8 Changes In The Diet Of A Mummy

Now that your body is to look after two people instead of one, there are obviously going to be some changes in your diet from earlier on. Eating right is going to aid you and your baby during pregnancy, as well as your body after your baby is born. If you’re breastfeeding your child, there’s more reason to eat healthy as it affects them directly.

During pregnancy

Try to include more iron and fibre in your diet. The fibre can help reducing constipation and the iron is necessary to maintain haemoglobin levels in blood during postpartum bleeding. Try tons of green vegetables for iron and food like porridge for fibre. Fruits and protein are also a good idea.

Pulses and dals are considered a vital part of your diet as they form a good balance. They are extremely filling and they accumulate less fat, making it easier to lose weight after your baby is born.

Indians are known for the high levels of spices and masala added to their food. Try and avoid high levels of spice as your child’s intestines are still very tender.

Keep a check on the consumption of oil in your food as it may enter your baby’s bloodstream quickly and cause clogging in the flow of blood. Oil also stays in your body for a long time leading to more weight gain during pregnancy as your chances of exercise during that time may be low.

The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is not recommended as it causes weakness and drowsiness in the mother and reduces the formation of milk. It is proven to be dangerous for the baby and must be avoided as much as possible.

Also make sure that you do not consume any medicines without the recommendation of your doctor or pediatrician, as they might have adverse affects on the child.

After birth

After birth, keep a check on the consumption of caffeine, as it enters your baby’s body when you breastfeed. The newborns find it hard to secrete caffeine and though it may be helpful in keeping you awake at night, it causes sleeplessness in your child, which is something you should avoid.

It is understandable to want to lose all the pregnancy weight you put on but wait through your postpartum period to start dieting. Also keep in mind that pregnancy causes some permanent changes to your body which no amount of dieting can fix, so getting back to the exact same shape might be impossible. Set reasonable goals before dieting and don’t be too hard on your body, as your child still needs nutrition through breastfeeding and your body has just gone through a nine month transition period. More than dieting, try exercising for faster results.