Being a mother doesn’t stop at giving birth – in fact, it is just the start of a whole new journey for the new mother and her family. But even so, there are just too many things that a mother needs to take care of. These range from new responsibilities, a whole new sleeping schedule, to a lifestyle revolving around the young one that has just joined her family. One of the most important things a new mother should take care of is still her body and health. Various known conditions like postpartum fatigue and even postpartum depression is a very real issue, and a mother should take care of herself before anything else.
While lifestyle changes and rest are some of the things most new mothers would be aware of, changing their diet to include healthier, more nutritious foods can be a big shift, especially for families that don’t cook as much. Incorporating a healthier diet not only speeds up recovery, it can also increase milk production, improve sleep quality, boost energy, and prevent postpartum depression. So, let’s take a look at some of the healthiest foods mothers should be eating right after labour.
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Chicken soup
After you’ve given birth, your body will be adjusting to the hormonal changes inside you. This is why you need to increase your fluid intake after giving birth to ensure that you’re able to replenish all the fluids you’ve released. However, it isn’t just water but also essential electrolytes and nutrients that are critical for healthy recovery and bodily function.
Chicken soup is one of the most recommended post-delivery foods that speed up your recovery, keep you hydrated, and supply you with much-needed nutrients. If you don’t have much time to cook chicken soup, it’s best to opt for chicken essence that is good for pregnancy. Chicken essence is known to be packed to the brim with natural nutrients that will strengthen your body’s natural recovery and immunity.
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Oatmeal and fruits
Haemorrhoids and constipation are conditions that are very common in women who have recently given birth. While different medications are prescribed to mitigate their symptoms, there are other foods rich in fibre that you can consume to recover and mitigate these side effects.
One of the best foods you can get a lot of fibre from is oatmeal, which is also believed to boost breast milk production. Add fresh or dried fruits that are also rich in fibre, such as raspberries, apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, mangoes, and guavas, and you get a breakfast meal or snack that is nutritious as it is delicious.
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Eggs
Some women can go into labour for several hours, which can cause aching muscles for days or even weeks. You need to get an adequate supply of protein to help with recovery and muscle repair once you’ve delivered your baby to soothe those sore muscles that have contracted nonstop while you were going into labour.
Add eggs to your meals to pack on proteins. They’re also a good source of brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, which can also help prevent postpartum depression. You can have them boiled, fried, or mixed in a salad for variation. Plus, they’re an excellent source of choline, which is necessary if you’re breastfeeding.
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Food rich in Vitamin C and other vitamins
The daily recommended intake for women to boost their immune system and repair their tissues who have recently given birth is 120 milligrams. Vitamin C is also needed to keep a strong immune system that helps keep you and your baby strong and healthy.
Foods that contain high amounts of Vitamin C include citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, kiwis, etc.), bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, white potatoes, brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, to name a few. These foods are also rich in antioxidants, which are responsible for neutralising free radicals in the body and protecting cells.
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Smoothies
Smoothies are a great way to get healthy veggies, fruits, vitamins and various essential nutrients into your body. Not only is it easy to prepare, it can also be delicious as you customise it with fruits and ingredients that you love.
Use a base of frozen fruits such as bananas, mangoes, and berries along with various greens like kale and spinach. Thinking of adding some flavour? Add a couple dollops of peanut or cashew butter, a couple tablespoons of honey for sweetness. Add a splash of milk, oat or almond milk and even orange or apple juice to thin out the consistency. We say, experiment or mix and match to find what suits you!
Conclusion
The foods mentioned above are some of the top foods you should be consuming post-delivery to ensure that you’ll be able to gain back your strength, keep your baby and yourself healthy, and have an ample supply of breastmilk. Most of all, we hope that you find something you love so you can consistently consume them for a healthy and balanced recovery.
But above all, if you are keen to look for high-quality Taiwan drip essence of chicken, we at Yu Dian are here to provide the best chicken essence specially made from black-feathered chickens reared on mountain ranges to breed them with higher nutritional value. All to help with your recovery and the best for your baby’s development in their infancy!c