After an Abortion – Ideal Diet & After-Care Instructions

After a miscarriage or abortion, the woman needs to be very cautious in her diet to recover back rapidly. Consuming the right kinds of foods after an abortion may help speed up the process of physical and mental recovery.

Your Need for Iron :-

Iron is an essential mineral that’s a natural part of many foods you eat. The body of an average adult contains between 3 and 4 grams of iron, with about two-thirds of it in a compound called heme, combined with protein as hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Hemoglobin binds oxygen, carrying it through your circulation to all of your cells, which use it to fuel many basic biochemical processes that sustain life. Because of hemoglobin’s ability to bind oxygen, your blood iron level is crucial for supporting the normal function of every cell in your body.

Iron and B vitamins :-

Add fish, eggs, tender chicken, tuna, shellfish, beef, lamb, pork, meat, animal liver, soybean, dates, fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Cooked dry beans and peas contain high protein, iron and B vitamins.

Water :-

Excessive sweating is a common after abortion. Therefore, have 8-12 glasses of clean water every day. This prevents dehydration and stomach problems like constipation and vomiting.

Avoid spicy food :-

Avoid eating very spicy food. Include eggs or chicken in two meals or 4-5 times a week.

Protein :-

Include protein rich food in your diet. Protein increases the production and count of blood cells in the body. Almonds, baked beans, peas, eggs, cold fish, bananas, carrots, avocado, cottage cheese, oranges and green leafy vegetables are the rich sources of protein.

Low fat dairy Products :-

Low fat dairy food such as probiotic yogurt or homemade natural curd supply calcium and maintains our body strength after abortion. They also provide vitamins and proteins which are very essential for fast recovery.

Some dairy items have impressive levels of two things many of us need more of: calcium and protein. I’m sorry to say that ice cream falls a bit short on these two nutrients, but low-fat milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and reduced-fat cheese pack a protein and calcium punch in every serving. Just a cup of lite nonfat yogurt, for example, gives you a third of your daily recommended calcium intake, along with 17% of your estimated daily protein intake.

Food

Kraft 2% sharp cheddar cheese, 1 ounce

Part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1 ounce

Skim milk, 1 cup

Low-fat milk (1%), vitamins A & D added, 1 cup

Low-fat (2%) cottage cheese, 1 cup

Low-fat plain yogurt, 1 cup

Nonfat lite raspberry yogurt, 1 cup

Sex :-

We recommend you not to have any kind of sex for at least 2 weeks after an abortion to minimize the risk of infections. 

Exercise & physical works :-

Do not exercise for 2 weeks including stretches. Swimming, outdoor games, horse riding, going to the gym and heavy physical work at home can all increase bleeding. If you have young children, for the first few days try not to carry them more than required – especially up and downstairs.

Leaking breasts :-

Do not squeeze, stimulate or press your breasts and nipples for 2 weeks because this will increase the leakage. You can wear soft supportive bras to help with discomfort and soreness.

Remember

1. Always drink boiled water in place of tape water.
2. Avoid eating very spicy food.
3. Avoid cold foods or Ice cream till absolute recovery.
4. Apply a warm compress on abdominal area daily for 1 week.
5. Take warm bath at least for 1 month.
6. Keep consulting your gynecologist for 5-6 weeks.

Care before a abortion :-

1. Evaluate your medical history, including any medicines you are taking.
2. Do a physical exam, including a pelvic examination, to evaluate your health, how long you have been pregnant, and location of the embryo or fetus.
3. Perform an ultrasound to confirm how far along and where the pregnancy is. Not all doctors choose to do this step.
4. Discuss your decision to have an abortion and your feelings about the decision.
5. Discuss your plans for future pregnancies and birth control use.
6. Explain how the medicines will work, possible side effects (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common), and when to call your doctor. It is important for your doctor to know whether you:
7. Have access to a telephone, to call if you have problems.
8. Have transportation to a health care facility if you need to be evaluated.
9. Will be able to return for a follow-up appointment.
10. Are prepared for the cramping pain and bleeding that will occur as the uterine contents are passed.
11. Understand that a surgical abortion will be needed if a medical abortion fails to complete the process.

In addition to the medicines used to cause an abortion, your doctor will give you medicines to minimize side effects, with specific instructions for their use. These medicines are used:

1. For cramping pain caused by uterine contractions.
2. To prevent nausea or vomiting.
3. To prevent infection.