After a C-section, the mother's body is very weak. A mother who has had a C-section also recovers more slowly than one who has had a natural birth. To recover her health more quickly, the mother needs a sensible diet. Let's find out together with Yến Sào Sài Gòn !
After a C-section, mothers should fast for about 6–8 hours
During a C-section, the mother's intestines and stomach are affected, so their activity is reduced. Therefore, about 6–8 hours after a C-section, if the mother has not yet passed gas, it is best not to eat or drink anything. So what should be eaten after a C-section if the mother is very hungry? The answer for mothers: easy-to-digest foods such as soup and vegetarian stewed porridge, which help encourage passing gas and ease elimination, are the best choice. Mothers should also take care not to eat too much at once or eat hard-to-digest foods, which easily cause bloating and constipation, resulting in pain and discomfort.
What should and should not mothers eat in the first week after a C-section?
As mentioned above, after a C-section, a mother's digestion is weakened. Therefore, new mothers should choose easily digestible foods and avoid greasy ones, especially in the first 1–2 days. In the following 3–4 days, mothers should eat only small amounts at each meal and avoid eating too much, especially soup. After 1 week from the C-section, mothers can return to eating normally. Meat, eggs, fish,… can be added to the daily menu to nourish the mother.
Limit fishy foods, which make the scar heal more slowly
After a C-section, mothers need to limit fishy foods such as fish and snails for 1–3 months. These foods may inhibit blood clotting, making the surgical wound heal more slowly. Glutinous rice, water spinach and egg white are also foods to avoid, as they may increase the risk of wound infection or cause keloid scars.
What should mothers add to their menu in the 2nd week after birth?
Eat plenty of red meat rich in protein and iron after a C-section
After a C-section, mothers should add a variety of pork, beef or eggs… to their menu. These foods are all rich in protein and iron, helping replenish the blood lost during the C-section. At the same time, the mother's recovery and wound healing are also promoted more quickly.
Add vegetables and fresh fruit to the daily menu
Vegetables and fresh fruit are a good choice for mothers wondering what to eat after a C-section. After a C-section, mothers cannot move much, and on top of that they must eat nutrient-rich foods to restore their health, so they easily get constipation or even haemorrhoids. Therefore, adding cooling green vegetables that boost milk (Malabar spinach, sweet leaf,…) to the menu is necessary. Fresh fruit rich in vitamin C and gentle in nature (papaya, banana, grapefruit,…) is a very suitable dessert for new mothers.
Drink enough water
To stimulate the mammary glands to produce plenty of milk, mothers after birth should remember to drink a full 1.5–2 litres of water a day. Drinking enough water also helps reduce the risk of urinary tract infection, a common illness among mothers after birth.
In addition, after a C-section, mothers are surely very tired and need rest; however, they should not lie down too much. Getting up and moving around gently can help the organs return to normal function sooner. At the same time, staying optimistic and relaxed will help mothers enjoy their food more and let the milk come in faster.
Bird's nest is an effective nourishing food for mothers after a C-section
After a C-section, a mother's health declines considerably. On top of that, she has to worry a lot about the newborn baby. This easily leads to exhaustion, loss of milk or postpartum stress. This is also a busy time for the whole family, so preparing a fully nutritious menu may be somewhat difficult.
A solution that nourishes mothers effectively after a C-section without needing to think too much is bird's nest. About 1 month after a C-section, mothers can eat bird's nest to regain strength quickly, recover from the surgical wound and have plenty of milk for the baby. Besides buying bird's nest to prepare delicious dishes, mothers can also consider ready-steamed fresh bird's nest products to save as much time as possible.
Note: At this stage the mother's resistance is still very weak, and she is also breastfeeding. So mothers must choose genuine quality bird's nest products from reputable sources. If careless and you choose poor-quality bird's nest, it may harm the health of both mother and baby.
From the third month of pregnancy, expectant mothers should start adding bird's nest to nourish their health, boost their own resistance and help the baby develop fully. Right after birth, especially after a C-section, bird's nest is also a perfect food to help mothers regain strength and heal wounds quickly. By choosing Yến Sào Sài Gòn bird's nest, mothers will feel more at ease thanks to the quality, reputation, reasonable prices and wide range of products. Besides unprocessed bird's nest, Yến Sào Sài Gòn also offers READY-STEAMED BIRD'S NEST so mothers do not have to go to the trouble of preparing it!