You’ve probably heard the saying “you are what you eat”. And so lies the question: what should you “be” (i.e. eat) as you are nearing your EDD? The answer is simple enough, yet easier said than done. 

You should be prepared. 

But how, exactly? Not to mention, you might have been eating ‘right’ ever since you found out you were pregnant. So, what other alterations do you need to make to your diet to prepare?

Just like how there is a plan for confinement food Singapore normally follow, there is also one for pregnancy, and there should also be one around your due date! Protein-rich, high in iron and calcium, and carbohydrates – these are what new mothers would usually seek in their confinement meals. 

In regards to approaching your labour, what you should look for is foods that are easy to digest, carbohydrates to provide you with enough energy, and drinks that can keep you hydrated throughout the whole process.

Regardless, it is also important to note that new mothers also have their list of confinement food to avoid! Likewise, no matter which stage you are at – early on in the pregnancy journey or nearing your EDD – knowing what not to consume can spare you from various troubles later on.

On that note, here is a list of foods to avoid eating when going into labour.

Sugary Food

Oops, if you have a sweet tooth, you might not like this one! Around your due date, you may want to lay off the sweet treats for a while. We’re talking about those typical selections from the sugar hall of fame such as doughnuts, candies, and good chocolate.

While it is true that foods high in sugar give you plenty of energy, it is used up by the body quickly. And this is where the term sugar rush comes from. A burst of energy that makes you feel invincible, and that you can do anything in the world, and then come crashing down soon after that, and makes delivery a slower process.

Pasta

We’re guessing that this is something that you would not expect to see in this article. Unfortunately, it is. Carbo-loading with a bunch of pasta works for running a marathon, but labour and delivery is a whole different type of marathon.

Pasta just does not sit well in the stomach before giving birth, since it takes a longer time to digest than most other food. This is due to the complex carbohydrates that make up the pasta. This very slow process adds unnecessary pressure on the digestive system of the body and makes giving birth harder than usual. So, if you are craving that appetising plate of classic carbonara, it can most definitely wait until after the delivery!

A lot of Meat

It goes without saying that most foods are best taken in moderation, and happens to be a theme with the foods mentioned here. And meat is no different. Meat provides protein and is important for you to help your tissues repair themselves during pregnancy, and after giving birth as well. And also, in such a time such as pregnancy, would it not be better to eat more meat (if you enjoy it), so that you may feel better? Yes, that is correct!

However, just like pasta, meat also digests relatively slowly in your body. Therefore, it has the same effects as pasta does have on the body. Do not entirely cut meat off of your diet (unless you do not eat meat usually), but instead reduce the amount so as to not apply any unneeded pressure on your belly, that is already hard at work. Unfortunately, this means that you may also have to give up your favourite traditional food in Singapore such as vinegar pork trotter – or at least not have too much of it.

Giving birth is not an easy process, so take every necessary step to prepare yourself for labour. There are many things that may not go as planned – which means they can be better than expected, too – but at least with proper planning, you have fewer things to worry about. We hope this blog has helped you stay away from what may cause you trouble later on, as well as helping with your preparation before the delivery! 

Talking about preparation, how is your postnatal care preparation going? After you’ve passed the birth stage, you may think you are now free to eat whatever you want, but that is not really the case. 

Remember, your body will require a well-balanced diet to recover smoothly as well as provide sufficient milk for your child. Want to see the kinds of foods you could have during confinement? Spoiler alert; it will be super exciting and comes in a huge variety! Don’t believe us? Just give our menu a browse and you’ll see what we mean. If you need help with confinement meals, Tian Wei is always just a phone call away. Until next time!