Hungry Like the Mama Wolf

So I was hungry all the time during pregnancy. In fact, with the nausea and general fatigue, sometimes eating was the only thing that made me feel like a human again. But no matter how hungry I was during pregnancy, absolutely nothing compares to the ravenous postpartum beast-like hunger.

A Thanksgiving-style hospital lunch. I devoured all of it.

I don’t know whether it’s because labor takes so much energy or if it was the fact that I didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast before going into labor. I don’t know if it’s the body’s way of helping you recover or if it’s simply the caloric demand going up to get the milk supply up. Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above. Regardless, I’ve never eaten like I have in the last couple of weeks and still managed to lose weight.

Digging in…

The hospital food was surprisingly good. Or at least my hunger tricked me into thinking it was. Because of long walks to the NICU, feeding and hanging out with the baby, I was rarely in my room when food arrived. But I was always oh-so happy to see that tray waiting for me, and I’d waste no time digging in. One time I was sitting in bed thinking how starving I was when they brought a cup of pineapple by. I have never been so happy to see pineapple.

The most delicious pineapple ever.

My hubby and I enjoyed a romantic bedside dinner for two, complete with lasagna, osso buco, salad, fruit, rolls, sparkling cider and dessert. It was high-class, but I dug in like a cavewoman.

Can you tell someone’s excited for more food?

You’d think that dinner would have me full until breakfast. But you’d be wrong. I had a midnight snack of chicken fingers that night, and my stomach was still growling before breakfast. Mini meals? Pshaw! Maxi meals is more like it. If there’s ever a time to listen to your hunger and enjoy, that postpartum week is it, ladies!

Were you a ravenous beast after having a baby? —Erin