Prenatal, Postnatal & Lactation (18)

The prenatal, postnatal, and lactation phase can be a both beautiful and challenging experience that may last for up to two years. With such an enormous life change on the horizon, it makes sense that your nutrition needs may need to be adjusted as you gestate and care for your new bundle of joy. In addition to a host of tips for how to eat well during this time (keep reading for those!), ThriveMarket.com also stocks quality supplements to support you at every stage.

Tips for Prenatal Nutrition

There’s a lot of advice out there about how to eat well during pregnancy. It can be tough to prioritize your diet if you’re not feeling well (thanks, morning sickness) but here are a few simple tips to keep in mind for the next nine months.

• Minimize caffeine: If you’re a cup-of-day kind of coffee drinker, the good news is, you don’t have to give it up entirely. Just try to limit caffeine to no more than 200 milligrams per day, which is right around eight ounces of brewed coffee or tea. You an also try switching to decaf, experimenting with herbal teas, or dipping your toe into flavored sparkling water.
• Pack in protein: Dietician Stephanie Greunke recommends starting your day with protein, which may help reduce nausea. Her favorite ideas are smoothies with collagen peptides, grass-fed yogurt, or scrambled eggs.
• Nutrient know-how: This post offers a breakdown of the best foods to eat during each trimester, and we’re betting you already enjoy a lot of them, such as lentils, walnuts, spinach, avocado, salmon, and olive oil.

Top Prenatal, Postnatal & Lactation Brands

Gaia Herbs and Motherlove are two brands that prioritize the health and wellbeing of new mamas.

Gaia Herbs

Since 1987, Gaia Herbs has nurtured healthy connections between plants and people. Certified Organic supplements use gentle extraction methods to maintain the purity and potency of individual plants.

Fenugreek Seed

Gaia’s supplement is made with Certified Organic fenugreek seeds, which are known for delivering nutrients like vitamin B, vitamin C, and beta carotene that may support breast milk production. Thrive Market member Amy says this bottle is a “great, affordable way to boost supply.”

Motherlove

Motherlove's products help women embrace the bond between motherhood and Mother Earth. Infused with herbal ingredients, the brand supports women in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and beyond.

Pregnant Belly Salve

Care for your pregnant belly with Motherlove’s nourishing salve. This formula uses organic herbs and oils (like shea butter and beeswax) to help prevent stretch marks and relieve the itch of stretching skin. Marie from Illinois says “I used this my entire pregnancy without any issue. Moisturizes well and I feel safe knowing I wasn’t putting any harmful ingredients on my skin.”

Nipple Cream

When nursing your baby leads to uncomfortable physical symptoms, Motherlove’s cream is here to help soothe sore, cracked nipples after feedings and does not need to be washed off prior to nursing. Cassie from Georgia says “this is the absolute best nipple cream out there!” and Elissa from Texas says she used it on her lips as chapstick after she finished nursing.

Pregnancy Tips and Ideas from Thrive Market

From the best breastfeeding foods to an interview with the founder of one of our top brands, our blog has plenty of resources for pregnancy and beyond.

Best Breastfeeding Foods

Between midnight cravings and sleep deprivation, eating well isn’t always easy during the breastfeeding phase. From nutrient-dense dishes to enjoy during pregnancy to quick and easy breastfeeding eats, here are our favorite recipes.

How to Feed Infants in Year One

There’s a lot to think about in a baby's first year. Help make feeding easier with expert tips from health coach and parenting expert Sara Snow.

Interview With Motherlove’s Founder

Motherlove founder Kathryn Higgins never planned to start her own company, but as demand grew for her homemade, herbal concoctions, she grew her brand to help mothers and newborns everywhere.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.