What to eat during post childbirth?

A new mother is like a new born child.She has to be very mindful of her diet post childbirth in order to buildup her energy and ensure abundant wholesome milk for her baby.

She has to build herself up from scratch with pure and nourishing foods rich in life force , which is easily digestible by her depleted and sensitive body.

Whatever food a lactating mother eats, it directly affects the quality and quantity of milk secreted by her and hence the health of her baby.

Being mindful to these key attributes of a wholesome diet would help steer in right direction during post natal period.

1.Everything from food to water should be warm, drink boiled water which has become warm . Avoid cold food and cold water completely.

2.Natural sweet foods like dates, sweet fruits, milk and raisins are recommended. As sweet taste is conductive to formation of cells and tissues.Also using raw sugar( jaggery) , brown sugar or honey as sweetener instead of white refined sugar.

3.Foods should be easy to digest which should be light,liquid and unctous. Taking the food in the form of semisoild and liquid like gruel or porridge ensures maximum digestion, absorption and nourishment, while prevents weight gain in the postpartum women. Unctous food ensures internal lubrication of digestive tract and cell membrane.

4.Digestive spices can be used such as ginger, black pepper , jeera etc for proper digestion and absorption.

These are the common food categories an every lady can consume.

1. Milk : Fresh organic cow’s milk is very nourishing ,goat’s milk could be an alternative as it is lighter than cow’s milk.

Milk should be consumed warm,tempered with spices like fennel ,cardamom, turmeric and cinnamon.

Ghee in mil, helps to lubricate the internal digestive tract,facilitates digestion,imparts proteins to mother’s milk and prevents constipation in a nursing mother.

2.Ghee: Rich in nutrients fine enough to lubricate and nourish us until the cellular level.It is rich in moisture and vitamin A,D,E and K , as well as in proteins and healthy lipids such as essential fatty acids.

3.Dietary fibers- whole grains such as wheat, red rice and barley are very nourishing and impart strength.Grain should be soaked and cooked to a semisoild meal such as gruel or Porriage.

4.Vegetables: Soft leafy vegetables are very much advisable at this stage , as they are rich in folate and essential nutrients needed for new cell formation and lactation.

Vegetables like carrot, eggplant , potato,cauliflower, okra and bell peppers are not really recommended at this stage.

5.Fruits : Ripe and sweet fruits like banana, oranges, papaya ,grapes ,sweet mangoes , apples. Dry fruits such as raisins,prunes , dates are suitable since they are natural source of saccharides and minerals.

6.Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are nutritious snack, rich in minerals such as calcium,potassium,magnesium, zinc etc.but relatively hard and heavy to digest. Sesame seeds are rich in calcium magnesium and zinc.