A strange trend has surfaced on TikTok, prompting doctors to warn mothers not to risk their lives by believing that eating live baby snakehead fish after a C-section can speed up wound healing.
The Facebook page Drama-Addict posted a photo and message saying:
“Strange TikTok content: eating live baby snakehead fish.
Many new mothers have commented that they’ve done the same thing, believing it would help their C-section wounds heal faster.
There were a lot of people saying they believe in and practice this as well.
This is the first time I’ve heard of such a belief. I’m curious which region it comes from.
From a medical perspective, this practice is not recommended for postpartum mothers.
After giving birth, mothers need highly nutritious food to support recovery and milk production.
They should eat a well-balanced diet with a focus on high-protein foods — but not like this.
Eating live baby snakehead fish does not speed up healing.
To heal properly, mothers need high-protein food that is cooked, because cooked proteins are much easier for the body to digest and absorb compared to raw meat.
Eating raw freshwater fish comes with risks of infection, ranging from parasites to bacteria.
In milder cases, it can cause diarrhea or bloodstream infections. In more serious cases, it can lead to parasitic infections that invade critical organs like the lungs and bile ducts, which may later develop into cancer.
Symptoms can include shortness of breath, coughing, and coughing up blood.”
Does Eating Baby Snakehead Fish After a C-Section Really Help Wound Healing?
Dr. Mom, known on TikTok as @drmomdiary, recently posted a video to educate the public about the trending belief that eating live baby snakehead fish can help C-section wounds heal faster.
She addressed the question directly:
“Does eating baby snakehead fish after a C-section actually speed up wound healing?”
Right now, there’s a popular trend among new mothers where they eat raw baby snakehead fish, believing it will help their surgical wounds heal faster and reduce scarring.
Dr. Mom explained that this practice is unsafe. Freshwater fish should not be eaten raw because they can carry parasites, some of which can live inside the human body for up to 10 years. More seriously, these parasites can cause bile duct cancer.
As for whether eating baby snakehead fish really helps heal wounds, Dr. Mom said that from a scientific standpoint, there is no evidence supporting this belief — and it’s dangerous.
Since the fish is raw, there’s a risk of ingesting parasites. Even if no parasites are present, the fish and the water it carries can still cause bacterial infections, food poisoning, intestinal inflammation, or diarrhea.
So, what can mothers do to help C-section wounds heal faster?
Dr. Mom recommends eating a complete, balanced diet, with a special focus on protein, which helps wounds recover more quickly. She also advised avoiding processed and fermented foods, as they can slow down healing.
Additionally, she stressed the importance of not picking at or scratching the wound, and keeping it dry — getting the wound wet too early can cause infection and worsen scarring.
Dr. Mom concluded by urging mothers:
“Taking proper care of yourself is enough. Please don’t risk your life by eating baby snakehead fish.”
กินลูกปลาช่อนช่วยให้แผลคลอดหายเร็ว? #หมอแม่ #drmom #ดอกเตอร์มัม #สาระสุขภาพจากหมอแม่
♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – Dr.Mom – Dr.Mom
Another voice joining the chorus is Dr. Lab Panda, who firmly confirmed that eating raw baby snakehead fish does not help C-section wounds heal faster.
He emphasized:
“Eating raw baby snakehead fish does not speed up postpartum wound healing!!!”
Not only does it not help, he warned, but it can also lead to liver fluke infections.
He also pointed out that these days, many people believe what they see on TikTok.
“I like watching TikTok too,” he said, “but I watch it for bizarre medical cases. It feels like stepping back in time, haha.”
Dr. Lab Panda explained that eating undercooked or raw freshwater fish puts you at risk of ingesting infectious parasite larvae. These larvae can grow into adult parasites inside the bile ducts of the liver.
In some cases, parasites can block bile ducts or cause inflammation and infections in the gallbladder. In more serious cases, it can lead to cholangiocarcinoma — cancer of the bile ducts.
He also mentioned that raw fish can carry other types of parasites, not just liver flukes.
He concluded with a strong reminder:
“If you don’t want parasites or cancer, avoid eating raw or undercooked fish.”
With experts speaking out, new moms are being urged not to follow this dangerous belief.
Eating raw baby snakehead fish won’t help heal C-section wounds as hoped.
Instead, it carries serious risks — including parasite infections and even the chance of developing cancer later on.
Originally published on theAsianParent Thailand
