A Must Read In The First Week After A C-section! Never Touch These 10 Foods, As They May Affect Recovery And Block Breast Milk Production
After giving birth to a baby and undergoing confinement, many mothers feel like they are "reborn".
The body is in a critical period of recovery, and diet becomes a top priority.
If you eat properly, your body's recovery rate will be accelerated and your milk supply will be sufficient; if you eat incorrectly, it may affect your recovery and even cause your baby to feel discomfort as well.
Although the elders’ words of “this can’t be eaten and that can’t be touched” are sometimes exaggerated, there is indeed a scientific basis for postpartum diet, especially after caesarean section. Especially during the first week after delivery, when the body is at its weakest and the gastrointestinal function is in the process of adjustment, some things do need to be “taboo”.
Why should we be particularly careful about our postpartum diet?
After childbirth, especially those who have undergone caesarean section, their bodies are in a state of deficiency of both qi and blood.
The uterus needs to contract and recover, and there are still wounds on the abdomen.
At this time, the functions of the spleen and stomach are quite weak, which in turn reduces the ability to digest food and absorb nutrients.
If you eat inappropriate foods, it will not only increase the burden on the body, but also affect the healing of wounds and the discharge of lochia. For a lactating woman, this abnormality is likely to be passed on to her nursing baby through the milk she secretes.
Therefore, as far as the diet in the first week after childbirth is concerned, the core principles are: light taste, easy to digest, warm and tonic, and follow a step-by-step approach.
In the first week after caesarean section, these 10 types of foods should be eaten with caution
Summarizing the accumulated experience of traditional confinement and the views in the field of modern nutrition, the following ten items should be paid special attention to and controlled within the first seven days after delivery. The best choice is to eat as little as possible or even not eat them at all.
1. Spicy food
Such as chili, pepper, garlic, ginger (excessive).
For postpartum women, these spicy and warm foods can easily cause "heat", which may lead to sores on the mouth and tongue, and may even cause constipation, and even hemorrhoids.
What's more critical is that these irritating ingredients may be passed to the baby through milk, causing the baby to also experience "internal heat". The specific manifestations are irritability and restless sleep.
Postpartum diet is still mainly about peace.
2. Food that is too acidic
Such as pickled cabbage, pickled bamboo shoots, hawthorn slices, etc.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, sour foods have astringent and astringent effects, which may block the blood flow, which is detrimental to the smooth discharge of postpartum congestion and lochia.
Looking at the situation from the perspective of digestion, food with overly acidic properties also has the possibility of irritating the weakened intestines and stomach, thereby affecting the digestive function.
3. Too salty dishes and pickled products
Pickles, pickles, bacon, etc.
Postpartum, the body is prone to water and sodium retention. If the salt intake exceeds the normal amount, the degree of body swelling will be further aggravated, and this is also extremely detrimental to maintaining stable blood pressure.
The diet throughout the confinement period should follow the "low-salt" principle, and the taste should be lighter than usual.
4. Raw and cold food
This is a taboo in confinement diet.
Including cold drinks, ice cream, fruits taken directly from the refrigerator, cold dishes, etc.
Postpartum Qi and blood are deficient and need to be warmed and nourished.
Raw and cold food will damage the Yang Qi of the spleen and stomach, affect the function of digestion and absorption, and may also cause stagnation of Qi and blood, which is detrimental to recovery.
Fruits can be soaked in warm water before eating.
5. Chocolate and caffeinated drinks
chocolate contained in Theobromine Can pass into breast milk.
The metabolism-related capabilities of the baby's liver are very weak. Once theobromine accumulates, it is very likely to have a corresponding impact on the nervous system and heart, eventually causing the baby to be excited, crying, and have poor sleep quality.
Likewise, caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and strong tea made from tea leaves, should also be avoided.
6. Snacks and convenience foods
Potato chips, biscuits, instant noodles, etc.
These foods are mainly high in calories, low in nutrient density, and contain more additives and preservatives.
Excessive food intake will affect the appetite for meals and lead to an unbalanced diet, which is not beneficial to the health of both mother and baby.
It's okay to satisfy cravings, but it can't be eaten as food.
7. Frying greasy food
Fried dough sticks, fried chicken, French fries, etc.
This type of food is extremely difficult to digest and will add a huge burden to the fragile gastrointestinal condition after childbirth. It can easily cause abdominal distension, constipation, or indigestion.
Moreover, fried foods are extremely high in calories and are not conducive to postpartum body recovery.
8. Overly sweet snacks and drinks
Cakes, sweet breads, sugary drinks, etc.
Eating too much sweets can easily hinder the spleen and cause dampness to breed, leading to abnormalities in the transportation and transformation functions of the spleen and stomach, which may cause diarrhea or lead to a phlegm-dampness constitution.
What you need after childbirth is balanced nutrition, not a lot of sugar.
9. MSG and too many condiments
The main problem with MSG like monosodium glutamate is that it combines with zinc in the baby's body and is then excreted in the urine. This may cause the baby to be deficient in zinc, which in turn affects its growth and development.
Confinement meals pay attention to the original taste of ingredients and minimize the addition of complicated condiments.
10. Alcohol and tea
Alcohol will affect the baby's brain development through milk and is absolutely prohibited.
The tannic acid contained in tea affects the absorption of iron, which may lead to anemia; at the same time, the caffeine contained in tea can also make babies excited and restless.
If you want to drink water, warm water and light soup are the best choices.
Two things mothers who have had a caesarean section should pay special attention to
After removing the general taboos mentioned above, if a mother undergoes a caesarean section, there will be special requirements in the first week after delivery.
No food or water is required within 6 hours after surgery.
After 6 hours, you can drink some liquid food such as radish soup and rice soup to promote the discharge of gas. It is important to know that only when the gas is discharged can the intestinal function begin to gradually recover.
In the first few days after flatulence, you still need to avoid eating foods that are prone to gas production, such as milk, soy products, and sweet potatoes, to avoid making the bloating situation more serious.
What should you eat in the first week after giving birth?
At the first postpartum meal, it is recommended to eat liquid foods that are easy to digest, such as lotus root starch, millet porridge and oil.
On the second day, you can transition to soft noodles, wontons, and steamed egg custard.
We should focus on supplementing high-quality protein, such as fish, lean pork, and minced chicken. We should also focus on supplementing iron, such as animal liver and spinach, to promote wound healing and achieve the purpose of replenishing blood.
The cooking methods are mainly boiling, stewing and steaming, and must be light and less oily.
You can adopt the principle of "eating less and eating more often" and eat 5-6 meals a day to reduce gastrointestinal pressure.
There is a golden period for female body repair called confinement, and diet is a crucial link in this period.
Especially in the first week after childbirth, dietary "taboos" are not just for trouble, but to allow the mother to recover faster and better, and at the same time to provide high-quality "food" to the baby.
However, if you are really greedy, it is okay to taste a small amount at the right time, but you must control the "degree".
I hope every new mother can have scientific confinement, eat healthily, and recover quickly and well.
