The first month after childbirth is not only the period where you will begin to heal from delivery wounds, but is also a time for your newborn to obtain all nutrients to grow healthily. Whatever you consume, chances are your health is not the only one on the receiving end – your baby is too. Your food and drink will find their way into your breast milk, and what they carry will be passed on to your little one. Hence, you should aim to eat properly during this critical time not only to heal better and faster but also to provide nutritious milk for your baby.
Regardless, beyond just eating right, it is important that you try to stay away from what may not be good for the both of you, too. Do take note of what food to avoid during confinement as well. At some point, you might even wonder whether you can eat chocolate during confinement or if you can eat egg during confinement. These are totally valid concerns and there has been a constant debate about one should eat and stay away from after birth.
Hence, confinement nannies in Singapore tend to follow strict confinement tips and practices for new mother’s diet during her confinement period. According to confinement nannies in Singapore, there are various foods you should avoid during confinement period to make sure you can recover from the delivery better and enhance your baby’s growth development.
Below, we have compiled the top 5 common foods that you should avoid or consume less after birth.
Caffeine
As a new mom, it can be difficult to keep yourself awake and fresh throughout the day when you get very little sleep the night before. Especially if you have always been a morning coffee type of person, the question of whether you can drink coffee during confinement must have been one of the first things you ask your nanny or gynaecologist. Well, can you? Let’s find out.
Caffeine, in any form, can be unhealthy for your little one. If coffee or tea is your addiction, it is time for you to put a pause on it until your confinement and breastfeeding periods are over. If you are wondering about “can I eat chocolate during confinement”, here’s what you should know. As chocolate contains caffeine, having chocolate during confinement could cause insomnia, an elevated heartbeat and introduce ‘wind’ in the stomach. Furthermore, caffeine can end up in your breast milk and since your baby’s digestive system is still weak, he/she may find it difficult to digest. This will result in the baby being irritable and drowsy.
If you still want a strong-tasting drink, you can modify the taste of traditional confinement drink “Red Dates Tea” instead. Red dates tea is widely known for its ability to stimulate blood circulation, thus replenishing blood. Improved blood circulation, on the other hand, can increase the milk supply for your baby! Plus, this drink can also combat insomnia and anxiety, which are what new moms face.
Dairy products
You should limit your intake of dairy products like cheese and yogurt during your confinement period or avoid them if you are lactose intolerant. For someone who is still healing from childbirth, experiencing more unpleasant symptoms is really the last thing you need on your plate. The good news is, you can find much healthier alternatives! You can replace cow milk with soymilk or almond milk and opt for dairy-free yogurts and ice creams. Apart from preventing allergic reactions, most non-dairy based products contain lower calories so they are perfect to be included in your diet if you wish to lose weight. As for bread, you can eat bread during confinement as long as they don’t contain high levels of milk ingredients. While most bread do not contain dairy, some bakeries might add dry milk powder or other dairy ingredients to improve the texture of their bread, so it’s always a good idea to check the ingredient list before you consume them.
Seafood
When it comes to what not to eat during confinement, you might come across some sources that advise new mothers to avoid seafood. But why? Although seafood is generally a healthy option, some of them like king mackerel and swordfish may contain high levels of mercury. Mercury, apart from being poisonous, can also lead to other concerns like gastric problems for your baby. But don’t sigh just yet! Compared to the little amount of seafood you should avoid, there are a lot more that would benefit you significantly! Salmon, for example, is a prominent source of omega-3 and DHA. From boosting your baby’s cognitive development to improving your cardiovascular health, the benefits are endless! If you would like more variety in your dishes, you can have more of poultry during confinement.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and lime, if taken too much and too frequently, may cause fussiness, rashes and many other noticeable issues with your baby. Plus, it can irritate your stomach as well. As a new mother in recovery, this is certainly not a condition you would want to deal with. Since their GI tract is still developing, citrus fruits can irritate it if you regularly consume such fruits. Try having ‘gentler’ fruits like mangoes and papayas.
Garlic
Despite being recognized as one of the best ingredients for a mommy in confinement, you might want to slow down on eating it. Garlic has a strong odour and can pass into the breast milk, modifying its taste and smell. This may cause your newborn to refuse breast milk. Also, if your little one suffers from colic, garlic is said to possibly be one of the contributors to it. That said, you can eat garlic during confinement as long as you keep your garlic intake in moderation throughout your confinement food, and omit it from your meals if your baby starts becoming fussy or irritated. Even if it might not be the cause, it is always better to be safe than sorry!
Post pregnancy diet is a crucial element in a new mother’s recovery journey. After enduring the labour pain and childbirth, comes the confinement period where everything you eat can play a role to assist your healing.
The best way to know what to eat is by getting some useful confinement tips from a confinement nanny! This will help you in knowing what type of foods you should eat, and what food to avoid during confinement. With the expertise they offer, the cost of hiring a confinement nanny will be well worth the investment.
