Taking Care of Myself and Getting Enough Calcium While Breastfeeding

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. #BumpUpYourCalcium with #Viactiv

It's hard to believe but I have been breastfeeding for over five years. When I think about it, it feels like quite an accomplishment. Breastfeeding has been full of ups and downs but for the most part I have loved it.

While I have always been super careful to take care of myself while pregnant, I have not always been as vigilant about taking care of myself while breastfeeding. My focus on health seems to come and go, and sometimes can wane depending on how busy I am and if I am not adamant about focusing on myself. As a mom of three, worrying about the children always come first, right?

Since I am currently breastfeeding my last baby I have decided to refocus on myself and my health.

Here is what I am doing daily to take care of myself while breastfeeding:

Exercise - I have lost all of the baby weight and then some since last summer. It wasn't always easy, I was not able to lose it all between my pregnancies, and I had an injury after my last baby which delayed all exercise. But now I have found an exercise I love which has helped tremendously. This has helped me gain strength and makes it easy to keep up with three children under five. Breastfeeding can be physically demanding and getting daily exercise is also great for our mental health.

Eating well - I try to focus on eating as clean as possible, and not consuming extra sugar and carbs but of course this is not 100%. My goal is moderation and it seems to work. A healthy diet while breastfeeding has many benefits beyond only weight loss. Making sure we are getting enough key nutrients is essential for us while breastfeeding.

Making sure I am getting enough Calcium while breastfeeding - I recently learned that women can lose up to 3-5% of their bone mass while breastfeeding. Our babies will get enough calcium through our breastmilk so no need to worry there, but making sure we are getting enough calcium is key to preventing our own bone loss later in life. 1,000 mg is the recommended daily calcium requirement and up to 68% of women may have a calcium deficiency so check with our doctor to see if you're meeting the recommended daily amount

In addition to calcium, it is recommended that women get up to 600 IU of Vitamin D each day. Very few foods in nature contain Vitamin D.  Fortified foods provide most of the Vitamin D in the American diet.  

I make sure to get enough calcium and add vitamin D to my diet by taking Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews.

In my opinion, Viactiv makes the best calcium supplement. One calcium soft chew contains 500 mg of calcium so you can take one chew up to two times daily to get your daily recommended amount. Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews also contain 500 IU of vitamin D along with vitamin K in every chew which is important for the absorption of calcium.

A couple of more reasons I love Viactiv; they have ½ the sugar and ½ the calories of many calcium gummy supplements on the market and they taste better. They come in delicious milk chocolate and caramel flavors. I really don't feel like I am taking a nutritional supplement when I take these since they taste delicious. Viactiv Soft Chews are a great and easy way to take care of ourselves while breastfeeding and make sure you're getting the calcium you need.

Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews are available in milk chocolate or caramel flavors at major retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart, as well as supermarkets nationwide. Look here to find out all the locations where to buy.

You can learn more about Viactiv on their website and Facebook and Instagram.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews for my own personal use. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. 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. If you are pregnant, nursing or planning on becoming pregnant, speak with your healthcare provider if you have any specific health questions or prior to taking any dietary supplements.