What You Need to Know About Your First Meal After Giving Birth

Have you thought about what your first meal will be after you’ve had your baby? Maybe you dream of sushi or a nice big sandwich with all those forbidden deli meats. Perhaps you’re dreaming of a glass of chilled champagne to celebrate. Maybe you haven’t been able to think about anything beyond what labor will be like. But you should be thinking about it, and you should hold off on the champagne and sushi a bit longer.

BUT WHY???

During labor, your digestive system slows down so your body can focus all its energy on the task at hand. After your baby is born, your body is in full-on recovery mode, including your digestive system. Your organs, which your growing uterus has displaced, are slowly shifting back into place, and it’s going to take a while for your digestive system to be as strong as it was pre-pregnancy (or even pre-labor). Go easy on it! Give it something it can easily handle. 

So What Should You Eat Then? 

Through our studies on Ayurvedic Postpartum care, we learned about First Days’ Rice Pudding. This dish, which originates from Nepal, is locally called Passayam. It is warming, sweet, and easy to make. It contains easy-to-digest basmati rice, ghee (a healthy fat that will help keep blood sugar stable), dark, iron-rich sugar, and baking spices to aid digestion further. 

Ideally, someone on your support team can begin preparing this dish at the start of labor. It takes several hours to cook, but heat and water can be adjusted depending on how slow or quickly labor is progressing. This can also be made in a slow cooker, so you can set it and forget it.

Avoid the Crackers and Iced Juice the Hospital Gives You

If you’re birthing at home, it will be easy for your support team to hand you a bowl as soon as you feel hungry, but what about if you’re birthing in a hospital? A small crock-pot or even a thermos brought to your recovery room can be a great option to avoid the less-than-ideal food provided by the hospital. 

Our recipe for First Days’ Rice is inspired by the recipe found in Ysha Oakes’ book Touching Heaven- Tonic and Delicious Postpartum Recipes from Ayurveda Volume 2 - The Cookbook (an excellent resource for Ayurvedic postpartum care!). The First Day's Rice Pudding is not only a delightful treat but a therapeutic dish designed to nourish and nurture new moms during the early days of motherhood. It can be eaten throughout the day for the first few days. Make fresh daily and enjoy!

First Day’s Rice Pudding

Cooking time: 4-6 hours

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients:
12 cups water
1 cup basmati rice
3/4 cup dark, iron-rich sugar like jaggery or coconut sugar 1/2 cup ghee or sesame oil
2 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp clove powder
3/4 tsp cardamom powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Stovetop:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
   

2. Rinse rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain.
   

3. Add rice and half the ghee to the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, uncovered. Stir occasionally for several hours.
   

4. When almost done, add sugar and spices. Continue to cook slowly and stir as needed until the consistency is gelatinous.
   

5. Add the rest of the ghee and serve hot.
   

Crockpot:

1. Rinse rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain.
   

2. Add all the ingredients (minus half the ghee) to a crockpot.
   

3. Cook for 6+ hours until the consistency is gelatinous.
   

4. Add the rest of the ghee and serve hot.
   

Ideally, this can be started at the onset of labor. Use higher heat if labor is progressing quickly, use low heat, and add more water if labor is progressing slowly.

Enjoy!