Postpartum Depletion

Postpartum Depletion

Postpartum depletion is at the core of depression, anxiety, and fatigue that can occur in women in motherhood. The discussion of nutrition doesn’t occur very often in conventional medical offices. I was laughed at when I asked about its correlation to my thyroid disorder several years ago.

The truth is that physical nourishment matters. When I was in nutrition school, we discussed how wholesome food lifts the veil. The gut is the headquarters of the immune system and our brain chemistry. If we eat dead food, we will feel dead. If we eat whole foods full of life and vibrancy, we will feel alive. We can break through mental and emotional limitations by giving ourselves the fuel we need.

Makes Sense Except…

How on Earth are women supposed to provide themselves nutritious meals and supplementation after birthing a baby, taking care of a baby, and most likely, taking care of other children? Then there’s the fact that many women work outside of the home and do not get appropriate leave. Maybe your spouse travels for work. Perhaps your family lives far away, or they’re close by but don’t really understand what you need. I totally get it, as I’m a mom of 3 with some challenging circumstances at times.

The key to this is to think outside the box with your meals, and to take a good postpartum vitamin. Let’s talk about meals first.

Nourishing Liquids

Smoothies and other healing drinks are where it’s at. My recommendation is to get a simple bullet-style blender and buy whatever veggies and fruits you like. Get milk of your choice, add in some chia or flax seeds, and you can add some protein powder that has probiotics in it. You can even make smoothies for the kids. Keep them simple, and sneak in greens or powders that will give yourself and them a nutritional boost. Here’s a an ebook on healing drinks I wrote to take your favorite drinks and turn them into hormone-balancing elixirs. Use code HEALING5 to save $5!

As far as meals go, cook things in bulk. Make a big pot of bone broth on Sunday, or prepare certain foods for the week so they can be quickly warmed up. Another idea that we’ve been doing is eating board-style. I cut up a bunch of grass-fed cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, veggies, and add hummus, crackers, and sprouted-grain breads to the board. The kids love it, it’s easy, and we can get full on having a variety of foods. 

Supplements

As far as supplements go, please don’t let people tell you that it’s overboard or not necessary. Our soil is not rich in nutrients and minerals like it used to be. Due to poor agricultural practices that have developed over the years, we have depleted our soils, which in turn has depleted us. We need quality postpartum vitamins to fill in the existing gaps in our diets and overall food system. 

I’ve recently started taking New Chapter Perfect Postnatal Multivitamin. I like it because it is easily digestible due to being fermented with probiotics and whole foods. You can even take it on an empty stomach. There are nutrients for breast milk including fermented Iron, B6, Iodine, and Vitamin D3. I love the active form of folate, methylfolate, which is useful for those of us who can’t assimilate folate properly. The fermented B vitamins assist with energy and mood, and the herbal blend includes organic oats, turmeric, and chamomile, which are incredibly helpful to our bodies after birth. Iron is something that goes low after having a baby, so the whole-food fermented iron in these vitamins is easily digestible for the creation of red blood cells. 

*Just a note that I’m not being paid by them for this post. I’m just simply sharing an awesome product with you.

Postpartum Nutrition

So, don’t take nutrition after pregnancy or birth lightly. The race isn’t over once you’ve had your baby; it’s actually just beginning. Whole foods and herbs will help your hormones balance and your body heal.

If you need help on your postnatal journey, please check out my services here. You can also check out my new thyroid and hormone balance course. I love hearing from you, and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.

From my heart,

Lindsay