The First Forty Days: The Guide to Postpartum Healing Foods

Explore the complete list of healing foods for the first forty days after birth. Learn how warming soups, broths and stocks, grains, and herbs rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zuo Yuezi) help new mothers restore energy, rebuild blood, and regain vitality.

In many traditional cultures, the first forty days after birth are considered sacred. It is a time for a new mother to rest her bones and nervous system, replenish her blood, and rebuild her body from the inside out.

At MotherBees, we call this period a nourishing window, a season when every sip, bite, and moment of rest helps restore energy (Qi), rebuild strength, and support the life essence (Jing).

Below is a complete list of healing foods that nurture mothers during this sacred time, thoughtfully organized by purpose and benefit.

Warming Foundations

These foods gently rebuild the body’s warmth, circulation, digestion, and vitality after birth. They form the base of every postpartum kitchen.

Broths and Stocks

Rich in collagen, minerals, and warmth, broths and stocks are the foundation of postpartum nourishment. They support blood building, joint repair, and deep hydration while calming the nervous system. When the gut is well-fed and nourished, it becomes stronger, supporting the immune system and overall recovery.

Chicken bone broth
Beef marrow meat stock
Oxtail stock
Pork bone stock
Fish bone broth

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are essential for hormone balance, tissue repair, and rebuilding vitality after birth. They help the body absorb nutrients, keep the skin supple, and support deep restoration.

Avocado oil
Butter
Extra-virgin olive oil
Ghee
Sesame oil
Tallow or bone marrow fat

Warm Drinks

Warm liquids help promote circulation, support digestion, and gently replenish fluids lost during birth. They calm the body, support breastfeeding, warm the womb, heart, and feet, and help restore balance from within.

Ginger tea with jujube and goji berries
Lemon and ginger water
Jujube and longan tea
Oat ginger cinnamon tea
Herbal infusions such as nettle, red clover, hibiscus, or raspberry leaf

Soothing Grains

Soft, well-cooked grains rebuild the Spleen, support digestion, and provide gentle, grounding energy. They help stabilize blood sugar, calm the body, and keep warmth circulating through the core.

White or sweet rice congee
Millet porridge
Oats with cinnamon
Brown rice after the first two weeks

Congee Toppings

Toppings add texture, nourishment, and variety to each bowl while supporting digestion and warmth. Choose gentle, easy-to-digest additions that provide protein, minerals, and healthy fats.

Shredded chicken
Ground beef
Tea egg
Sautéed spinach
Sautéed mushrooms
Red sauerkraut or fermented vegetables
Sesame seeds
A spoon of ghee or sesame oil

Satiate with Protein

Protein supports tissue repair, milk production, and steady energy. Choose slow-cooked, tender, and easy-to-digest options that warm and strengthen the body.

Free-range chicken
Beef shank, rib-eye steaks, or short ribs
Pork shoulder, belly, or ribs
Liver for iron, once or twice a week
Pâté made from chicken or beef liver
Eggs, boiled or soft-cooked
Fish such as cod, salmon, or sole
Small oily fish like sardines, anchovies, or cod liver for healthy fats and minerals
Lentils and mung beans cooked with ginger and warming spices

Grounding with Rooted Vegetables

Root vegetables help anchor the body from the root chakra, stabilizing energy and restoring balance to the nervous system after birth. Always cook them through roasting, steaming, or stewing to support warmth and gentle digestion.

Ginger
Turmeric
Sweet potato
White potato
Carrot
Beet
Daikon radish
Turnip
Parsnip
Lotus root

Fruits That Restore and Replenish

Fruits gently restore fluids, nourish the blood, and support digestive fire when prepared warm. Stew, poach, or lightly cook them to maintain warmth and ease for the postpartum body, helping digestion stay strong and balanced.

Stewed apples with cinnamon
Poached pears
Cooked jujubes and goji berries
Figs simmered in broth or tea
Blackberries, blueberries, mulberries
Stone fruits such as peaches, apricots, and plums

Herbs and Healing Additions

These herbs and roots help restore balance, nourish the blood, and support milk flow while keeping the body gently warm. They can be added to soups, stocks, broths, teas, porridges, or taken as tinctures for steady postpartum recovery and energy renewal.

Jujube
Goji berries
Longan fruit
Dang gui (angelica root)
Ginger slices
Turmeric
Red dates
Astragalus root
Licorice root (tincture)
Nettle (tincture)

Healing Condiments and Enhancers

These small additions bring warmth, depth, and gentle flavor to meals while supporting digestion and nourishment. Use them mindfully to enhance both taste and healing benefits.

Apple cider vinegar
Rice wine for cooking
Black and white sesame seeds
Toasted nuts and seeds
Sea salt or mineral salt
Nutritional yeast
Bragg’s, tamari, or soy sauce
Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, green onion, and dill

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