Post pregnancy diet is extremely important for women. After enduring the labour pain (48 hours for some women) and the pain of childbirth, a proper diet for a woman is mandatory during her confinement period. Confinement period is the time when the body of a woman returns to its normal state (i.e.; after giving birth). During the confinement period, some women may choose to breastfeed their baby. Hence, the diet a woman follows during this period of time will directly affect the health of her baby.
There are certain foods a woman needs to stay away from, during her confinement period, as these foods are not good for her and her baby’s health.
Say NO to Caffeine!
Caffeine, in any form, is unhealthy for the baby. If coffee or tea is your addiction, it is time for you to say NO to it until your confinement period is over. Caffeine can end up in your breast milk, and since the baby’s digestive system is weak, he/she may find it difficult to digest. This will result in the baby being irritable and drowsy.
Stay Away from Sea Food
Although seafood is generally a healthy option, some may contain high levels of mercury. Mercury, apart from being poisonous for the infant, can also cause gastric problems in the baby.
Keep the Citrus Fruits at Bay!
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and lime can cause fussiness, rashes and many other noticeable issues with the baby. Since the GI tract of the baby is still developing, citrus fruits can irritate it. Instead, you can try having mangoes and papayas.
Avoid Garlic
It has a bad odour and can pass into the breast milk, giving it a foul smell. Hence, you should try to avoid having garlic in your food as far as possible.
Wheat
The use of wheat can cause gluten intolerance in some babies. It can also lead to bloody stools, tummy ache and other gastric problems in the baby.
Dairy
You should try to limit your intake of dairy products during your confinement period, or avoid them altogether. Dairy products can lead to allergies like lactose intolerance, etc.
The best way to know what to eat is by visiting your GP. This will help you in knowing what type of foods you should eat, and which ones you must avoid. Plus, you can also get some useful tips from a confinement nanny! With the expertises they can offer, the cost of hiring a confinement nanny will be well worth the investment.
