Is Postpartum Confinement required?
I don't know about it being a requirement but it would help a lot in getting back one's body after going through birth. All I can say is that I fairly enjoyed my confinement since I was fortunate to have a midwife who knew the below to take care of me and my baby.
Please find below some of the items that I ate when I was in HK.
Food to avoid during the first week only
- Ginger - Delays healing of wounds and increase the risk of jaundice in baby. Substitute with peppercorn or garlic.
- Fish - Causes foul-smelling lochia or discharge.
- Alcohols that are recommended for consumption during the confinement month are Brandy, Yomeishu, rice wine and Guinness Malta because they are 'yang'. If you are a non-drinker, this sudden consumption may cause alcohol rash, redness in the face and heart palpitations, so do take it easy.
Alcohol does go to the baby through breast milk, so if you want a good night's sleep, drink the alcohol after your dinner. The alcohol content is reduced during cooking therefore you might consider adding it to your food during cooking instead of drinking it neat. Guinness Malta is non-alcoholic and has high iron content therefore is suitable if you are anemic. Pulut rice is rich in iron, therefore, is used to make rice wine for postnatal nursing mothers. The rice is low in fat and free of cholesterol with high dietary fiber to reduce the risk of heart attack and diabetes.
It is better known as Shaoxing wine. - Drinks: is believed that iced or cold drinks may cause severe shock to the system and further weaken the 'cold' body therefore it is strongly recommended that boiled warm teas are consumed throughout the day as they are supposed to help heat up the womb. For those who do not believe in these teas you may try drinking Chamomile tea which is beneficial for the baby as well, because it helps to reduce wind
- Soups: is a nutritious replacement for water. You can use any meat for stock. The meat supplies fat that is essential for the extraction of fat-soluble nutrients. Drinking soup about 1 hour before breastfeeding may help to increase milk flow. Chinese soups are usually clear and easier to drink compared to creamy western soups and it is less fattening.
Succeeding Days...
- Soups:
- Food:
- Pig’s Feet with Ginger
- Fried Rice--> add bbq pork
- Steamed Minced Pork --> Canto Style
- Drink:
- Longan and Red Date Tea
Ingredients : 10 pieces of dried longan flesh, 20-40 dried red dates (with the seeds removed), an optional ingredient of 4-5 g of tan kwei(angelica sihensis)
- Boil and simmer ingredients in 6-8 cups of water for 45 minutes to one hour until the liquid is fragrant and tasty.
- Drink throughout the day.
- Another alternative recipe of the above would be : http://www.momsinmind.com.sg/milkrecipes.html / OR http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/confinement-black-bean-rice-and-ginger-water/
- Do’s & Don’ts
- DO NOT EAT
- Seafood aside from fish and octopus (in soup)
- Congee, only rice rolls, noodles, and fried rice
- Plain water, only barley tea or tea in general
- Softdrinks, though I cheated at times
- Bananas, eggs
- Foods like alcohol and certain vegetables can cause our blood thinner and are diuretic
- DO eat
- Nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, etc) and “wild/hot” foods/veggies
- Drink warm water; ideally consume red dates tea brewed with dried longan or Chinese wolfberry (Gou Qi)
- Eat a nutritious diet comprising confinement foods tailored to dispel "wind", revitalize internal strength and boost blood circulation
- If you must shower, use hot ginger water and take extra care to dry yourself thoroughly before stepping out of the bathroom. Try not to wash your hair for at least one week. Alternatively, use herbal dry shampoos to clean your hair.
- Sleep in a cool and dry room; if you must use air-conditioning, keep it at fan mode, not lower than 26C.
- Others: The links below might help you more...
The Chinese Soup Lady Healthy Easy Food Recipes - Traditional Chinese Confinement Food Recipes
