Lots of people have been wanting to know if I’m planning to get a confinement lady for after I give birth. The answer is no. I had a chat about this with my mum sometime in my first trimester which resulted in me pretty much putting my foot down on the issue. Actually, stomping is more like it.
From what I’ve been told, traditional Chinese confinement practices include not bathing and washing your hair for a month, no going out, eating as much ginger and chicken as possible and then some, and not drinking any water that hasn’t first been boiled/mixed with red dates.
I have no problems with not going out, it’s the no bathing part that I cannot tolerate. I understand how it might be a good idea in China, where I assume these practices originated from, when the winters are bitterly cold and most people only shower once a week or less anyway, but to even suggest such a thing when we live practically on the equator is completely ridiculous to me.
Also, how can not drinking water for a month be a good idea? It amazes me that my mother, who spent much of my childhood telling my sisters and I to “use our common sense” is unable to do the same when it comes to Chinese confinement practices. Don’t get me wrong, I know how important it is for me to rest and recover well post-birth, I just think people also need to consider the origins of these traditions, the reasons and context surrounding them, and how they apply to us who no longer live in China.
I know a confinement lady can be a great help in many ways, and not all of them are as scary and crazy as I’ve imagined them to be in my mind, but honestly, I don’t really want to take the risk. If childbirth and the month proceeding it is as awful as my mother has made it out to be – a part of me wonders why she had four children if it was all so miserable or if she’s just saying it to scare me into getting a confinement lady – then I want to make sure I’m as comfortable and relaxed as possible. And the last thing I’ll need is a stranger invading my bedroom and nagging me everytime I want a shower.
Did you have a traditional Chinese confinement? What are some of the other things you cannot do during your confinement?
No, didn’t have the traditional confinement…i adapted it! Was out and about, showered, had lots of water! Only thing that I did for that month that constitutes as confinement was eat all the food, esp. ginger chicken that my mum cooked!
From what I heard, Em did the whole shebang…including NO SHOWER. Yikes!!
this will always be a debate. do you still remember a couple at church (brits), the mother came to church 3 days after delivering…
then i have another real life case, my mom… who didnt have a proper confinement… her health was affected for the entire life.
so… the choice is all yours i suppose…
Well, I went out on the second week to celebrate our wedding anniv…got caught in the rain and got a shelling from granny who said I would die for doing that. (But, I’m still here.)
I bathed with some traditional herbs which my mum bought, apparently gets the wind out of the water?? But anyhow as long as I could bathe, I was happy with smelling like herbs after.
The only thing that I felt truly affected by? During confinement, I washed my feet quite often with normal cool water (it seemed to give me some respite at that time), and months after delivering, my feet felt painful each time it rained or was colder than usual. So, that’s my only regret.
But, every body is different, I s’pose.
Thanks, guys. Sounds like I should be a little careful about certain things like catching cold, but yes, Em is the only person I know who did the whole thing.
hey soph! one of our clients, specializes in confinement. can check them out at http://www.peiling.com.my/
so excited for ya both!!!