The confinement period involved mothers who just gave birth to recover and recharge. During this period, mothers need to consume nourishing confinement food to recuperate. Typical confinement food consists of healthy vegetables, proteins and plenty of fluids for healing and energy supply.
Below are the reasons why new mothers need to consume confinement food:
Recover From Your “Weakened” Body
Confinement is a period for postpartum mothers to recover from childbirth. Labour and birth are a huge drain on the mother’s energy reserves. Mothers need a balanced diet with adequate nutrition to restore good health. Within this one-month postnatal confinement period, mothers also have additional responsibilities, take care of your baby and breastfeeding.
Thus, it is important to fuel up with nutritious food to recuperate from delivery. For example, confinement food chicken essence improves absorption of iron, so that it can restore your blood haemoglobin faster. In addition, it can reduce physical and mental fatigue.
Increase Your Milk Supply
Eating right is important for new mothers, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your baby relies on your breast milk to gain nutrients. A nutritious diet can improve your breast milk production and quality, in order to support your baby’s development and growth.
For example, unripe green papaya contains milk sap, which can help to boost milk production. It is best to be cooked in soup with fish. Some mothers will pump their breastmilk out for storing. Keep in mind that never use a disposable bottle or plastic bags that are not intended for breast milk storage as it might affect the milk quality. You may find a breastmilk storage bottle on MumChecked website.
Promote Blood Circulation
Most mothers lose about 500ml of blood during and immediately after their childbirth. For cesarean delivery, it’s approximately 1000ml of blood loss. Losing lots of blood can cause low blood pressure. From a TCM perspective, certain food ingredients can increase blood flow and warm your body.
Rice wine is made of fermented glutinous rice, helps to warm mother’s body and improve blood circulation. It has a lower alcohol content than other wines. Therefore, it’s safe for a nursing mum. Just remember to add it during the final stage of cooking, so that the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind the nourishing aromatic dish.
Avoid Postpartum Depression
You may also consider food ingredients like whole grain and brown rice into your confinement diet. They are known as the natural mood stabiliser. Mothers might encounter baby-blues after their delivery. By eating the right food, it can help to avoid postpartum depression. Whole grain and brown rice help to maintain blood sugar, boost energy and mood stability.
Other than that, salmon is another food you should consider in your confinement menu. Salmon is rich in Omega 3 and is a great source of protein, which gives mother energy to recover. It also contains Vitamin A, B, B6, C and minerals that are needed by a postpartum mother.
