How to Prepare Food After Caesarean Delivery?

Caesarean section delivery necessitates serious surgery, and your body, like any other major surgery, will take special care for you to heal entirely. However, if you are concerned about having a caesarean section, you are not alone; caesarean procedures now account for up to four out of every 10 new births on the island.

The only thing to expect is a longer hospital stay – up to three or four days after delivery (more if complications arise), and up to six weeks to properly recover.

New mothers who have recently given birth are frequently required to maintain a limited diet. The specially designed meal plan usually includes items that are easily digestible, which is significant because these women have just had a C-section and are still healing and weak, making them susceptible to illness. In reality, certain Chinese confinement norms require women to eat only what is good for them, particularly during the first 6 weeks after giving birth.

So, why is it critical that you remember what to eat following a c-section? It’s because the time following a caesarean birth is quite difficult for the mothers; it utterly exhausts and tires them. Adequate rest and nutritious food are critical during this time for a mother’s recovery and the health of her infant. This is the time for these mothers to have a healthy diet in order to recuperate quickly. 

As a result, your confinement meal plan should include foods high in nutrients that encourage good health and bowel movements. Also, because most mothers nurse their babies at this period, it is critical for them to eat healthily in order to maintain their health; otherwise, it might be dangerous in the long term.

How to Prepare Food After Caesarean Delivery?

Nutrition Following Caesarean Sections

Good nutrition is required to hasten healing after a caesarean section (C-section) and to provide you with the energy you require. Maintain the healthy dietary habits you learned while pregnant. Consume lean protein-rich foods. Protein promotes healing and is required for recovery.

Vitamin supplements may also be effective. There is some evidence that vitamin C, in particular, may aid in wound healing. Your doctor may also advise you to take iron supplements. In some circumstances, this is required to assist you in increasing your blood storage. It is critical to talk with your doctor about your individual nutritional requirements.

You may learn which foods are high in protein, iron, and various vitamins by reading the nutrition facts on food labels. Meat and fish, eggs, dairy products, almonds, dry beans, and peas are all high in protein. Oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, melons, and papayas are high in vitamin C. Iron is abundant in red meats, dry legumes, dried fruits, and iron-enriched cereals. Greens, cantaloupes, carrots, and sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A.

Most importantly, you must remain hydrated. Every day, drink 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of liquid. This can include milk and unsweetened fruit juices in addition to water. Caffeinated beverages are acceptable in moderation, but keep in mind that caffeine is a diuretic and dehydrates you.

Supplementation of vitamins and iron

During the postpartum phase, your doctor may advise you to continue taking your prenatal vitamins. This may be especially useful if you are breastfeeding. Furthermore, as previously noted, he/she may recommend that you continue with iron supplementation if necessary, depending on your unique needs.

Nutrition and Breastfeeding

Some additional nutritional considerations are required for breastfeeding moms. Your doctor may advise you to continue taking a perinatal vitamin for 6-8 months after delivery. Many vitamins and minerals are required for the production of breast milk as well as the development of your kid.

Typically, an extra 300-400 kilocalories (more than a non-lactating diet) of food consumption is recommended for the first year of nursing because your energy requirements increase.

Breastfeeding mothers should avoid eating fish and shellfish with a high mercury level (e.g. king mackerel, shark, swordfish). Furthermore, if you are breastfeeding, you should consume plenty of fluids.

Excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided in general. Most doctors agree that one serving of alcohol is usually safe. If taken, women should wait at least 2 hours before breastfeeding their child. If more than one serving is drunk, the general rule of thumb is to wait another 2 hours before breastfeeding for each subsequent serving of alcohol consumed.

How to Prepare Food After Caesarean Delivery?

Losing Weight

New mothers on television quickly regain their figures. It takes a little longer in real life! Weight loss happens gradually over the first 6 months after your child is born. Breastfeeding mothers appear to shed weight faster than non-breastfeeding mothers. In general, moderate exercise and a nutritious diet are suggested. Crash diets and weight reduction drugs, on the other hand, should be avoided.

While there is no universal agreement on healthy postpartum weight loss, some experts say that a gradual return to pre-pregnancy weight over 6 months to a year (about 0.5 kg/week) is probably the safest (roughly 0.5 kg/week).

Healthy Bowels

It is natural to be concerned about the strain of a bowel movement after a C-section. It can be excruciating! Drinking plenty of fluids and eating plenty of fibre-rich meals will help you avoid constipation and make bowel motions easier. Consume fresh fruits, vegetables, and fibre-rich cereals.

Walking frequently and early in the day helps stimulate the bowels and hasten the recovery of regular bowel function. Finally, limiting the use of narcotic pain relievers after surgery is critical. These drugs can cause severe constipation.

Constipation is typical after a C-section. Medication, lack of movement, and low abdominal muscle tone can all make it difficult to pass your bowels. If you are experiencing constipation after a C-section, you should contact your doctor. You may be prescribed a stool softener, suppository, or even an enema by your doctor.

Closing words

Remember that you have to consume lots of calcium-rich foods, lots of Vitamin C, and a diet after cesarean delivery full of iron-rich foods and proteins. These are all important foods to eat after cesarean delivery as recommended by our confinement nannies.

If you were curious about what foods to avoid after cesarean delivery, on the other hand, we have an article dedicated to that topic which you can read about on our blog.

Author

  • PEM Confinement Nanny Agency

    We are a group of frontliners and support team members who are passionate about sharing our knowledge and experience in confinement care. Representing the largest confinement nanny agency in Singapore which has served over 250,000 mothers in over 30 years, we are all about sharing useful and insightful information based on our experience to help new parents navigate this exciting chapter of their life better.