It's important to eat a healthy, nutritious diet containing plenty of fiber when you've just had a baby. Hospital fare can be constipating, and the meals are not always substantial enough to support a nursing mother's need for 200 to 500 extra calories per day. If you get a choice of menu from the hospital cafeteria, choose the foods that seem freshest and contain whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Try to include foods containing iron, like leafy green vegetables or red meat, to restore your iron levels, which may be low due to blood naturally lost after birth.

Often, mother and baby units will stock special snacks including yogurt, fruit, and cheese for new moms in a refrigerator near the nurse's station. Don't hesitate to ask your nurse for more food if you're still hungry after eating a meal, or to send your spouse or partner out for more food if there isn't anything available in the hospital, or they don't offer what you really want. Also, don't forget to drink plenty of water! Call for a nurse to bring you snacks or something to drink if you need it. This is your time to rest and be cared for.