Chinese confinement myths after childbirth – Confinement, the period which according to Chinese tradition lasts 30 to 40 days after a woman gives birth, has been the focus of many myths. Chinese women historically practiced a period of extremely strict home confinement during this period.
According to this belief, going outdoors at this time would be harmful; in the past, when there were high rates of both infant and maternal mortality, it was thought this practice was necessary to protect mother and baby from anything detrimental that might be in the environment.
And indeed, when a woman has gone through the most exhausting ordeal she will ever experience, it is of course beneficial to take some time to rest and rejuvenate at home while she gets to know her new baby.
However, there are some rather unusual myths associated with confinement, including extremely restrictive dietary and other practices that may not be beneficial — and may delay the mother’s recovery after giving birth.
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One of the most commonly-held myths is that a new mother shouldn’t walk — and be confined to bed — for at least one month. Naturally, this necessitates hiring a nanny, as the mother takes a break from all household tasks, including caring for other children she may already have.
Perhaps the most unusual of the traditional Chinese confinement myths is that new mothers must fend off the “wind” that may flow into them if they drink plain water at that time.
According to this belief, drinking water causes the body to retain water, therefore leading to a lowering of temperature, allowing “wind” to enter. Consequently, a new mother should drink only rice wine and other alcoholic drinks to increase the circulation of her blood, and thereby raise her body temperature.
This age-old belief is also related to calling for the consumption of “hot” foods that will not only warm the body but also stimulate milk production for those who have just given birth. These include ginger, wine, and sesame oil, which new mothers are encouraged to eat extensively during this period.
Pigs trotters, pork kidney and liver, fish soup with papaya, and a traditional Chinese tonic using ten different herbs feature prominently in the confinement diet.
The restoration of a new mother’s “qi,” or energy, is paramount after giving birth, according to another traditional Chinese belief. Therefore, the woman should consume foods — including ginger, again — that not only warm the body but restore this vital energy as well.
Another Chinese confinement myth that may seem puzzling today is that a new mother shouldn’t take a bath or shower during this time. Doing so might cause her to come into contact with cold water, which could lower her body temperature and allow “wind” to enter her, according to this belief.
Associated with this myth is the belief that a woman in confinement should wear warm garments, even if the weather is hot; and of course, she must also avoid the use of air conditioning — and even a fan — again, to keep the body temperature high and assure that “wind” does not enter.
With the medical advances that we enjoy today, one may well ask if any confinement after giving birth is necessary at all. Experts say that new mothers should indeed rest after giving birth, but only as long as they physically need to.
They should resume as many of their daily tasks as they can, as soon as possible, to regain the fitness that they may have lost during the final weeks of pregnancy and help avoid the formation of blood clots in the legs which can occur with prolonged bed rest.
And to dispel the myth that may be the most alarming of all, new mothers should not avoid drinking water, but should drink a great deal of it, experts say; in fact, they should consume more than the normally recommended eight glasses daily, drinking one glass after every nursing session — which may occur 10 0r 12 times daily — for optimal hydration.
In addition, the traditional Chinese myth that calls for keeping the body temperature abnormally high during confinement is certainly uncomfortable, if not dangerous. Today nursing moms should avoid alcohol; excessive amounts could cause delays in growth and development in newborns.
And by all means, they should eat with, and socialize with, their families at this joyous time, and feel free to visit temples or other places of worship. And they should also feel free to cry as well. of course, as their hormones are fluctuating greatly.
Certainly, however, there are benefits of keeping to the traditional ways, including the option of new mothers being excused from work and strenuous household tasks as they recuperate. They shouldn’t feel that they must be superwomen, returning to the daily grind as soon as they give birth. The rhythm of their lives should slow a bit, to enjoy their newborns and ease into their new duties.
Eating protein-rich foods like meats and liver when a new mother is rebuilding her body is also wise, along with eating plentiful amounts of ginger, which is chock-full of antioxidants and stress-reducing compounds. In addition, eating five or six smaller meals per day, as confinement rules traditionally called for, evens out blood sugars over the day.
Another benefit of traditional Chinese confinement practices is that it may indeed be best — especially nowadays — if women who have just given birth stay a little closer to home, avoiding large crowds, so they can keep themselves and their newborns as safe as possible.
As with so many things in life, there is great wisdom in both age-old traditions and modern research and practice; learning which to follow — and which to let fall away — is the key.