Whether you’re a new mom, breastfeeding often comes with its fair share of challenges, added to broken sleep, neck and body pains, fatigue, and other struggles new mothers face during the first few months of motherhood. Your hormones and emotions are likely to be all over the place during this time. You’re likely to feel more thirsty as a result of oxytocin effect produced during nursing. It is your body’s way of making sure that you are getting enough fluids to produce breast milk. Also, being hydrated influences your mood, energy levels and skin health.
To keep your breast milk supply up it’s important to stay well hydrated. This means you’re going to need to be sipping something throughout the day. And, as we know from our mothers, water is the best source of hydration. But let’s be honest – water can get to be uninsipiring after a while. Here, our Gaggler team has created a list of flavourful options to keep your breast milk and mood flowing!
Seltzer
Sometimes you need more than ‘flat’ water. Seltzer is a great natural way to get your caffeine-free, fizzy fix – without any added sugars. Seltzer is available in plain or exotic flavours. You can also make your own flavoured seltzer at home by cutting up your favourite fruits and adding it to plain seltzer. Check out your nearest grocery store to see what flavours they offer or add some freshly cut fruits to make a pitcher of flavour-infused seltzer.
Nut Milk
Dairy is the most common cause of baby reflux or eczema. If your baby is reacting to dairy in your diet, nut milk is an excellent alternative. Almond milk is a great choice to start with. Almond milk comes in a variety of flavours, making the switch from cow’s milk to almond milk more palatable. It’s important to speak with your doctor first before making the switch to rule out any allergies to almonds. Whilst almond milk is not an animal based product, it does provide protein and does not contain cholesterol. The Omega-3 Fatty Acids boost your immunity, improves eyesight and helps fight stress.
Take a cup of raw almonds, add 3 cups water, 3 pitted dates, and a pinch of salt. Blend well in a high-powered blender and filter the liquid through a strainer to get your delicious almond milk. The residual almond meal can be used to make flour that is gluten-free. If your doctor allows, you can replace the cow’s milk in your postnatal diet with nut milk.
Herbal Tea
A great option for healing and postpartum recovery, herbal teas are excellent for mums who enjoy a nice cup of aromatic ‘liquid hugs’ every day. A few herbs, such as peppermint and lemon balm, are used to medically decrease milk supply. Packed with essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and strawberries, the Namastea Pretty Berry Tea helps to improve the health and look of your skin, hair, and scalp in addition to its fantastic taste. Pretty Berry is a fantastic cosmetic product when combined with rose petals, which help improve the appearance of skin. Strawberry and Passion fruit are known for postpartum recovery.
Bone Broth
Pregnant women and new mums require nutrient-dense food which include a healthy dose of calcium, magnesium, glycine, zinc, iron, boron, manganese, carbs, phosphorus, and selenium. Bone broth helps with gut health and is packed with collagen, maximising nutrients for both mum and baby. Bone broth is an excellent source of B2 and B12. It also helps as an aid for gastrointestinal issues and keeps the joints strong. A healthy dose of vegetables, aromatic herbs and apple cider vinegar can be added to your broth for additional nutrients and benefits. The glycine and collagen helps to rebuild tissues in the uterus and the abdomen area making it a great choice for postpartum healing. Bone broth made from fish contains nutrients, iodine and collagen which help in managing issues related to thyroid. Bone broth helps in elevating mood and energy levels adding to your hydration routine.
Fennel Water
Making fennel water part of your recovery diet helps to manage hormones naturally. Add one teaspoon of fennel, one liter of water, raw honey or natural sugar and boil together before filtering through a strainer to enjoy! This blend is rich in fiber, the antioxidants accelerate metabolism and cut out the absorption of unnecessary fats. If you are a fan of Ayurveda, you would know that fennel water acts similarly to the hormone Oestrogen in your postpartum diet. You can also boil fennel in water, strain, and add a Namastea Sweet Dream – Chamomile and Honey tea bag to prepare your drink. This blend helps balance out Vata, Pitta and Kapha – the three body energies – according to Ayurveda.
Coconut Water
Coconut water stimulates breast milk secretion and increases capric and lauric acids in breast milk, both strengthen your baby’s immunity and aid in the overall bone and brain development. Coconut water also protects newborns from several harmful infections due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties. Coconut water is considered to be a coolant, a digestive stimulant and a balancing beverage with high levels of potassium. It cleanses and soothes the digestive tract and has life-restoring capacity. Coconut water from a tender coconut helps cleanse the urinary tract. It has been voted the world’s safest natural soft drink known for renewing emotional stability and reducing inflammation as well as flushing out toxins from the body.
“Breastfeeding is a mother’s gift to herself, her baby, and the earth.” Pamela K. Wiggins, one of the first women to become certified as a Lactation Consultant. To keep your breast milk supply up, it is essential to stay hydrated, which means you’re going to need to be sipping something most of the day. When you are hydrated, feeling good and well rested your body will recover faster making you a happy new mum.
