Delivery day has come and gone, and you’re onto the next phase: the postpartum (after pregnancy) months, or the so-called fourth trimester. Every woman who has recently given birth needs an eating plan that promotes recovery from nine months of pregnancy and delivery, and one that energizes her to keep up with the demands of a newborn and the rest of your family.
Here are some fourth trimester tidbits:
- If you’re nursing, your calorie needs are the same during the first six months after delivery as they were during the last trimester of pregnancy.
- Nursing women need more choline, as well as vitamins A, C, E, B2, B6, and B12, than pregnant women.
- You were stretched to the limit during pregnancy and now you want your body back. While it’s important to lose the pregnancy pounds during the first year after delivery, there’s no rush. Put food restriction and strenuous exercise on the back burner for the first few months.
- As long as you had no complications during pregnancy or delivery, and you have your doctor’s OK, you can begin gently exercising weeks after giving birth.
- Breast is best for a lot of reasons, but breastfed babies are at greater risk for abnormal bone development because breast milk is low in vitamin D. Nursing children require supplemental vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life. Ask your pediatrician about vitamin D drops for your child.
For more about the fourth trimester, refer to chapter 5 in Expect The Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy.