Confinement is the period when a mother recuperates and heals after going through a rigorous process of pregnancy, labour and childbirth. Special care with adequate rest and a healthy diet is needed to restore and re-energize a new mother’s body. While confinement practices may vary across different cultural backgrounds, most traditions are similar. Super Nanny is a leading service provider of confinement nanny services in Singapore, and we’re here to give you a better understanding of confinement practices from a TCM perspective, and explore the importance of confinement meals, drinks, herbal baths and post-natal massages.
Dispels wind
According to TCM practitioners, it is believed that a mother loses a great amount of ‘qi’ (energy) during childbirth which causes the body to be more prone to catching ‘wind’, leading to a weaker constitution and lower immunity. New mothers are advised to include plenty of soups and healthy warming foods in their diets to help them restore lost energy, increase lactation, and boost their body’s defences. Confinement diets also aid in healing and in dispelling “wind” out of a mother’s body, protecting her from future ill health and restoring her strength.
Herbal baths are also aimed at helping to expel wind, improve blood circulation and reduce after birth pain. Common herbs often seen in baths include ginger, blumea balsamifera, lemongrass, and vitex negundo, all of which have been used by many generations to treat and prevent various health concerns.
Improve blood circulation
Improvement of blood circulation is particularly important due to the huge amount of blood a mother would have lost during delivery. After childbirth, the uterus continues discharging blood, tissue, and mucus for a certain period of time. Hence, it is essential for extra measures to be taken to replenish blood loss. Eating foods that are rich in iron is one way to do it, but taking a herbal bath should also be practised in support of your body’s healing process. Postnatal massages provided by professional confinement nanny agencies also benefit by increasing the flow of blood to all the parts of the body, on top of added lymphatic drainage that eliminates fluids and waste products from the system.
Learn more: 5 Ways A Nanny Can Add Ease to Your Confinement Journey
Wound healing
To promote wound healing, mothers should consume protein and iron-rich confinement food to replenish lost blood. Some of these foods include pig’s liver, multi-grain porridge, dang sheng tea, sheng hua soup, and red dates tea. In addition, herbs such as Schisandra berries which are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, can fight off infections that enter the body during this period and aid with postpartum bleeding and healing.
Herbal baths also come with natural anti-microbial properties, which support the healing of postnatal wounds, and prevent infection from occurring. Keeping yourself clean is also crucial to avoid passing on any germs to your newborn baby which can happen when breastfeeding, or even holding them close.
We hope this article has provided a better understanding of confinement practices such as confinement meals, drinks, herbal baths and massages. Seek the services of a confinement nanny agency and combine these practices to enjoy the full benefits of motherhood today!
Searching for a confinement nanny in Singapore? Look no further than Super Nanny for reliable and experienced nannies to provide the support you need throughout your recovery process. Reach out to us to find out more!