Postnatal Medications

What else should I know about after delivery care?

• Drink at least 8-10 cups of fluids daily. This replaces fluids lost through breastfeeding and also helps to relieve constipation. Be sure to avoid sugar sweetened drinks!
• Have a supply of staple food items (e.g. rice/noodles/pasta, eggs, frozen vegetables) so that quick easy meals can be made.
• Cook extras at dinner and freeze in single portions to use at busy times.
• Have healthy snacks readily available for convenience when hungry (e.g. tubs of yogurt, dried fruit and nuts, wholemeal crackers, fruit).
• You should try to limit alcohol consumption while you are breastfeeding. Generally, moderate alcohol intake by the breastfeeding mother (up to 1 standard drink a day) is not known to be harmful. You should also:
  • Wait for at least 3 hours after alcohol consumption before the next breastfeed.
  • Avoid alcohol completely in the first week after delivery as (i) baby’s liver is not completely mature, and (ii) to allow establishment of breast milk supply so that breast milk can be pumped and stored for later use in case baby needs an earlier feed.
• Limit to 2 cups of coffee or tea per day as caffeine has been shown to pass to babies through breast milk.