I had a C-section and am pregnant again. What precautions should I take? (Query)

I am a 30-year-old pregnant woman. I have had one c-section and I am pregnant again. I am very worried this time as my first delivery was little complicated. What dietary precautions should I take? Are there any warning signs that I need to look out for? Please help. Dr Nupur Gupta, Gynaecologist and obstetrician from Well Woman Clinic in Gurgaon, answers. According to Dr Nupur, a healthy and nutrient-rich diet is the key to stay active during pregnancy. Hence, following proper dietary recommendations plays an important role in lowering your risk of a second c-section. Here are some diet tips you can follow –

• Avoid intake of fried and oily foods. Also lower your consumption of foods rich in saturated fats. Here are 4 reasons why you should avoid processed foods during pregnancy.
• Rather than eating 3 heavy meals in a day, eat 6 – 7 small, frequent meals. This not only keeps you active but also prevents hunger cravings.
• Try to include more of fresh fruits and vegetables in a salad. For example, you make a healthy salad by including seasonal fruits and sprouts to keep you full and consume nutrients required for a healthy diet. Read about 10 diet dos and don’ts every pregnant woman should follow.
• For snack time, you can munch dry fruits like almonds, walnuts, raisins (if you are not diabetic) and dry figs. These are rich in minerals like iron and vitamins like Vitamin B12 that play a key role in overall development of the fetus and also prevent complications during pregnancy.

Apart from this, you need to go for regular health check-ups as advised by your gynaecologist. While pregnant women are not recommended brisk exercises, staying active with a simple walk in the morning or evening is sufficient. However, if you feel any lower abdominal pain, tenderness or uneasiness, then discontinue it and consult your doctor about the same. Watch out for signs that might indicate a medical emergency or an urgent visit to a doctor –

• Abdominal discomfort or abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Frequency of urine or burning sensation with fever
• Persistent lower abdominal ache
• Vaginal bleeding
• Tenderness or pain at scar site
• Decreased or no fetal movements

Hence, eat a balanced diet, exercise and get regular check-ups to prevent complications during delivery. You may also like to read:

• Will your second delivery be a C-section?
• Pregnancy week-by-week guide — what to expect
• A complete guide to prenatal tests

Image Source: Shutterstock

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