What to eat after abortion for fast recovery?

Medically Reviewed by Dr.Shubhra Bishwas

In this blog we will read “ What to eat after abortion for fast recovery? ”

No matter if it was a very tough decision or it was taken because of any consequences, abortion is never a normal condition or procedure for any woman.

Everyday in hospitals all over the world, women go through the painful procedure of abortion which not only causes physical discomfort but also mental disturbance to them.

If it is a conscious decision taken because a woman doesn’t desire the pregnancy and the pregnancy is at very early stage, abortion can be done by pills but when a woman desires to abort the child, in that case the duration of pregnancy plays an important role and that woman might have to go through surgical procedures for abortion.

In any kind of abortion the mental disturbance takes its own time to vanish and sometimes has to take medical help as well but the physical toll of abortion takes on a woman’s body causes hormonal, nutritional, energy depletion.

These all depletions are needed to be filled up again along with some precautions so that a woman who has undergone abortion is feeling and also internally safe in every manner and is fit for childbirth whenever she desires.

In this article, we are going to talk about abortion, its types, causes and most importantly the recovery face, what all things a woman should eat to recover faster post abortion.

What is Abortion?

According to WHO, abortion is the expulsion or extraction from its mother of an embryo or foetus weighing 500g or less when it is not capable of independent survival.

This 500g of foetal development is attained approximately at 20 weeks or 154 days of gestation.

Reasons of Abortion

Factors Influencing Abortion:

Types of Abortion?

There are 7 types of abortion

1. Threatened
2. Inevitable
3. Incomplete
4. Complete
5. Missed
6. Infected
7. Medical

Ways to do Abortion?

There are several different types of abortion. According to the patient’s needs, medical condition, and stage of pregnancy, the doctor will recommend the appropriate method.

Ways of abortion include:

• Abortion pill
• Vacuum aspiration
• Dilation and Evacuation, or D&E

Abortion Pill

For early abortion of 8 weeks and less, doctors recommend Abortion pill, which is the common name for using mifepristone and misoprostol and these two different medicines helps to end a pregnancy

First, you take a pill called mifepristone. Mifepristone blocks progesterone secretion which is a hormone needed for growth of normal pregnancy.

Then you take the second medicine, misoprostol. Some doctors advise to take all the medicines together and some advise to take misoprostol after 48 hours of taking mifepristone. Misoprostol acts by causing cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus. Severe cramping starts and bleeding starts within 24 hours, emptying the contents of the uterus. But, if you don’t have any bleeding within 24 hours after taking misoprostol, you should contact your doctor.

If an abortion is being done by pills, it should be emphasised that pills should always be taken under the supervision of a doctor. There are several kits available in the market which are taken by women by just asking the shopkeeper, causing incomplete abortion, continuous bleeding and sometimes loss of life.

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Vacuum Aspiration

Vacuum aspiration is an outpatient procedure that usually involves a hospital visit of several hours. The procedure takes less than 15 minutes. In this procedure, suction is created with the help of a pump. After cleansing of the cervix and vagina, a sterile cannula is inserted into the uterus. The cannula is attached to the pump and the pump creates a vacuum and suction which takes out all the uterine contents.

Expected contents found after abortion of a normal pregnancy include the embryo or foetus, as well as the decidua, chorionic villi, amniotic fluid, amniotic membrane and other tissues.

Dilation and Evacuation

This procedure is called dilation and evacuation and it is also known as D&E. It is generally used after 13 weeks of pregnancy (in the second trimester). The doctor softens your cervix before the procedure with medication. 

Most women feel some pain during the procedure. The pain is stronger than menstrual cramps. Sometimes general anaesthesia is also given to decrease the pain sensation. After dilation, the foetus, and placenta are removed carefully, using forceps and other surgical instruments. This procedure will take approximately 15 to 30 minutes.  A woman might experience pain and bleeding vaginally after the procedure is done, which subsides with time and is normal to experience but if it continues for longer duration, then it is a concern.

Changes in the body after abortion

Every woman, everybody is different, not all women who have undergone abortion experiences the same changes in their body.

Some rarely experience any changes and some are highly affected.

These are the changes which a woman might experience after abortion:

• Nausea and diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Bloating
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Discharge
• Fatigue

Recovery

The healing process varies from individual to individual, and it can take weeks to recover completely.

If you’ve had D&E or surgical abortion by a doctor, the duration of bleeding is reduced to zero or 1 day after the procedure.

Clear your mind and try to stay calm. It gives your body space to get back to normal. There are several things you can do to help yourself and by making small changes in your diet. Providing enough energy and properly scheduled meals will help you feel full and healthy.

But one of the bad news is that you’ll have to remove all the junk food and sweets from your diet.  Doctors from reputed hospitals and with great experience added that sugar can harm your body, and also you can’t drink alcohol either as it increases bleeding and impacts the effectiveness of your painkillers.

Let’s focus on what to eat after abortion for fast recovery

• Iron-Rich Foods

Most of you’ve been part of that group which doesn’t consume greeny leafy vegetables and several fruits like banana (both raw and ripe), dates, raisins etc as well as lean meat, fish etc at all, but now is the time to change that. Heavier bleeding that a woman experiences after abortion will surely increase the chances of being anaemic and weak. You have to maintain haemoglobin levels by eating iron-rich foods. You can get iron by eating spinach, mint, broccoli. Spinach provides iron as well as vitamin C that helps in iron absorption. You can add it to classic oatmeal or smoothie or eat it with turkey or some red meat.

• Avoid Foods That Make You Feel Sick

Many women experience problems like nausea and diarrhea after the abortion. This is because of the hormonal changes in your body, and is normal to happen post abortion. You only need to avoid foods that make you feel sick and eat more vitamins. If you are experiencing vomiting then stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, and soups. In case it does not get better then call your doctor.

• Enjoy Comfort Food

Focus on the recovery process and respect a specific diet plan and it is great to follow that but you can always enjoy your comfort food once in a while and little indulgence causes no harm. As long as you are consuming enough nutrients from other meals, it won’t hurt to get into some indulgence.

• Omega-3

Eating fish and seafood is proven to lower harmful cholesterol, fight depression, protect your heart, and also prevent inflammation. Salmon is a great choice with more than sufficient omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Oysters and sardines are the great  sources of zinc and B12. They are easy to find for one ideal breakfast or dinner. Some ingredients for smoothies are walnuts and chia seeds are also beneficial.

• Proteins

Proteins are very well known as bodybuilding substances for our body. Their main function is to repair our body cells using their primary component- amino acids. In the case of a woman who has undergone abortion, it plays an important role in blood clotting and hormone balancing. Dairy products and cheese are very well known excellent sources of proteins. During your recovery, it’s advised to eat eggs, lean meat, and poultry.

• Drink Plenty of Water:

Staying hydrated is very important for your health, especially when your body is recovering from an abortion. Ensure that you’re drinking plenty of fluids such as water. You can identify on your own, if you’re well hydrated, your urine should be a pale yellow colour and if it’s too dark, you should be drinking more water.

Precautions

• Avoid penetrative sex
• Avoid using tampons
• Use sanitary pads
• Avoid putting anything in the vagina
• Avoid using swimming pool
• Massage lower back and stomach
• Use pain relieving medicines with prescription
• Use hot water bags
• Attend following up appointments

Conclusion

Abortion is a difficult procedure for any woman to go through. It takes a physical and mental toll. It is important to take proper and healthy nutrition, iron supplements, proper hydration along with some necessary precautions.

Read more:

• What are the home remedies to increase newborn’s immunity?

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