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The Postpartum Nutrition Gap: Why New Mothers Often Neglect Their Own Health After Delivery

Nutrition during pregnancy becomes very important. However, once the baby is born, the mother’s diet quietly gets pushed to the back of everyone’s priority. That is a big mistake. 

The first six weeks post-birth is an extremely important time for the health of both the woman and her infant according to the WHO; post-natal health care is underemphasized. Delivery poses a lot of stress on the woman. Loss of blood, hormonal changes, healing of the tissue, disturbed sleep pattern and <span>breastfeeding</span> all require more intake of nutrition. 

<h2>When “I’ll Eat Later” Becomes a Health Issue </h2>

Mothers do not eat regularly due to their babies’ feeding pattern, tiredness, or lack of help in the household. Some mothers start eating less food, thinking they will lose their baby weight quickly. This will cause them to lack proteins, iron, calcium, <span>vitamin D</span>, iodine, vitamin B12, and other vitamins that will be necessary during their recovery. 

Anemia needs to be considered specifically for <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/maternal-anemia-why-its-a-major-pregnancy-risk-for-indian-women-and-how-to-prevent-it-article-155691805" data-type="tilCustomLink">Indian women</a>. NFHS-5 found that 52.2% of pregnant women between 15 and 49 years of age in India had anemia. It is also not resolved after giving birth when mothers started labour with an insufficient amount of iron or lost blood during labour.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/lindsay-clancy-trial-what-postpartum-psychosis-really-looks-like-from-a-survivor-article-155933265" data-type="tilCustomLink">Lindsay Clancy Trial: What Postpartum Psychosis Really Looks Like, From A Survivor</a> 

<h2>Breastfeeding Changes Nutritional Needs </h2>

Breastfeeding imposes extra requirements for energy. As per the CDC of USA, well-nourished lactating mothers require about 330 to 400 kilocalories extra per day than what they consumed before <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/not-pregnant-reasons-why-your-periods-might-be-delayed-article-151172015" data-type="tilCustomLink">pregnancy</a>. 

It is not “eating for two,” but eating more nutritiously. Proper meals should comprise of proteins, grains, vegetables, fruits, milk or its alternative sources, nuts, seeds, and enough water. Iron, calcium, and <span>Vitamin D supplements</span>, as prescribed, should also be taken.

How Much Protein Do You Need Daily? Foods, Cooking & Protein Powder | Doctors Explain

The recovery from childbirth needs to be considered in terms of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/food-insecurity-during-pregnancy-could-be-linked-to-higher-health-risks-article-151292017" data-type="tilCustomLink">medical recovery</a> and not something that mothers do if they want to. Families can contribute by making sure that the new mother is eating regularly, has healthy foods at hand and that there is shared care giving to give her some time to eat and rest. 

Exhaustion, dizziness, breathlessness, weakness or lack of appetite should not be brushed off as "normal <span>postpartum symptoms</span>". Having a healthy baby does not give reason for the mother to be forgotten. The fourth trimester is where recovery starts, not the point when mothers' care ends.

<strong><em>By Dr. Himani Sharma, Clinical Head and Senior Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur</em></strong>

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Nutrition during pregnancy becomes very important. However, once the baby is born, the mother’s diet quietly gets pushed to the back of everyone’s priority. That is a big mistake. The first six weeks post-birth is an extremely important time for the health of both the woman and her infant according to the WHO; post-natal health care is underemphasized. Delivery poses a lot of stress on the woman. Loss of blood, hormonal changes, healing of the tissue, disturbed sleep pattern and breastfeeding all require more intake of nutrition. When “I’ll Eat Later” Becomes a Health Issue Mothers do not eat regularly due to their babies’ feeding pattern, tiredness, or lack of help in the household. Some mothers start eating less food, thinking they will lose their baby weight quickly. This will cause them to lack proteins, iron, calcium, vitamin D, iodine, vitamin B12, and other vitamins that will be necessary during their recovery. Anemia needs to be considered specifically for Indian women. NFHS-5 found that 52.2% of pregnant women between 15 and 49 years of age in India had anemia. It is also not resolved after giving birth when mothers started labour with an insufficient amount of iron or lost blood during labour.Also read: Lindsay Clancy Trial: What Postpartum Psychosis Really Looks Like, From A Survivor Breastfeeding Changes Nutritional Needs Breastfeeding imposes extra requirements for energy. As per the CDC of USA, well-nourished lactating mothers require about 330 to 400 kilocalories extra per day than what they consumed before pregnancy. It is not “eating for two,” but eating more nutritiously. Proper meals should comprise of proteins, grains, vegetables, fruits, milk or its alternative sources, nuts, seeds, and enough water. Iron, calcium, and Vitamin D supplements, as prescribed, should also be taken.          Recovery Needs a Care Plan Too The recovery from childbirth needs to be considered in terms of medical recovery and not something that mothers do if they want to. Families can contribute by making sure that the new mother is eating regularly, has healthy foods at hand and that there is shared care giving to give her some time to eat and rest. Exhaustion, dizziness, breathlessness, weakness or lack of appetite should not be brushed off as "normal postpartum symptoms". Having a healthy baby does not give reason for the mother to be forgotten. The fourth trimester is where recovery starts, not the point when mothers' care ends.By Dr. Himani Sharma, Clinical Head and Senior Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cocoon Hospital, Jaipur

the postpartum nutrition gap: why new mothers often neglect their own health after delivery

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