Confinement In Singapore / Zou Yue Zi
If you are recovering from confinement, this is where you can find useful information, be it Malay, Indian or Chinese confinement in Singapore. Tired of classic dishes such as red dates tea and sesame oil chicken that women take during confinement in Singapore? We have a repertoire of confinement recipes for every taste. Also, you must have heard of old wives’ tales and confinement taboos. Not sure whether you should follow these “rules” during your confinement in Singapore? We have debunked the myths for you. Click on our articles about confinement myths to find out what confinement rules you really need to follow for the benefit of your health, and which are the ones that you can ignore.
More Articles from Confinement In Singapore / Zou Yue Zi
How long is confinement?
You’ve heard varying lengths from different people about the ideal length of traditional Chinese confinement—28 days, 30 days or 40 days. So when does confinement actually end and how long are you supposed to practice
What’s in a month?
Well, officially confinement after having a baby is supposed to last for one month. So by varying definitions, a month could be as short as 28 days, although most people go by the average of 30 days. So…
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Grocery list: Buying confinement herbs
You’re planning for your Chinese confinement, but do you know what kinds of confinement herbs you need to buy? What should you budget for these herbs and where is the best place to buy them? Here’s a basic guide to confinement herbs.
Chinese herbs for confinement
If you’re hiring a confinement lady, she will give you a list of herbs to get for your confinement. But she may not necessarily explain to you what each herb does.…
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DIY confinement guide - Singapore
Practicing confinement but can't afford to splash out on a confinement lady? Here are 1 tips for doing it alone at home. Read our confinement guide and get through those first weeks after giving birth.
Dalam pantang: Malay confinement
Malay confinement is traditionally followed for a period of 40 days. Nowadays, many women are opting for a shorter length of 20 days. Find out more about the practices during this period.
How do I modernize my confinement clothes?
Traditional confinement clothes are difficult to bear in Singapore's hot and humid conditions. Here's how you can follow the rules but stay comfortable.
Confinement practices around the world
The confinement period is vital for a new mum to restore her strength. It's different everywhere, check out different confinement practices around the world.
Why I didn't practice Chinese confinement
One Pregnant.Sg reader tells us about her experience after giving birth and not choosing to participate in traditional Chinese confinement practice.
Chinese Confinement rules
From the first day my pregnancy news was made public, I was constantly reminded of the Chinese confinement rules to adhere to upon giving birth.
The logic behind this century-old tradition ranged from the acceptable to the outright bewildering. It just made no sense to me why I should not wash my hair for…
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Confinement nanny training for your maid?
Some couples will wonder if their maids could really be trained well enough to do the job of a confinement nanny. The course actually allows employers to participate in order to see what the training is all about. That way, parents can be reassured that the maid receives proper training.
Yi Mu Cao Drink with Egg confinement recipe
The Chinese love a good recipe to replenish blood cells lost from childbirth. Today's Yi Mu Cao (Chinese Motherwort) drink with egg promises to relieve postpartum symptoms, such as anaemia and lethargy.
Acupuncture for losing the baby weight
Acupuncture has been touted as the Traditional Chinese Method treatment that works to solve every type of problem: health, old injuries and fertility — but can it help you lose weight after having a baby? Some women and experts swear it works wonders. What’s the theory behind it and when should you go to see an acupuncturist?
Acupuncture for weight loss
The whole premise behind acupuncture is that the needles help to stimulate the body’s meridians to…
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Can my mum or mum-in-law help with DIY confinement?
You would like to observe the traditional practice of confinement after birth but hiring a confinement lady is pricey. Is it possible to carry out DIY confinement with the help of your mother or mother-in-law? We consider the pros and the cons.
The pros
Having your mum or mum-in-law help you with DIY confinement has a lot of advantages and confinement doesn't have to be as hard as you think:
Confinement is not that complicated. Even if your…
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Soaking it in: Confinement herbal bath
So you’re supposed to take confinement herbal baths during your postpartum period, but what’s actually in those packets the medicinal shops sell? Is it better to use these pre-packaged baths or boil your own herbs for your bath? We look into what goes into the confinement practice of herbal baths.
Why take a confinement herbal bath?
Herbal baths are a component of not just Chinese confinement, but also of Malay and Indian confinement practices as well, which…
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Ancient medicine: Ayurvedic postnatal care
Ayurveda is an ancient form of Indian medicine that’s over 5,000 years old. Meaning “life knowledge,” the philosophy behind Ayurveda focuses on balance through lifestyle, diet and yoga. Ayurverdic principles can be carried out (and have been for centuries) after childbirth during confinement, in combination with other confinement practices.
What to know about Ayurvedic postnatal care
In Ayurveda, all body types belong to three different types of “doshas” or elemental metabolisms: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata represents…
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Confinement tradition: Taking bird's nest
Is it a good idea to take bird’s nest during confinement and while you’re nursing? You may have heard many differing things about this. Some mums swear by bird’s nest for its ability to rejuvenate and energize them during confinement. Others feel that it is not suitable for confinement for a variety of reasons.
What is bird’s nest?
Bird’s nest soup is a traditional Chinese delicacy first cultivated and eaten by royalty during the Tang Dynasty. It…
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How to interview your confinement nanny
Finding a confinement nanny is not an easy task as this is not a profession that is very common in Singapore but highly in demand. Many turn to an agency to hire a confinement lady or use their contacts to hire a nanny from nearby Malaysia. However, there are a number of risks involved, especially if you’ve never met the person. Given the expense and the commitment involved, it’s best to at least conduct at…
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Dang shen tea with a twist
Mothers may be familiar with Confinement red date teas but this dang shen tea with red dates, wolfberries and longan is beneficial in many ways. It helps to replenish Qi, promotes blood circulation, improves kidneys and lungs and reduces hypertension. Mummies in confinement will find this tea helpful in replenishing blood and relieving stress from taking care of their newborns.
INGREDIENTS:
200g dang shen (cut into segments)
1 handful of wolfberries
1 handful of dried longan
1000ml of water
RELATED: Confinement recipe:…
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DIY: Confinement Malay postnatal wrap and massage
The Malay confinement period, like its Chinese compatriot, is an arduously long process of over a month (44 days) and full of taboos or pantangs that one is not to disobey. There are some similarities to Chinese confinement, such as only drinking warm drinks and wearing long-sleeved clothes and trousers, while others are rooted in Malay superstitions such as tying a black thread around the toe to prevent bad luck.
However, the most well-known aspect of…
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Confinement tradition: Eating your placenta
You might have heard from your elders about the traditional practice of eating your placenta after giving birth, but does anybody even do that anymore? You’ll be surprised! Despite the “gross factor” of cooking the bloody red mass your baby essentially came out with, an increasing number of modern women are choosing to eat their placentas. These are modern, educated women from all cultures, including Hong Kong celebrities and the Hollywood actress January Jones. So,…
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10 compromises on confinement restrictions
The modern Asian woman faces a dilemma when expecting. Does she follow tradition like so many before her and follow confinement rules verbatim, even though they may conflict with today’s world? Or does she ignore tradition and do what is convenient? Maybe the modern woman can have the best of both worlds. Here are ten confinement restrictions that can be compromised for your convenience;
1. Washing hair
There are a couple of different options to get around…
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Do I need a confinement nanny?
If you’re thinking of following the traditional Singapore Chinese practice of confinement, you might consider hiring a confinement nanny.
A confinement nanny is typically a mature woman who has plenty of experience in confinement practices and wisdom to help you recovery quickly from delivery and nourish your body back to full health.
With changing times, however, many women today either choose not to practice confinement or choose to do it on their own. If you're trying to…
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The basics of Indian confinement
Indian confinement shares many common beliefs and rules with Chinese and Malay confinement. Find out more about Indian confinement dos and don'ts here.
All about confinement (坐月子)
Confinement is the traditional Chinese practice of seclusion at home after childbirth, following a strict regime to ensure healing and nourishment of the body.
Confinement recipe: Red and black dates tea
Red and black dates tea is a staple in traditional Chinese confinement, offering gooey sweetness and natural benefits to postpartum mothers. Known to improve qi and boost blood circulation, this warm red and black dates tea is suitable for daily consumption and is easily prepared with the help of a slow cooker.
Time required: 20 mins
Serving: 1 person
Ingredients for red and black dates tea
3/4 bowl of red dates
15 pieces of black dates
50 grams of Bei Qi
50 grams…
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