Having a baby is hard work, but with good preparation it could be a whole lot easier. Photo / Getty
All I can say after having a C-section is that I really wasn't prepared for it and don't think I actually processed that I was having major abdominal surgery.
Sure I knew what was involved and everyone had been really clear about what to expect and what was going to happen, but I just didn't consider how tough it could be on the body.
I was still really focused on the fact that we were having a tiny human and she would suddenly be here and my life was about to change forever, so getting sliced open was not really featuring in my head.
For those of you who have been there, you will know exactly what I am talking about and for those of you who are going to go here it's a great idea to prepare the best you can.
Food and drinks can help you recover as quickly as possible, as it's not just major surgery we are contending with.
We have to remember it is combined with a little person needing all of our attention, severe lack of sleep, hormones all over the place and did I mention the worry of a tiny person needing all of our attention all of the time.
You may be like me and spend hours hanging over the cot in the hospital just making sure they are breathing, or triple checking their temperature to make sure they are not too cold or too warm.
After being in Starship hospital with a baby that could not manage the nearly 30C temperature, I now have way too many thermometers and still check her way too often.
Having access to great food that supports you both physically and mentally really is imperative during this time and I was super lucky that working in this field caused me to prepare all of this beforehand.
I would hate to think the state I would have been in if my own nutrition and recovery was out of control.
Like any area there are lots of ideas and advice, so consider all of it and then take on board what makes sense to you and what you might like to do.
My best advice is to be prepared and plan ahead. Sometimes that means being a little over prepared. I had my food bag packed for my hospital stay at least 3 weeks before I had packed my clothes, as that was what mattered most to me.
1. Sparkling water as I get bored with plain water and like something a little different. I wanted options to keep me hydrated as this is important for recovery and to promote milk production.
2. Coconut water to provide some extra energy as well as increasing my fluid levels. It is a great option if you are not a big fan of juices or other processed drinks.
3. Red raspberry tea again to help with fluids and allow me to have something instead of coffee. It also helped with milk production, which is important for all women after birth but possibly more so after a C-section.
4. Home-made trail mix including almonds. Almonds were my favourite snack and are packed full of essential nutrients like vitamin E, vitamin B2, B3, and B1. They are also a rich source of minerals like magnesium, copper, phosphorus, calcium, iron and zinc.
Almonds are also regarded to serve as galactagogues, which can improve the quality and quantity of your breast milk.
Women suffering from the problem of poor lactation are often advised to increase their intake of almonds to stimulate their milk production.
5. Radix pre-packaged meals - these were an absolute life-saver.
Prepared for athletes they also cater for anyone wanting organic, wholesome, nutrient dense food without preservatives and chemicals.
You can keep them in a bag or in the car or even at the office. Just add hot water and you have an amazing healthy, quick, simple meal that fulfils all of your health and nutrient needs.
Such a life-saver and no I am not sponsored or paid by them at all - they are simply a fantastic option I think we should all know about.
6. Biltong - I used the Clean Paleo brand, which is free of any sugar or preservatives, as most biltong or dried meats have sugar and other nasties in them.
This is a great snack and in addition to healthy fats it helps you feel fuller longer, balance out your blood sugar and keep your energy levels up.
7. Chia seeds, which I mixed into water to make a chia seeds gel.
This was really important to get the bowels moving as it can take 2-3 days after surgery to get things moving again.
This can be especially true if you have been on morphine, had unfamiliar hospital food or highly refined take-out foods. These can all throw a wrench in things digestively.