How to replace lost blood and nutrients during postpartum

During birth and in the weeks postpartum, you will experience some blood loss.

Firstly during labour and then in what is referred to as lochia, the cleansing of the uterus and bleeding following birth.

Along with the blood loss is a huge loss of vital nutrients making replenishment with nutrient dense foods a priority of postpartum care.

Food Focus

• The foods that are most supportive of building blood due to their warming nature and high nutrient value are:
  • beef, chicken and eggs
  • seafood
  • cooked greens and dark leafy greens
  • soaked legumes
  • activated nuts and seeds
  • broths, soups and stews

• Iron rich foods
  • red meat, offal
  • dark poultry meat, liver
  • clams, oysters, mussels
  • soybeans, tofu, tempeh
  • legumes: lentils, quinoa, kidney beans, chickpeas and black eyed peas
  • chard, spinach cooked
  • beet greens cooked
  • cashews, sunflower seeds
  • dried figs, dried apricots

• Folate rich foods
  • brewers yeast
  • legumes: black eyed peas, soy beans, kidney beans, mung beans lima beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans and lentils
  • beef liver
  • walnuts
  • spinach
  • kale
  • asparagus

• B12 rich foods
  • red meat
  • offal
  • chicken
  • chicken liver
  • clams, oysters, mussels
  • fish
  • eggs
  • cheese
    fermented foods