Over the years, hundreds of pregnant or breastfeeding women (with some form of IBD or Irritable Bowel Syndrome) have written to me asking what was safe for them to take. Did you know that this topic is covered in detail in Chapter 9 of Listen to Your Belly? In fact, there are 32 pages dedicated to it! So if you don’t have it yet, you can order it HERE as both an e-book and hardcover.
Essential nutritional supplements for pregnant or nursing mothers
Note: I will provide links to each product in my LTYG Shoppe so you can see which brand I recommend and why – but if you’re not comfortable buying online, just ask your local store to order the products for you.
Here are the supplements that I think every mother should take during pregnancy (and ideally three months before conception), while breastfeeding, and then at least three months after weaning (to replenish one’s body stores and health):
• Nature’s Way Prenatal Multivitamin – this contains everything you need in an easy to digest form.
• Udo oil (or linseed oil) – 1 – 2 tbsp. per day. This not only nourishes your baby but also prevents your hair from falling out or thinning after birth.
• Cod liver oil – 6 capsules or 2 teaspoons per day. Crucial for baby’s brain development and must come from an animal source (e.g. fish) rather than a plant source.
• Bone matrix – 2 tbsp per day. These are the minerals needed for bones and teeth. If you don’t get enough of these minerals, your body pulls them from your own bones and teeth to give to the baby, and tooth decay occurs! You can mix these in water or juice (they are tasteless) or just take them plain.
• Minerals Of Life trace elements – 1 tbsp per day. These are all minerals that used to be in our soil before the agricultural industry destroyed everything. Mix with water or juice (almost tasteless)
• Protein shake or if you have digestive issues then Absorb Plus – as needed – if you are underweight, don’t have time to eat properly, or as a super easy transport for all your supplements!
• Natrene probiotics in powder form (Megadophilus, Bifido Factor, Life Start, Digesta-Lac) or capsules (Healthy Trinity – if you prefer and do not have diarrhea or heartburn). If you have heartburn during pregnancy, take the probiotics in powder form. If your heartburn is severe, see a craniosacral therapist to open your diaphragm and esophageal valve. Go to upledger.com and find a therapist near you who has LEVEL II certification or higher. Sucking DGL licorice pastilles also quickly helps against heartburn.
• Raspberry leaf tea – Traditional Medicinals has a good one. Herbalists are known to strengthen the uterus.
• Follow the healing diet in Listen to Your Gut that fits your symptoms, or at least strictly follow the maintenance diet (see below).
Other supplements that are also beneficial:
• Coenzyme Q10
• Pycnogenol or grape seed extract
• Vitamin C in the form of the mineral ascorbate – or take it in the form of ascorbic acid if you are prone to constipation.
• Angstrom/nanoparticle-sized iron if you need an additional iron supplement – when taken with plenty of water, this form does not cause constipation, aggravate it, or trigger intestinal bleeding.
Be sure to read my other blog post, “Jini’s Tips for Pregnant or Nursing Moms” for more information – as well as a shake recipe that’s an easy way to simplify your daily supplement routine.
As always, if you are unsure about which supplements are safe for your specific health condition, it is best to consult your doctor while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
In good health!
Original post April 2011. Last updated May 2020.
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
