By: Krista Maas de Villiers, BSC Dietietics
Six weeks. That’s the benchmark most postpartum people are given for “recovery.”
But this timeline sets a toxic and unrealistic standard—one that ignores the clinical reality of what’s happening in your body and brain.
No one is fully healed at six weeks. And that’s not failure—it’s physiology.
Postnatal recovery is a long-term, whole-body process. One that requires patience, restoration, and deep nourishment.
Postnatal Depletion Is Real—And It Can Last 7 Years
Coined by Dr. Oscar Serrallach, postnatal depletion refers to the lasting impact that pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding have on the maternal body¹. It’s not just about fatigue. It includes micronutrient loss, hormonal imbalances, sleep disruption, and neurochemical changes that can persist for up to seven years postpartum.
Many mothers continue to experience symptoms of depletion long after they’ve stopped breastfeeding or returned to work. This doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means the system isn’t set up to support how long healing really takes.
Your Brain Doesn’t Return to ‘Normal’ for 2 Years
During pregnancy, a woman’s brain undergoes some of the most significant structural changes of her life. MRI studies show that brain volume and function shift to support bonding, sensory alertness, and emotional processing—and those changes persist for at least two years postpartum².
To support this neurobiological transformation, your body requires:
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Choline for memory and neural repair
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Vitamin B6 and B12 for neurotransmitter production
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Magnesium for mental clarity and sleep regulation
If those nutrients aren’t restored regularly, cognitive function, mood, and focus suffer.
What the Body Is Rebuilding After Birth
Postpartum healing is complex. You’re not just resting—you’re actively repairing:
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Muscle and tissue damage from delivery or surgery
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Hormonal re-regulation after the placenta detaches
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Blood loss and iron stores
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Breastmilk production, which depletes protein, fat, choline, calcium, and more
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Sleep-deprived cognition and nervous system repair
And yet, many recovery “solutions” on the market—lactation cookies, tonics, synthetic pills—miss the full picture. They don’t contain enough essential nutrients, they rely on isolated synthetics, or they provide only empty calories with little biological benefit.
Real Food Is the Only Path to Real Recovery
You can’t rebuild your cells with ultra-processed inputs. Most prenatals rely on synthetic nutrients like:
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Folic acid, derived from petroleum-based compounds
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Ferrous sulfate, made with sulfuric acid
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Cyanocobalamin (B12), stabilized with cyanide
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Choline bitartrate, synthesized with ethylene oxide
Even when taken daily, many of these forms are poorly absorbed—and can increase inflammation or oxidative stress³.
Nunona replaces every synthetic with organic, food-based sources, including:
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Folate from spinach
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Iron from spinach
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Vitamin A from sweet potato
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Choline from sunflower seeds
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Magnesium from oats, dates, and cacao
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B6, B7, B12 from seeds, spinach, and chlorella
Healing Requires More Than Calories—It Requires Cellular Nutrition
Recovery isn’t about counting calories. It’s about fueling the repair of your cells.
Each Nunona Mama Bite contains:
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Fiber (from flax, oats, dates) to regulate digestion and estrogen metabolism
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Healthy fats (from nut butters and seeds) for hormone production and blood sugar balance
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Protein (from nut butters and seeds) for muscle and tissue regeneration
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Slow-release carbohydrates to sustain energy without spiking insulin
Together, these macros + micros create an environment that reduces inflammation, supports milk production and profile, and nourishes your body from the inside out.
Delicious Enough to Eat Daily—And That Matters
Let’s be honest—no matter how nutrient-dense something is, if it tastes bad, it doesn’t get eaten.
That’s why Nunona comes in 7 cravable flavors to support long-term consistency without flavor fatigue:
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Peanut Cacao
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Peanut Berry
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Almond Coconut
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Almond Cherry
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Cashew Lemon
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Cashew Blueberry
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Cashew Matcha
Because consistency is what builds results—and you deserve to enjoy your recovery.
The Bottom Line: Recovery Isn’t a Rewind—It’s a Recalibration
You’re not “bouncing back”—because there’s no going back. Your body, your brain, your biology are all shifting into a new phase—and that takes more than time. It takes real food, real support, and a daily commitment to rebuilding.
Nunona was created to be that support. A daily postnatal ritual built on science, not shortcuts. Postpartum recovery isn’t a moment—it’s a biological process that takes time, nutrients, and care. Nunona is here to support that process, one bite at a time.
References
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Serrallach O. The Postnatal Depletion Cure. Grand Central Life & Style; 2018.
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Hoekzema E, Barba-Müller E, Pozzobon C, et al. Pregnancy leads to long-lasting changes in human brain structure. Nat Neurosci. 2017;20(2):287–296.
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Bailey RL, et al. Estimation of total usual dietary intakes of pregnant women in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(6):e195967.
