By Krista Maas de Villiers, BSc Dietetics, Founder of Nunona
For nine months, we're reminded to take our prenatal vitamins. Every day, without fail.
But what happens after birth?
Suddenly, the nutritional conversation shifts to the baby. Feeding schedules, milk supply, growth milestones. The mother, whose body has spent months growing another human being, often becomes an afterthought.
A nationally representative U.S. study found that 64% of pregnant women reported taking prenatal supplements, compared with 54% of breastfeeding women, which raises an important question:¹
If a mother's nutritional needs don't end at birth, why does the attention we give them?
Birth Isn't the End of Your Nutritional Journey
Pregnancy may be over, but your body is still doing extraordinary work.
It's repairing tissue, recovering from childbirth, adjusting to changes in blood volume, and navigating one of the most significant hormonal transitions of your life.²
And if you're breastfeeding? Your body is producing nourishment for another human being.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), breastfeeding mothers may need an additional 450–500 calories per day, compared with approximately 450 additional calories during the third trimester of pregnancy.³
Producing breastmilk can require even more energy than growing a baby in the final months of pregnancy. Let that sink in.
It's not simply a need for more nutrients. It's a need for more energy.
What Your Prenatal Doesn't Provide
Conventional prenatal vitamins serve an important purpose. They deliver essential micronutrients, including iron, folate, and vitamin B12.
But delivering nutrients and providing nourishment aren't the same thing.
Most prenatal pills contain virtually no protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, fiber, or calories.
And postpartum, these matter.
Protein provides the building blocks for tissue repair and healing. Research on cesarean recovery highlights the importance of protein-rich, balanced nutrition.⁴
Healthy fats provide energy, support cell membranes, and supply essential fatty acids.
Carbohydrates fuel everyday function and help meet the demands of breastfeeding.
Fiber supports digestive health and bowel regularity, particularly important during postpartum recovery.⁴
Adequate calories support the body's ongoing energy requirements, including milk production.³
Vitamins and minerals remain essential. But they're only part of the nutritional picture.
A pill might supplement your diet, but it cannot replace the nourishment of food.
Your Hormones Are Changing. Your Nutritional Needs Aren't Disappearing.
Following delivery, estrogen and progesterone fall dramatically. These changes help initiate lactation and are a normal part of postpartum physiology.²
Your endocrine system also relies on adequate nutrition. Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production, while selenium plays an important role in thyroid hormone metabolism.⁵,⁶
Nutrition doesn't prevent normal postpartum hormonal changes. But it supplies essential nutrients your body needs to function through this transition.
Nourish the Mother, Beyond Birth
At Nunona, we believe maternal nutrition should extend beyond a checklist of vitamins and minerals.
That's why we created Mama Bites: real, organic food combining 27+ essential nutrients with protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, fiber, DHA, choline, and real-food energy.
Designed as a real-food alternative to conventional prenatal pills and as part of a balanced diet, Mama Bites bring nourishment into your daily routine throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
And for breastfeeding mothers, maternal nutrition matters for breastmilk, too.
Postpartum recovery doesn't end at the six-week checkup, infact postnatal depletion can persist for up to seven years after childbirth.⁷ Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the ongoing demands of motherhood can place considerable strain on a mother's nutritional reserves.
Pregnancy may be over, but the importance of nourishing yourself continues for years to come.
About the Author
Krista Maas de Villiers, BSc Dietetics, is the Founder & CEO of Nunona, a modern nutrition platform supporting maternal and infant health across the first 1,000 days—from preconception through postpartum and baby’s first foods.
Nunona launched with a first-of-its-kind real-food pre+postnatal vitamin designed to improve absorption, reduce nausea, and deliver meaningful outcomes for both moms and babies.
Backed by experts in science, nutrition, and consumer health, Nunona aims to bridge the gap between research and real life—translating complex nutritional science into accessible, effective solutions for modern families.
References
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Jun S, Gahche JJ, Potischman N, et al. Dietary Supplement Use and Its Micronutrient Contribution During Pregnancy and Lactation in the United States. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2020;135(3):623–633. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003657.
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Kunarathnam V, Carlson K. Physiology, Postpartum Changes. StatPearls. NCBI Bookshelf.
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American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. How Much Weight Should I Gain During Pregnancy? ACOG. Also: Breastfeeding Your Baby. ACOG.
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Mdoe MB, Mselle LT, Kibusi SM. An integrative review of home care recommendations for women after caesarean section. Nursing Open. 2024;11(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.2145.
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National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Iodine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH ODS.
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National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH ODS.
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Serrallach O. The Postnatal Depletion Cure: A Complete Guide to Rebuilding Your Health and Reclaiming Your Energy for Mothers of Newborns, Toddlers, and Young Children. Grand Central Life & Style; 2018.