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Postnatal Diet Tips - Essential For A New Mother

By Nandhini Devi

You are a new mother. You now have your precious bundle of joy in your hands. However, you feel a little weak and you are not very sure how to regain that lost energy, which is so essential for you to take care of your young one. To help the new mother regain her energy as quickly as possible, the mother has to undergo a postnatal confinement period.

During this period, she is given lots of post-partum health care and is also supposed to follow a strict postnatal diet. Go through the following postnatal diet tips to recover quickly from the stress endured during labour.

Postnatal diet tips -

1.Water is very important for every mother. You have to keep yourself hydrated to that there is no shortage of breast milk. Sip on hot water, as in helps in digestion.

2.Keep a check on your baby's bowel movements. If you notice any signs of indigestion, avoid that food item till the time your baby stops having breast milk.

3.Vegetables such as gourds like lauki and tori are very healthy for the mother. Vitamin rich foods such as carrots, beets, yam etc are a very essential part of your postnatal diet.

4.Eat fresh greens such as dill and fenugreek leaves, as they help increasing the production of breast milk. Calcium rich greens like spinach etc. are a compulsory part of the postnatal diet. Paan or betel leaves are also a rich source of calcium. They are usually given to the mother after her meals.

5.Nuts such as cashews and almonds eaten in the raw form help in production of breast miik.

6.Eggs, lentils, beans and nuts are great sources of protein. Include it as a part of breakfast or at least any other meal of the day.

7.Consume ghee (limited). Ghee helps in regaining strength and also helps repair your muscles, which usually undergo a lot of wear and tear during labour.

8.A new mother feels hungry frequently as she is feeding the baby. Snack on fresh fruits so that you get enough nutrients. You can also have oats prepared as porridge for an evening or afternoon snack.

The following can be avoided while following a postnatal diet;

Avoid spicy food. New mothers are prone to constipation and hot food triggers constipation. It also delays the recovery of the uterus. Instead of green or red chillies make use of pepper.

Avoid skipping meals in case you are planning a crash diet. The fat accumulated usually wards off when you are breast-feeding.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, as they can reach the baby through breast milk.

Keep a track of what you eat during the postpartum period. This will help you recover at a faster pace and take super care of your baby.

You can have a look at the following recipe, which is a rich source of nutrients.

Story first published: Friday, July 1, 2011, 11:59 [IST]