Nutrition After Delivery

It was important for you to eat right during your pregnancy. It is just as important to take care of yourself now that you have had your baby. Healthy Americans are encouraged to eat a variety of foods from each of the five major food groups in the Food Guide Pyramid every day.

Include the following in your diet daily.

• 3 to 5 servings of vegetables
• 2 to 4 servings of fruit
• 6 or more servings of bread, cereal rice or pasta
• 2 to 3 servings of milk, yogurt or cheese
• 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, eggs or nuts

Learning About Folic Acid

You should eat foods that contain folic acid every day. Folic Acid is also called folate or folacin. You need 400 micrograms of folic acid every day throughout your child-bearing years to have a healthy baby.

You can get folic acid by eating foods such as orange juice, strawberries, spinach, broccoli, beans and fortified breads and breakfast cereals. You may also choose to take a daily vitamin pill that contains the recommended amount of folic acid.