In addition to rest, all mothers need to maintain a healthy diet to promote healing and recovery.

The weight gained in pregnancy helps build stores for your recovery and for breastfeeding.

After delivery, all mothers need continued nutrition so that they can be healthy and active and able to care for their baby.

Keep in mind it took some 40 weeks to gain your pregnancy weight so it will take time to lose it too. Eating a well-balanced diet will help to maintain your strength and keep you healthy.

When you are breastfeeding, you require an additional 500 calories a day in your diet.

If you were advised to take a supplement when you were pregnant, continue to take this for at least 6 weeks after the birth.

Try to drink at least two litres of fluids each day.