Zuoyuezi – The Respected Chinese Confinement Tradition
The Mandarin expression "zuoyuezi" when translated into English signifies "sitting out a month". This term holds true to its meaning as it alludes to the traditional Chinese custom of requiring new moms to rest for an entire month at home. Customarily, the new mother will be under the care of their mother-in-law, for a month after delivery. Nowadays, services of confinement ladies are often engaged to administer the same traditional care to new mums. It is all about rest, rest, rest. The predominant belief is that if confinement practices are not done in the correct way, the women's uterus will not be able to contract and this will result in "drooping womb" or uterine prolapse.
Another main principle of confinement is to prevent "wind" from entering the body. Wind, which happens to be considered as the evil element in most Malaysian confinement traditions, is said to be the reason of joint problem when one is older. One way the traditional Chinese confinement practices discourages wind from entering the body is by prohibiting the new mum to bathe. Obviously, the washing of hair, regardless of how damp with sweat or uncomfortable it gets, is a total no-no!
During this period moms should eat certain food and herbs that, as indicated by traditional Chinese confinement practices, will speed up the recovery from labour and childbirth. This is certainly not the time to be yearning for tasty dishes! Depending on who is taking care of the new mum and what their methods are, she may even need to endure through a similar herbal chicken soup all through her confinement! Chinese confinement dietary recommendations are mostly aimed for warming the body, enhancing blood circulation, "expelling" toxins from the blood and promoting contraction of the uterus.
Ladies are urged to eat liver and kidney cooked in old ginger, sesame oil or rice wine. Herbal soups and tonics are likewise a main part of the diet, as they rejuvenate the body.
Taboos in Traditional Chinese confinement practices:
· No bathing for twelve days
· Definitely no washing of hair for no less than twenty-one days
· No direct exposure to wind – This incorporates hot air (like hairdryer) or cold air (for instance, conditioning)
· No excessive reading or watching of TV for the eyes should be all well-rested
· No crying! (Post-natal blues will just have to wait!)
· No carrying of heavy objects
· No over-exertion or walking up and down the staircase