Did you know that certain foods can support your body during your postpartum and breastfeeding journey? It’s truly amazing what food can do for your body when you nourish it properly!
There are so many different thoughts around breastfeeding and your postpartum recovery, but it’s important to find what works best for you. This is what helped me in my experience and I think there’s so much value in hearing about other mother’s experiences, but it’s even more important to lean into your own body and listen to your instincts!
Many women focus on warming foods, described in the most simplistic way, you had a baby furnace in your body and now you don't! (spoiler there is a lot more to it but we're keeping it simple!). The warmth allows your energy to flow freely through your body providing wellbeing and a sense of comfort; like being swaddled in a blanket!
👉When I was still in the recovery depths, right after birth I made sure we had soups on hand in order to warm my body as it got used to not having a little one in there. One of my favorites was a take on a potato leek soup! These are great to prep ahead of time too and be able to warm up as needed.
👉Another one was energy balls, I actually loooooved these during labor, well as much as I was eating over those hours anyway! They're not the MOST nutritious but they taste delicious and bring me joy. It’s nice to have things on hand that you can quickly grab and eat because this can be a stage where you might not be able to cook much!
I share these recipes and so much more in my breastfeeding guide for new moms that you can grab here!
My mom said where there’s guilt you’ll find it when it comes to being in the depths of motherhood 🥺
I was asking her about the emotions that can come along when you're trying to get things done yet want to spend time with your little one. It’s hard to work (even on something you love), or go do alllll that self-care I share so much about.
Frankly, I just like to do most things with my munchkin, at least at the moment. He’s portable and we get to spend time together while I get that walk in or go to the ocean. Obviously not everything can be done with him in tow so if I’m out doing something that he can’t come along to, like a massage, acupuncture or my trips to the infrared, I focus on remembering how important it is to care for myself so I can care for him! 🫶
I remind myself too that it’s so important for my husband to have alone time with our son to be able to bond and connect with him. At the end of the day, it’s truly serving all of us. I get to fill my cup and they get quality time together. The same goes for family and friends! They love nothing more than to get to spend time with our little one!
I feel the struggle with work too; working from home and running my own business. When I’m able to get certain things done, they help me not only feel accomplished, but can earn money to help care for our little one. I also remind myself often that I’m giving him an example of what it’s like to work hard to serve others and make the world a better place
If you’re worried about being a good mom, remember you are a good mom! It’s normal to get caught in the mom guilt sometimes, just keep those reminders close to your heart when it happens to bring you back and remind you that you’re doing an amazing job.
Postpartum hair loss happens to the best of us!
It's caused by changes in the hormone estrogen during and after pregnancy. . In the last trimester of pregnancy, your estrogen levels increase. After childbirth, estrogen levels drop. This causes a large number of hairs to enter the resting phase of hair growth. After a few months, this hair starts to shed.
My friends have experienced different levels of the pp hair situation, myself not as much. I’ve been blessed with a full head of hair, although recently it looks like it’s a bit less around my scalp so I got started with what I know has worked for many women:
Rosemary & Cedarwood & tea tree!
Add 10 drops of rosemary, cedarwood, lavender and tea tree essential oil to a spray bottle with a little witch hazel to combine the oils and water! Spray on wet hair as needed.
Benefits of each specific oil:
- Rosemary
- stimulates proper blood flow to the roots, which strengthens hair from the root up and lowers the likelihood of hair loss.
- Lavender
- supports healthy hair growth
- Cedarwood
- helps to strengthen and encourage the health of your scalp. Stimulates stronger and healthier follicles as well as improve circulation and blood flow.
- Tea Tree
- Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties great for treating dandruff while unblocking hair follicles and clearing out dead skin cells so that your hair can grow freely without restriction
Each oil is key in helping to strength and encourage the health of your scalp during your postpartum journey.
When I was younger I used to HATE tomato soup, like with a passion. But as I aged I began to enjoy it, truly I think it was less the actual soup and more the fact that it came from a can with questionable ingredients 😜 this recipe is a lot more fresh and has the added bonus of oils and a delicious dairy free sandwich to go along with it!
Ingredients:
Tomato Soup
- 3 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter (we use Miyokos)
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped (optional)
- 2 containers of (approx. 14oz each) whole peeled tomatoes (when you use canned tomatoes this can leach the BPA out of the cans due to their acidity)
- 1 cups veggie broth, chicken broth or chicken bone broth (we use broth from our local farm)
- 1 – 2 drops Cilantro essential oil (to taste)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, honey or coconut sugar (to taste)
- 1 tsp sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- fresh cilantro (coriander) leaves (optional for serving)
Grilled Cheese
- 8 slices gluten free bread (if you have a bakery near by, go for that but if not schar is one of the most tasty Gf breads)
- Vegan mayonnaise or softened non-dairy butter (for spreading on the bread)
- 1 – 1½ cups non-dairy shredded cheddar and/or non-dairy mozzarella cheese or non-dairy slices (or 2 slices per sandwich) -we use violife
- 2 – 3 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter (for cooking)
Directions
Tomato Soup
1. In a large soup pot on medium-heat, add the olive oil and onions. Cook for 5 minutes stirring often. Add the garlic, stir and then add the canned tomatoes. Using a potato masher or large spoon break up the tomatoes into large chunks.
2. Pour in the broth and bring the heat to high until the soup starts to simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and simmer for approx. 15 – 20 minutes. Stir the soup every few minutes and continue cooking until the onion is soft and the tomatoes have broken down.
3. Once the soup is done you can carefully blend some or all of the soup with a stick blender depending on how chunky you like it. You may need to add a little more broth or water if the soup is a little too thick for your liking. While the soup is cooking, make the sandwiches.
Grilled Cheese
1. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise (or softened butter/vegan butter) on one side of each slice of bread. Then evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese (or place 2 slices of cheese) on the mayonnaise side of the 4 slices. Place the remaining 4 slices on top of each cheese covered slice with the mayonnaise side down and press gently on each sandwich to help them stick together.
2. In a large frying pan or on a griddle, melt 2 tbsp of butter on medium heat. Gently place the sandwiches in the pan being careful that the cheese stays in place. Cook on one side for 2 – 3 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown.
3. Melt the remaining 1 tbsp of butter in the pan and carefully turn the sandwiches over with a spatula moving them around a little to coat them with the butter. Add more butter if desired. Cook for approx. 1 – 2 minutes longer until the other side is golden brown, and the cheese has melted. Turn heat to lowest setting to keep sandwiches warm until ready to serve.
4. Taste the soup and add a little more sea salt and pepper if desired and serve the soup in bowls. Garnish with a few cilantro (coriander) leaves, if you like. Set the bowls on plates. Place the sandwiches on a cutting board and cut then in quarters or diagonally and set them on the plates with the soup and serve immediately.
You might be like, what on Earth are these?! The first time I heard the word I thought they said Galápagos Islands!🤣
Galactagogues a group of foods and herbs that CAN help with your milk supply if you’re breastfeeding. There isn't one magic pill for regulating breast milk, but there are some different things that can help.
As a breastfeeding mom, one of the main things we worry about is our supply and if we have enough for our baby. There are many things that can contribute to a healthy supply, but food can be a great resource to try.
You’re going to be hungry constantly so finding ways to satiate you and support your supply are great! Making sure that you’re eating properly and taking care of yourself is equally important and staying hydrated too!
It's important to remember that every woman is different and can have different responses to these foods/herbs.
While these foods are generally considered safe to include in a balanced diet, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes, especially if you have allergies, medical conditions, or concerns about your milk supply. Additionally, focusing on a well-rounded and nutritious diet overall is key to supporting lactation and overall maternal health.
There are several different types of galactagogues, including:
✨ Oats
✨ Barley
✨ Fenugreek
✨ Fennell
✨ Brewer's Yeast
Certain foods and spices might not work for you, and that's okay! I don’t consume gluten so barley was out for me! Sometimes it's trial and error and that's how it goes. Introduce different foods into your diet slowly to determine which ones work the best for you.
I’ve created a free guide for breastfeeding moms to help you through your journey with tips and resources and join my waitlist for my breastfeeding guide PACKED with recipes!! GRAB IT HERE!
