Kiddipedia
Post-natal nutrition is so very important to help your baby grow. It’s equally important for mothers to replenish those important nutrients lost post-delivery and during breastfeeding. A variety of whole foods is needed to gain much-needed nutrients to sustain both mother and baby post-birth and during breastfeeding.
Most women lose iron and other nutrients post-birth, and it can take many months to replenish this. Breastfeeding also requires more nutrients from mum and so the increased post-natal nutrient demands can be quite depleting in mums.
New mums need about 500 extra calories a day including iron, calcium and protein to help produce breastmilk.
Choosing a variety of organic, hormone-free, whole foods will ensure replenishment of important nutrients during postnatal and breastfeeding. There are also many supplements that can help support a mother’s increased nutrient needs during postnatal and breastfeeding. Sleep is also an important issue. A mother’s sleep routine is now different due to a new feeding and sleeping routine for the baby.
When you sleep important body functions occur such as digestion and liver processing. Lack of sleep can slow body systems and compromise your immune health.
Ways to support a new mother’s sleep:
Magnesium: Taking a breastfeeding and postnatal safe magnesium can help relax muscles and help you to sleep. External magnesium applied as a spray or oil or some magnesium flakes into a foot bath can also promote relaxation for your body to promote sleep.
Short power naps: When baby settles down to sleep this is when you should also try and get a short nap in if possible. Asking for help from others: If you need extra support reach out to friends and family to watch baby so that you can take a longer nap.
Assunta Hamilton is a qualified naturopath at Flannerys Organic Wholefoods Market, passionate about natural nutrition and natural herbal remedies. Assunta previously worked as a paramedic for many years and this contributed to her integrative naturopathic professional understanding of anatomy, physiology and conventional medicine practices.
