C-section is one of the major surgical procedures. Therefore it is important to focus on all aspects of post-operative care for a speedy recovery. One of the important factors to take care of for speedy recovery from the C section is the food. While you must include certain food in your diet after C –section, there are some foods to avoid after cesarean delivery.
Good nutrition is a must for speedy and proper healing after your cesarean delivery. It is highly recommended to opt for relatively bland, non-greasy foods within the first few days after a C-section. This article will shed some light on foods to avoid after cesarean delivery.
Why Restricted Diet Is Advised After C Section
After a C-section, the mother needs the right nutritious diet for a speedy recovery, as well as for feeding the baby.
Focusing on a balanced diet is crucial for the growth and development of the baby. They depend on you completely for their nutrition. Having the right food will ensure that the breast milk you feed your baby is sufficient in both volume and nutrition.
It is also important for you to eat food that other than being nutritious, also facilitates easy bowel movements and good digestion. You have just had a major surgery, and need to be back to full health as soon as possible. You mustn’t eat anything that may cause complications such as digestive issues, or hinder your speedy recovery.
11 Foods To Avoid After Cesarean Delivery
Most mothers and elder family members advise a variety of dietary restrictions after delivery, especially after a c-section. The common instructions regarding food choices are to abstain from drinking milk after a c-section and abstain from eating nonvegetarian food and rice.
Food restrictions are based on the belief that these foods can delay the healing of scars of the surgery. No wonder all are anxious about the scar healing as the C- section involves cutting through many layers to get the baby out safely.
However, the majority of these food restrictions are merely myths without any scientific base. On the other hand, some of the food restrictions put forth by our grandmothers have some strong reasons as well.
Here are 11 foods to avoid after Cesarean delivery
1. Ghee and rice
Eating too much ghee is not good at any phase of life. Like oil, too much intake of ghee can also trigger many health issues. The main issue is excessive consumption of ghee makes it harder to shed the weight put on during pregnancy.
According to studies, obesity and high blood sugar of mothers are two contributing factors that delay the healing of C section scar. Therefore, depending on the health condition of the mother, it is better to restrict the intake of ghee and rice after C –section.
2. Spicy food should be avoided after C-section delivery
Regardless of how much you crave spicy food, it is always better to abstain from heavily spiced food after a c-section. Spicy food can cause many digestive issues like bloating which could increase the pain in the incision area.
Plus, you are breastfeeding your infant as well.
Therefore, if you are a hard-core fan of strong-flavored and spicy Muglai gravies or the red chili tadkas, wait until the scars are fully healed before including it in your postpartum menu.
3. Carbonated drinks
It is important to increase fluid intake after a C-section. However, this doesn’t involve carbonated drinks.
Carbonated drinks are loaded with sugar and artificial flavors and preservatives, making it an unhealthy choice not only for women underwent C-section but for all group of people
Carbonated drinks, instead of hydrating can potentially dehydrate the body. Dehydration after C section can pave the way for many side effects like slowing down bowel movements.
Dehydration can adversely affect breast milk production as well. Also, abstain from drinking caffeine drinks like tea and coffee.
4. Jack fruit to be avoided after Cesarean delivery
It is better to remove jack fruit from your menu during the initial weeks after C –section. Eating jack fruit can trigger some digestive issues like heartburn and upset stomach which can heighten the discomforts and pains after the c- section.
Jackfruit is found to trigger acidity after delivery. When it comes to breastfeeding, eating jack fruit can increase the risk of colic in the newborn.
5. Food that can cause gas
Many food items like red beans, green peas, urad dal, besan, chole, etc are loaded with many essential nutrients and protein that are crucial for postpartum. Still, it is advisable to wait a few weeks until your bowel movements are stabilized to include these in your menu.
Likewise, vegetables like potatoes, mushrooms, cauliflower, and cabbage are an excellent source of vital minerals and can be used to prepare many yummy dishes. Even then it is better to wait until the suture pain subside you load up on these delicious food items
This is because all these food items are gas generating and can too much flatulence in the new mother. Passing gas after a c-section can be pretty painful. Therefore, it is better to restrict or avoid its intake for the first 40 days.
6. Fermented, fried, junk, and fast food- complete NO after Cesarean
After delivery, especially after a C –section, the activity level of the new mother will be very low. Therefore, it is important to abstain from fast food and junk food. Not only these deep-fried food increase the risk of putting on weight but junk food like rolls, burgers, etc. are loaded with spices, sauces, processed meat, and additives.
None of it is good enough to be a part of your diet after cesarean delivery as it can disturb the stomach lining and create various gastric issues.
Likewise, fermented foods can bring about severe side effects like bloating (that causes stomach pain) and histamine intolerance (that could trigger headaches, hives, rhinitis, and digestive issues like vomiting and loose motion) in mothers.
7. Avoid foods that can constipate you
Constipation is a common issue found in many mothers after a c-section. It is quite normal the digestive system takes around 3 to 4 days (sometimes even longer) to come back into its normal track after major surgery, like a c-section.
Medications and lack of mobility further contribute to constipation.
Therefore, it is important to avoid food that causes constipation after a c-section. Or else it can aggravate constipation. Fried and fast food, low fiver food, processed food, eggs, etc some of the food that triggers constipation.
8. Avoid cold food
It is important to stay away from cold foods after a c-section. Extreme cold food can impede the proper blood flow in the mother. Further, the immunity level of a mother will be very low and she is susceptible to common infections like colds, cough, and sore throats.
Eating cold food increases her chances of catching colds and coughs. And sneezing and coughing after a c- section is quite painful. Avoid chilled yogurts, ice creams, ice cubes loaded shakes after a c-section.
9. Don’t have noodles after C-section delivery
“Can I eat Maggie after c-section” is a more often seen question in many forums. Here comes the sad news for the noodles lovers. It is not wise to eat noodles, at least during the initial weeks after the c-section.
First of all, noodles are made from Maida, and Maida-rich food should be avoided after a c-section. Also, the tastemaker that comes with noodles is not at this stage. Moreover, noodles, it has no nutritional value. And post-pregnancy is a period you have to focus on nutrient-dense food, both for fast recovery and happy breastfeeding.
However, if you really crave noodles, choose healthier options like whole wheat noodles or oats noodles and add lots of vegetables.
10. Undercooked food
Just like during pregnancy, you have to suppress the urge to eat uncooked food like sushi after delivery, especially after C-section. Pork, poultry, eggs, and fish are rich in protein. And it is important to increase the protein intake after a c-section because protein is important for repairing the damaged tissues.
However, it is important to make sure you eat only well-cooked food at this stage. Any undercooked food like under-cooked omelets and uncooked meats can cause indigestion and other stomach issues that delay the healing of the c-section scars.
Even though fishes are loaded with iron, and it is important to increase the iron intake after c- section to compensate for the blood loss during the surgery.
However, it is important to stay away from some fish like swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish that are high in mercury. This does not only impair your health but if passed to the baby via breast milk, is harmful to your baby too.
11. Eggs and milk
Even though eggs and milk are considered healthy foods, they may not suit all mothers. For some mothers, cold milk creates stomach pain, and warm milk triggers acidity. Likewise, eggs can cause bloating in mothers which can be very painful after a c-section.
Conclusion
The time after delivery, no matter if the delivery was normal or cesarean – is crucial for the new mother and newborn. It a period when a woman becomes weak both emotionally and physically or both. Optimal nutrition after a C-section is crucial for fast recovery.
While choosing the right foods during this time can enhance the healing process wrong food can delay it. Hope this article was helpful.