Most expectant mothers and families usually prepare diligently for childbirth and the hospital stay, but home preparation is mostly limited to setting up the nursery, choosing baby clothes, a stroller, and a car seat. However, there is something just as important as these interior design and baby safety issues. Namely, what the mother eats - and of course the father, and possibly the older siblings - during the postpartum period and while establishing the new routine.

It's easy to say that the father will cook or that you can order food, but fathers usually have work and numerous logistical tasks, and daily food ordering can be a significant financial burden for a household of 2-4+ people with the arrival of the baby. The solution lies in careful planning and preparation in advance. 

 

Inevitable eating frenzy after childbirth

For the question of 'what to eat in the delivery room,' you can get many useful tips in expectant mother groups - most recommend cereal bars, sugary drinks, fruit juices, and chocolates, but experts suggest slow-absorbing carbohydrates and lots of carbonated and sugar-free water. 

However, it is less often mentioned that in the two to six hours after childbirth, most new mothers experience a crazy eating frenzy due to the enormous physical exertion. Chocolates, biscuits, and other sweets do not provide adequate support at this time; 'proper food' is needed. If the father cannot be summoned for some reason, the mother goes to give birth alone, or help is not accessible due to quarantine, it is advisable to prepare in advance with some cooked meal, sandwich, or other complete food.

 

 

What should a pregnant woman eat in the hospital?

The challenges of hospital meals - especially if there is any food sensitivity or underlying condition - need no introduction, which is why the question arises: what should a pregnant woman eat and drink during her hospital stay? Basically, anything she feels like!

However, it is also important that alongside the mother's chicken soup and fried meat, caffeinated, carbonated, sugary, and preservative-laden foods should only be consumed in limited amounts. A mignon is perfectly fine, but it's not advisable to eat a tray of them even after giving birth! Mothers who have delivered their babies via cesarean section should particularly avoid bloating, gallbladder issues, and hard-to-digest foods.

Since the condition for leaving the hospital is the mother's uninterrupted bowel movement - while most new mothers dread the big event due to perineal pain - it is advisable to follow a fiber-rich diet and drink plenty of fluids during the hospital days.

 

Gastro command, or how to prepare the kitchen for the postpartum period

On the day following the initial panic after returning home, the grandmother's or neighbor's cooking usually lasts, but after that, either dad or mom has to get into the kitchen. At this time, cooking becomes an unwelcome task that no one feels like doing. Understandably, as watching the little one and resting is a more heartwarming experience for everyone. But eating is necessary, and ordering options are limited everywhere except in big cities - not to mention financial possibilities. 

The solution can be preparation and menu planning in the weeks before childbirth. If we have two weekends around the seventh-eighth month that we can devote to cooking, we can comfortably get through the first six to twelve weeks with a maximum of thirty to forty-five minutes of cooking per day.

 

 

Let's see what is worth preparing in advance to make room in the freezer for the postpartum period:

- Broths. By preparing these in large quantities and freezing them in 0.5 l and 1 l portions, you can quickly make rich-flavored soups and cream soups, divine risottos, and full-bodied sauces. Their preparation requires little effort, mostly just time.

- Stews. Made from a large amount of meat - even over an open fire in pleasant weather - and frozen in several smaller portions, it can be used as a topping for stews, with rice, potatoes, bulgur, couscous, barley as a traditional main dish, or as a base for rice dishes or goulash soup.

- Bolognese sauce. You can make it with or without carrots, slightly sweet or with herbs, Bolognese sauce is a real ace. It can be used as a classic sauce, for lasagna, stuffed and layered vegetables, or shepherd's pie. The possibilities are endless, and by freezing it in various portions, you can always defrost the amount you need.

- Meatballs. The method of preparing meatballs with any seasoning is extremely simple. First, season the meat with greens and salt to taste, then form it into balls. Place the balls on a tray in the freezer, and once they are frozen, put them in a box or bag. This way, you only need to defrost as many meatballs as you need for the stew, salad, or side dish.

- Breaded delicacies. Who doesn't love a good breaded meat or cauliflower, right? These dishes are also easy to prepare, but the turning, breading, and fiddling can be quite time-consuming. However, they can be done in advance! By following the traditional method, you can defrost the meat slices individually, separated by foil or greaseproof paper. (Not zero waste, true, but perhaps forgivable once per childbirth.)

 

Additionally, it is advisable to fill the freezer in advance with easy-to-prepare, healthy, and nutritious bases, from which you can conjure up a complete lunch in just half an hour. Have vegetable mixes for cream soups, frozen peas, pumpkin, corn, spinach puree and spinach leaves, green beans, fish, or even some frozen pizza or pastries at home! This way, in case of illness or growth spurts, you have everything you might need at home.

Let's play it safe and stock up on the most important staple foods and favorite treats in advance. This way, everything will be at the mother's fingertips, and she won't have to give up anything.

 

Asking for help is not embarrassing

In the past, there was a great tradition of gifting food trays, with which women helped each other during the postpartum period. This custom has faded, but that doesn't mean we can't bring it back into practice.

Since it's natural for everyone to want to give something nice to the newborn and their family, let's dare to ask! Let's say if we don't need the thousandth teether, the forty-seventh pack of size two diapers, or a board book, and let's express what we would need. Feel free to voice if a large portion of food, a few hours of babysitting, or even a small escape attempt would make us truly happy. 

Honesty is cool, and everyone wins with it, as we get what we need, and the other person feels they have truly contributed usefully to our daily lives.