November 2022

Women who deliver by C-section need a good amount of time to rest and a diet with essential nutrients to recover from the invasive nature of the operation. The physical, mental, and emotional stress experienced affects the overall health of the mothers.

A good support system, rest, and a diet aimed at catalyzing the healing process are essential for a full recovery and enable the mother to provide nutritious and sufficient breast milk for the baby. More often than not, many focus on a pregnant mother’s diet and neglect the diet after delivery.

The diet should aid digestion and easy bowel movements without straining the abdomen. Most mothers’ major ‘pain in the neck ’ after the surgery is constipation. The main causes of constipation after a cesarean section surgery are:

• Drugs used in the surgery
• Dehydration
• High-level iron prenatal supplements
• Pelvic muscle weakness
• Psychological trauma after the surgery

Drinking plenty of water, eating fiber-rich foods, and avoiding caffeine are some of the measures that a mother can take to alleviate the problem of constipation.

5 Key Nutrients to include in the diet after a C-Section

1. Proteins

Eating a diet rich in protein helps heal after the surgery and is important for the baby’s growth.

Good protein sources include Eggs, Fish, Chicken meat, peas, nuts, and milk.

2. Iron

After childbirth majority of mothers suffer from anemia or iron deficiency due to the loss of blood experienced during delivery; therefore, it is essential to replenish iron levels through the diet after delivery.

Iron deficiency can cause dizziness, blurred vision, fainting, and weakness meaning the mother is unfit to take care of their child. Therefore, increasing iron intake in the diet after birth is essential.

Good sources of Iron include Beef liver, Red meat, dry fruits, kiwi fruit, grapes, and green leafy vegetables.

3. Calcium

Sufficient calcium intake levels help in speedy and healthy recovery after birth. Calcium helps in boosting bone and teeth health, preventing osteoporosis, regulating blood coagulation, and relaxing muscles.

Good sources of Calcium include Spinach, yogurt, milk, cheese, and tofu.

4. Vitamins

A good intake of vitamins is essential for quick recovery from the incision. Vitamins promote the production of collagen in the body, and the growth of new skin, tendons, and new scar tissues.  

Good sources of Vitamins include Melons, tomatoes, pawpaw, strawberries, grapefruits, oranges, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.

5. Fiber

Fiber is an excellent nutrient to prevent constipation. Therefore, it is very important to increase fiber intake in the diet to avoid constipation which can add pressure to the wound.

Good sources of fiber include wholegrain brown bread, brown rice, bananas, apples, strawberries, legumes, oranges, sweet potatoes, and dry fruits

Fluids and Water

After the surgery, an increase in fluid and water intake is recommended to prevent dehydration and constipation and meet the breastmilk demand of the newborn.

Some good fluids include soup, non-citrus fruit juices, water, and chocolate drinks.

Reach us at info@practicalnutritionconsultants.org for more information and consultation. Let’s walk the journey of motherhood with you.

Allergies occur when the immune system wrongly identifies a harmless substance like food as a threat and triggers the production of large amounts of antibodies in the blood, which can contribute to FTT (Failure to thrive) conditions like eczema, hay fever, asthma, and diarrhea.

The most notorious foods that cause allergies include in children :

• Eggs
• Wheat-based foods
• Fish, especially the shell-fish
• Nuts and seeds
• Cow’s milk and Dairy products
• Berry and citrus fruits

To delay the onset of any allergic reaction, exclusively breastfeeding for at least six months is advisable. However, if this is not possible, it is important to discuss it with your doctor.
Avoid these high-risk foods when introducing solid foods or weaning until your baby is six months old.
Introduce new foods one at a time; this makes it easy to identify the specific food that caused the allergy in case of any reaction.

If there’s a family history of an allergy to a certain food, avoid it until the baby is seven years old.
Before withdrawing any of these foods from your baby, consult your doctor.
It’s important to note that though many children outgrow their allergies, some can last a lifetime.

Food Intolerance

Another often-used name for food tolerance is ‘false food allergy. It is a condition whereby the body cannot digest particular foods properly. Unlike an allergy, the situation is normally short-lived and does not involve the immune system. It is important to consult a pediatrician or a doctor before withdrawing any food you suspect your child is allergic to since the reaction could be just temporal.

Diagnosing A Food Allergy

Some of the symptoms that indicate an allergy include:

* Vomiting
* Itching and swelling in the mouth, throat, and skin
* Persistent diarrhea
* Abdominal pain
* Eczema
* Skin rashes
*Wheezing

These symptoms resemble many other common ailments, and distinguishing them requires keen observation. Some children develop the symptoms immediately after eating the particular food; others may take hours or even a day to react. Mostly children below eighteen months are the ones likely to develop food allergies.

In addition to electrode testing and kinesiology, another way to accurately diagnose food allergies is to eliminate the allergen for at least a period of six weeks and then reintroduce them until the symptoms reappear. This is advisable to be done with the help of a nutritionist or dietitian.

Lactose Intolerance

This is a condition caused by the body’s inability to digest lactose. Lactose is the sugar present in milk. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include:
* Diarrhea
* Cramping
* flatulence
* Abdominal Distension

Feel free to reach us at info@practicalnutritionconsultants.org for consultation and connect with practical nutrition mums where we learn, encourage, and have fun while at it!

After introducing solid foods to your baby, the curiosity of introducing a variety of new textures and flavors may lead you to give foods that may be harmful to the baby. Here’s a list of foods to avoid feeding your baby.

1. Cow’s Milk

Unlike breast milk which has all the nutrients that a baby needs for proper growth and development, cow’s milk lacks the nutrients. In addition, it contains too many minerals and proteins that can strain the baby’s kidney and risk the baby suffering from intestinal bleeding. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid giving cow’s milk to your baby before one year.

2. Honey

Honey contains a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum which produces a toxin called botulinum, which, once ingested, can result in infant botulism. Muscle weakness, trouble breathing, weak cries, constipation, and inability to swallow are the main signs of the illness. It does not affect adults or older children because they have a mature digestive system that can eject the bacteria before it can cause harm. Therefore, avoiding giving honey during your baby’s first year is advisable, as this will provide the time needed for their intestines to mature

3. Nuts and seeds

Whole nuts are not recommended before five years to avoid choking. However, you can give peanut butter, and other nut spreads once the baby reaches six months to prevent any allergic reaction. If there is a history of allergic nuts responses in the family, they can be avoided and introduced later after one year.

4. Raw or not well-done eggs

You should avoid feeding raw eggs to prevent salmonella infection. After six months, the baby can be given eggs, but they should be well cooked (Yolk & white are solid).

5. Berry and Citrus Fruits

 I recommend waiting until the baby is past six months before introducing these citrus fruits like orange and lemon juice to avoid any allergic reaction.

6. Fish and shellfish

Avoid feeding fish and shellfish to your baby before six months because they are notorious for causing allergies and food poisoning

7. Salt

Children below one year should not have salt put in their food. Too much salt can cause dehydration due to the straining of their growing kidneys. Avoid smoked and processed foods like smokies and sausages due to their high salt content. Babies up to six months should have less than 1 g of salt a day, and from seven months should have a maximum of 1g of salt in a day.

8. Sugar

Sugar is addictive, leads to tooth decay, and can lead to fussy eating once introduced early in life. Therefore, I would recommend that unless the food is tart, don’t add sugar.

9. Unpasteurized cheese

 Due to the high risk of Listeria Infection, I wouldn’t recommend unpasteurized cheese in baby food.

10. Wheat-based foods

All wheat, barley, and rye products contain Gluten, a protein notorious for causing allergies. Hence it’s good to avoid it for at least eight months, and even then, observe closely to note any allergic reaction and withdraw the food from the menu.

Reach out to us at info@practicalnutritionconsultants.org for more information on how to join our practical nutrition mums group. Where we have interactive, fun nutrition sessions as we purpose to raise a healthy generation.

Allow me to congratulate you on being a mother; you’ve been chosen among many to bring life into this world by the grace of God. Count yourself blessed and be full of gratitude despite the challenges that come along with the noble task. Well, I remember how anxious I was when Emily, my first-born daughter, was about to start solid foods. I’ve been there, and I know how confusing it can be, especially now when we have been bombarded with information all around, myths, and societal advice on how to go about feeding your baby.

Well, allow me to officially welcome you to practical nutrition mums, where we make it easy for you by guiding, advising, and following up on your baby’s progress

Babies grow more rapidly in their first year of life than at any other time. Therefore, how you feed your newborn ought to be the most informed decision a mother can make for her child. I appeal to you not to be in a hurry to wean your baby on solids. For the first six months, the baby should nourish mainly from breast milk or formula.

Allow me to demystify this, though; there is no ‘right age to introduce solids, as every baby is different. However, it is advisable not to introduce solid foods before six months because a baby’s digestive system is not sufficiently developed, and there is a greater risk of developing an allergy before this time.

How can I tell if my baby is ready to start solids?

• If the baby can sit upright
• The baby seems not to be satisfied even after frequent feeds
• Wakes up at night to have frequent feeds
• Baby reaches out for your food

Reach out to us at info@practicalnutritionconsultants.org for more information on how to join our practical nutrition mums group. Where we have interactive, fun nutrition sessions as we purpose to raise a healthy generation.