What should a postpartum woman eat after surgery to promote wound healing?
Nov 11, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
After surgery, it is beneficial for postpartum women to consume foods rich in high-quality protein, vitamin C, zinc, dietary fiber, and easily digestible staple foods to promote wound healing. Examples include eggs, fish, chicken, and milk. Protein is an essential component of cells and helps generate new cells at the wound site, accelerating tissue repair.
After a cesarean section, it is beneficial for the mother to consume foods rich in high-quality protein, vitamin C, zinc, dietary fiber, and easily digestible staple foods to promote wound healing. The details are as follows:
1. Foods rich in high-quality protein: such as eggs, fish, chicken, milk, etc. Protein is an essential component of cells and helps generate new cells at the wound site, accelerating tissue repair. Consuming adequate amounts after surgery can enhance the body's regenerative capacity, promote faster wound healing, and replenish nutrients lost during childbirth.
2. Foods rich in vitamin C: such as oranges, kiwifruit, spinach, broccoli, etc. Vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis, enhances the elasticity and strength of wound tissues, boosts immunity, reduces the risk of wound infection, and supports smooth recovery.
3. Foods rich in zinc: such as lean meat, nuts, legumes, oysters, etc. Zinc participates in the synthesis of various enzymes in the body, promotes cell metabolism and division, speeds up wound healing, reduces inflammatory responses at the wound site, and alleviates discomfort during the healing process.
4. Foods rich in dietary fiber: such as celery, apples, oats, sweet potatoes, etc. After surgery, reduced physical activity may lead to constipation. Straining during bowel movements can pull on the surgical wound and impair healing. Dietary fiber promotes intestinal motility, prevents constipation, and avoids adverse effects on wound recovery due to defecation issues.
5. Easily digestible staple foods: such as millet porridge, soft noodles, steamed buns, etc. These foods are soft and easy to digest and absorb, providing sufficient energy for the mother while reducing gastrointestinal burden. This allows the body to direct more energy toward wound repair and prevents poor nutrient absorption due to digestive problems.
Diet after cesarean section should be introduced gradually, progressing from liquid and semi-liquid foods to regular meals. Avoid spicy, greasy, and irritating foods to prevent wound irritation or gastrointestinal discomfort.
