.1 and 14.1 mg daily, considerably less than the recommended 22mg-36mg daily. This can result in low ferritin levels and iron deficiency anaemia in new mothers. There are also iron losses in breast milk (approx. half of what’s normally lost in menstruation).

Spirulina

• A blue-green algae, Spirulina is a natural source of B Complex Vitamins, trace minerals, protein and chlorophyll and helps lift energy levels.

Folic Acid

• The folate content of breast milk is maintained at the expense of maternal folate levels, so it is important for women to have adequate intakes to protect their own health.

Betacarotene

• Is converted into Vitamin A in the body as necessary. A natural antioxidant and protector against free radical damage.

Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6

• Breast feeding women who have a low energy intake will also have low intakes of these nutrients. Breast milk levels of these nutrients reflect maternal intake to a certain extent, if mother is deficient, levels will be lower in breast milk.
  

Vitamin B12

• Inadequate Vitamin B12 intake during breast-feeding will produce breast milk which is also low in B12, putting the baby at risk of deficiency. While very rare this can result in blood, nerve and metabolic abnormalities in the baby. Vegetarian women are most at risk of B12 deficiency.
  

Vitamin C

• The Vitamin C concentration in human milk appears to be affected by maternal intakes of Vitamin C up to 100mg daily. Vitamin C helps heal wounds and strengthen collagen tissue weakened during pregnancy and the birth process.

Vitamin E

• Promotes healing, and ensures adequate levels in mother’s milk.
  

Zinc Chelate

• Many NZ women have an inadequate intake of zinc. If this occurs during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester when the foetus accumulates most of its zinc stores, mother’s body stores may be depleted. While the zinc content of breast milk appears to remain stable, this is achieved at the expense of the mother’s own stores. The zinc intake of NZ breast feeding women is 10.8mg daily, considerably lower than the recommended 18mg daily.

L-Selenomethionine

• Low selenium levels in breast milk of NZ women have been observed and are related to maternal whole blood selenium concentrations. Average selenium intakes of NZ breast feeding women are 35.8mcg daily which is significantly lower than the Australian Recommended Daily Intake of 85mcg daily. Selenium is necessary for the production of glutathione peroxidase, one of the antioxidant defence systems of the body.

Tablet 2: CALCIUM COMPLEX

Ingredients:

Ingredient Information:

Calcium

• The calcium content of breast milk appears to be tightly regulated under hormonal control, with calcium being released from the maternal bone store, if necessary, to meet the required breast milk levels. It is therefore important that maternal intakes are adequate to replenish the bone stores and prevent the development of osteoporosis or bone thinning” in later life.

Magnesium

• Magnesium is equally as important as calcium, deficiency leads to a decrease in the serum concentration of the most active form of Vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) which results in reduced calcium absorption.

Vitamin D

• Improves absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus required for bone formation.

Tablet 3: DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 100mg

Ingredients:

Ingredient Information:

DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)

• Is an Omega 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that is the primary building block of a baby's brain and retina of the eye.
  
• Is the most abundant fat found in both the brain and retina making up to 50% of total fatty acids in the phospholipids in these tissues.
  
• Today’s western diet is estimated to be 100mg lower than it was about 50 years ago.
  
• We cannot manufacture Omega 3 ourselves, so must consume it through food or supplementation.
  
• Small amounts of DHA are found in eggs, red meat, fish and organ meats.
  
• Vegetarians are especially vulnerable to lower DHA levels.
  
• The foetus and the placenta depend entirely on maternal Essential Fatty Acids supply for their growth and development.
  
• In the last trimester of pregnancy the placenta appears to supply DHA to the growing baby.
  
• After the baby’s birth, breast-feeding supplies DHA unlike many infant formulas.
  
• The levels of DHA in human breast milk can vary according to the mother’s food choices.
  
• Mothers eating a high fat diet can have lower DHA levels in breast milk.
  
• Recent studies have shown that stores of Omega 3 DHA decrease during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
  
• Pre-term babies are most at risk of DHA deficiency.
  
• Supplementation to the mother can increase the levels of DHA in her breast milk supplying the baby’s increased needs at this time of rapid brain and eye development in the first year of life.

References:

None.