CHINESE AND MALAYS TRADITIONS AND MYTHS ABOUT CONFINEMENT

Asian mothers, especially the Chinese, observe many rules, regulations andtaboos that have been handed down from past generations during the period known as confinement. New mothers and their newborns usually stay home during this period, which lasts for about 28 days. New mothers are known special care and food to help the body recuperate from the trauma of childbirth. Special nannies known as detention nannies are often hired to help look after new mothers and their newborn.

Supposed to be weak and "cold" after the delivery of her baby, the new mother should keep warm with "heaty" foods and wear plenty of warm clothing. She is not allowed to go near fans or air-conditioning as she may catch a chill. In observing this tradition, both mother and baby suffer the uncomfortable effects of bad ventilation,specially in the tropical heat of Singapore.

The Chinese do not allow new mothers to bathe for a month following childbirth as they may catch a chill and suffer from rheumatism later on in their lives. There is no scientific basis for such a belief. New mothers are suggested to have warm baths as cold water may carry on muscle cramps. Using herbs, ginger or lemongrass to rid of wind is not necessary.


WASHING HAIR
traditional Chinese ban on hair washing through confinement, new mothers are confident to wash their hair when they are more steady on their feet after delivery. The worry is that some women may get giddy spells when shampooing and slip. The tradition is that washing hair during confinement allows "wind" to go into the heads and thus lead to headaches later on. This, again, has no scientific basis.


ALCOHOL
Differing to the Chinese belief that alcohol increases blood circulation and warms the body, it is not a must after delivery. It does not help to boost your postpartum state and, if you are nursing, it can be transmitted through breast milk to your baby. Alcohol can emerge quickly in the mother's fore milk and hind milk as well as reduce milk production as it inhibits oxytocine liberate.
Studies have shown that treatment babies while drinking heavily can cause developmental delays in the child.

MALAY TRADITIONS AND MYTHS ABOUT PREGNANCY AND CONFINEMENT
The Malays believe that a pregnant woman's behaviour and emotion affects her unborn child. As such, they are not allowed to attend funerals or harm any living creatures. Otherwise, the baby may be born deformed. From the second trimester, food jamu like a cocktail of egg yolk, palm sugar, tamarind and secret herbs or pepper, honey, lemon juice and tumeric taken with secret herbs is believed to be able to clean the womb.
Around the seventh month, a melenggang perut ceremony is performed to correct the position of the baby and for a safe delivery. There are also rituals like rolling the coconut to determine the sex of the baby. When the coconut stops rolling and the "eyes" face upwards, it is a boy.


POSTPARTUM
The Malay traditional detention period is 40 days. A bright light burns day and night in the baby's home. Special food and care is given to reinstate the mother's health and beauty. Bidan provides full belly massage, therapeutic baths and jamu.
The stomach is wrapped tightly to "shrink" the belly and jamu is used to cleanse any "dirty blood". Burning charcoal is used to warm the feet and to heat up the "cooling" body after baths. The mother is encouraged to move about the house as too much rest prolongs the dirty blood in the mother's system.

Milk producing jamu are approved and fish is usually removed from the mother's diet to prevent fishy-smelling milk.
Be Happy
Share your stress and worries with loved ones and friends. Most mothers start to feel some emotional swings known as "baby blues" around the fourth day of the postpartum period.
TREAT YOURSELF
Indulge yourself in massages (if you had a caesarean release, do not massage the tummy), spa treatments and even manicures and pedicures. All these can help you regain a sense of well-being after having been through the traumatic and dramatic process of childbirth. Take time out with your husband without the baby so that both of you can unwind and recharge before going back to the stress and demands of caring for your baby.
Above all, enjoy motherhood.