A healthy eating pattern that was followed during pregnancy can be continued throughout the postnatal period. If you are breastfeeding, there is an increase need for calories and folic acid (an additional 500 calories for the first 4-6 months of breastfeeding). It is a good idea to continue taking a multivitamin containing folic acid during lactation to meet increased needs. Milk production is very demanding, which is why you need extra calories during this time. Once your baby is introduced to solid foods, your milk production decreases so you don’t need as much energy as before.
As a breastfeeding mom you need 400 IUs of vitamin D, that is on top of your regular prenatal vitamins, if you are still taking them once your baby is born. In the north, vitamin D is very important since we mostly get it from the sun and for most of the year, we don’t get enough sunlight in the north. So we have to rely on diet and supplements. Vitamin D is hard to get from just foods so a supplement is recommended.