Effects Of Having A Poor Diet During Your Confinement Period

Poor Diet During Your Confinement Period

What to do during confinement? Rest, and rest more! That is number one, but there are also other things that should be done without conflicting with your resting. One of them is eating proper postpartum meals. Why? 

The few weeks after childbirth can be challenging for any new mother who has never delivered another child before. The mother is learning how to take care of the baby and battling many emotions too. It can be very hard to function properly at this time, and sometimes taking a proper meal can be close to impossible. Especially for working mothers or those whose family members are too busy to help them out, it is a good idea to get a confinement nanny or get a Chinese confinement food catering in Singapore to get a proper diet during this period.

Hiring a confinement caterer or a live-in nanny can be challenging for people who are not earning a stable income. This means that the mother will have to take care of herself during the confinement period, which can be very tiring and harmful to her health and that of her child. Sometimes the lack of time may result in poor eating habits that may have serious health effects on the mother such as:

Low Energy

Low Energy

Understandably, there may come a time when you are thinking of following a weight loss diet. But the important thing is to do it only when you (and especially your body) are ready. There is no rush to it. Remember, it took you nine months plus to grow the human being that is your child. It is going to take some time before you can tone up your body, and it deserves that time and break.

Rather than planning and thinking of how to lose weight during confinement, spend this time resting your body and focusing on your postnatal recovery and attending to your newborn. If the people around you are contributing to making you feel like you have to lose weight fast, reduce the amount of time you spend with them – unless it is your professional medical doctor and it is due to health conditions.

High Risk of Anaemia

Mothers lose a lot of blood during childbirth, meaning that she is at high risk of getting anaemia if she does not eat food rich in iron. Additionally, her body requires blood and energy to produce milk for the baby meaning that it is using any trace of iron left in the body. A Chinese confinement food menu is customized to meet the mother’s needs and restore the blood to normal levels. Therefore, you stand at a high risk of getting anaemia if you do not follow a proper diet.

Low Milk Production

Your baby will always consume whatever the mother eats, even when you follow a poor diet while breastfeeding. Therefore, failure to take nutritious food will lead to poor milk quality and a low milk supply that does not have all the nutrients that are best for the child’s development. Your child is highly likely to suffer from various malnutrition disorders due to a lack of proper nutrients that are essential for proper growth. Frail children also have low immunity levels that leave them susceptible to many diseases.

Weak Bones and Joints

Confinement soups and food are rich in mineral elements such as calcium, iron, and magnesium which are all crucial for strengthening bones. The body utilizes the nutrients present in your diet to perform various functions such as the production of breast milk and the restoration of the body to its original condition before birth. If there are no nutrients present for the body to use, it will draw nutrients such as calcium from bones to produce milk, leaving the mother’s bones to be weak and frail. 

Weakened Immunity

A mother’s immunity is always at its lowest from the pregnancy period to a few months after childbirth, leaving her highly susceptible to illnesses. A proper confinement diet consisting of various herbal soups and foods will boost immunity back to normal. However, a lack of proper nutrients in the body leaves the mother and the baby at a very high risk of catching illnesses.

Impacted Growth

Impacted Growth

The food you eat determines the growth and development of your baby. The newborn also needs to acquire immunity, which can only be achieved through breastfeeding. Therefore, you need to have enough vitamins that can be transferred to the newborn after suckling. Proteins and minerals also play a vital role in the development of body organs and healthy bones and teeth. The baby relies on the mother’s milk from birth up to six months of age to grow and perform other functions in the body. Thus, failure to provide the essential nutrients can lead to stunted growth, low immunity, and brittle bones. Therefore, you must maintain a healthy diet if you want to maintain a healthy growth curve for your child.


Recuperation Period

What you eat dictates the time it takes to replenish your energy. You may have to be in confinement for months if your diet lacks enough fluids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Starch is always consumed in large portions, and at this stage, you will rarely hear about its deficiency. 

If you had a C-section delivery, you need a diet that will assist in the healing of the wound. In this case, it is best to opt for postpartum food delivery because they will take care of everything for you. At Tian Wei, we are guided by our very own in-house dietitian, so you can put your mind at ease knowing that your daily meals are prepared to meet all your needs as a new mother!

Mental Health

The impact of processed food on your moods cannot be underestimated. Mothers who consume artificial diets are more susceptible to postpartum depression and baby blues as compared to natural dieters. The Chinese confinement food is designed to take care of not only the new mom’s physical health but also her mental health. Therefore, you should stick to this diet for optimum and quick results. If you are affected mentally, your baby will also be affected because depression can reduce the amount of milk that is produced. Herbs, legumes, and fish are associated with lower chances of PPD.

Weight

Do you want to lose or gain a few pounds after delivery? If you want to shed off the baby belly, you should be very aware of what you eat. Avoid starch and consume plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Also, drink enough water to assist in flushing out toxins accumulated in your body. To maintain your shape, you should avoid junk food and other unhealthy snacks. You have to fight the temptation because it will likely increase after delivery. You can also integrate some light exercises in later stages to lose the tummy.

Blood Formation

After delivery, you are at risk of anaemia if early precautions are not taken. You lose large volumes of blood during delivery, which may take some months to regain. Therefore, you should ensure you take food rich in calcium, vitamin C, and iron to facilitate blood formation. Blood acts as the transport agent in the body to ensure that each tissue is supplied with the necessary nutrients to perform its function efficiently. Foods that provide these nutrients include kale, pig liver, and tomatoes.

What to avoid in confinement?

Surely, we must talk about health after giving birth and about the benefits of staying away from certain things. Many articles are telling you to do this and that, but we also would like you to know that simply staying away from harmful things can already do so much to your body as well, and it counts as a solid effort too. For a start, you can list down postpartum foods to avoid.

Your health and that of your baby should always be at the back of your mind when you are deciding what to eat. Ensure that you eat a diet that is helpful to your system. Avoid junk and processed foods and focus on natural and organic diets.

For example, some foods can worsen your water retention, such as salty foods like processed canned foods. Spicy foods can potentially cause constipation, so if you have been saying no to spicy meals for the time being because you are trying to give your womb a rest so as not to put any pressure on it, you are on the right track. You may love spicy foods, so just know that your sacrifice is also an act you should be proud of.

What to include in confinement?

There are certain parts of your diet that can improve your mood and give you a boost of happiness. These are some of the ingredients which you can incorporate into  your confinement diet:

Salmon and other fish

Fish like Salmon, Mackerel, Sea Bass, Sardines and more are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids include EHA dan DHA, both of which are important for brain functions. In fact, studies have shown that instances of postnatal depression are lower in communities that consume fish on a regular basis. 

Fish are also a rich source of protein, which will help in your physical healing, especially if you have any wounds or stitches.

Whole eggs

Eggs are a rich source of protein, and they’re so versatile you can consume them in any way, and they’ll still taste delicious. Eggs have all the essential amino acids your body needs. Amino acids are essential in building tissue and cells, which includes hormones too. 

Eating eggs will replenish your body with the amino acids it needs to regain its hormonal balance and heal faster.

Drink lots of water

It’s important to keep your body hydrated throughout the day during confinement. Listen to your body and let thirst guide you as to when you need to take a drink. Plain water would be a good choice, but you can also get hydrated from milk, yoghurt drinks, herbal teas, fruit juices and soups. 

Dehydration has been known to make mood swings worse and can worsen your feelings of fatigue or tiredness. Keep some water with you throughout the day so that you can sip whenever you feel thirsty. 

Dark chocolate

Studies have shown that dark chocolate promotes the production of endorphins, a brain molecule that triggers feelings of happiness and euphoria. The darker the chocolate, the more cacao it contains, and cacao is the main ingredient that can really stimulate your brain to produce endorphins. 

Therefore, it helps to give yourself a treat with dark chocolate once in a while during your confinement.

Any type of nuts

Nuts are one of the healthiest snacks you can have while in confinement. The great thing about nuts is that they are rich in Selenium, a trace element that is key in preventing depression and stabilizing your moods. 

If you’re in the mood for a snack, go for nuts like walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts, peanuts, cashews and more. Walnuts are also good for Omega-3 fatty acids, just like fish. 

Taking good care of your confinement diet is one way you can care for yourself and show yourself some self-love and appreciation. Confinement food is also for miscarriages, so you can consider them too. 

A proper diet is essential for pregnant, confined, and lactating mothers since they are the best source of nutrition for the baby. You should consider getting a confinement nanny to help you prepare these meals or engage in confinement food catering to ensure you obtain all the nutrients you need for you and your child.