Best Foods for New Moms After Cesarean Delivery

Taking nutrients after cesarean delivery speeds up the recovery process and also increases your energy level. At this time, you should take a balanced diet containing more proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and iron, just like your pregnancy.

Nutrition experts say that women who have recently become mothers should take 500 extra calories in their diet every day for breastfeeding. The level of calories taken daily should not be less than 1800. Women who are breastfeeding more than one child, women with low weight and those who do regular exercise are advised to take in more calories.

You should consult your doctor for a balanced diet after cesarean. During pregnancy, doctors forbid you from eating many types of foods, but after delivery, the doctor can include the same things in the diet to maintain your health.

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Low-fat toned milk, curd and cheese are considered good sources of protein, calcium, vitamin B and vitamin D required for breastfeeding mothers. Calcium-rich diets provide strength to the mother and the breastfed baby. You should include half a liter of milk or its products in your diet daily.

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Whole grains help the mother-to-be in providing calories and nutritious milk to the baby. You get the necessary energy, nutrients and vitamins from whole grains.

Whole grains contain folic acid, iron and fiber, which are important for the early development of the baby. Newly born mothers, who are unable to sleep for many nights due to taking care of the baby, get a lot of relief by having whole grains for breakfast. For this, you should include toned milk and oats in your breakfast.

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Breastfeeding women should eat citric fruits like oranges and antioxidant-rich blueberries for breakfast. Citric fruits contain vitamin C. Apart from this, green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, parwal, tinda and beans, fenugreek leaves and lotus cucumber contain high amounts of vitamin A and C, iron and calcium.

Dark colored beans like rajma and black beans are good for new mothers, as they contain iron. Mushrooms, carrots and dates are also beneficial for women during breastfeeding.

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Women who have recently become mothers should include pulses in their diet, because it is considered a good source of protein. Apart from this, it is also a main source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. You can also include moong and masoor dal in your diet. It is easily digested and also reduces your obesity.

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After cesarean, you should include turmeric in your diet, turmeric contains vitamin B6, fiber, potassium, manganese and magnesium. Turmeric has properties to reduce inflammation and heal internal and external injuries quickly. To heal any kind of wound, you should mix about half a teaspoon of turmeric in a glass of milk and drink it daily.

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Almonds contain carbohydrates, vitamin B12, vitamin E, fiber and minerals like copper, calcium, zinc, potassium and manganese. Almonds are beneficial for enhancing your health and beauty. You can eat almonds raw, soaked in water or ground in any form.

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Vitamin B6, vitamin E, fiber, potassium, magnesium, manganese and selenium are present in both raw and dried forms of garlic. Garlic acts as an anti-inflammatory element. You can use garlic for digestive problems and weight loss after pregnancy. After cesarean delivery, definitely add a little garlic and ginger paste to your food.

(Read more - Foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy)

After cesarean delivery, women should definitely include a small amount of asafoetida in their food. It plays an important role in reducing bloating, gas and correcting digestion. Women usually have gastrointestinal problems after delivery and asafoetida proves to be very beneficial in removing these problems. You should consult your doctor to make the right decision about your diet after delivery. Many times the doctor may advise you to take vitamin and iron supplements.

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The following are some types of food items which you should include in your daily diet after cesarean delivery.

• Black and white sesame seeds
• Cumin seeds
• Ragi
• Oats
• Fenugreek

• After cesarean delivery, you should not take junk food and a high fat diet. This can increase your weight. If you have a gas problem, then also stay away from eating spicy food. Eating spicy food at this time can also reach the taste of chili in your milk and this can cause trouble to the child.
• Below are some food items, which should not be eaten after cesarean delivery.
• Do not drink carbonated beverages that increase the problem of gas and flatulence in the stomach. 
• Be careful while drinking citrus fruit juice. Initially, drink it in small quantities, later gradually increase its quantity. 
• Caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea should be drunk in small quantities due to diuretic properties. Apart from this, taking an excessive amount of caffeine can cause problems in the development of the child.
• Do not drink alcohol. It reduces the ability to produce milk and can cause problems in the development of the child. 
• Do not eat fried food, it is difficult to digest. Especially do not take such food immediately after delivery, it can cause digestive problems and heartburn and gas in the stomach. 
• Do not eat rice for at least three to four days after cesarean delivery, especially if you have diabetes, you should not take it at all. Eating rice at this time increases the sugar level in your blood, due to which the wound takes more time to heal. 
• After cesarean delivery, you should not eat cold food or drink water. This can cause you to catch a cold. A breastfeeding woman should not take cold medicine at this time, because traces of the medicine can also reach her milk. 

(Read more - How to Manage Constipation After Childbirth)

After cesarean delivery, the mother should take a nutritious and balanced diet so that the body can recover faster. First of all, protein-rich foods like lentils, eggs, and cottage cheese help in repairing body tissues. Green vegetables, fruits, and whole grains provide vitamins and minerals, which boost immunity. Fiber-rich foods, such as oats and whole grains, prevent constipation. Along with this, one should drink plenty of water and eat light food like soup. Fried, spicy, and highly sugary foods should be avoided, as these can cause digestive problems and hinder the body from recovering properly.