Pregnancy and childbirth can take a physical, emotional, and mental toll on mothers. And right after that intense period, most mothers go straight into caring for the newest family member. Of course, it’s a joyful and exciting moment for parents, but we shouldn’t forget about the new mom.
Most Asian cultures, such as the Malay, Japanese, Indian, and Chinese, have a “confinement” period where all the mother’s needs are taken care of. This period is meant to help her recuperate after childbirth, and she may not even be allowed outside, hence the term confinement. The amount of time varies from culture to culture, but it lasts 30 days among the Chinese.
What is Chinese confinement?
Zuo yue zi is a Chinese term meaning “sitting on the moon.” It is meant to allow the new mom to rest and do nothing for a month after giving birth. Traditional Chinese medicine says a healthy body balances heat and cold (yin and yang). Pregnancy is a yang state (heat), but the woman loses this heat during childbirth, resulting in a yin or internal cold state.
Chinese confinement is meant to restore this yin-yang balance. This tradition has been around for thousands of years, and most knowledge about it has been passed down through generations by word of mouth. Usually, the woman’s mother or mother-in-law comes to help during the period, but some people hire a confinement nanny or postpartum nanny, also called “pui yet” or “yue sao.”
These nannies have trained in traditional Chinese principles and are hired to make dishes that help the new mother heal and boost her milk production. They also help with massages, body wraps, and educating the new mom about caring for a new baby.
The purpose of yue zi is to allow the mother to rest, bond with the baby, and take confinement foods for optimum recovery. It’s also meant to prevent trauma and postnatal afflictions like hair loss, backaches, and rheumatism.
Things to do during the Chinese confinement
As mentioned, the mom is encouraged to rest as much as possible during this period. There are also dietary restrictions, since Ancient Chinese theories divide foods into “cold” and “warm” foods.
The new mom is in a state of “cold,” so she should stick to “warm” foods like ginger, pumpkin, adzuki beans, cinnamon, kale, sweet potato, garlic, oats, quinoa, and dates. These foods are believed to replenish internal heat and improve vulnerability.
You should also choose easy-to-digest proteins like eggs, fish, and chicken, especially during the first weeks of confinement. Popular soups traditionally use a lot of ginger, cooked or stir-fried rice wine, and sesame oil. These include fish soup boiled with papaya, pig’s feet cooked with vinegar and ginger, and a traditional tonic cooked with 10 herbs.
Some foods are neither “cool” nor “warm,” so you can include them in your confinement recipes. These “neutral” foods include corn, rice, lentils, carrots, buckwheat, shiitake mushrooms, potatoes, beets, and more.
Things to avoid during the Chinese confinement
Cold and raw foods
Confinement adherents believe chilled foods aren’t ideal for postpartum women during yue zi. They also advise against room-temperature liquids and soups, which must be warmed before drinking. Also, no raw foods are allowed, so avoid smoothies and salads.
‘Cooling’ foods
Foods included in the “cold” category include tomatoes, turnips, cucumber, crabs, clams, coconut milk, and mutton. Although seafood is usually a healthy option at other times, during confinement, you are advised to avoid seafood with high mercury content like mackerels, swordfish, and some tuna species, like the southern bluefin tuna.
Citrus fruits
Avoid citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, limes, pineapples, and other “cooling” fruits like melons and pears. They can increase stomach acid production and discomfort, which isn’t ideal.
Processed foods
Refined foods with high contents of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats are forbidden during yue zi. This makes sense from both an Eastern and Western medicine perspective because these foods offer empty calories that won’t benefit you or your newborn.
Caffeine and alcohol
Caffeine is off the table, meaning you shouldn’t drink tea or coffee during this period. The good thing is that there are many herbal tea alternatives for postpartum mothers, such as goji berries, ginger, red dates, raspberry leaves, and more.
The postpartum Chinese regimen avoids alcohol for obvious reasons but uses rice wine for cooking to add “warmth” to the body. Cooking or boiling wine in food removes much of the alcohol content without affecting its “heating” properties.
Should you shower during the yue zi?
Traditionally, women weren’t allowed to shower during the whole confinement period. Some regions and families still adhere to this practice today because cold showers can worsen your internal yin state and throw your body off balance.
So no shower for 30 days? Women couldn’t shower in the old days because they weren’t allowed outside, and maybe warm water was out of the question. Things have changed today, and most modern yue zi practitioners believe you can shower with warm water or have a warm sponge bath.
A healthy mom equals a healthy baby
Chinese confinement is a time-honored practice aimed at helping a mother recover after childbirth and promoting her overall well-being. Remember, there is no scientific evidence backing most of the practices of yue zi, so seek medical advice if you have any questions about your diet and routine after childbirth. Combining the concept of Chinese confinement with modern knowledge can foster a smooth postpartum experience.
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