As I mentioned before, my younger daughter-in-law is pregnant and is due at the end of January. Everyone in the family is very excited about the new baby!

The postpartum period begins after the delivery of the baby and ends when the mother’s body has returned close to its pre-pregnant state.

I am looking forward to taking care of my daughter-in-law and of course taking care of my future granddaughter! New moms deserve special attention to rebuild their strength after giving birth. Nutrition and plenty of rest are essential to new moms to help their bodies recover.

Eating light, easy to digest food is important. Green vegetables, vegetables from the squash family, moong beans (dal), and whole-wheat bread are all good choices. Avoid cabbage, beans and lentils are considered harder to digest and create gas in the body. Also avoid anything sour, like tomatoes, tamarind, lemon, and oranges.

I am compiling a list of remedies that will be useful after coming back from the hospital. My list is based on these traditional beliefs, which may help new moms below are some of the home remedies:

1) Turmeric helps heal internal wounds – Take a half-teaspoon turmeric powder every day with lukewarm milk or water. Turmeric has many other health effects.

2) Fenugreek seeds are great to help prevent and ease back and joint pain. Fenugreek seeds or fresh fenugreek are also taken to help nursing mothers increase their breast milk supply. Fenugreek is also available at many health food stores.

3) Ajwain (carom seeds) helps soothe pain due to gas or indigestion. Every morning boil four glasses of water with two tablespoon of carom seeds (ajwain). Let it cool down to room temperature and drink this water throughout the day. Add ajwain as an ingredient when making roti or cooking vegetables.

4) Dry ginger powder also known as sauth; take with food. Ginger offers health benefits, including anti-inflammation effects, and can also be found in health food stores.

5) Gaund (or Gond) is an edible gum resin that is extracted from the bark of the tree. Gaund provides heat to our body and is usually eaten in cold winter months. Gaund and whole wheat ka ladoo is normally prepared for the nursing mother to help with lactation and provide nutrients for the baby. The main ingredients are whole-wheat flour, butter, nuts, gaund, poppy seeds, and sugar.

6) Lastly, I will be making “Panjeere”, which is a mixture of nuts and a variety of ingredients. Panjeere and whole-wheat ladoos are a must for new moms. Stay tuned, as I will be posting both of these recipes in the near future.