Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery (confinement care after c section)

Post-delivery care of the mother is very crucial. This Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery will help you understand the diet pattern to be followed after a C section. What to eat, what to avoid and how to care for the mother. Your search ends here.

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When planning their delivery, most women aim to have a normal delivery but many a time, due to certain complications and/or conditions, a c-section becomes inevitable. Low lying placenta, breech position, chord around the neck, high blood pressure as well as growth issues in the baby are some of the reasons that lead to a c section. A cesarean section makes a woman really weak and vulnerable. It is a real challenge to get up and walk with the stitches on your lower abdomen. Post-delivery, the uterine lining, and blood are eliminated from the body and this process makes take anywhere between 10 – 40 days.

The birth of a baby changes a woman’s life entirely. She enters a new phase of life as well as has to enact a new role as a Mother. She goes through a lot of emotional changes and physical changes after a c-section. Hence proper rest, proper food and proper care is a must. Here is an Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery that you can refer to and plan your postnatal care accordingly.

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Care after c-section

After any surgery, a person is supposed to take a lot of rest but after a c-section, a mother has to take care of her little one as well. A lot of precautions need to be taken post-delivery. Post-c-section, a woman needs to take great care while sitting as well as while getting up from the bed or chair. She should move around slowly. She must not climb stairs. The incision on her abdomen needs to be protected at all times since the wound takes time to heal. All women are advised to take rest for 40 days. Although the woman should not pick up any weights, she needs to hold her baby as often as required.

Body Massage after C section

Body Massages for 1 month after delivery is a common practice in India. Although a lot of women are confused when it comes to massages after c sections. In General massages post delivery help a great deal in recovering, healing the body, relieving pain in the lower body, and helps in revitalizing the entire body.

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Most doctors ask to delay body massages for the initial 2 weeks after cesarean delivery, But you can start after 3 days. Just make sure you hire an experienced and special masseuses. avoid the abdomen area massage. Let your surgery scar heal. Start with legs, feet, arms, hands, and head. Back massage can put pressure on the scar area if you lie down on your tummy. hence it should be avoided. If you are in too much pain, light strokes of massage while you are sitting, or lying on your sides will do. Once your scar heals as well as the doctor gives a green signal, you can go for light strokes of massage around your abdomen and scar area too. But make sure you take your doctor’s permission before doing so.

Nutrition after c-section

Before we see the Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery, We first need to understand the nutrient requirement of women after c section.  In the first few days after delivery, a very light diet should be taken. However, the mother would need to resume her regular diet with lots of nutritious foods since she needs to replenish the nutrients that she has lost during pregnancy and she also needs to feed her little one. In fact, it is said that if the mother feeds her baby immediately after having a meal, the baby gets a wholesome meal too!

A mother should eat every few hours during lactation. Small frequent meals are advised since her stomach might not be able to digest huge quantities easily. The digestive system and bowel movements take some time to start functioning to their full capacity. Eat foods that are easily digested. Usually, bowel movements get back to normal 3 days after delivery but if that doesn’t happen, one should consult a doctor. It is advisable to eat something every two hours as that’s the duration after which you need to feed the baby!

Here is the detailed video on the Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery. After watching this video, you can also take a screenshot of the diet plan given below and print it for further use.

Menu planning for a mother after c-section

Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery is made after considering the following points. The menu for a mother after a c-section is planned after taking into consideration the needs of the mother and the child. The meals should consist of the following nutrients:


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  • Proteins

Eating a protein-rich diet is a great way of healing the tissues and it is very important for the healthy growth of your baby. Proteins also help in maintaining the muscles after the surgery. Eggs supply zinc and proteins to your body. Fish is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are very beneficial for your health.

Sources of Protein –  Include foods such as eggs, chicken, fish, and meats if you are a non-vegetarian.  Vegetarians should eat dairy foods like milk and cheese, dried beans, peas, and nuts
  • Vitamins

Vitamins should be taken in sufficient quantity since they contain a lot of antioxidants that help in repairing tissues. It also helps in producing collagen in the body which helps to build new scar tissues, tendons, and skin.

Sources of Vitamins- Eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in Vitamin C, such as melons, oranges, papayas, strawberries, grapefruits, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and broccoli.
  • Iron

The mother loses a lot of blood during and after childbirth and thus the iron reserve in the body needs to be replenished. Lack of iron can make you weak and lethargic. Eat foods that are rich in iron. Take care not to eat excessive quantities of iron since it can lead to constipation.

Sources of Iron – include walnuts, red meat, oysters, dry fruits, figs, beef liver, and dried beans.
  • Calcium

Calcium helps in relaxing the muscles, promoting bone and teeth health, in blood coagulation and in preventing osteoporosis. Milk should be had sparingly since it is a very good source of calcium and facilitates the production of milk for the baby. Yogurt is another way to supply calcium to your body. Yogurt also contains zinc and the most advantageous thing about it is that it can be consumed with a variety of dishes.

Sources of Calcium – The mother should include milk, cheese, yogurt, spinach, kale, and tofu to supplement the intake of calcium.
  • Fiber

Fiber is required so that you do not suffer from constipation. Constipation can put undue pressure on the wounds.  Fibrous fruits are not only very nutritious, but they also help to avoid constipation.

Sources of Fiber – Eat lots of raw vegetables and fruits as a salad in order to add roughage to your diet.
  • Water and fluids

Breastfeeding can make you exhausted and thirsty. The mother should take plenty of fluids in order to ease bowel movements and to produce a sufficient quantity of milk for the little one. You can drink low-fat milk since it is easier to digest. Take special care to avoid caffeine. caffeinated drinks include cold drinks, coffee, energy drinks, tea, carbonated drinks.

Sources of Fluids – non-citrus fruit juices, soups, coconut water, herbal teas, and buttermilk. Green teas are allowed too if you consume the decaffeinated ones.

Foods that increase Milk production in mothers

Garlic (lehsun), Fenugreek leaves and seeds (Methi), fennel seeds (Saunf), Cumin seeds (Jeera), Sesame seeds ( Til), Almonds (Badaam), Bottlegourd (Lauki), Ridge Gourd (Tori), Spinach (Palak), Orange Lentils (Masoor dal), Oats and Daliya.

Foods to avoid after c-section

The activity level is low after delivery since you are advised to rest. Avoid all fatty foods and junk foods. These will only add on to the weight. Avoid eating spicy foods since they can cause gastric trouble. Your baby might also get the flavor in his milk.

  • Citrus juices and carbonated drinks should be kept at bay since they can cause flatulence and gas.
  • Caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee should be taken in moderation only since these are diuretics. These drinks are high in caffeine and can cause problems in your baby’s growth.
  • It is better to stay away from alcohol as it can impair the mother’s ability to breastfeed and can cause developmental problems in the baby.
  • Avoid gas-forming foods like Urad dals, chole, rajma, chawali, channa, Besan, Pickles, Green peas, Dry peas. Vegetables like Cauliflower, cabbage, Bhindi, broccoli, Onions are better avoided for the first 40 days. Later on, they can be introduced in the mother’s diet slowly.

  • Avoid any sort of fried food. They are very difficult to digest in the first 40 days as well as it can lead to gas and stomach ache and burns.
  • Avoid ghee and rice for the first 3-4 days after C- section. After 4 days you can start eating rice once a day. Unlike the myth that says you should not eat rice as the scar will not heal. This is true in case if the mother is diabetic, as high blood sugar levels will interfere in the healing of scar, but for a non – diabetic average Indian women this does not hold true.
  • Very cold food and drinks. This restriction is imposed on the mother just for precaution. If the mother catches a cold, treatment becomes hard if she is breastfeeding. The medications are excreted in breast milk and the baby’s health gets affected too.

Now that you know about what foods are allowed and which foods should be avoided, let us see the detailed Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery.

Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery

Here is a detailed Indian diet plan for mothers after cesarean delivery. This plan also contains foods that will help in increased milk production and hence improve lactation.  you can start following this plan after 5 days of delivery.

Food Item Calorie (Kcal) Protein (Gms ) Nutrifact

Early Morning : (7.00 Am)

Hot Milk (1 glass) 150 4 Milk is the best way to start your day, It will cool the acid rush down, and the nutrients in milk will be are absorbed better on an empty stomach
Soaked Almonds (10 -12 pieces) 100 8 It is a good source of protein and omega 3 acids
1 Big gondh laddu 100 2 Helps in healing, weakness and in lactation ( Read – Benefits of gondh )
2 tsp carom seeds This will help in digestion and lactation

Breakfast (9.00 Am)

Ragi vermicelli upma with carrot and cashew 150 4 It provides essential nutrients to the baby through breast milk. calcium helps in healing and replenishing mother stores. cashew helps in lactation.
Curd 1 small Bowl 75 4 curd Provides calcium, protein, Vit A and D very beneficial during recovery from delivery . just make sure it is fresh and at room temperature.
OR
Egg Omelet(2 No.) 160 10 Eggs are easy to make and the best sources of proteins that helps in baby’s growth when you feed.
Toasted Brown Bread(2 slices) 100 3
OR
Vegetable oats upama (1 soup bowl) 250 3 Multi nutrients from veggies and good fiber to tackle constipation and get your bowel functions back to normal.

11.00 Am

Apple Or Pomegranate (1 medium size) 40 These fruits help in maintaining hydration and Ph balance.

12.00 pm

Coconut water / Ajwain water 30 Benefits in constipation, sluggish digestion, heartburn, and urinary tract infections.

LUNCH(1.00 Pm)

Chapati / Phulka(2 no) 200 6
Red lentil / Masoor Dal with jeera 150 6 Red Lentils helps in increasing milk productions and overall lactation
Palak Paneer(1 small bowl) 150 6 Spinach is rich in folic acid and iron and helps in maintaining healthy lactation and increases milk secretions.
Stir-fried parval- 2 no. 60 Raw salads can be hard on digestion, stirred parval is helpful in changing the taste and providing fiber to the new mother.
Ajwain water – 1 glass helps in digestion

2.30 pm

Ajwain water(1 glass) 40 1 Helps in hydration and heartburn

4.30 pm

Milk (1 glass) 50 2
1 Mix Ladoo  (coconut, almond and poppy seed ) 150 4 It helps in lactation. provides calcium and other essential nutrients required for brain development of the baby. Poppy seeds help in keeping headaches at bay. especially if you have migraine problems.

6.00 pm

Mix vegetable soup (bottle gourd, beetroot, carrot, Toru, 1/2 tomato) 100 1 Helps in providing Iron, required to cover up the blood loss. fluids help in increasing milk secretions. ,
Dry fruit chikki (made in Gurr )(2 small pieces) 50 2 A good combination of iron as well as protein

7.00 pm

Ajwain water Helps in digestion

DINNER (8.00 Pm)

2 Phulka 100 4
Mung/masoor dal with methi leaves  (1 bowl) 100 4 a good combination of protein and iron for the baby’s growth and mother’s recovery
Toru / parwal / bottle gourd sabji (add little milk/paneer while cooking) 100 2 These veggies are easy on digestion and help in lactation
Beetroot + carrot kheer(1 bowl) 150 6 Beetroot and carrots increase hemoglobin and are rich in Vitamin A. It helps in the growth of the baby.

10.00 pm

Milk(1 glass) 150 4 Along with good nutrition, a glass of warm milk at bedtime helps in getting a good night’s sleep. and helps in lactation
10 soaked almonds 100 8 helps in baby’s brain development and lactation
TOTAL 2295 78

The Above mentioned Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery is a general diet plan for average sedentary Indian women. The mentioned food items have proven to be beneficial in most of the cases. if you are allergic to a particular food mentioned above, kindly consult your doctor before consuming foods mentioned here.

After your confinement period is over, you can refer to this diet plan for lactation – Diet for Lactating Mothers

NOTE –

Hing / Asafoetida –  Adding Hing to food after post-pregnancy is especially important. This helps in better digestion and eases out the gas/flatulence issue that every mother faces after delivery.

Ajwain / Carrom seeds – These seeds help in digestion. It is tender towards the digestive system, especially if the mother is breastfeeding. it is believed that Ajwain’s aromatic oil is released in breast milk, and helps in regulating baby’s motions and digestion.

Jeera – Along with the above-mentioned spices, Jeera too has significance in a postoperative mum’s diet. Jeera helps in digestion as well as helps in milk production. Some Indian families also make special jeera ladoos for new moms.

These spices should be added to a postoperative mum’s diet whenever possible.

Losing weight after delivery


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Many women wish to get back in shape soon after the delivery but that is practically inadvisable. Just as it takes time to gain weight during pregnancy, similarly, it does need time to lose the accumulated fat. Also, you now have the responsibility of feeding a growing baby and you cannot stop eating yourself. Not only can it harm your body after the surgery but, the baby can also become malnourished.

Do not fall into the trap of people who offer crash diets to get you back in shape. Strenuous exercises are avoided in the first few months since the wounds are still healing. Understand that your body is weak and needs all the nutrition and rest before exerting much. As a matter of fact, women who nurse their babies lose weight faster than those who bottle-feed their babies. So you can refer to our Indian Diet Plan For Mothers After Cesarean Delivery and have blissful motherhood.

This post was Last Updated on February 19, 2020

RD, Payal Banka (Registered Dietitian)

RD, Payal Banka (Registered Dietitian) Payal is a Registered Dietitian with 15 years of experience. She is a Professional Blogger, Author, and a Youtuber. She is an MBA in Health care and Hospital management. Payal believes in healthy living. Here at Dietburrp, you will find her talking about health, weight loss, fitness, parenting, healthy cooking and how to keep yourself motivated to be healthy.

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  • Hi mam,
    5 months post C-section, what diet should be. Ambala, nimbu can be eat.
    Please advise.

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  • Hello I m mother of a seven month old baby I want to lose extra weight now kindly suggest me a good diet plan I was 83 kg at time of delivery and I had a c sec delivery after I lost 9 kg weight naturally but now I m 74 kg and want to lose 14 kg till next year

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  • Hello Mam,
    I was on complete bed rest from 5th month of my pregnancy due to cervical incompetence. Also I had Single Umbilical Artery and gestational diabetes which was discovered in 7th month of my pregnancy. I gained 10 kg weight during pregnancy and my height is 5 feet.
    Right now m breastfeeding my baby of 1 month .Please suggest me diet plan accordingly.Also would like to mention my heel pain is growing due to growing weight.

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  • Hi mam , my baby is 2.5 months old . I gained approximately 20 kgs during pregnancy . I lost 5 kgs after delivery but I gained it all back in a month. Now i weigh 80 kgs and my height is 5"1'. I am completely disheartened and have lost all my confidence . I used to weigh 65 kgs when i conceived but i was in pretty good shape even though weight was more because i was an ardent gym goer and loved lifting weights and training. Now i am a baloon and I feel soo depressed as i am breastfeeding still gaining weight instead of losing.

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    • Hi Navneet,

      dont worry dear , check this diet plan . You can follow it and check out . If this doesnt work , let us know , and we can plan a personalized diet plan for you

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    • And i forgot to mention i was induced as pains didn't start naturally and after 10 hours of labor was operated on (c section).

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  • I had 2nd c section 3 weeks ago and my baby is no more as like in first time. What diet I should follow? I have no courage to eat anything.

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    • Hi Sakshi , you are a brave girl. You should follow the same diet mentioned above . Just avoud the Milk forming foods.

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  • Hello Dr. I have a c section one week before. My mother in law started giving Harira (indian recipe made of meWa , jaggery and oil). Is it safe. Or it is healthy for me. Plz answer

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    • Hi Deepti,

      If you dont have any digestion issue it is safe ... Its already winters , hence all these fooda that you mentioned are beneficial.

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  • Is massages important.can we leave it. I had c section around 25 days back. Is there any consequence if we don't get massages. I am not taking any massages and I don't like it. I just want to know that if I m not taking body massages then it will not cause any problems.

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    • Hi Vineeta,

      The massage helps in rejuvination of the body cells , strengthening the muscules and gaining over all strength back . If you dont really like it , you can drop it .. but it is really helpful.

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  • Peas and beans cause flatulence hence we would avoid them for the first 40 days.

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  • Hi mam...
    can i have eggs and fish after c section? How many days will it take to heal the wound?

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    • Hi Mallika , you can have eggs after 5 days of c section . for fish , you should wait for 15 - 20 days , and based on your digestion you can start with fish .

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  • Hi,
    I had my c section a month ago. Also it was premature delivery of 28 weeks and the baby is no more now. Please suggest after how many days I can start workout for loosing weight, also suggest diet plan accordingly.
    Thanks

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    • Is ajwan and jeera is save after delivery for both mother and baby

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      • yes

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    • Hi Neha , I am sorry for your loss. You can start working out from 3 months from your operation date. you can contact us after 2 months and we will help you with a diet plan as well.

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