New Life: A Healthy Journey Into Motherhood

By Jessica Chen, L.Ac.

The birth of your child is a priceless moment in your life. Your heart is filled with an overwhelming, unexplainable sensation of joy. What now? Well, you can start by taking care of yourself. To be a better mom, you need first to be a healthy mom so you can survive the delicate period of healing called postpartum.

Postpartum can last from the first six weeks to one year after giving birth. Recovery happens differently depending on your age, health and how you nurture yourself. Your mind, body and spirit can be overwhelmed due to the loss of vital fluids and hormone shifts. During postpartum, your own health is just as important as your baby’s. If you do not take care of yourself, you may encounter future problems like chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, body aches and slow metabolism. When you focus on your well-being, you will heal better, your mood will stabilize and you will lose weight more easily.

HEALTHY ACTIONS DURING THE FIRST MONTH POSTPARTUM:

• Ask for help and allow others to help you.
• Rest as much as possible.
• Remember to eat frequently!
• Avoid cold foods and beverages.
• Avoid eating junk foods, refined sugar and fried, greasy foods.
• Keep your belly and lower back covered and warm.
• Stay indoors and limit visitors for the first month.
• Monitor your moods and communicate with your partner.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Acupuncture treatments will speed up your healing process, stabilize your hormones and moods, decrease water retention and increase energy.

TOP SEVEN POSTPARTUM FOODS TO EAT:

• Soups: veggie/bean soups, chicken, beef
• Whole grains: millet, quinoa, brown rice, steel cut oats, amaranth
• Proteins: salmon, sardines, halibut, mackerel, sea bass, chicken, beef, shrimp
• Beans: black, kidney, adzuki, garbanzo and navy
• Vegetables: broccoli, seaweed, asparagus, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes/yams, tomatoes, and dark leafy veggies like kale, spinach, chard
• Nuts: Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts
• Fruits: berries, cherries, papaya, goji berries, red (Chinese) or brown dates