Eating Well After Having a Baby

If you’ve just had a baby, you’ll have spent the past nine months analysing everything that you’ve consumed. Chances are your newborn cleverly directed you to eat the nutrients it needed to grow and thrive inside you.

Now that you’ve given birth, it doesn’t mean that you should stop thinking about what you eat. The first six months post partum are key to your own physical recovery, plus giving you the right energy levels to care for your baby (day and night!) Healthy mum equals happy mum equals happy baby.

Here’s our guide to the best ways to fuel yourself:

– eat foods that are easy to digest and filling, so that you’re not hungry an hour later. Soups, stews, pasta, porridge and yoghurt are all great for this, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t make your own!

– look for food which have anti-inflammatory properties as these will support your body adjusting to its new state, plus they can help with post-natal depression.

The best sources are:
– leafy green vegetables
– berries
– healthy fats (like coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil)
– proteins that are high in iron
– rice, quinoa and oats

– it can also be beneficial to increase your probiotic levels through natural yoghurt or specially formulated yoghurt drinks (like Yakult or Actimel)

– keep hydrated – we all know about this one, but if you are breastfeeding you will need to up your fluid intake even further, the recommended level is the equivalent of 10 to 15 glasses of water per day.

– keep taking your pregnancy supplements after the birth, they are an excellent source of multivitamins and minerals in themselves plus help to support your nutrient levels if you are breastfeeding or recovering from surgery.

– consider taking a collagen supplement to help ward off the dreaded post-pregnancy hair loss!

The most important part is to make sure that you are eating and drinking properly and regularly. You need to make the time to eat, even a pre-packed sandwich or slice of cake is better than nothing.