Postpartum fatigue is a common issue affecting new mothers, with around 40% experiencing it in the first week after delivery. This fatigue can make it difficult for new moms to care for their newborns and maintain their overall well-being. To cope with postpartum fatigue, it’s essential for new mothers to prioritize sleep, eat a healthy and balanced diet, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, ask for help from family and friends, and talk to their healthcare advisor about managing postpartum fatigue.
Postnatal Vitamins and Supplements
Postnatal vitamins and supplements can help new mothers meet their nutritional needs after childbirth and while nursing. These supplements are available in various forms, such as capsules, softgels, and powders. Some of the best postnatal vitamins available online include MegaFood Postnatal Vitamin and Ritual Essential Postnatal Multivitamin. Both supplements have mostly positive customer reviews, but some customers have criticized the taste and side effects.
Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss and Exercise
Post-pregnancy weight loss should be a slow and steady process, with women not beginning exercise until they have clearance from their doctor. Gentle movement within your limits can help improve sleep and manage anxieties. Diastasis recti (ab separation) may not go away on its own and requires gentle exercises. Postpartum care is underserved and under-researched, making initiatives like the 4th Trimester Project essential for new mothers.
Chiyo: Postpartum Meal Delivery Service
Chiyo is a postpartum meal delivery service launched by Irene Liu and Jennifer Jolorte Doro in New York. The service draws from postpartum practices common in Eastern cultures, where the first 40 days after birth are considered a crucial period of recovery. Chiyo’s postpartum meal plan costs $517 a week and runs a six-week course, drawing from Chinese herbal medicine and Western nutritional science. The company has mailed boxes to 500 families across the US to date and is on track to surpass $1m in revenue this year.
Postpartum Confinement: A Traditional Approach to Recovery
Postpartum confinement is an extended period of rest, recovery, nourishment, and adjustment for new mothers after childbirth. Traditional cultures place a heavy emphasis on the first month or 40 days after birth, prioritizing recovery with warmth, bed rest, easy-to-digest and nutrient-dense food, and limited to no visitors. Many new mothers are adapting the idea of postpartum confinement to fit within today’s modern world by hiring a confinement nanny or postpartum doula with knowledge of traditional practices. Nourishment during this time is the cornerstone of confinement and is considered essential in helping mothers recover and restore energy and vitality.
