After the baby? Recovery from childbirth.

Perhaps we could learn some helpful recovery tips from our neighbours in Asia regarding what to do after the baby. In many communities there, new mothers get time to relax and recuperate, get help with the baby and even have a recovery diet. This week’s blog explores the practice known as “confinement” and the role it plays in recovery from childbirth.

Interestingly, in researching this article we found many references to exercising after pregnancy, but almost none for resting and recovery. That says a lot in itself.

At the beginning of Medieval times, confinement was the terminology which pertained to the last month(s) of pregnancy in which a woman spent the final duration of her pregnancy in bed. Popular among the upper-class and royal families, the practice of confinement was a measure taken to reduce the risk of premature delivery. Today, confinement is synonymous with bed-rest. So, far from being a form of incarceration, overall, it sounds pretty good!

After the Birth of a Baby

Confinement practices are now postnatal practices aimed at helping a new mum recover from the rigors of pregnancy and birth. Mother and baby are said to be in “confinement” because they are effectively “quarantined” at home. Traditionally, they do not receive visitors apart from close family members until the confinement period is over.

Confinement used to be fashionable in Europe, but it has long been out of fashion. But we might have thrown the baby out with bathwater, so to speak.

Ethnic Chinese, Malay and Indian communities all have their respective confinement practices. The common thread amongst the practices of the different communities is to support the new mum and help her recover from childbirth as well as regain her physical and emotional strength.

Post Pregnancy Recovery

For a Malaysian Chinese mum, the confinement period lasts for a whole month from baby’s birth. Malay women usually observe a period of 42 to 44 days. For a Malaysian Indian mum, the confinement period varies between 30 and 40 days.

Some mothers choose to extend their confinement period in certain situations to receive more help and care. For example, you might not have family living close by, or you are taking longer than expected to recover from a caesarean section.

In every community, the confinement period is a time for the new mother to rest and avoid any physical work. During this time, sex is not allowed as the woman is not considered fully healed.

Help for New Mothers

In Asian societies, traditionally, your mother or mother-in-law will take care of you during the confinement period. In Australia you may prefer her to be your mother or your sister!! But the point is that it’s a good idea to have a sympathetic female on hand to help you. I’ll bet your mother had one!

Many Chinese mothers who can afford it also hire a confinement nanny or confinement lady, also known as a pui yuet (Cantonese for “companion for a month”), who will see to the mother’s needs as well as the baby’s.

Similarly, new mothers in the Malay community can also hire a special helper.

Birth Recovery

Many mums today find confinement practices too old-fashioned and some do seem a little unusual to us, but as in many traditional approaches there is a basis of good practice.

Chinese confinement restrictions include:

• No washing your hair for the entire confinement period. Some mothers get around this rule by using dry shampoo. A bit tough for us!
• Avoiding exposure to “cool” elements such as cold water. Low temperatures from an air-conditioner or fan must be avoided too. May stop you getting a chill.
• Bathing only with specially prepared warm water that is infused with herbs. Ohhh that sounds more like it.

These prohibitions are said to help ensure that the body retains as much heat as possible. It is believed this will help avoid health problems such as rheumatism, arthritis, headaches and body pains later in life.

Some Malay women may:

• Hire a traditional masseuse to massage the abdomen and bind the tummy with a long cloth
• Use hot stones on the abdomen to ‘cleanse’ the womb

Some Indian women may:

• Bathe only with a herbal infusion.
• Have a daily massage with special oil blends, such as mustard seed oil.

Sounds more like a 5 star spa treatment, doesn’t it. 

Organic National Foods

New mothers will be put on a special diet during the confinement period. The aim of the diet is to boost the immune system and strength. Organic and whole foods are great for this because they don’t contain pesticides, herbicides and hormones, which you especially don’t want if you’re breastfeeding! Plenty of water, fresh fruit and vegetables are the go. Pay attention to your folate levels (sunflower seeds, dark leafy greens, bean sprouts) and choline (eggs, beef, milk).

The main thing to take out of all this is that in many communities in the East, the body still gets time to recover. In the west we seem to ignore the stress of birth on the mother’s system and it’s all up and go in a few days. Why not adopt some of the practices that appeal to you and incorporate them in your recovery process. Interestingly, you may just bounce back more quickly by taking things more slowly!

Mindful Eating

If you’d like to know more about Bellamy’s Organic click this link.

To learn more about the certified organic baby food and nutritious snack products we make click this link.

If you’d like to see more resources for parents click this link.

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