Congratulations. Nine months of good nutrition has paid off. You’re now holding your beautiful, healthy baby in your arms.

Even though you’re no longer pregnant, it’s still important to eat well. This will aid your body’s recovery and also help you keep up with the new demands of motherhood.

The “Fourth” Trimester
You’re entering your “fourth trimester.” That’s what child experts call the first three months of your baby’s life. Why? Because this phase is as developmentally critical for your baby as the first three trimesters were. And it can be just as physically demanding on you.

As with earlier trimesters, the challenges of this one are best met through a healthy, balanced diet and lots of rest.

Nursing
If you’re nursing, eating well is a prerequisite for maintaining an adequate milk supply. So don’t skimp on nutrients.

Believe it or not, your energy needs are greater now than they were when you were pregnant. If you’re nursing, you need about 340-400 calories a day more than you did before your pregnancy. Make sure they’re quality calories.

Amazingly, there’s another mother watching over your baby. Mother Nature. She’s a real stickler for nutrition. In other words, nature has seen to it that when your baby is nursing, he takes from your body and what you eat everything he needs to grow and thrive. So stick to a healthy diet.

Make sure you drink lots of water. Otherwise, your basic fluids could be depleted through your milk supply.

Your baby’s brain is enjoying a huge growth spurt right now. Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA are important for your baby’s brain and eye development. So keep up your fat consumption with “good fats” from DHA—rich foods like salmon and canned light tuna, but follow the FDA’s advisory on fish safety at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg3.html.

Remember, everything you inhale or eat goes directly to your baby. Continue to avoid alcohol, caffeine, cigarette smoke, strong medications, and foods that contain toxic substances or pesticides.

Formula-Feeding
If you’re formula-feeding, you’ll be reassured to know that Enfamil LIPIL® infant formula offers the fatty acids, DHA and ARA, that are also found in breast milk. And now, Enfamil LIPIL has increased levels of choline to be closer to the level found in breast milk, too. These nutrients support your baby’s brain development. No formula is closer to breast milk than Enfamil LIPIL.

While you’re seeing to it that your baby gets all his nutrients, make sure you get all yours. You need iron, protein, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E to recover from childbirth. So try to plan meals that include these nutrients.

And make it a habit to pack healthy snacks when you leave the house. Now that your baby is growing more active by the day, you’re going to need them.

Tags: Nutrition, Energy needs, Postpartum, Motherhood, New Moms