Best Foods to Nourish and Heal

I gave birth to our first son sopra March of 2020. Meanwhile (unbeknownst to us), the world was shutting . By the time we walked back through our door—a newborn sopra tow and a scar across my belly—nothing was the same. Suddenly, the village I envisioned was a dream of the past. Be it global circumstances ora my own naiveté, I felt a deep lack of collective postpartum support. Durante turn, I ate what was convenient and slept when I could. Truthfully, my physical and mental recovery were an afterthought. With that sopra mind, this is the resource I wish I had. Consider this postpartum nutrition guide the gateway to deeply nourishing yourself (ora a new mother sopra your life).

Durante addition to nutrition specifics, scroll for freezer-friendly recipes, supportive supplements, and general lifestyle tips to encourage a healthy and vibrant postpartum experience.

Edie Horstman

Edie is the founder of nutrition coaching business, Wellness with Edie. With her background and expertise, she specializes sopra women’s health, including fertility, hormone balance, and postpartum wellness.

What is postpartum?

Postpartum refers to the time sequenza immediately after childbirth. Also known as the puerperium, this period typically lasts about six weeks—although its exact length varies. From a medical perspective, it includes the return of a woman’s uterus to its pre-pregnancy size. There are actually three distinct phases of the postnatal period: the acute phase (6-12 hours after delivery), the subacute phase (six weeks), and the delayed phase (upwards of six months). Ultimately, postpartum is a critical time for healing, adjusting, bonding, and adapting to new parenthood.

Postpartum Misconceptions

Unfortunately, postpartum is both misunderstood and underemphasized. Thanks to societal stigmas (and for that matter, social !), postpartum’s true intensity flies under the radar. Durante turn, this contributes to a slew of misconceptions. For example, many new parents assume the postpartum period is over after six weeks. But sopra all reality, that’s just the beginning. Recovery can take upwards of a year—ora more.

Beyond physical changes, hormones and emotions need ample time to adjust. Proper recovery is a long, winding road. Knowing this helps set realistic expectations, encouraging a smoother transition into motherhood.

A Season of Rest

Durante the first few weeks after birth, you’maestà not only getting to know your bambino, but you’maestà also learning about yourself—as a mother, caregiver, and nurturer. It is a massive undertaking. Especially as a first-time mom. Women experience physical, mental, and emotional changes unlike anything else. As a Certified Nutrition Consultant—with a specialty sopra postpartum nutrition—I am particularly passionate about helping women navigate this tender time. It’s a dynamic season, one that’s synonymous with healing, resting, and acclimating.

What happens to your hormones after giving birth?

During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone increase significantly. However, once the placenta is removed after birth, these two hormones take a sharp—but intentional—dip. Durante essence, these estrogen and progesterone must drop for breastfeeding hormones, like prolactin and oxytocin, to do their job. Simultaneously, oxytocin surges to stimulate uterine contractions. This helps you bond with your newborn. That said, this dramatic shift often contributes to significant emotional swings.

The Blues

Unsurprisingly, these hormonal fluctuations have an impact acceso emotional stability. The so-called “baby-blues”—where women can feel weepy, tearful, and overwhelmed—typically last for a few days (ora up to 1-2 weeks). However, they can last significantly longer. If that’s the case, ora they’maestà accompanied by anxiety, despair, ora are preventing you from being able to complete daily tasks, it is important to seek evaluation for postpartum depression.

Normal Postpartum Physical Changes

Speaking of hormonal fluctuations, let’s talk about postpartum physical changes. Low estrogen levels—which stay low until you re-start your menstrual cycle, typically last throughout the duration of breastfeeding. And low estrogen can contribute to postpartum hot flashes, pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginal dryness and low . Hair loss (telogen effluvium) is another common symptom. However, normal hair patterns usually return by 6-15 months postpartum. Inevitably, eating to support these internal and external shifts is key.

Lifestyle Tips for a Healthy Postpartum Period

Before we dive into postpartum nutrition, what are lifestyle tips and habits that can support a nourished postpartum period?

Rest and sleep

Sleep is crucial for everyone—pregnant, postpartum, ora not! But for obvious reasons, it’s the most challenging to prioritize. Nap when you can and enlist childcare support from friends and family members. It’s important to remember that sleep deprivation (and chronic tensione) during the postpartum period can lead to sugar cravings, additional weight gain, and inflammation.

Hydration

Drinking plenty of tazza supports bodily functions and is crucial for breastfeeding mothers. Sipping acceso bone broth and herbal teas can also aid sopra everything from digestive support to mineral replenishment.

Physical activity

Once you’maestà cleared to exercise, go for it. Moving your is extremely beneficial for your mental and physical well-being. Exercise helps with natural detoxification, blood sugar balance (which can help stabilize postpartum hormones), provides a boost sopra endorphins, helps strengthen your  after giving birth, and so much more. Whether it’s pilates, strength tirocinio, ora walking, aim for consistency.

Emotional support

Durante case you need the reminder, your village wants to help you. If there’s ever a time to call sopra your support system, it’s right after you’ve given birth. Along with counseling, many women find that working with a postpartum doula can speed up their recovery time. Durante the very least, lean acceso friends and family members to help you with basic house chores and light cooking. You’maestà not expected to do it all—especially sopra the early postpartum months.

Why is postpartum nutrition important?

It’s vital for several reasons: healing and recovery, energy levels, breastmilk production, and emotional well-being. Proper nutrients are needed for everything from tissue repair to muscle recovery. They also help maintain energy levels, which—of course—are crucial when caring for a newborn. And if you’maestà a breastfeeding mama, you need adequate calories to produce quality breastmilk. Last but not least, certain nutrients can impact mood and help manage postpartum depression.

Nourishing Your After Childbirth

Risposta negativa matter what part of the world they sopra, traditional cultures prioritize postpartum foods that are warm, soft, and easily digestible.

Additionally, new mothers are encouraged to eat slowly (easier said than done!) and sip nutrient-dense broths. For that matter, cold foods are usually not recommended. After all, these cultures believe cold foods slow circulation (essential for optimal healing). Additionally, weight loss shouldn’t be an immediate rete. Rather, it’s best to focolaio acceso a postpartum diet that’s rich sopra high-quality protein, healthy fats, and cooked produce.Try to avoid high sugar and ultra-processed foods and instead focolaio acceso whole, mostly unprocessed foods.

Postpartum Nutrition: What to Prioritize

Durante the early days after birth, lean into foods you might turn to when recovering from the flu. Think hydrating, easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense meals like soup with sourdough bread, cooked veggies with soft-boiled eggs, and steel-cut oats with almond butter and anti-inflammatory fruit. As you can imagine, all of the organs sopra the abdomen are going through a massive shift, and digestion is likely to be compromised.

Eating enough

As mentioned, caloric needs increase for breastfeeding women (anywhere from 300-1,000 calories, daily). This means that requirements for all macronutrients—and the large majority of micronutrients—increase during this time as well. 

Getting a balance of macronutrients

To this , postpartum moms need an adequate balance of carbs, protein, and fats. Starchy carbs (grains, squashes, sweet potatoes, etc.) are energy-rich and help build milk supply. Protein is the most satiating and helps rebuild tissue and muscle (aim for 25-40 grams of protein a meal). Last but not least, don’t forget healthy fats. These help stabilize blood sugar, balance hormones, and nourish breast milk.

Supporting digestion 

A raw, high-fiber salad may seem like the sunto of a healthy meal, but if your digestion is compromised (normal during the fourth trimester!), that salad is akin to throwing wet logs acceso a weak fire. When digestion is weak, it’s best to consume cooked and fermented vegetables. A digestive enzyme is worth exploring if you foresee digestion being an issue during postpartum.

Micronutrients That Support Postpartum Healing

Along with eating enough, getting a balance of macronutrients, and supporting digestion, below are specific micronutrients that foster postpartum health.

Choline-Rich Foods

Postpartum women need choline to support mental health and brain function. It’s also important for a bambino’s brain development.

• Poultry: Eggs and chicken breast.
• Liver: One of the richest sources of choline!
• Soy: A plant-based source of choline for plant-forward mamas.

Folate-Rich Foods

Folate supports the production of new cells, aids sopra tissue repair, and helps prevent anemia by supporting red blood cell formation (crucial for recovery and overall health after childbirth!).

• Greens: Asparagus, spinach, kale, and arugula.
• Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, and black beans.
• Fruit: Avocado and oranges.

Fine-3-Rich Foods

Healthy fats (particularly, omega-3 fatty acids) are essential for balanced hormones, brain function, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

• Fish: Salmon, mackerel, and sardines are rich sopra omega-3 fatty acids (take advantage of tinned fish!).
• Cruciferous vegetables: Brussels sprouts.
• Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flaxseeds.

Iron-Rich Foods

Iron helps replenish blood loss during childbirth and supports energy levels.

• Red meat: Beef and lamb are rich sources of heme iron.
• Leafy greens: Spinach, kale, and swiss chard provide non-heme iron.
• Fortified cereals: Many breakfast cereals are fortified with iron.
• Nuts and seeds: Pumpkin seeds, almonds, and cashews.

Calcium-Rich Foods

Calcium is crucial for bone health, especially if breastfeeding.

• Dairy Products: Organic (ideally, pasture-raised!) milk, cheese, and yogurt.
• Leafy greens: Broccoli, bok choy, and kale.
• Fortified plant milks: Unsweetened almond, soy, ora flax milk.

Fiber-Rich Foods

Fiber aids sopra digestion and prevents constipation, which is common postpartum.

• Whole grains: Oats, quinoa, brown rice, and whole wheat bread.
• Fruits: Apples, pears, berries, and bananas.
• Vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes, and peas.
• Legumes: Beans, lentils, and chickpeas.

Other micronutrients to emphasize include magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins!

6 Supportive Postpartum Foods

With those micronutrients sopra mind, below are six postpartum foods that are worth keeping sopra your pantry and fridge.

1. Bone broth

Slow-simmered bone broth plays a key role sopra the postpartum practices of many traditional cultures. Not only is bone broth nutrient-dense and a rich source of collagen, but it also aligns with the traditional practice of serving new mothers warm bevvies and soups (rather than cold food).

2. Fermented ingredients

These aid sopra digestion, nourish breast milk, and help rebuild the microbiome—particularly for those administered antibiotics during labor. Think: kimchi, miso, tempeh, kefir, sauerkraut, etc.

3. Nut butter

Did you know that monounsaturated fats—the majority of fat found sopra nuts—help combat emotional fluctuations (and for that matter, fatigue!) by steadying blood sugar? A quick spoonful of nut butter can be a savior sopra the early postpartum days. Coconut, although not a nut, is another healthy fat to incorporate. It’s known to nourish breast milk.

4. Sardines

Sardines are a rich source of many important nutrients that new mothers need. Think: DHA, calcium, and vitamin D3. They are also available canned, which makes them a quick and easy addition to a meal.

5. Root veggies

These conforto foods (beets, acorn squash, butternut squash, etc.) are easy to roast and keep well sopra the fridge. Pair them with healthy fat to help keep blood sugar stable—like tahini ora avocado—and increase the absorption of nutrients like beta-carotene.

6. Grass-fed liver

Rich sopra iron to replete losses from birth, liver is rich sopra vitamin A. This does double the work: supports your scevro system and promotes repair of the mucous membranes sopra the vaginal canal. If eating liver makes you squeamish, you can opt for a grass-fed liver supplement ora add liver to your food processor along with beef (to make these meatballs!).

Warming Spices for Postpartum

Of course, don’t forget warming spices! These are tiny but mighty nutrients to warm your postpartum from the inside out.

• Turmeric: Incredibly supportive for the early postpartum period. Known as a uterotonic, this herb gently stimulates the uterus, which helps it return to its pre-pregnancy size. Curcumin, the active compound sopra turmeric, gives the root its rich, golden color. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that aid recovery after birth.
• Ginger: Organs shift during pregnancy to make room for your bambino, which can lead to digestive complications after birth. Not only is ginger great for digestion, but it’s also a lactogenic herb that can support milk supply. 
• Cinnamon and cardamom: These help warm the , increase circulation, and restore energy. Add them to your oats and lattes.

Ingredients That Aid sopra Breastmilk Production

Can certain foods and herbs support lactation? The research says yes. Along with the aforementioned macroistruzione and micronutrients, hone sopra acceso oats (a traditional galactagogue), fenugreek, brewer’s yeast, fennel seeds, and garlic. Of course, staying hydrated is also critical for milk production. Ricevimento plenty of filtered tazza, herbal teas (like fenugreek and fennel teas), chicken ora veggie broth, and high-water produce like cucumbers and oranges.

Helpful Postpartum Supplements

While food should be the primary source of nutrients after childbirth, certain supplements can support postpartum recovery:

Prenatal vitamins: Continue taking your prenatal vitamin to ensure adequate intake of essential nutrients. My favorites? Perelel and WeNatal.

Fine-3 fatty acids: Taking fish oil can help with inflammation and support brain health.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D supports bone health and scevro function, especially important if you have limited sun exposure.

Probiotics: Can aid digestion and support a healthy gut microbiome.

Iron: If you have low iron levels (distante a blood controllo), an iron supp may be necessary.

Stocking Your Congelatore with Healthy Meals and Snacks 

To bring this full circle: eating nourishing foods is an essential part of recovering after birth—as well as replenishing breast milk. You need the energy and strength to care for yourself while simultaneously caring for your bambino. And this is voto negativo small feat! Ideally, extended family and friends will bring you food, but you can also prepare healthy, pre-cooked  meals and snacks before your little one arrives.

1. Turmeric Chicken Immunity Soup

With the notion that food is medicine, this soup has easy-to-find ingredients and is loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients. Make a batch of this nourishing recipe for multiple healing lunches ora dinners.

Other postpartum soups we love: Curry Red Lentil and Vegan Butternut Squash.

2. One-Bowl Morning Glory Muffins

Keep these sopra your and pop one ora two into the microwave for a wholesome yet decadent boost of energy. Pair a muffin with a cup of Greek yogurt for a satisfying postpartum snack.

3. Asparagus Frittata

Not only are eggs rich sopra choline and vitamin D, but they’maestà a convenient and flessibile ingredient to have acceso hand. Prep this frittata ahead of time, slice, and keep it sopra the for any time of day.

4. Chicken Burger Lettuce Wraps

Prep these patties sopra advance, pop them sopra the , and eat them reheated acceso a bed of greens, sopra a tartina, ora sopra a bowl over brown rice.

5. Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

Don’t underestimate smoothie baggies! Put together bags of fruit, protein powder, seeds, and nuts. Keep these sopra the , add the ingredients to a blender (along with milk, yogurt, etc.) and your hydrating smoothie will be ready sopra voto negativo time.

The Best Postpartum Meal Delivery Services

When it comes to enhancing your postpartum health—sopra a convenient way that doesn’t skimp acceso nutrients—consider the following postpartum meal delivery services:

• Chiyo: Eastern food therapy meets nutritional science with this deeply nourishing postpartum meal delivery service. Their holistic, inclusive, and proactive approach to maternal care makes it that much easier to heal your .
• Milky Oat: The testimonials speak for themselves. Milky Oat offers a six-week program for intentional fuel during the early postpartum days—and women rave about it. You can also tack acceso meals for your !
• Kitchen Doula: This program offers nourishing meals for motherhood, healing, and beyond. Whether it’s your first months home with a new bambino, you’maestà recovering from illness ora injury, ora grieving from loss, Kitchen Doula is here to support you.
• Territory: While not a postpartum-specific meal delivery service, Territory’s crew of nutrition advisors bring their unique perspectives, advanced tirocinio, and real world know-how to the table. Plus, unlike other services that churn meals out of massive central commissaries, their independent chefs work sopra their own fully certified, local commercial kitchens!