Post Caesarean Diet Tips - Foods To Avoid Post Surgery

Nutritional food is important after a caesarian delivery to take care of both operated mother and newborn’s nutritional needs. A mother needs to eat healthy to help her body heal fast and to also take care of sufficient breastfeeding. Post operation, a mother needs to eat easily digestible food, which are high in calories, proteins, calcium, vitamins, minerals, along with sufficient fluids to aid in breastfeeding. Food should be easy to digest, which aid in bowel movement without any strain on abdomen and which support the healing process should be included.

Tips to help you maintain a diet post caesarian-

1. Energy rich foods are needed by lactating mother for the additional energy required for production of milk. Since she has been operated, easily digestible carbohydrate rich foods like semolina, rice, poha, potatoes initially are needed. After a while cereals like broken wheat, oats, ragi, bajra etc. can be included in the diet. These provide additional nutrients like calcium, iron, B complex vitamins, besides fiber
2. Fiber is needed to avoid constipation, which a mother might have due to less motility. Constipation can cause undue pressure on incision and wounds
3. Protein rich foods like washed pulses - in the form of soups, or in the form of khichri, dal, chawal/roti can be included. Good quality proteins from eggs, fish, chicken, low fat-curd, cottage cheese etc. should also be included to provide sufficient cell repair and production, which in turn fastens the recovery
4. Dairy products especially low fat, also provide the much needed calcium to be secreted in mother’s milk
5. Iron rich foods like egg yolk, dried fruits like dates, raisins, currants, red meat, and green leafy vegetables help to regain the blood lost in delivery and maintain your hemoglobin levels. Good hemoglobin level ensure faster wound healing and recovery besides sufficient iron being secreted in the milk
6. Easily digestible and starchy vegetables and fruits like potato, bottle gourd, spinach, mango, papaya, and banana can be included to provide both energy and minerals-vitamins. Other fruits and vegetables can be included in the form of soup, broth and juice
7. Giving sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables also provided sufficient Vitamin C which speeds up the recovery process and fights off any infection. Include melons, papaya, strawberries, grapes, capsicum, and tomatoes for it
8. It is important to take lost of fluids after caesarian surgery as it helps in recovery, flushing out toxins, smooth bowel movements and for proper lactation. Include, milk, buttermilk, soups, broths, water for this. Avoid caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee, carbonated beverages, and packed juices
9. Emulsified and easily absorbable fats like butter, cream, vegetable oil can be given. Other foods which have been given traditionally may also help both in lactation and recovery are –

• Turmeric- helps in reducing inflammation, healing wounds and contains many other nutrients. It can be added to warm milk and given to the mother
• Ajwain or carom’s seeds helps in indigestion and gas. It is said to help in cleansing of uterus, and post delivery pain. It is also a ‘galactagogic’ food that helps produce more milk. Cumin seeds also tend to have similar function. A good way to include these to make a decoction of either in water
• Similarly, ginger both raw and dry acts as an inflammatory substance and helps in lactation too. Garlic also aids in digestion, helps remove gas may also be given to a mother. A paste of ginger garlic can be used liberally while cooking
• Fenugreek seeds, hing, til seeds are also given to help in more lactation. These supply proteins, iron, calcium, which all help in better milk production

Foods to be avoided post caesarian

1. Avoid fried, fatty and spicy foods, as they may cause bloating, gas, indigestion. Too much fat is also avoided as it may cause unnecessary weight gain
2. Alcohol, smoking, caffeinated drinks should also be avoided as these may secrete into mother’s milk
3. It is better to take small frequent meals rather than three large meals, as it helps in better digestion and takes care of increased nutrient demands of both surgery and lactation

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