Dwiggins adds that contact with a doctor or lactation consultant should be made to verify the safety of individual medicines. They should have a copy of Dr. Hale s Medications and Mother s Milk , the most comprehensive source for information on the relationship between drugs and nursing available. Then, there's vitamins and herbs. Many women take multiple vitamins, and a daily dose of herbs is become more and more popular. Vitamins are fine to take, but there might not be any reason to do so, says Dwiggins.
Most women can meet their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals by eating a balanced diet.
If a women does decide to take a multi-vitamin, there are those specially formulated for nursing moms. It is also possible to continue taking prenatal vitamins for the duration of breastfeeding. Dwiggins admits that herbs can be beneficial to a breastfeeding mom. In fact, some women, like Yvette De Luca of Arizona, use herbs to increase their milk supply. Despite the benefits, Dwiggins warns that caution is necessary, as some herbs can be toxic.