Critical Review on Special Diet Regimen used in Postpartum Period (Sutikavastha) in Various Parts of India with Special Reference to Modern Dietetics

There are various cultures and traditions across India. Hundred years back there were highest mortality rate in infants as well as in women during post-partum period. Poor hygienic conditions, lack of awareness in society, unavailability of medical facilities in remote areas are some reasons for highest mortality and morbidity in those days. Still traditional culture and diet had played important role to survive mother and child. Some Ayurvedic herbs as well as foods were in practice to nourish the mother during postpartum period. Nutrition and dietetics is the new and now established and proved branch of medicine which treats the food as medicine. If we study the nutritive values of those food ingredients, we get astonished to know how they have maintained proper need of postpartum life of a woman. They fulfil the need of macronutrients as well as micronutrients through this traditional way of postpartum diet in breastfeed mother. Here in this article we have discussed the ancient thoughts and modern views about the postpartum diet. Postpartum period of 45 days is considered while advising dietary regimen.