So you have had your baby! Suddenly all the necessary and unnecessary advice you got throughout pregnancy from friends and relatives seems to have doubled. When you reach out for that piece of mango, your mother-in-law is horrified. “You can’t eat that”, she says, pulling the fruit away. “You have just delivered!” Your mother wants you to have a tablespoon of ghee with each meal. An aunt who has come to see the baby checks with your mother if you are getting a special mix of dried fruits and nuts.

Who should you listen to? Having just delivered, do you really need to have a special diet? Can you eat normal food or does everything have to be specially prepared for you? If you have had a caesarean section, will any food affect the wound?

Indian culture places a great deal of misplaced importance on food and its effects on the woman who has just delivered. Common sense should dictate what you eat after a delivery.

After the delivery you will find that you have lost more than half of what you had put on in pregnancy. You still have to lose a few kilos to regain your pre-pregnancy weight.

Obesity in women starts very often in pregnancy. If you don’t lose all the excess weight after the delivery, you will put on even more in a subsequent pregnancy. This additional weight tends to accumulate each year.

How much weight should you have gained in pregnancy?

The amount of weight you should gain in pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy body-mass index (BMI). If you have gained the ideal amount of weight then you will find it easier to regain your pre-pregnancy weight. If you have gained more than you should have, then you will have to work harder to take that weight off.

A balanced diet after delivery

You do not have to eat large quantities because you are breast feeding. A balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is important for you. It is important to eat a balanced diet. There are no foods that will affect the baby. There areno specific foods that you should not eat after the delivery.

Dairy products

When you are breastfeeding, you should drink 2 glasses of milk and eat 2 cups of curds a day. If you have gained too much weight in pregnancy you can drink low fat or skim milk. Even the curds can be made from low fat or skim milk.