Salads and smoothies are NOT appropriate postpartum foods. Neither are cold foods, cold drinks, anything raw, cheesy lasagnas nor casseroles. These foods are damaging to Mothers' digestive systems in both the short and long term.
When we say: "Newborn Mothers" - this is not just endearing language. This is a biological reality: Postpartum Mothers' biological systems are delicate and vulnerable - just like newborn babies.
What NEEDS to be eaten in the postpartum period for our optimal health - is not about food preferences nor opinions. It IS about understanding and respecting our physiologic design.
Postpartum food needs to be:
Warm in temperature - Food that is warmer is easier to digest. Warm food also helps us to stay warm.
Warm in Nature - Warming foods naturally raise the metabolism - and hence speed up the heat making process (warming spices include things like: cinnamon and ginger)
Easy to digest - After months of slowed down digestion because of pregnancy hormones, combined with any perineal trauma - we need food to move through our bodies EASEFULLY in the postpartum time.
Nutrient Dense - A Mother grows her baby inside her body in utero, and outside her body through her breast milk. It is massively resource intensive to grow human life. To grow LIFE without depleting ourselves, we need saturated animal fats and proteins from pasture raised animals; gelatinous bone broths; cold-water, oily fish; liver; eggs from pastured fowl; raw dairy from pasture raised animals.
Soups are an ideal postpartum food. Instead of cold cereals for example think of: porridge (cooked oats, butter, milk). Instead of lasagna, think of sweet potatoes and slow cooked chicken in broth.
A great simple explanation of why.. AND.... If you want the Black Southern Midwife perspective on this topic follow @divinebirthwisdom and @shafiamonroe
Go to @innatetraditions To learn more about the physiologic needs of postpartum Mothers download the free ebook just released For deeper, individual support, please reach out to an INNATE Postpartum Care - Certified Practitioner.
Join our online Birth Masterclass for in depth Postpartum guidance.
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