Mama Corner: Food as an integral part of care in the maternity unit

Sometimes, it is two o’clock in the morning. One expectant mother is waiting in the delivery room. Another has just given birth and is experiencing her first hours with her baby. A third is staying in the high-risk pregnancy unit. They all have one thing in common: at these key moments, their bodies need energy, nutrients and comfort. Yet these needs do not always coincide with regular mealtimes.

This is what led to the creation of the Mama Corner, a healthy food vending machine located at the heart of the maternity unit. An innovative initiative based on a simple belief: eating well is part of good care.

Meeting mothers’ real nutritional needs

The idea grew out of the teams’ experience in the field. Patients sometimes need to eat outside regular mealtimes, particularly after giving birth, during a prolonged hospital stay or while being monitored in the delivery room.

An initial experience with a buffet trolley had already shown how much patients appreciated being able to access foods suited to their needs freely and at any time of day. A visit to several Swedish maternity units, where dedicated food areas have been designed for parents, also helped shape the project.

Today, the Mama Corner offers hot meals, salads, wraps, sweet and savoury snacks, as well as products that support breastfeeding. Located close to the maternity unit, it accompanies mothers throughout their journey, from pregnancy through to the first days after birth.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period: times of specific nutritional needs

Pregnancy and the weeks following birth are periods of profound physiological change. To support the baby’s growth, prepare for childbirth, support recovery after delivery and sustain breastfeeding, the mother’s body is constantly adapting. This results in increased nutritional and energy needs.

“Nutritional needs increase during pregnancy and after childbirth, particularly for protein, iron, vitamins, essential minerals and high-quality fatty acids. That is why we have prioritised fresh, minimally processed and nutrient-rich products,” explains Laura Cuypers, midwife and the person behind the project.

The choice of products has also been designed to meet different needs, including vegetarian diets, gluten or lactose intolerances, and dietary requirements related to gestational diabetes. This ensures consistency with the nutritional advice provided to patients on a daily basis.

Collaboration in the service of health

The Mama Corner is the result of a collaborative effort involving midwives, dietitians and catering partners. Together, they selected the products best suited to the needs of expectant and new mothers.

Tastings were even organised for the teams to help build a varied and appealing range. The selection will be regularly updated based on patient feedback and new nutritional recommendations.

Creating an environment that encourages healthy choices

Beyond the maternity unit, this project carries a broader message. At H.U.B, caring for patients is not only about treating illness. It also means creating an environment that makes healthy choices easier.

By offering balanced and accessible alternatives at any time of day, the maternity unit at Erasmus Hospital aims to make nutritional recommendations practical and applicable in everyday life. The Mama Corner therefore benefits not only patients, but also their relatives, visitors and healthcare professionals working in the unit.

A first step

The ambition does not stop there. The teams want to continue expanding the range, develop health education around nutrition and further refine the selection of products available.

The project is also part of a broader approach to social and environmental responsibility, with a focus on committed partners and initiatives promoting high-quality, often organic products, as well as more environmentally friendly solutions.

Because in a maternity unit, taking care of a mother also means giving her the means to take care of herself.