Diet after C-Section Delivery: Essential Nutrients to Take and Foods to Avoid
Diet after C-Section Delivery: Essential Nutrients to Take and Foods to Avoid
C-section is one of the most common surgeries in the world. It is one of the major surgical procedures that demand special post-operative care for recovery. Therefore, a well-balanced nutritious meal is essential and must be planned with the help of a dietician or nutritionist. This will ensure a speedy recovery and also support optimum breastmilk production for your newborn baby.
Why Is Nutrition Essential Post Delivery?
Whether it is a normal delivery or a C-section, optimum nutrition speeds up the recovery and improves your energy levels.
A higher intake is recommended for women who are breastfeeding more than one baby or are underweight or who commonly indulge in physical activity. This is important to meet the nutritional needs of the mother and the growing baby.
Essential Nutrients to Have After Cesarean Delivery
A balanced diet supplies you with all the macro and micro nutrients that are essential for you and your growing baby. Here are some of the nutrients that you need on your road to recovery after delivery – both normal and C-section.
Iron
Iron is essential to maintain hemoglobin levels in the mother. Whereas for infants, it is required to support proper neurological development. However, its demand during lactation is less when compared to pregnancy. To meet the needs, you could include iron-rich foods, such as egg yolk, red meat, oysters, figs, beef liver, dried beans, and dry fruits.
Proteins
Proteins aid in the growth of new cell tissues and help in the healing procedure. Protein-rich foods facilitate tissue repair and maintain muscle strength after the surgery. You can eat fish, eggs, chicken, dairy foods, meat, peas, dried beans, and nuts. These foods provide high-quality protein, which would also be the source of essential amino acids that are crucial for you and your baby.
Fiber
Fiber mitigates constipation, which, otherwise, reasons undue pressure on the incisions formed after c-section. Thus, a diet rich in fiber is crucial. You could include plenty of whole grains, raw fruits and veggies, as they add roughage to your diet.
Follow these basic tips to ensure you get the best out of what you eat:
- Have small meals throughout the day instead of consuming three heavy meals.
- Avoid gulping down your food. Instead, take some time to chew it slowly. It may be tough for you to have a relaxing meal while having a newborn around, but you can ask your family members to look after your baby for some time.
- With a newborn, you may not get enough sleep. So, try to rest whenever possible. Sleep will help your body repair and heal better.
- Try to eat home-cooked meals as you can include lots of fresh ingredients.