Postpartum Diet: Dairy - February 2025

Earlier, we covered which herbs are safe and unsafe to consume during confinement. Now, it is time to discover about dairy products! Calcium consumption is vital to sustain healthy teeth and bones at any life stage—no less for postpartum mummies! If you are breastfeeding, you need to consume about 1,000 mg daily. New mummies have to remember to take one to two servings of dairy products per day. One serving of calcium is equal to one glass of milk, two slices of cheese, and a 150-gram of yoghurt. Postpartum mummies need to know which dairy products are helpful to quicken their recovery as some may be contradictory. So, which ones are safe to consume during your confinement period and which should be avoided? Let’s explore more about it together! Healthy Dairy Products to Consume After Childbirth Yoghurt New mummies can eat yoghurt after giving birth. Yoghurt is rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, and bacteria. This is great to aid your digestion and improve your immune system. Tofu Postpartum mums can eat tofu too. Tofu is great to boost your immunity as well as the growth and repair of your cells. It has high calcium content which can help you to combat bone degeneration. Frozen tofu Frozen tofu is a great food for new mothers. It has many essential nutrients which are much-required for postpartum mummies. Tofu can also promote your newborn’s brain and bone development. This is great for breastfeeding mothers! Goat's milk Goat's milk is safe for new mums. This milk is high in calcium protein, calcium, and vitamins which are great for your overall health. Cow's milk You may have cow's milk during your confinement period. It is rich in minerals and vitamins which are great to quicken your recovery. It can also help you to combat calcium loss and promote physical fitness. In addition, it can also promote skin elasticity and boost your immune system. Maternal milk You are safe to consume maternal milk after delivery. It has a variety of nutrients that can ease the healing process. You can try consulting your doctor for more information on maternal milk. Soy milk It is safe to drink soy milk after giving birth. Soy milk can improve your immunity and energy. It also can promote your milk supply and nourish the blood. However, do not drink too much of it as soy milk can cause gastrointestinal gas. Hard bean curd Postpartum mums can eat hard bean curd. However, you should refrain from consuming too much of it. This is because it has a high level of salt and many food additives. Just remember to observe its intake and freshness. Bean curd sheet New mums should include bean curd sheets in their healthy diet. It is rich in essential nutrients including calcium, protein, and fats. It has phospholipids which can help you to reduce your cholesterol levels. Cheese You can eat cheese after giving birth. It is high in protein and other nutrients which help to improve physical strength and promote intestinal health. It also can combat constipation and diarrhoea. Additionally, it can boost your immunity and memory. Not only that, it also promotes your breast milk production! Moderation is Key! Feta cheese New mothers can consume feta cheese during their confinement period. It is great for your overall health. Feta cheese can help to improve your immune system and combat cancer. It is also great for gut and bone health. Just remember to consume it in moderation. It contains high levels of fat, cholesterol, and sodium. You can opt to sprinkle some over your pasta, pizza, and salads. Goat cheese Postpartum mummies can eat goat cheese. It has many minerals and vitamins which are great for your recovery process. Blue cheese You can have a moderate amount of blue cheese after giving birth. It is rich in minerals and vitamins. However, it has high sodium and saturated fat content. So take them in moderation. Brie cheese Postpartum mummies can eat brie cheese as it has protein, minerals, and calcium. But consume it in a limited amount as it has a high level of sodium and fat. Camembert cheese It is safe to consume a moderate number of camembert cheese. It has vitamins, minerals, and calcium. Just remember to observe your intake as it is high in fat and calories. Fish tofu New mums can eat fish tofu after delivery. Fish tofu can help to produce new blood cells through protein. However, it might contain preservatives and high salt content. So, eat them in small amounts. Ghee Next, moderation is the key when you have ghee during your confinement period. This is as it has high-fat content which can lead you to heart diseases and increase your cholesterol levels. Ice cream I know you must crave ice cream during your confinement period. But you must consume them in a limited amount as it has high sugar and fat content. However, you can still treat yourself once in a while. You deserve a little treat! Chinese fermented bean curd You need to eat Chinese fermented bean curd in moderation. It is rich in calcium and protein which are great for your healing process and overall health. But you need to observe your intake as it has high salt content and preservatives. To Be Avoided After Delivery Fried gluten balls You cannot eat fried gluten balls after your childbirth. This is because they are very oily which is not good for your recovery. This food might cause constipation and indigestion. Consume safe dairy product during your postpartum period! Thus, you need to take dairy products in order to meet a good calcium intake for your postpartum body. You can still have sweet dairy products like ice cream but make sure to sustain a healthy calcium intake so you can replenish your body’s calcium. Sources: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nutrition-guide-new-moms https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/breast-feeding-diet Click here to know more about more postpartum friendly food. Read more on which meat and poultry are safe and unsafe to consume during your confinement period here. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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