10 Things to Pay Attention to During Postpartum Confinement

Immediately after delivery, new mothers always pay attention to their newborn and neglect their own recovery. This can lead to long-term health problems for the mother, such as postpartum depression, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain. It is important for new mothers to take care of their own wellbeing in order to properly care for their baby. Here we will discuss the taboos and precautions associated with traditional Chinese medicine postpartum confinement.

Washing Hair

Regardless of whether a mother has a natural or caesarean birth, she can wash her hair during the confinement period. However, it is generally recommended that mothers wait at least three days after giving birth before washing their hair, and preferably one week later. Avoid washing hair in the hospital because the mother's body is weaker after delivery, and it is harder to keep warm in the hospital, increasing the risk of catching a cold. In the past, living conditions were poorer, and mothers might not have had sufficient hot water for bathing after delivery. They might also lack warm clothing and had to spend more time washing their hair, which increased the risk of catching a cold. With advances in technology today, as long as the mother keeps warm, washing hair is safe. After the first bath, some mothers may experience dizziness or even fainting, so it is recommended that a family member accompany or assist them.

Nutritional Supplementation

Many new mothers are anxious to get better as soon as possible and may want to start nutritional supplementation early. They may have prepared a postpartum diet plan in advance so that their body can recover quickly. However, the timing of nutritional supplementation differs between natural and caesarean birth mothers, so it is essential not to rush it. For natural delivery, supplementation can start as soon as the lochia has stopped. For caesarean birth mothers, nutritional supplementation should be postponed until at least 20 days after delivery.

Herbal Soups

There is no significant difference between the confinement diet for mothers who have given birth naturally and those who have had a caesarean section. However, caesarean birth mothers may have to fast after surgery until their doctor allows them to eat. During the first week after delivery, they should also focus on drinking herbal soups that aid in defecation and promote intestinal motility.

Squatting

Squatting can cause uterine prolapse because it requires the use of pelvic floor muscles. Additionally, postpartum mothers may experience dizziness when standing up after squatting due to their weak blood and qi.

Lifting Heavy Objects

Lifting heavy objects also requires the use of pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, which can cause uterine prolapse. Moreover, excessive movement can strain the wound and impede recovery.

Stay in the Wind

Due to the production of hormones during childbirth and the relaxation of the pores all over the body, postpartum mothers are more susceptible to catching a cold. The mother should not be directly exposed to air conditioning. It's important for moms to dress warmly, and the temperature shouldn't be too low.

Exposure to Cold Water

After delivery, the body is weak, so pathogens can easily get in. When washing hair, hands and body, it is best to use warm water or ginger bath herbal water. It's also important to dry your body parts fast.

Salt 

During the postpartum period, it is recommended to have a light diet, but there is no need to completely avoid salt. However, because a mother's metabolism is slower after giving birth, consuming foods with high salt content may lead to water retention or high blood pressure.

Drinking Plain Boiled Water

After giving birth, the mother's spleen is weak, and plain boiled water is not helpful for metabolism. It is generally recommended to replace plain boiled water with different types of herbal tea (such as roasted rice tea) during the postpartum period. It can promote metabolism, help increase breast milk secretion, and is also gentle on the spleen and stomach, which can prevent postpartum water retention. There are also various pre-packaged confinement herbal teas on the market that are convenient and have more widespread uses and benefits.

Avoiding Raw and Cold Foods

Because the mother's spleen is weak after giving birth, extra care must be taken in the postpartum diet. Eating raw, cold, or cool foods is not helpful for digestion and absorption, and can also hinder the discharge of lochia.

Everyone's Body is Different

Each person's constitution is different, and some people may have a stronger constitution and not strictly adhere to postpartum taboos without causing significant issues. However, their overall physical condition may not be as good as before giving birth. On the other hand, some people may have a harder time during confinement and experience postpartum health issues such as headaches, joint pain, menstrual pain, back pain, and hair loss. It is generally more difficult to adjust these issues after the first month, and some may even have to have a second child and go through confinement again to fully recover.