what food does westerners eat during

confinement period?

No, she's probably referring to the Chinese practice of giving special care to the woman for 56 days after birth. It's supposed to help the woman regain her constitution. My wife didn't do her confinement well during both births, and she claims that as one of the contributing factors to her ill-health today.


Well, I don't see my western friends doing it...and they seem none the worse...


Michael Chan

www.senseimichael.com

yes,im curious what kind of food intake does westerners take after the birth of their babies?

A well balanced diet will do the trick!

Generally we don't make any changes although perhaps some tend to keep their diet a little bland to avoid any problems for the baby if breastfeeding.

As an example, if I ate lentils/dahl my baby would have a very windy (coliky) day afterwards.


A side from that westerners generally do not follow any form confinement - as far as I know.

Generally we don't make any changes although perhaps some tend to keep their diet a little bland to avoid any problems for the baby if breastfeeding.

As an example, if I ate lentils/dahl my baby would have a very windy (coliky) day afterwards.


A side from that westerners generally do not follow any form confinement - as far as I know.

Healthy, nutritious diet, no special food except like @@ said, if baby gets colicky bf moms eliminate some foods that have a reputation for causing gassiness such as corn, cabbage, dried legumes (lentils, kidney beans), broccoli, dairy products. However, I think moms recovering from childbirth and their doctors do pay special attention to getting enough protein and minerals such as calcium and iron (red meat has protein and iron), especially if they are breastfeeding, and also I think they generally continue to take prenatal vitamins for at least six weeks after childbirth. (I think the Chinese foods used during confinement look pretty rich in these nutritients.) I'm also very surprised that Chinese women I know don't swim or exercise. Western women are encouraged to exercise every day all through pregnancy and recovery period, so long as their heart rate doesn't go above about 120 beats per minute while pregnant. That's because exercise is important for bodily aches and pains during pregnancy and for keeping muscles strong as they are stretched, for fitness and endurance during childbirth, and we are encouraged to begin moderate exercise as soon as possible after birth. (Although my mother and granny disagreed with this and told me to stay in bed for a week after child birth.) I once read in a book that if the tummy muscles aren't exercised within 48 hours after childbirth, they will be much harder to get in shape later. (Oops, is that what happened to me, since I listened more to my mother and granny who were watching over me!?) Swimming is viewed as especially good exercise during pregnancy because it takes stress off the ligaments that are stretched. But also, during pregnancy there are often prenatal exercise classes offered by our hospitals or midwife clinics that have more gentle exercise routines (easier on ligaments, a bit slower) and then after birth the same group of mums will bring their babies and do exercises together with baby at their sides, gives a chance to be with other moms, share stories, and help each other. I personally do think it's good to draw a balance, try to keep fit and strong but don't overly stress the ligaments that hold your body together! A lot of western women end up having hysterectomies later when they have a uterine prolapse due to lax ligaments on the pelvic floor, I wonder if a confinement period helps with this challenge.

I think it's all down to the individual. I had two c-sections and was out of hospital within days and out and about within 7 and i'm none the worse for it. I have NEVER had any problems and neither have any of my friends. Just listen to your body and do what's best.

What you have to remember is that women have been giving birth for centuries and in this day and age, women in certain parts of the world do not have the luxury of having a 'confinement' and are out of bed and in the 'fields' days and sometimes hours after giving birth.

I don't think you need to watch what you eat. Having said that, I did keep away from foods that were high in mercury (eg. certain fish like mackerel), oysters etc... I was breastfeeding.

Westerners do not have a confinement. And if the truth be told, most of us find the idea of not being able to wash, go out and only eat certain foods for over a month pretty awful. People that are breastfeeding often avoid spicy foods, but most women just try to eat healthily, and to get out as soon as possible to show their baby off. My youngest took her first trip to the club we're members of at 1 day old.

I just made sure I was getting healthy and balanced meals everyday and I just had my executive check up, 2 years after giving birth and have no problems at all

I am a daughter of an OB/GYN and the granddaughter of a formerly renown Korean herbalist. the conflict between the two worlds was so CRAZY!!! My father told me outright that he's been an OB for 30+ years and the Korean system of no showers, no washing of the hair, and eating of certain foods was ridiculous. (not to mention keeping all parts of your body covered even in HEAT, no airconditioning touching your body and no cold foods.) My grandmother and my mother in law were jumping up and down trying to make me do things the traditional Korean way which I HATED. They also believe that you won't feel the effects NOW - you'll have to wait until you are 50 years old or so - and then when your joints ache, your teeth hurt, and you're not healthy, they'll blame it on your postpartum routine.

Ha! For my wife, it wasn't even 50 years later - my firstborn is only 5 years old now, and she's complaining of ill-health...


Michael Chan

www.senseimichael.com