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Importance of Proper Nutrition and Confinement Food After Miscarriage: A Recovery Guide
Miscarriage is a common yet isolating experience, with around 10-15% of known pregnancies ending in miscarriage – an early pregnancy loss before 20 weeks. This percentage is likely much higher, including very early first-trimester losses (which often go unnoticed).
Nutrition plays a key role in fertility and pregnancy, so it’s essential to care for yourself nutritionally while recovering from early pregnancy loss. Proper nutrition and confinement food after a miscarriage can significantly support the healing process. So, what food is good after a miscarriage? This article will guide you through the essential nutrients that aid your recovery.
Foods for Recovery After Miscarriage
To aid recovery, include some of the following foods, which contain essential nutrients and vitamins, as part of a balanced diet:
Iron-Rich Foods
Iron-rich foods include red meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, lentils, whole grains, dark leafy greens, dark chocolate, nuts, and seeds. Incorporating these foods regularly into your meal planning can support your recovery, especially if you’ve experienced heavy bleeding, which increases the risk of iron deficiency. Iron-rich foods can also help combat the fatigue and exhaustion often associated with lower red blood cells from blood loss. There are two types of iron to be aware of:
Heme Iron: Derived from animals and more readily absorbed by the body.
Non-heme Iron: Derived from plants. If you consume more non-heme iron, read the section on Vitamin C below!
Foods Containing Vitamin C
Sources include papaya, orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, kiwi, tomatoes, spinach, and strawberries. Vitamin C is crucial for tissue healing and repair. It acts as an antioxidant, aiding wounds to heal quickly and safely, and supports collagen formation, helping tissue rebuild. Including foods high in Vitamin C is particularly important if you consume a lot of non-heme iron, as Vitamin C aids iron absorption. For example, serve chickpeas in a salad with tomatoes and lemon juice. Vitamin C also supports your immune system.
High-Protein Foods
Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps the body heal. Amino acids derived from protein are used for cell growth, muscle, and tissue repair, and adequate protein supports optimal immune function.
High-protein foods include red meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, lentils, dairy products, and soy products like tofu, nuts, and seeds. Include a source of protein with each meal and snack throughout the day. A palm-sized portion is a good guide for main meals, while easy snack options include nuts, seeds, greek yoghurt, boiled eggs, and fruits with nut butter dip.
Carbohydrates
After a miscarriage, your body needs all the energy it can get, as weakness and fatigue are common side effects of pregnancy loss. Carbohydrates are a readily available energy source and help rebuild the body’s energy reserves. To provide consistent energy, choose complex carbohydrates like brown rice, wholegrain bread, pasta, oats, wholegrain crackers, and quinoa.
Nuts and Seeds
These crunchy superstars are a nutritional powerhouse, containing omega-3 (found in walnuts, flaxseed, hemp seed, and chia seeds), Vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, folate, fibre, and iron. Mood-boosting foods that contain magnesium and omega-3 may help reduce inflammation and the risk of depression. Nuts and seeds are convenient and long-lasting – snack on a handful or sprinkle them on your breakfast.
Hydration
Water is crucial for recovery, especially after pregnancy loss, when the body is often depleted of essential nutrients and fluids. Ensure you drink plenty of water, but juices, soups, stews, and broths can also help boost your fluid intake.
If you’ve taken pain relief or undergone surgery, staying hydrated and consuming high-fibre carbohydrates like those mentioned above can help keep your bowels regular, as certain medications may cause sluggish bowel movements.
Add Supportive Foods, Don’t Aim for Perfection
While physical recovery is crucial, also be mindful of your mental and emotional state. Food can represent comfort and stability in a time of uncertainty. Focus on what brings you joy and nourishment for a holistic recovery.
The nutrition tips provided here are intended to give you some ideas of foods to include after a miscarriage, but don’t ignore your body’s cravings for your favourite or comforting foods. All foods fit into a balanced diet, so practise kindness and enjoy various meals – not all need to be super nutritious!
Support Your Body’s Healing Process with Wholesome Confinement Food
If you’re searching for more ideas on food for miscarriage, confinement food is an excellent choice due to the healing vitamins and minerals it contains. Since your body has already adapted to pregnancy, your post-abortion symptoms can resemble postpartum ones. A nourishing confinement diet can play a significant role in improving your healing process.
At Tian Wei Signature, we offer confinement food after miscarriage containing all the nourishing ingredients listed above. Our in-house dietitian carefully reviews our menu to support your physical and mental recovery. With over 90 fusion and traditional dishes, we provide a diverse selection of well-balanced and flavourful meals. You can easily exclude lactogenic ingredients, herbs, chicken, eggs, or any other items based on your preferences and enjoy the convenience of delivering your daily meals right to your doorstep.