10 traditional Asian confinement tips

Asians tend to have many taboos and practices, when it comes to confinement.

Confinement periods usually last from anything between 30 – 44 days. However if you have had a caesarean birth, your confinement period may need to be longer.

Most of these were designed to ease the burden of the new mum and help create an ideal recovery stage that will give her renewed health. For a better idea, let's browse some common practices of a traditional confinement in Asia.

No showering

The most common and often initially shunned recommendation is the no bathing and no hair washing practice, for the period following the birth. If you have heard of this practice and don’t wish to follow it, you could substitute the hair washing with combing your hair with a gauze like material dipped in alcohol and wrapped around the comb. As for not showering, which is a challenge in tropical weather; you could opt to take warm sponge baths with ginger or neem leaves.

Air-cons

Air-cons and fans should not be blowing directly on you, as these will contribute to eventual joint pains and colds, later in life.

Healthy meals

Having healthy meals with ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, sesame oil and rice wine will help with the heating and healing process, and will help you gain your strength.

Rest

All you have to do is rest. Ideally, you should not have to deal with household chores and cooking. This is a luxury that should be enjoyed to the fullest, as once the confinement period is over, "real life" takes over and with it, a whole load of unavoidable physical demands.

Stay calm

As a new mum, you should also avoid getting too emotional or excited as this could lead to post natal depression. Calm environments and minimal physical body exertions are recommended. Any activity deemed too stressful or distracting should be substituted immediately.

Massages

Massages are a good way to get your body back into great shape. This does not only apply to the physical appearance but also helps to ensure internal well being. Special ointments and styles are used for this particular phase, after which your abdomen is tightly bound. A popular ingredient often used for the massages is mustard seed oil.

Hot stones

Some cultures advocate the use of hot stones to help remove any impurities and cleanse the womb. Very experienced traditional masseuses usually do this, with techniques and stones, carefully selected for the purpose.

Stay home

Due to the delicate condition of the new mum, some cultures do not allow her to leave the confines of her room or house, as the outside environment is filled with germs and other impurities.

Exercise

You may be surprised to note that there are some exercises, which you should actually start doing even in this condition. These are pelvic and lower body tilts, leg slides, head, neck and shoulder raises

Written by

Serena Mui

confinement tips