More About Confinement Care
July 16, 2011
What is Confinement?
A mother’s body will have undergone a significant amount of stress and trauma after nine months of pregnancy and the delivery of the baby. The body is now weak and requires special care to recover from the intensities of childbirth. The next 28 days after childbirth is commonly known as the confinement period.
In Singapore, confinement care practices have been passed down through many generations. The Chinese, Malay and Indian communities all have their respective confinement practices but what is common between them is the careful attention towards the safe and healthy recovery of the mother after childbirth.
It is common belief that the mother is extremely “deficient” from the loss of blood and energy and her body is considered “out of balance”. This is known as entering the “cold stage” and so there is strong emphasis on keeping the body warm and avoiding exposure to “wind” and “cooling” elements where postnatal mothers are urged to avoid contact with cold water and windy environments. This is evident in confinement care practices which focus on revitalizing the body with the “warmth” that has been lost.
After childbirth, the mother’s body undergoes several physical changes. The uterus gradually shrinks back to its pre-pregnancy size whilst the volume of blood returns to normal and the hormone levels in the body changes. During the confinement period, the mother is required to adhere to a strict regime of postnatal diet and a long list of confinement care practices. This is to facilitate the body to heal, help shrink the uterus, invigorate the blood flow, strengthen joints and muscles, and also regain the pre-pregnancy figure.
Confinement Care Practices
Diet
One of the small joys of confinement period diet is that the food regiment can be delicious, so enjoy the yummy confinement food! After your confinement period, you probably will not continue eating these “heaty” yet tasty dishes. Of course, you will need to find a great cook or a good specialized catering service that will provide you with a good variety of dishes that adhere to proper confinement care practices.
You can find out more about the essentials of confinement food here.
Some Useful Tips
The Chinese believe that there should be no washing of hair for the entire confinement period. Due to hygiene reasons, this is not a realistic practice. Hence it is advisable not to wash hair for 10 to 12 days but dry shampoo is recommended to minimize scalp irritation and absorb excess oil from the hair.
One common question amongst new mothers – Can I bath during my pregnancy? The Chinese believe that there should be no bathing until the 12th day after delivery and some even do not bath for a month. For obvious hygiene reasons, you should at least do a quick rinse of your body. Since Singapore weather is very hot you can take short quick showers with warm water (no soaking). You can also prepare a pail of warm water infused with herbs or homeopathic remedies and use it to bath or do a wipe down. Always wash your hands and practice good personal hygiene which is essential to protect both you and the baby.
Avoiding exposure to cold elements such as cold water. Low temperatures from an air-conditioner or fan must be avoided too. Dry yourself up quickly after showering or coming into contact with water. Wear caps and sweater if you are cold and stay away from the fridge.
Avoid leaving the house, as exposure to windy environment could allow “wind” to enter her body which could result in rheumatism, backache, arthritis and incontinence later in life.
Lie down as much as possible. Proper rest will help recovery, prevent backaches and is also beneficial to mothers that are breast feeding.
A good postnatal massage helps to regulate blood flow, alleviate “wind” and reduce water retention. It also helps strengthens the uterus and allows the womb to go back to its prenatal size and position. It is advisable to find a reputable and certified therapist that do house calls.
Try not to do exercise at least 2 months for normal delivery and as for c-sec, at least 4 months onwards.
Things You Should Avoid in Your Diet During Pregnancy
June 29, 2009
What you DON’T eat or drink during your pregnancy can be just as important as what you DO consume!
Here are some things to avoid while you are pregnant:
Alcohol – We shouldn’t have to tell you this, but we will anyway! STAY AWAY FROM ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY.
A glass of wine or bottle of beer may seem harmless enough but no study has yet to determine how much is a safe amount of alcohol and how much can cause mental retardation, central nervous system damage, brain damage, and birth defects in your baby.
It is better to be safe than sorry!
Alcohol goes straight into your baby’s body in high concentration levels through your blood stream, through the umbilical cord and into the placenta, and can cause any one of an array of symptoms included in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Children with FASD can have learning disabilities, memory and attention disorders, as well as language, and vision, or hearing problems, to name a few. So save that glass of wine or bottle of beer and enjoy it after you delivery your healthy child!
Caffeine – Consuming a lot of caffeine can increase your chance of miscarriage. Two or three cups a day may not seem like much to you, but just to be safe, you should try to stop drinking coffee altogether.
If you find you cannot do so, at least try to cut it down to one cup per day or start drinking decaffeinated coffee!
And remember that there are other beverages and foods that contain high concentrations of caffeine. Green tea and black tea, cola sodas (pop), even chocolate.
You can have these things in moderation (one cup of tea or a half of glass of soda or a candy bar once a week), because the caffeine content in these products is typically much less than that contained in cup of coffee (90-140 mg of caffeine).
You’ll be happy to know that the average candy bar only contains 5-30 mg of caffeine, but you still need to consider the FAT content in that candy and remember the word: MODERATION
Avoid foods that MAY carry bacteria and other food-borne illness (toxoplasmosis and listeriosis to name two). These can cause birth defects and miscarriage, and while you may be able to eat them with no problems, you may not want to take the risk during your pregnancy.
- Un-pasteurized (soft) cheeses, often labeled as ‘fresh cheese’ like feta cheese, goat cheese, brie, camembert, and blue or limburger cheeses.
- Un-pasteurized milk, juice, or apple cider
- Raw eggs or foods that contain raw eggs like tiramisu, mousse, cookie or cake batter, homemade ice cream, Caesar dressing (if made fresh).
- Raw fish like sushi and CERTAINLY raw meat
- High mercury content fish like shark, swordfish, tilefish (white snapper or golden snapper), and king mackerel
If you are a health advocate and you routinely take herbs, please do NOT take these particular herbs while you are pregnant:
Arbor vitae Autumn crocus
Barberry Basil oil
Beth root Black cohosh
Bloodroot Blue cohosh
Broom Bugleweed
Clove oil Comfrey
Cotton root Devil’s claw
Dong quai False unicorn root
Feverfew Golden seal
Greater celandine Juniper and juniper oil
Lady’s mantle Liferoot
Mistletoe Mugwort (avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding)
American pennyroyal European pennyroyal (avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding)
Peruvian bark Pokeroot
Pseudoginseng Pulsatilla (limit use while breast feeding)
Rue Sassafras
Shepherd’s purse Southernwood (avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding)
Squill Tansy
Wild yam Wormwood (avoid during pregnancy & breast feeding)
Pregnancy and Diabetes
June 29, 2009
If you are a diabetic and you want to get pregnant, work with your OB/GYN doctor and your diabetes doctor to be sure you are in the best shape possible at least three to six months before you conceive.
Then be sure you are followed regularly by both physicians so that you remain healthy during your pregnancy and after delivery.
During your pregnancy you should monitor your diet and exercise program and look for signs of imbalance in your blood sugar, as pregnancy can sometimes wreak havoc on your regular routine and your insulin levels.
You may have to get a special meal plan from a nutritionist or dietician in order to compensate for the changes in your body and your blood sugar and ensure that your child does not experience problems or birth defects because of high blood sugar levels that may cross into the placenta.
Talk to your doctor about getting more B Vitamins, especially folic acid to guard against the risk of birth defects.
If you have never been diabetic in the past, you may find yourself facing ‘gestational diabetes’, which is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and typically disappears after delivery.
This form of diabetes is usually controlled with diet, medication, and exercise, but it must be treated in order to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy.
Your OB/GYN doctor will usually refer you to a dietitian so you can get meal plans that are specially designed to help you control your blood sugar.
Essentials in Confinement Food
June 29, 2009
After nine months of gestation in the womb and the delivery of the baby, the mother’s body is completely exhausted. The body is now weak and requires replenishment of nutrients. It is vital that the mother follows a balanced diet of protein, vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates, and takes in plenty of fluids everyday, especially in the next three months.
The mother should consume foods that will restore her blood circulation and avoid eating “cooling” foods that are likely to cause health problems later in life. Diets should be planned carefully as the newborn continues to resolve nutrients from the mother through breast milk.
Recommended food are aimed at alleviating “wind”, warming the body, improving blood circulation, expelling toxins from the blood, promoting contraction of the uterus, boosting milk production, strengthening joints and ligaments, the lumbar region as well as repairing and revitalizing the mother’s body.
Below is a list of recommended ingredients and elements essential that are used in post-natal diet, categorized by their main properties and benefits. Old ginger, black vinegar, sesame oil and wine are the four main stars of confinement food.
For alleviating “wind”
Old ginger is used to drive out “wind”, and frequently with “cooling” food as it wards off the “cooling” elements.
Black vinegar is used to prepare high calcium food as it leaches calcium from bones, hence is highly recommended for breast feeding mothers. It also relieves a windy abdomen and cleanses the womb of residual blood.
For cleansing blood
Abalone is rich in protein and vitamin E, and used to strengthen lungs and kidney and drain the lymph system of impurities.
Black fungus (hei mu er) is rich in iron, and used for cleansing arteries and expelling stale blood from body.
For warming body and improving blood circulation
Angelica (dang gui) is rich in calcium and helps improves blood circulation. It is used to nourish the female organs, alleviate menstrual pain and prevent hemorrhage.
Black bean is rich in antioxidants and iron.
Chinese rice wine promotes blood circulation and helps invigorate major organs, and to circulate nutrients through out the body. The wine evaporates during cooking.
Dried longan improves blood circulation, heart efficiency and reduces stress and tension.
Liver helps to build blood, but too much of it may cause milk glands to dry up.
Red-rooted sage (dang shen) is used to maintain a healthy level of iron in the body.
Sesame oil promotes blood circulation and is a “heaty” ingredient that is added to many dishes to restore heat.
Turmeric is used as an antibiotic and promotes a healthy circulatory system.
For boosting energy, vigour, nourishment
Chestnut is rich in phosphorous, selenium and calcium, and is used to invigorate vital energy and resolve fatigue depression and irritability.
Chicken contains amino acid tryptophan, which helps to boost the moods, and vitamins to boost energy levels.
Egg nourishes the body, improves the “chi” system and complexion.
Polygomum (he shou wu) improves blood circulation, strengthens the kidney and liver, prevents hairloss and graying hair.
Red dates are rich in iron, and used to improve energy and calm the mind.
For strengthening kidney and lumbar (lower back) region (especially for backaches after delivery)
Eucommia bark (du zhong) is used to strengthen the kidney, sinews and bines, and also to promote blood circulation.
Chinese yam (wai san) is used to aid digestion, regulate sugar level and control the inflammation of the uterus.
For strengthening joints and ligament
Fish maw is good for strengthening limbs and joints.
Kale (chinese broccoli) is an excellent source of calcium and vitamin A, and is good for improving joints and lymph.
For boosting milk production
Fish, like the dory, is an excellent source of protein and Omega-3 fats. It is believed to help increase milk production, and the fats are vital for infant’s brain growth and development. Carp is also highly recommended to help milk production.
Tetrapanax (Tung Choe) is believed to increase milk flow.
The choices and array of confinement food is by no means restricted to those mentioned above. iHost follows strict quality control and preparation standards that ensures that every confinement meal prepared by us contains the right ingredients that will yield the best results for new mothers during their confinement period.
Chinese Confinement Care Practices
June 29, 2009
The aim of confinement care is to nurse the mother’s body back to health. After childbirth, the mother’s body undergoes several physical changes. The uterus gradually shrinks back to its pre-pregnancy size, the volume of blood returns to normal, the hormone levels in the body changes, and may lead to postnatal blues and hairloss.
During this period, the mother is required to adhere to a strict regime of postnatal diet and a long list of confinement care practices. The special care is for the body to heal the wounds, shrink the uterus, invigorate the blood, strengthen joints and muscles, and also regain the pre-pregnancy figure.
The Chinese believe that the mother is extremely “deficient” from the loss of blood and energy. So there is strong emphasis on keeping the body warm and avoiding exposure to “wind” and “cooling” elements. This is evident in the ingredients used for the confinement food and also in confinement care practices. Postnatal mothers are urged to avoid contact with cold water and windy environments.
Despite so, the well-known custom that new mother should not shower and wash their hair is not recommended by gynecologists and experts. Good hand washing and personal hygiene is essential to protect both the baby and mother. Postnatal bleeding and sweat provides excellent sites for bacteria and infections. Some recommend herbal baths with different types of leaves, and they have the effect of warming the body and improving blood circulation.
The mother is advised against leaving the house, as her immunity is low. Air-conditioner and direct fan are also discouraged. The pores on her skin had opened up and the joints had loosened to prepare for the labor. Exposure to windy environment would create opportunities for “wind” to enter her body. Consequences are rheumatism, backache, arthritis and incontinence later in life.
A good postnatal massage helps to regulate blood flow, alleviate “wind” and reduce water retention. It also helps strengthens the uterus and allows the womb to go back to its prenatal size and position. If the womb is not properly aligned, the mother will experience discomfort e.g. bad stomach cramps.
The choice of whether to abide by the traditional cultural practices is up to the mother. In any case, it should not cause harm or discomfort, and affect the mother psychologically.
Eating Right During Your Pregnancy
June 29, 2009
Eating Right During Your Pregnancy
You already know it is important to eat a well-balanced diet, but it is even more important when you are pregnant. Keep in mind now you are eating for two. Whatever you eat, the baby eats as well. In fact the baby actually takes your nourishments so you must eat enough for both of you. The healthier you eat the better it is for the pregnancy and you.
Never miss a meal while you are pregnant, especially breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and your baby has probably been waiting since he/she woke up in the middle of the night. You may learn that if you wait so long before eating you start to feel sick, this is your body telling you to eat. Do it!
Make sure you are getting enough of the food you need daily. It takes 4-6 servings of dairy a day for a healthy pregnancy, this can include some cheeses, milk, yogurt. This provides the baby with calcium which it’ll need to develop healthy growing bones. Adding extra calcium to your diet wouldn’t hurt you either, especially your teeth and bones.
Don’t forget about your fruit and vegetable servings. Lots of green is always a good choice, so are sweet potatoes. Not only will you be giving your body what it needs but you’ll start to have more energy. Try laying off the sweets for a week and replace them with healthier items and see how alive you feel.
Foods to Avoid
Not all foods are safe during your pregnancy, there are a few things you should avoid eating:
- unpasteurized products- brie
- Certain fish- exotic, shark, swordfish, anything high in mercury
- Raw eggs
- Undercooked meats- lunch meats. If you are buying a deli sandwich you can ask for them to eat the meat up a little.
- Caffeine- soda, chocolate. If you find this difficult you can wean yourself off, but the less caffeine in your system the better it is for the baby.
If you are ever unsure of the foods you can eat you can ask your doctor for a list of items to avoid during pregnancy. They’ll be more than happy to share this with you.
You may also learn that your stomach won’t handle certain foods that it would before. Some of those foods may include foods that contain grease, fast foods, meat, and certain foods that have a strong odor.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to cut out all the fun in your life, you can still treat yourself from time to time. Go out and get a frozen yogurt or a smoothie.
While you are making sure you get enough to eat throughout the day, that doesn’t mean neglect your fluid intake. You’ll need lots of water and juices from here on out. The baby will thank you later. Who knows, you may discover that you really enjoy eating healthier and continue it even after the pregnancy.
