What You Need to Know

Taking collagen while breastfeeding is considered safe, but it’s best to check with your healthcare provider first.
Not all collagen supplements are the same, so it’s important to understand their ingredients and how they work.
A balanced diet, exercise, and rest are key to feeling your best during breastfeeding.

If you’re wondering if you can take collagen while breastfeeding, the answer is yes. However, it’s always a good idea to ask your health care provider about taking any dietary supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding—including collagen.

The decision to take collagen while breastfeeding shouldn’t be made without knowing the type and formulation of the supplement since there are different variants. If your health care provider has given you the green light to add collagen to your daily routine, learn more about it and how to use it safely.

Table of Contents

Talk To Your Health Care Provider

While you might have taken supplements, like collagen, before pregnancy, it’s worth reevaluating them with your health care provider before resuming. Collagen supplements, like any dietary supplement, are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety before they hit store shelves.

Photo:

Getty Images / Wavebreakmedia

Can You Take Collagen Supplements While Breastfeeding?

If you took supplements before or during pregnancy, it’s still best to stop and do another evaluation with your health care provider to determine their potential effect on breastfeeding and milk production. While collagen supplements are generally thought to be safe for breastfeeding individuals, they have also not been shown to help, says Sarah Yamaguchi, MD, a Los Angeles-based doctor board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

“Some postpartum [people] struggle with hair loss and stretch marks so they take collagen, as well as other supplements, in hope that they will help,” Dr. Yamaguchi says.

While there are some studies to show that collagen intake can help improve skin moisture, the studies do not specifically explore its impact during breastfeeding.

In general, says Dr. Yamaguchi, “I tell my patients that they can take collagen supplements if they feel they are going to help them, but the most important thing is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and get rest.”

Safety Precautions to Consider When Taking Collagen

If you speak with your health care team and decide you might want to take a collagen supplement while breastfeeding, then it’s time to do a little more research. Remember, collagen supplements are not all the same, so you’ll need to figure out exactly what you’re taking. Here’s some expert advice on how to navigate the aisles.

Examine the ingredients

Since collagen supplements are sourced and created differently, it’s important to know exactly what’s in them so you can have an informed conversation with your healthcare provider.

“It’s possible that supplements could contain toxins—such as mercury, especially if they come from fish—or other contaminants,” says Jessica Wu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles. “So discuss with your doctor before taking any supplements. I often ask patients to bring in their supplements so we can review the labels together.”

Don’t forget to discuss dosage with your provider, too. Not only can the content of collagen supplements vary by brand, but so can amounts. You also want to be mindful of potentially taking in too much of any one vitamin, mineral, or supplement.

Understand how the supplement works

Not every collagen supplement on the market is absorbed into your body in the same way. If you’re interested in taking one, consider that hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides are small fragments of collagen that are more easily absorbed by your digestive system, says Dr. Wu.

What are collagen supplements?

Collagen is an essential protein that’s found in abundance in our bodies. With stores of healthy collagen, skin is more elastic and resistant to sagging. Collagen can also help preserve joint and bone health. However, collagen production becomes less plentiful as you age.

Several varieties of ingestible collagen supplements are marketed as ways to introduce more collagen into the body and improve overall health. And there are studies to suggest that oral collagen supplements can have a beneficial impact on skin, both on its health and appearance. However, researchers also say that more studies are needed to support manufacturers’ claims about benefits to skin, hair, and nails.

Think about what you’re already taking

Your health care provider might suggest that you take some supplemental vitamins while breastfeeding, such as vitamin D. But collagen isn’t usually among the suggested supplements for breastfeeding parents. You’ll want to make sure that the supplements you take won’t negatively interact with one another, which is why it’s so important to run new supplements by your health care provider.

link