What is the main purpose for these phase's (clear liquid, full, pureed/soft, normal)

[Euphoria]

I just wanted to hear your opinion on why post op, one has to follow these phases?
I was told to go on 1st Week - clear fluids, 2nd week - full liquids, 3rd - pureed, 4th soft-pureed, 5th - kind of normal..and so on...

So why do we have to follow these steps? Not saying i haven't been..or that i am not going to! lol but just curious as to why we have to follow it.

Thank you!

[cathbas]

because you have a TENDER tummy..
you just lost 3/4s of your tummy and the last thing you want is a leak..that was the thing that made me do it..
but it wont last forever and soon you will feel more and more normal..promise you

[sraebaer]

So your stomach can heal after being cut open.

[Belle22]

Many other surgeries I have had have required some type of diet restrictions. The first thing they bring you is broth, jello and popsicle. With the entire surgery being our tummies, that would be all the more reason. Even if we were allowed to eat differently, it would probably make us wish we hadn't! There's nothing worse than eating something after surgery that makes you vomit.....even days or weeks later.

[Honeybell]

The Dr. told me that I have a stomach like a babies, & I should treat it as such. I would not give a baby orange juice or a hamburger before it was ready, so that is / was how I think of my stomach. That just kind of puts it in perspective for me.

[Joe Poppa]

I copied and pasted this info. I deleted the duration times, that varies from one surgeon to another.

Stage 1 (Clear Liquids)
After surgery, you will be started on a clear liquid diet. You will continue to consume clear liquids at
home. The main purpose of the clear liquid diet is to provide adequate fluids to prevent dehydration
while the digestive system recovers from surgery.

Stage 2 (Full Liquids)
At the second stage, the digestive system is recovered from the effects of surgery and can tolerate more
foods. This stage still prevents dehydration but also provides nutrition to promote recovery and healing.

Stage 3 (Soft Diet)
It takes approximately 4-5 weeks for the suture lines to heal after surgery. The Soft diet stage consists
of mechanically soft foods that will not place stress on the new stomach. It is also a time to learn what
“full” is. The amount of high-calorie liquids that may be consumed changes slightly at this stage.

Stage 4 (Regular Diet)
Your stomach has now healed to the point where it can be used in the capacity of a weight loss tool.
You will progress to a regular diet as tolerated. We recommend that you eat three small meals a day
and consume a high-protein drink or snack. Nearly all of the beverages you drink should be non-caloric
beverages.