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Postpartum Nutrition

By Byron J. Richards, CCN - The birth of your children is one of the great joys in life. It is also a vulnerable time for both mother and child. It is truly unfortunate that families are not more aware of advanced nutritional science and how it can help ensure the postpartum time is relatively free of problems.

Delivery itself is a major life event for the entire family. For mother and child, immense pain is naturally involved. Giving birth activates large amounts of the primary pain-modulating neuropeptide called substance P. It is critically important for the first two weeks after delivery, for both mother and child, to recover from excessive substance P activation. And it is vitally important over the next six months that the inherent demands of a new child do not drain you so much that substance P issues result in a poor mood that interferes with the joyous miracle of motherhood.

Not managing substance P activation properly is the primary cause of mood disruption following delivery. Once in motion, substance P problems are self-reinforcing, meaning that problems can just get worse. Understanding what is happening as well as having steps to take that can solve the problem are great tools for keeping everyone in the family on track. Nutritional solutions stand at the forefront of safe and effective means to help both mother and child.

Nursing one's child is of the utmost importance -- for many reasons. Pregnancy and the first few years of life have a tremendous impact on the future health of your child. Having children is a huge responsibility. The future well being of our society depends on the majority of couples doing it right -- which includes superior postpartum care for both mother and child.

What You Need to Know About Postpartum Nutrition

In the following sections I discuss the key topics involving postpartum nutrition. This information builds on information I have provided in the Prenatal Nutrition health topic section of our website. All aspects of successful prenatal nutrition should be maintained during the first six months following pregnancy -- and possibly for the entire lactation period. Click here to read about Prenatal Nutrition.

I am a proponent of drug-free natural child birth whenever possible as well as breastfeeding of your child for the first two years of life (with solid food being gradually introduced by six months). Most baby formulas are problematic for one reason or another, especially their poor quality of iron which can fuel indigestion and the growth of hostile bacteria and Candida Albicans -- resulting in a myriad of unnecessary health problems including ear infections and poor cognitive development. I understand that the ideal situation is not always medically possible, but I don't consider C-Sections or not nursing your child based on convenience to be healthy choices for anyone. If you are going to have children make it the priority in your lives. It pays to understand what to do when bumps are encountered along the way, as effective solutions can save a lifetime of distress.

Learn more about Postpartum Nutrition:

The Importance of Breastfeeding
Minimizing Toxic Exposure Risks
The Nature of Substance P
Keeping a Positive Mood
Your Child's Digestion and Immunity
Optimizing Intelligence

The Importance of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is as important for your baby as it is for you. The process is designed to ensure survival of the human race and is thus woven into your genes and your baby's genes in a multitude of ways -- perfected over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution. No baby formula on earth can begin to approximate your milk or the activity of nursing.

It is vitally important that your baby get your first milk colostrum within the first 24 hours of life. This first-milk colostrum contains a high amount of the hormone leptin which is required to finalize appetite signal wiring in the subconscious brain circuitry. A failure to get this nutrition can easily predispose your child to later life obesity and consequent heart disease. Colostrum also contains significant amounts of biologically active thyroid hormone (T3) that is vital for jump starting the high metabolic demands of the first two weeks of life. And colostrum contains a broad array of natural immune support compounds needed by your baby who does not yet have a high-powered and experienced immune system.

In return, the activity of nursing is proven to offer you significantly improved stress tolerance, better mood, and natural fat burning. Relaxing anti-inflammatory compounds, including endorphins and oxytocin, are released in response to factors involved with delivery and reinforced by the physical stimulation of nursing and bonding. These are vital to your healing process in the first few weeks following delivery. Stress to mother or baby interferes with this process, and the process itself helps protect against stress.

Breast milk is highly supportive of the development of a healthy digestive and immune system -- critical topics that support your child's health for a lifetime. These topics are discussed at further length in the information that follows. Nursing has a powerful mood elevating effect. When nursing is stopped mood often drops, especially in women who are nutritionally depleted due to stress or thyroid weakness.

The nutrient most required for the production of milk is high quality protein -- with B vitamins coming in second. Women who are struggling to get started may need high amounts of these nutrients to get the system kick started, often at higher ranges for the first two-three days following delivery. Once in motion then protein levels and B vitamins can be set at an amount that noticeably supports adequate milk production. For example, 100 to 120 grams of protein a day may be needed to get milk production revved up -- after all you have just been through major wear and tear. I recommend two or more whey protein drinks a day -- at least for a few days, to get the needed protein. Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin may be needed up to six capsules per day, for a few days at least, to support this process.

Tip -- Eat your highest fat meal of the day at night, the extra fatty acids that enter your milk will help your baby sleep longer during the night.


Daily Protein Plus™ Daily Protein Plus™

Protein is the most important calorie for milk production. Several protein shakes a day may be needed, along with other dietary protein, to meet the needs of adequate milk production and improved mood.*

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Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™ Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin™

Contains coenzyme folic acid and synergistic B vitamins that are needed to help you manage stress and required for the healthy development of your baby’s nervous system, even following birth. Higher amounts are important cofactors with protein for proper nerve development.*

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Minimizing Toxic Exposure Risks

It is a national tragedy that our food supply is contaminated with PCBs (courtesy of Monsanto, Westinghouse, General Electric, and others) and the rocket ignition fuel compound known as perchlorate (courtesy of the military). Both toxins accumulate in breast tissue and find their way into breast milk, as well as PCBs crossing the placenta during pregnancy. PCBs are neurotoxic and are linked to the increase in ADHD amongst children. Perchlorate binds to iodine receptors better than iodine -- dysregulating thyroid hormone function.

The victims in these environmental crimes are babies, who are much more sensitive to these contaminants than adults. Cleaning up either problem would cost at least 50 billion dollars, which is why nothing every happens. It is likely that damaged health from both problems far exceeds the clean up costs -- especially as time marches on. Read chapters 13 and 14 in Fight for Your Health for the detailed history on perchlorate and PCBs.

Perchlorate contaminates the water supply in California, Texas, and Florida -- causing produce (especially lettuce) and dairy products from these regions to be high in perchlorate. Samples of breast milk from around the country has confirmed that excess perchlorate in breast milk is a common societal problem with rather grave implications. Disturbing thyroid hormone function in an infant will have profound negative affects on cognitive function. Combined with exposure to PCBs it is a double-whammy lowering societal intelligence -- a catastrophic issue that big money lobbies are preventing any action on.

Every nursing mother should seek to saturate breast tissue iodine receptors with iodine, in an effort not only to support thyroid function in her baby but to block perchlorate from binding to these receptors and consequently getting into her milk. I would recommend 2-3 drops of Iosol Iodine per day for any mother eating produce grown in the problem regions, otherwise 1 drop per day for general iodine and thyroid needs.*


Iosol Iodine - 1 oz Iosol Iodine - 1 oz

Aids natural formation of thyroid hormone. Safest and most effective type of iodine for thyroid function. Helps warm up body temperature. Important nutrient for cognitive development in your baby.*

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The Nature of Substance P

Substance P is a new term for most people, though the neuropeptide was discovered 85 years ago. Substance P is intimately involved with pain, anxiety, and poor mood.

Substance P is the main way your body processes pain and intense stress. Under routine stress, your body simply turns up the volume knob on nerve activity and energy production and when the stress is over everything is supposed to recover. Substance P is not used as a basic coping mechanism for low-grade stress. However, extra substance P kicks in when stress or pain is more intense -- such as during the birth of your child.

If you have a good history with mood and stress management, a lack of previous traumas and pain, if you are fit entering pregnancy, if your life is relatively stable, and if you manage thyroid and stress issues well during pregnancy so that you are not completely worn out by the time you get to delivery -- then substance P issues are far less likely to cause problems for your mood following delivery.

The simultaneous release of endorphins and oxytocin during the birth process are the natural counter-balancing agents for substance P. These natural pain killers are difficult to release in adequate amounts if you are worn down and nerves are depleted of energy. This can leave substance P levels too high in the days following birth, especially if your health history has earlier problems relating to substance P.

Because substance P is also processed in your brain stem, it cross talks to the glial cells of your brain in turn interfering with thyroid function, stress hormones (the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), as well as directly mucking up the flow of neurotransmitters -- all three factors can be significant mood challenges.

You can tell when a substance P problem is ramping up because anxiety levels increase, sleep is disturbed even though you are really tired, and you generally start feeling like a cat on a hot tin roof.

The extremely vulnerable time for initial substance P problems is within the first two weeks of delivery -- the critical recovery time from the pain and wear of giving birth. During this time nerves are often the most "raw feeling.” Nature's remedy for this is breastfeeding, which sustains the release in the mother of both endorphins and oxytocin.

Nutrients can be quite helpful. The natural brakes on substance P release in the brain stem are regulated by magnesium and glycine. I use a combination of both in a product called RelaxaMag to help sleep (2-3 can be taken before bed). When this natural braking system is taxed then histamine is released in the brain stem, setting into motion the excessive substance P flare up. The release of histamine further stimulates the release of substance P -- causing the problem to lock in place. Natural antihistamines taken during the day, such as Quercetin, are quite helpful.*

It is important to discharge substance P during the day so that so much of it isn't there at night. Nerves will not sleep properly when excess substance P is irritating them, setting progressive fatigue into motion.

The best combination of nutrients I have found to help discharge substance P is Quercetin, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, and Calcium AEP. Up to two of each can be taken three or four times during the day, generally at meals. This can work quite rapidly to help nerves settle down and mood stabilize.*


Magnesium, RelaxaMag Magnesium, RelaxaMag

Contains magnesium and glycine, two important nutrients to help calm nerves and promote restful sleep. Take 2-3 at bed, use as needed or helpful during the day (1-2 at a time).*

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Quercetin Quercetin

Naturally helps to remove excessive substance P from nerves. Take 1-2 up to four times a day.*

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Acetyl-L-Carnitine Acetyl-L-Carnitine

ALC helps restore healthy nerve transmission, cellular energy production, and boost mental outlook. Take 1-2 up to four times a day.*

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Calcium AEP Calcium AEP

Calcium AEP is a unique form of calcium to nourish the nerves and help reduce stress friction on the nerves. It helps your nerves tolerate stress. Take 1-2 up to four times a day.*

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Keeping a Positive Mood

Once you make it through the first two weeks then you simply need to keep track of the demands on you versus your ability to recover. Nutrition plays a role in its ability to help you have more energy, greater stress tolerance, and natural thyroid support. All of these issues are fully covered on the Prenatal Nutrition topics page, and the tips given there.

Being a mother is not always easy -- and is quite demanding. Wear and tear is expected -- mood may suffer. Some of this is quite normal and expected, considering all that you have been through and all you must now do. However, you don't want a lack of energy to lead to a magnified problem.

In general, the most basic approach is to ensure you have adequate dietary protein and B vitamins, as described above. If needed use Stress Helper for additional basic mood support and/or Thyroid Helper for basic metabolic support. You are striving to find a combination of nutrients that helps boost your energy, mood, and sense of feeling in control.


Stress Helper® Stress Helper®

This product supports adrenal gland function, boosts the production of neurotransmitters, and enhances stress tolerance signals relating to nerve function. Nutrients to boost mood and improve stress tolerance.*

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Thyroid Helper® Thyroid Helper®

Most popular thyroid supplement to improve energy, mood, and motivation. Specialty formula to enhance conversion of basic thyroid hormone T4 to active T3. Essential nutrition for anyone with thyroid issues. Helpful, as needed, during pregnancy.*

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Depending on how well you manage day to day demands and keep your energy up will tell you exactly how well you are doing. Because birth is an intense substance P event, your system can be on the edge of a substance P flare up for months. This doesn't mean you will have a problem, but it does mean to pay attention. Normally, basic energy support and stress support nutrition will keep you on top of things. If you start to feel anxious, afraid, have trouble sleeping, or feel wound up inside then take extra steps to knock down substance P as explained above. Sometimes this type of extra support is needed when it comes time for you to quit nursing or if life becomes bumpy for some reason. Use extra nutritional support, as needed, until you are finished nursing, your menstrual cycle is again running, and you feel you have fully recovered from any wear and tear associated with pregnancy.

Your Child's Digestion and Immunity

After birth your child's digestive tract begins working for the first time. In the adult digestive tract there are hundreds of millions of foreign bacteria and yeasts that hopefully form an ecological "rain forest"of friendly non-self organisms working to help digestion and support immunity. The proper evolution of digestion in the first few years of life has a profound affect on the future health and well being of your child. The use of antibiotics, while sometimes necessary, is extremely hard on this process. Every attempt should be made to help your child escape the pitfalls of repeated antibiotic use. The proper training of your child's immune system requires a healthy digestive terrain for optimal function.

Nursing is proven to support the growth of highly desirable bifidobacteria, which help evolve other friendly bacteria over time as digestion advances. Nursing also helps pass biologically active immune compounds to your child to help assist with immune protection while your child's immune system is developing. Not nursing is harmful to digestion and immunity as unfriendly bacteria are much more likely to gain a toehold, interfering with digestion and messing up proper immune system training. Such problems are likely to send a child down the path of repeat infections, including ear infections. Cheap iron salts (ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate), commonly found in infant formulas and used as food fortification, are major factors that stimulate the growth of unfriendly flora.*

Various nutrients can be safely used in infants and children of any age to help bolster their digestive health and natural immune function. The top three products I have used for many years in this regard are GI Soother, Immune Plus, and Pyc 50. They can be used to help calm a colicky baby and can be used to help improve any poor digestive symptoms like foul smelling stools or other digestive issue. All three of these are very gentle and non-toxic in any amount -- yet effective at really helping out digestion and immunity. They can be used on a regular basis as part of a healthy diet or they can be used as needed to help overcome any challenges.*


GI Soother - 6 oz powder GI Soother - 6 oz powder

This concentrate from whey (dairy-derived) is very similar to breast milk in terms of containing glycomacropeptides (helping to protect GI tract lining) and various immune system co-factors. It can be taken daily, as needed, for general digestive and immune support, or can be used as needed.*

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Immune Plus Immune Plus

Arabinogalactin is a branched carbohydrate extracted from larch trees. It partly works as a fiber and partly works as an immune support nutrient. It reduces stagnation in the lymph system, which supports the healthy function of the sinuses and ears. May be taken daily or used as needed.*

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Pycnogenols, Pyc 50 Pycnogenols, Pyc 50

Highest quality grape seed proanthocyanadins. This vital component of fruit participates in the antioxidant process and helps protect the nervous system from stress. Each capsule contains 50 mg, use 1 mg per pound of body weight to supplement the diet.*

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Optimizing Intelligence

Pregnancy and lactation offer a tremendous window of opportunity to support optimal brain development for your child. Many nutrients are involved with higher-level brain function. These include sulfur-rich protein, B vitamins, iodine, and DHA. All of these have been discussed extensively in this section and/or in the section on Prenatal Nutrition.

When you consume these nutrients during lactation, significant levels of them will be in your milk and available to your child. This is the very best way to get intelligence-forming nutrients to your baby.

It is equally important to watch for brain stressors. Constant arguments around children, especially infants, is extremely destabilizing to developing nerve circuitry and undermines nerve health and future stress tolerance. Instability between mother and father is also highly immune suppressive to your baby -- often preceding an infection.

Ensuring that digestion and immunity evolve correctly, as mentioned in the previous section, is also vital for healthy brain development. An overgrowth of hostile bacteria or yeast produces waste products that re-enter the general circulation, easily cross the blood brain barrier, and disturb nerve development. One's baby is also more at risk for acute infections, which are also nerve toxic -- as are the antibiotics used to treat them. Too much toxic trash simply gets in the way of healthy nerve development.

Along with DHA one of the very best nutrients for mental performance is phosphatidyl serine. It excels in support of memory, coordination, and nerve tolerance. It is one more stress management tool that can significantly optimize nerve health. It helps link DHA into cell membranes in the most electrical active manner.


PhosphatidylSerine (PS) PhosphatidylSerine (PS)

Helps learning, memory, and focus. PS is a high quality phospholipid that may be taken with DHA. A nursing mother can take two per day to assist stress management and help brain development in her child.*

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DHA DHA

The brain’s most desirable Omega 3 fatty acid, often lacking from the diet. Helps focus, learning, brain development, eyesight. Mercury-free.*

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