Postpartum Diet: What Should New Moms Eat?
The postpartum diet isn’t much different from a normal healthy diet, even if you’re breastfeeding. According to La Leche League International, an organization dedicated to supporting woman who are breastfeeding, “good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet with foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.”
Although you don’t need to eat anything special postpartum, according to Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, some new moms may need to take in an extra 500 calories a day to support breast milk production. However, if you don’t need to worry about these additional calories, simply listen to your body’s cues and eat when you’re hungry. In general, Philadelphia Children’s Hospital suggests:
- Eating two to three servings of protein a day.
- Eating three servings of veggies a day.
- Eating two servings of fruit a day.
- Eating whole grains like whole wheat cereal, oatmeal, and pasta daily.
If you’re eating a healthy and varied diet with lots of whole foods, you should be getting the nutrition and energy you need. Talk to your nutritionist or doctor to make sure you’re eating what you need if you have any questions about nutritional needs.
Let Go of the Concept of Three Meals a Day
One of the best ways to ensure you stay well-fed is to, at least at first, let go of the concept of three meals a day. While this may seem counterintuitive, waiting to eat until a certain time of day can stop you from eating when you’re hungry. Rather than trying to fit this unpredictable phase into a pre-baby structure, adapt. This means sneaking in food breaks when you can like when your baby falls asleep or when he or she is feeding.
Have a Steady Supply of Healthy Snacks
If there’s one secret to staying well-fed as a new mom, it’s probably snacks, many simple, good-for-you snacks. These include granola bars, muffins, oatmeal cookies, trail mix, and pre-chopped vegetable crudité that don’t need to be cooked and can be eaten one-handed.
Freezer-Friendly Meals for New Moms
Another way to make sure you stay well-fed while caring for your newborn is to be proactive in meal prep during pregnancy. Preparing a variety of freezer-friendly meals before your baby arrives is a great way to ensure your food needs are covered once you’re in the thick of it.
To make the freezer meal process quick and easy:
- Store freezer meals in individual serving sizes so you don’t have to heat up the entire batch.
- Freeze a variety of meals so you don’t feel stuck eating the same foods over and over.
- Store freezer meals in plastic bags to make cleaning up later as easy as possible.
- If you can swing it, buy a second freezer to store your postpartum meals.
Most Importantly, Build (and Accept) a Network of Support
Family and friends can be a lifeline in the first few days and weeks after childbirth. Our hack: Take total advantage of all the help you can get! If you need food, ask. If you need someone to come take care of your laundry, ask. You’ll probably be inundated with offers, so take friends and family up on it.
Learn Life Hacks from our New Mama Deck
A little wisdom from others goes a long way in the first days of motherhood. Many moms are willing to share advice and little tips and tricks to help ease the transition into a new way of life. Like friends, our New Mama Deck makes the transition easier because it offers ideas not only for your new little one, but to take care of yourself, as well. There is a saying, "You can't pour from an empty cup," and this is why we include ideas for self-care. Self-care is extremely important, even if it feels like there isn't one second in the day to focus on taking care of yourself. For this reason, we include reminders to call a friend, check in with others, and read a good book.
About New Mama Deck and Life Hack Decks™
Why were New Mama Decks created? New Mama Decks were created to help new mothers ease into the transition of parenthood, reduce isolation, and manage the stress that comes along with having a newborn.
In addition to our New Mama Deck, check out some of our other Life Hack Decks™ which include:
Date Deck® to help you and a partner stop doing the “same old thing” and go exploring, learn more about each other, and have fun together. It helps to increase love connections between couples and makes a great shower or wedding gift.
Declutter Deck® offers organizing prompts to help you get and stay organized at home. By breaking down decluttering into bite-sized pieces, you will eventually declutter and organize your entire home. Designed by The Uncluttered Life, Inc. professional home organizers.
Dorm Deck to send along to school with your first-year college student. This deck provides suggestions that will make dorm living that much easier. Makes a fantastic graduation gift or a little something extra to include in a care package from home. Offers reminders to call and text often.
Random Acts of Kindness Deck to help you discover kind things to do for others who either play a significant part in your life, or with whom you’d love a deeper connection. These ideas help to make the world a better place and show gratitude in a meaningful way.
What Are Life Hack Decks™? – Delegate to the Deck®
Life Hack Decks™ are powerful micro-prompt motivational cards to make your life easier while reducing stress in your day. These inspirational decks simplify ineffective routines and help you go from stuck and overwhelmed to inspired and empowered. Life Hack Decks™ take the stress out of decision-making and motivate you to tackle things you’ve been putting off for years. Our Hack Decks™ of 52 cards allow you to focus on the things that bring you joy, happiness, and connection with others rather than lingering in the mundane, anxiety-producing ruts in which we often find ourselves.