The birth of the new born child in the family is accompanied and marked by great happiness and joy not only for the parents of the child but also for other family members and even friends. With the birth of the new born, most of the attention goes to the baby, but at the same time it is very important to take special care of the mother who has just given birth to a baby.
This care starts with the diet to be followed starting from after the delivery. The diet should be such that the mother is able to recover from the delivery at the earliest.
Special Diet After Pregnancy
Fatty Fish
The mother of the new born should make it a point to have fatty fish like salmon which is a rich source of DHA. This DHA is found in great amounts in the milk of a woman as feeding breast milk to the baby is very important for the proper development of the baby especially the nervous system.
Dairy Products
Dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt should be had in a great quantity by the new mother. Dairy products are all rich sources of calcium all of which are again found in breast milk. Hence while breast feeding the baby, this calcium goes into the baby’s body and helps in the growth of the baby’s bones. At the same time the mother also needs equal amounts of calcium for her own body, hence care should be taken to consume a lot of dairy products on a daily basis to fulfill the need.
Iron Rich Foods
Consuming foods rich in iron is very important as the pregnancy process could drain out the energy out of the mother. Having foods like lean beef could help overcome the deficiency of iron in the woman.Also eating a lot of green leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli would be a great way of adding iron to your body. These vegetables are also rich in vitamin A and vitamin C.
Vitamin D Rich Foods
Eggs, especially egg yolks are great sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D is one nutrient which helps in making not only the baby’s but also the mother’s bones strong. Also eggs are rich in proteins. Hence adding eggs to the diet and see the magic.
Vitamin C Rich Diet
Certain foods like oranges and other citrus fruits are very high in their vitamin C content all of which are very important for a breast feeding mother. The best way would be to have a glass of orange juice a day and the mother will surely get her dose of vitamin C.
Foods Rich In Folic Acid
While this nutrient is important in the early weeks of pregnancy, its importance continues even after pregnancy. Hence consuming foods like pastas and whole grain breads would be beneficial as these are rich in folic acid, a nutrient found in breast milk which helps in the proper growth of the baby.Apart from this diet, the mother should ensure to have lots of water in a day in order to avoid any form of dehydration which could in turn lead to low energy levels in the mother. Having juices and milk could also help.