Recovering from Childbirth: Postpartum Nourishment

February 20, 2018 ~ Meghan J Paterson

The days and weeks following the birth of your child can allow for some of the most magical moments while you sit gazing at this being you've co-created.  It can also be filled with elation, feelings of relief, over-the-moon in awe, exhausted beyond anything you've ever felt, unsettled and a little off kilter as your internal systems begin to shift.  And maybe a little Hungry or a lot hungry, feeling like your body is craving nourishment. 

If we consider the exertion, blood and fluid loss, and internal logistical of shifting organs, we can easily conclude that postpartum food is most beneficial when it is deeply nourishing and easy on the digestive tract.  So if you're being asked about a meal-train or friends and family offering to bring you meals then here are some guidelines to share with them so the made-with-love food will benefit the needs of your postpartum body. 

Five Characteristics of the Best PostPartum Food
•    Hot-to-warm and moist/liquid
•    Nutrient-dense (lots of good fats!)
•    Easy-to-digest, spiced for digestion
•    Low-maintenance
•    Enjoyable (of course!)

Good foods to nourish a postpartum mom
Plenty of purified water
Wild salmon
Organic chicken and vegetable soup with plenty of fresh herbs
Greens!! Fresh salad greens, dark leafy greens, and green smoothies
Sweet vegetables (yams, squash, carrots, beets)
Raw nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)
Raw almond butter
Whole grains (quinoa, amaranth, oats, sweet brown rice, millet, teff)
Organic berries 
Sea vegetables
Lentils
Carminative herbs and spices (cumin, cardamom, fenugreek, ginger, mint, fennel seeds)
Raspberry leaf tea (raspberry leaf along with fennel help to contract the uterus)
Nettle tea enriches and increases milk production
Healthy fats (avocado, extra virgin olive oil, virgin coconut oil, fresh flax or fish oil)

Food to avoid during the postpartum period 
Please keep this list in mind when selecting your recipes and their ingredients.
Dairy products
Citrus fruit, especially juices
Peanuts
Heavily spiced foods
Beef
Raw garlic and onions
Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
Wheat / Gluten
Refined soy products
Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda)


I've included a few recipes which I hope bring you much nourishment during this amazing time in your life.  If friends or family are asking to support coordinating meals here are some great sites to pass along. 
https://www.mealtrain.com
https://takethemameal.com
​
Blessings, Meghan