The days after giving birth can feel like a blur.

There is a newborn to feed, diapers to change, visitors to manage, sleep to catch up on and a body that is recovering from pregnancy and childbirth, all at once.

IndiSomewhere in the middle of all this comes a very practical question: What should I eat after delivery?

Across India, the answer has traditionally been closely connected to the First 40 Days after childbirth. Families have passed down recipes for gondh, panjiri, laddoos, methi preparations, ajwain-based foods, dry fruits and ghee, often with the intention of nourishing the new mother during this important period.

Some of these foods can certainly be nutritious additions to a postpartum diet. But traditional wisdom and modern nutrition don't always need to compete with each other.

The goal isn't to follow a rigid "postpartum diet." It is to make sure a new mother gets enough food, protein, fluids, fibre and a variety of nutrients while choosing foods that are practical, culturally familiar and comfortable for her body.

At Maternity Finds, we think of the First 40 Days as a period when the mother deserves to be cared for, too, deeply.

Why Are the First 40 Days Nutritionally Demanding?

Pregnancy and childbirth place considerable demands on the body. After delivery, the body begins recovering while the demands of caring for a newborn begin.

If you are breastfeeding, your nutritional and fluid needs continue to matter. If you have had a caesarean birth, stitches, significant blood loss or another postpartum complication, your individual nutritional requirements may also need additional attention.

This doesn't mean you need a complicated meal plan. It means that regular, nourishing meals matter.

A useful postpartum plate can include:

• A protein-rich food
• Whole grains or other sources of carbohydrates
• Vegetables and/or fruit
• Healthy fats
• Plenty of fluids

And sometimes, especially with a newborn, the most realistic postpartum meal is simply whatever someone else has remembered to put in front of you.

That counts, too.

Traditional Indian Postpartum Foods

Indian postpartum food traditions are incredibly diverse. What a new mother is offered can vary significantly between regions, communities and families. Common foods and ingredients include gondh, panjiri, laddoos, methi, ajwain, dry fruits, nuts, ghee, millets and dal.

These foods can be part of a balanced postpartum diet—but they don't all serve the same nutritional purpose, and their traditional reputation shouldn't automatically be treated as a medical claim.

Let's look at them individually.

Gondh

Gondh, often called edible gum, is used in several traditional Indian postpartum preparations, particularly laddoos and panjiri. It is often combined with ingredients such as wheat flour, nuts, seeds, ghee and jaggery.

From a nutrition perspective, the overall preparation matters more than gondh alone. A gondh-based laddoo containing nuts, seeds and whole grains can provide energy and some protein and micronutrients.

However, gondh should not be viewed as a medically essential postpartum food or as something every new mother needs to consume.

Think of it as one traditional food option—not a postpartum prescription.

Panjiri

Panjiri is another familiar postpartum preparation, although there isn't one standard recipe. Depending on the household or region, it may contain:

• Whole wheat flour
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Ghee
• Jaggery or sugar
• Gondh
• Makhana
• Spices or herbs

Because recipes vary so much, the nutritional profile can vary too.

A nut- and seed-rich panjiri can be a convenient source of energy and healthy fats. But it can also be quite calorie-dense and high in added sugars, depending on how it is prepared.

Portion size and ingredients matter.

Postpartum Laddoos

Laddoos are one of the most recognisable traditional postpartum foods in India. They may be made with ingredients such as:

• Gondh
• Methi
• Sesame
• Dry fruits
• Nuts
• Whole grains
• Ghee
• Jaggery

They can be useful when a new mother needs a convenient, energy-dense snack.

But "traditional" doesn't automatically mean "eat unlimited quantities."

If a laddoo contains substantial amounts of ghee, jaggery and nuts, even a small serving can be quite filling.

Look at the ingredients and portion size, rather than assuming that every postpartum laddoo is equally nutritious.

Methi

Methi (fenugreek) has a long history of use in Indian cooking and traditional postpartum practices. It is also commonly associated with breastfeeding and milk supply. However, this is an area where it's particularly important to distinguish traditional use from established evidence.

Methi has been studied for its potential effect on lactation, but the evidence is not strong enough to consider it a guaranteed or medically established way to increase breast milk.

If you enjoy methi as part of your food, it can absolutely have a place in your diet.

But breastfeeding difficulties shouldn't be addressed simply by adding more methi or other "lactation foods." Persistent concerns about milk supply, baby's feeding or baby's weight are best discussed with a lactation professional or healthcare provider.

Ajwain

Ajwain is widely used in Indian cooking and is especially common in traditional postpartum meals.

It can add flavour to foods and is used in many family recipes intended for new mothers.

However, traditional claims about ajwain—for example, that it will "cleanse the uterus," "remove all postpartum gas" or produce other specific medical effects—shouldn't be treated as established facts.

Food can be comforting and culturally meaningful without needing to make a medical promise.

Dry Fruits and Nuts

Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, dates, raisins and other dried fruits and nuts are popular postpartum foods.

They can provide energy, healthy fats, some protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Nuts and seeds can be especially useful when added to meals, porridge or snacks.

Dried fruits are nutritious too, but they are more concentrated in natural sugars than fresh fruit, so portions still matter.

And if you have a nut allergy or intolerance, these foods obviously aren't appropriate simply because they are traditional postpartum foods.

Ghee

Ghee has an important place in many Indian postpartum food traditions.

It provides fat and energy, which can be useful when appetite is low or meals are small.

But ghee isn't a magical postpartum recovery food.

You don't need to consume large quantities of ghee to recover from childbirth, and more isn't necessarily better.

A balanced diet can include ghee or other sources of fat according to your individual dietary needs and preferences.

Don't Forget Protein

If there is one area that deserves more attention in many postpartum conversations, it is protein.

Protein contributes to the maintenance and repair of body tissues and is an important part of an overall nourishing diet during postpartum recovery.

For vegetarian Indian mothers, useful sources can include dal, rajma, chole, soy and tofu, paneer, curd and other dairy foods, milk, nuts and seeds, sattu, protein-rich grains and millets.

You don't necessarily need a "special postpartum protein food."

Sometimes, dal with rice, curd and vegetables is a perfectly good postpartum meal.

What About Millets?

Millets such as ragi, bajra, jowar and foxtail millet have become increasingly popular in Indian diets.

They can contribute carbohydrates for energy, fibre, protein, various vitamins and minerals.

They can be incorporated into rotis, porridges, dosas, khichdi and other familiar foods.

But you don't need to switch your entire diet to millets after delivery.

Variety is more useful than chasing one "superfood."

Hydration Matters, Too

New mothers can easily forget to drink water.

You're feeding the baby, settling the baby, sleeping whenever possible and suddenly you realise you haven't had a glass of water in hours. Keeping fluids accessible can make a difference.

Try keeping a bottle or glass of water near your bed, your breastfeeding/feeding chair, the sofa, your usual resting area.

Water is the simplest choice, but fluids can also come from milk, soups, buttermilk and other beverages depending on your preferences and dietary needs.

If you're breastfeeding, you don't need to force yourself to drink excessive amounts of water to produce more milk. Drink regularly and respond to your thirst.

What Traditional Foods Can (and Cannot) Do

This is perhaps the most important distinction when thinking about postpartum nutrition.

Traditional foods can be:

✓ Nutrient-dense
✓ Convenient
✓ Familiar and comforting
✓ A meaningful part of postpartum care
✓ A useful source of energy and healthy fats

But they should not automatically be presented as foods that:

✗ Guarantee increased breast milk
✗ "Heal" the uterus
✗ Balance postpartum hormones
✗ Prevent all postpartum complications
✗ Replace medical treatment or professional nutritional advice

A food doesn't have to make a medical claim to be valuable.

Sometimes, being nourishing, familiar and easy to eat is enough.

How to Choose Packaged Postpartum Foods

If you're buying panjiri, laddoos, snacks or other postpartum nourishment instead of making everything at home, don't feel that you need to choose based only on marketing claims.

Turn the package around.

1. Read the ingredient list

Look at what is actually inside.

Are the main ingredients whole grains, nuts, seeds and other recognisable foods?

Or is the product primarily made from refined ingredients and added sugar?

Ingredients are generally listed in descending order by weight, so the beginning of the list can tell you a lot.

2. Look at added sugar

Traditional doesn't automatically mean low sugar.

Jaggery is still a source of sugar. A product made with jaggery can be delicious and perfectly appropriate in moderation, but it shouldn't be treated as "sugar-free."

3. Check the nutrition information

Look at serving size and, where relevant, the amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, total sugars, added sugars, fibre, sodium. Don't compare products without checking their serving sizes.

4. Check for allergens

Look specifically for ingredients such as milk/ milk solids, nuts, peanuts, sesame, soy, wheat/gluten, where relevant.

This is particularly important if you or your baby has a suspected or known allergy and you have been advised to modify your diet.

5. Check the basics

For packaged food in India, also check:

• FSSAI licence details
• Manufacturing/packing information
• Net quantity
• Batch/lot information
• Date of manufacture/packing, where provided
• Best-before/use-by information
• Storage instructions

And once opened, follow the storage instructions carefully.

What If You Had a C-Section or Other Complications?

Your basic nutrition needs don't suddenly become completely different because you had a caesarean birth.

But your individual recovery circumstances can matter.

For example, if you've experienced significant blood loss, have anaemia, have diabetes, thyroid-related concerns, food intolerances, gastrointestinal problems or another medical condition, your healthcare provider may recommend specific dietary measures or supplements.

Similarly, if constipation is bothering you after delivery, your healthcare team may recommend increasing fluids, fibre and movement as appropriate for your recovery.

There is no single postpartum diet that works for every mother.

When Should You Discuss Traditional Postpartum Foods With Your Doctor or Dietitian?

Traditional foods can coexist beautifully with evidence-based healthcare but there are situations where individual advice is important.

Speak to your doctor or a qualified dietitian if you:

• Have diabetes or another metabolic condition
• Have significant anaemia or blood loss
• Have food allergies or intolerances
• Have thyroid or other medical conditions requiring dietary considerations
• Had significant pregnancy or postpartum complications
• Are struggling with your appetite or eating enough
• Have persistent digestive problems
• Are concerned about your breast milk supply
• Are taking medication or supplements that may interact with certain herbs or concentrated ingredients

And if you're considering herbal supplements or concentrated preparations, rather than simply using an ingredient in normal cooking, discuss them with your healthcare provider, especially while breastfeeding.

A Simple Postpartum Food Philosophy

You don't need to build the "perfect" postpartum plate every single time you eat.

Instead, ask:

"Have I eaten enough?"

"Have I had some protein?"

"Have I had some fruit or vegetables today?"

"Am I drinking enough fluids?"

"Am I eating foods that I actually enjoy and tolerate well?"

"Do I have someone helping me with meals?"

That last question matters more than it sounds.

The first 40 days aren't just about what a mother eats.

They're also about who makes sure she gets to eat.

The First 40 Days: Nourishment for the Mother

At Maternity Finds, we're building our Food & Nutrition collection around a simple idea: A new mother deserves thoughtful nourishment, too.

The traditional foods many Indian families already turn to—gondh, panjiri, laddoos, nuts, seeds, ghee, millets and other nourishing foods—can have a place alongside everyday balanced meals.

You don't have to choose between tradition and nutrition.

You can keep the recipes your family loves, question the claims that don't have good evidence behind them, read the labels carefully and choose products that make those first weeks a little easier.

Because the First 40 Days aren't about doing postpartum "perfectly."

They're about making sure Mama is cared for while she cares for everyone else.

Explore thoughtfully curated nourishment for pregnancy, postpartum and the first 40 days at Maternity Finds.