My hair is greasy. But postpartum confinement traditions can be found around the world. Here’s why a 40-day postpartum confinement makes sense. If yin (cold) comes into the mother’s body during this period of recovery, it’s believed improper healing and future ailments can arise. Women are therefore instructed to avoid yin during the confinement period postpartum while the body’s qi (energy force of yin/cold and yang/hot) come back into balance. It is believed this will help you avoid health problems such as rheumatism, arthritis, headaches and body pains later in life. The duration of your confinement might also vary if you are recovering from caesarean. The most common recommendation is the no bathing and no hair washing practice for the period following the baby’s birth. Anyone who wishes to get the best care for your newborn child and the mother. Mother and daughter may find themselves shouting at each other over whether the latter is right or wrong in her confinement approach. Postpartum Confinement Confinement is commonplace in Malaysia and many other Asian countries. Ideally, they shouldn’t even have to deal with any cooking or household chores. 6. Do you know that an average baby will need 1057 nappy changes in the first 6 months? Or you could use a ‘dry shampoo’ which is available in most pharmacies. Traditionally, Chinese women must observe a strict one-month postnatal confinement. Some of these include pelvic and lower body tilts, leg slides, head, neck and shoulder raises. However the details can differ and vary within cultures and beliefs. After a woman has a baby, Traditional Chinese Medicine views the woman’s body as being fragile and open; ligaments are loose and there is an open space in the center of the body where the baby used to be. Chinese wolfberry is an antioxidant widely used during the confinement period among young mothers in China. You may be surprised to note that there are some exercises which new mums are encouraged to do during the confinement period. Some mothers choose to extend their confinement period in certain situations to receive more help and care. The custom, documented as far back as the year 960 , is referred to as 'confinement' as women are advised to stay indoors for recovery from the trauma of birth and feed the newborn baby. A traditional Chinese confinement food practice includes fish soups, which are believed to boost low milk supply and. If you have heard of this practice and don’t wish to follow it, you could still clean your hair with a gauze-like material dipped in alcohol and wrapped around the comb. If yin (cold) comes into the mother’s body during this period of recovery, it’s believed improper healing and future ailments can arise. During the confinement period, new mums are encouraged to eat specially prepared meals with ‘warming’ ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, sesame oil and rice wine. Malay women usually observe a pantang period of 42 to 44 days. For instance, we now have heaters and hair dryers, so hair washing doesn’t equate to wet hair and a cold body like it would have in olden times. Um, no. It’s not called ‘confinement’ for nothing! As a Korean adopted American girl raised by Jewish parents in the midwest, the Chinese postpartum practice of “sitting the month” also known as “confinement month” or zuò yuè zi was a foreign concept to me when I first learned about it from my Chinese American girlfriends. For instance, my Korean girlfriends told me their postpartum period consisted of lots of seaweed soup. Birth tourism centres operating under the radar in the United States for Chinese women offer "sitting the month". Get exclusive promotions and free diaper samples by joining the Huggies Club now! Mothers and their babies are cared for by other women (family members or hired nannies trained in this practice), cooked specific meals with Chinese herbs, and are confined to their homes to rest while their bodies heal. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website. I plan on documenting my confinement month experience week by week and writing about it on the blog and including images of my meals, recipes and a full recap. What is the “confinement month”/ “sitting the month”? One mom, on day 17 of her “zuo yue zi” told me, “I’ve already eaten 17 chickens. While many of these practices are quite traditional, they are not set in stone and many modern Asian families now choose which practices to follow or modify. ZuoYueZi—Chinese Traditional Custom of Postpartum Confinement February 28, 2017 In China, there is a tradition of “Zuo Yue Zi”, literally translated as sitting the month, where the new mom stays at home for one month with the baby, and doesn’t go out at all. But the common factor between the rumours is that Raymond reportedly shelled out a cool 368,800 yuan (S$74K) on a luxurious confinement package in one of the top postpartum care centres in the city. During the typical Chinese traditional of post partum confinement having sex is strictly not allowed. Massages are considered to be a good way to get your body back into great shape and lose weight after pregnancy. A number of my friends have done the traditional Chinese postpartum confinement, so I checked in with them about their experiences. Ultimately, confinement practices – whichever culture they belong to – are designed to help new mothers recover from their childbirth quickly. If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in hiring a Chinese postpartum nanny, check out this agency  I used to find our Taiwanese postpartum nanny, or read this article about a meal delivery service local to the SoCal area that delivers confinement month meals! With this in mind, I would like to share 2 simple dishes that I cook for my clients- ginger fried rice and chicken with ginger and sesame oil. to go through yuezi (the traditional Chinese form of postpartum recovery that lasts for one month after childbirth, sometimes referred to in English as confinement or lying-in) This means no cold drinks, cold foods, touching cold objects, washing one’s hair or going outside. In the Malay community, a confinement practice is to hire a traditional masuese (bidan) who also binds the tummy with a special postnatal corset known as (bengkung). Baby Momo and his mother, Wu Lili, haven't left the three rooms of … Ultimately, confinement practices – whichever culture they belong to – are designed to help new mothers, Do you know that an average baby will need 1057 nappy changes in the first 6 months? Postpartum By English Taylor Why new mothers in China go into postpartum confinement In China, some new mothers choose to confine themselves after birth. Postpartum confinement is the most critical period of postpartum recovery for Chinese mothers. You are also expected to avoid ‘cooling’ foods such as cold drinks, cucumber, cabbage and pineapple. We live in a modern world after all, and this is one practice that feels antiquated. I will adhere to a strict postpartum diet of organ meat and chicken soups prepared with Chinese herbs. Ginger You are also expected to avoid ‘cooling’ foods such as cold drinks, cucumber, cabbage and pineapple. Related research show that young mothers always been suffered from depression, monotony, physical trauma, and psychological discomfort. During Zuo Yue Zi, the woman is not supposed to exert herself, so her mother or mother-in-law will often live with her to cook and clean. During the confinement period, new mums are encouraged to eat specially prepared meals with ‘warming’ ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, sesame oil and rice wine. As for not showering, which is a challenge in tropical weather, you could opt to take warm sponge baths with ginger or neem leaves. "Postnatal confinement" - where new mothers do not leave the house, have visitors or shower for a month after giving birth - is said to be widespread among the UK's Chinese community. If you are worried about your own health, or your child’s well being, seek immediate medical advice. A popular ingredient used among the Indian community in Singapore for massages is mustard seed oil. Lin Yi, 29, a … Chinese Angelica Root. About 80% of women in Taiwan take these postpartum Chinese herbs during their recovery. Chinese wolfberry is a common food used to promote good eye vision. Foods that cause ‘wind’ such as onions and jackfruit are also avoided during this period as they are believed to cause colic in your baby. A traditional Chinese confinement food practice includes fish soups, which are believed to boost low milk supply and improve breast milk quality. Chinese postnatal confinement, known as 坐月子 (zuò yuè zi, sitting the month or doing the month) with its many strict traditional guidelines, prompts many real-time debates and online discussions. Traditional confinement practices have a new mum’s wellbeing at heart. As a necessary postpartum ritual, it is believed that confinement is critical for assisting the new mothers to survive the physical and psychological transition of their lives. There are countless articles written about the practice of sitting the month and how it has evolved and modernized. . Written by Amy Chang, founder + editor; image photographed by Wing Ta for BOND EN AVANT. Special ointments are used for massaging, after which your abdomen is tightly bound. If you follow confinement practices strictly, a chicken a day should be consumed by the postpartum parent. Oh joy, salt-less, bland soups for four weeks. **Read here for my full recap of following the month of confinement! Get exclusive promotions and free diaper samples by joining the, Huggies Platinum Naturemade Newborn Small, Huggies Nourishing Clean Cocoa and Shea Butter Baby Wipes. New mothers must also avoid household chores, which is why family members or postpartum nannies stay with the mothers at their homes’ to do the cooking allowing mothers adequate rest. Kimberly-Clark and/ or its subsidiaries assumes no liability for the interpretation and/or use of the information contained in this article. Rather than rely on family, some women hire, or may be gifted with, a postpartum doula, or birth companion, to help cook and clean. Within the Chinese tradition, specialist businesses such as Red Wall Confinement Centre charge up to $27,000 for one month. Some of the Chinese confinement rules felt intuitive, like eating nothing but nourishing soups with Chinese herbs, no physical exertion or wearing socks to prevent catching a chill, but others seemed unusual: no hair washing, no leaving the house, no eating cold foods or touching cold objects, etc. These prohibitions are said to help ensure that your body retains as much heat as possible. “Confinement meals” are prepared during the month, and postpartum mothers must only eat what is given and nothing else. Special ointments are used for massaging, after which your abdomen is tightly bound. The information published herein is intended and strictly only for informational, educational, purposes and the same shall not be misconstrued as medical advice. Private postpartum care centres were introduced to Korea in 1996 under the name of sanhujoriwon. So stay tuned. This age-old tradition dates back to year 960 and is still very commonly practiced in Asia. Though this practice is difficult to adhere to. This site uses affiliate links. KUALA LUMPUR: Popular Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi may be in the United States, but she is deeply concerned about the Wuhan virus outbreak back home. In Guangdongand neighboring regions, new mothers are barred fr… As a Korean adopted American girl raised by Jewish parents in the midwest, the Chinese postpartum practice of “sitting the month” also known as “confinement month” or zuò yuè zi was a foreign concept to me when I first learned about it from my Chinese American girlfriends. While they may sound new and peculiar to some (they did to me when I first learned about them), zuò yuè zi has been around for centuries and has recently … Image courtesy: Pexels The first six weeks are a critical period for a new mother’s recovery, and she is confined to her room through its duration. ... Malay, Chinese, Indians, and even Foreigners (SG, AU, UK, UAE)! Many of them began getting pregnant a few years ago and discussing how they would practice this tradition, either … Bending the Chinese confinement rules a little to fit the modern world is common and even acceptable. The Chinese call it zuo yue zi, which means “to sit a month.” In addition, the mother must also follow a very strict diet. Special tummy massage are popular during the confinement period. For a Malaysian-Chinese mum, the confinement period lasts for a whole month from baby's birth. This not only applies to the physical appearance of a new mum, but also helps to ensure internal. [28] Within the Chinese tradition, specialist businesses such as Red Wall Confinement Centre charge up to $27,000 for one month. The duration of your confinement might also vary if you are recovering from caesarean. Private postpartum care centres were introduced to Korea in 1996 under the name of sanhujoriwon. I smell. New mums are expected to rest during the confinement period. But one thing is common: It is believed to help the recovery of new mums physically, mentally and emotionally after childbirth. It is a very common ingredient in most confinement recipes due to it’s qualities as a uterine and blood tonic. Foods that cause ‘wind’ such as onions and jackfruit are also avoided during this period as they are believed to cause colic in your baby. Yay. Further, while due care and caution has been taken to ensure that the content here is free from mistakes or omissions, Kimberly-Clark and/ or its subsidiaries makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information here, and to the extent permitted by law, Kimberly-Clark and/ or its subsidiaries do not accept any liability or responsibility for claims, errors or omissions. Each week of confinement, the meals slightly change: What this looks like in terms of the actual food varies depending on the Asian culture. But the more I learned about the tradition from friends and doulas (read my interview with doula and postpartum expert, Kimberly Johnson), the more it resonated with me. Chinese Wolfberry. Confinement and postpartum blues. But that doesn’t mean all the rules are seen as bendable. *Pregnant? These practices make up the Chinese postpartum practice known as zuò yuè zi, also called "sitting the month" or "confinement month." This not only applies to the physical appearance of a new mum, but also helps to ensure internal wellbeing after pregnancy. This tradition of confinement can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty which is more than 2,000 years ago. In Chinese culture, confinement (Zuo Yue Zi) is for the duration of one month, but can be up to 45 days for greater healing. After a woman has a baby, Traditional Chinese Medicine views the woman’s body as being fragile and open; ligaments are loose and there is an open space in the center of the body where the baby used to be. During the postpartum period, it is used as a blood tonic to nourish the blood and to improve uterine function. Week 1 is about eating foods to flush out the remaining placental blood, Week 2 focuses on rebuilding the body with iron rich foods, Weeks 3-4 focuses on foods to bring in the mother’s milk supply, *Corresponding Chinese herbs are incorporated throughout each week, Whenever I’ve told people about this postpartum practice I’ve signed up for, their first question is always the same –. If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in hiring a Chinese postpartum nanny, I Plan On Following The Chinese Practice Of Confinement Postpartum, My Pregnancy Story: The Good, The Bad & What Finally Worked, A Prenatal Tea, Based On Traditional Chinese Medicine, That Could Result In …, Sleep Training Part II – Temperature, Naps & What We Were Doing Wrong. You may be surprised to note that there are some exercises which mums!, confinement practices strictly, a chicken a day should be fun exciting. Of sitting the month and how it has evolved and modernized you may be surprised to that... 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