Confinement Break

I think I got away with murder over the weekend, at least in terms of the concept of post-natal confinement rest. I managed to persuade Mum and Dad that we can all go for a day-trip even before my 30 days of confinement rest is over!

Traditionally, the Chinese believe in a month-long confinement rest at home after delivery. Basically, this means a month of staying at home to rest, following a special confinement menu and some Do's and Don'ts to prevent ailments commonly associated with the post-delivery condition, notably backaches, migraines and rheumatism. This means the recovering mother must avoid exposure to damp air and "wind". The special confinement menu generally avoids "cooling" ingredients and cold drinks, and draws upon "warming ingredients" such as ginger, sesame oil, black vinegar, Chinese rice wine, pepper cooked with nutritious meats (chicken, fish and pork) as well as utilizes general herbs such as Chinese wolfberry (Gou Qi), angelica (Dang Gui), red dates and dried longan.

When I was younger, I would listen with horror to the "confinement ordeal" that older cousins would go through. "Ordeal" because the list of Don'ts often border on the unreasonable and ridiculous. The 3 most often highlighted would be:

1. Do not shower or wash your hair.

2. Do not use the fan or the air-conditioning unit.

3. Do not drink cold or chilled drinks.

In the tropical, humid climate of Singapore, these 3 rules just mean torture, especially when the carers (often the older women in the family - mum, mum-in-law, aunties etc or a specially hired confinement lady, again often of the older generation) would insist that you be swaddled in layers of clothing to keep out that nasty ache-inducing wind.

Luckily, times have changed. While Mum came armed with herbs etc to help me regain my strength, she also came with an understanding heart. I suppose, having gone through confinement herself, she could empathize. Happily, I am allowed to shower, though I did have to do so with some Chinese herbal infusions to eliminate rheumatism-inducing wind. And everyday, I was eating food cooked with lots of ginger, chicken tonic soup and drinking red-date-dried-longan tea or prune tea. I was also encouraged to rest and nap all the time, to aid the healing of the "wound in the womb". Mum and Dad took care of all the household chores, and there was always food for me, since I need to eat lots to keep up with the breastfeeding.

So, I start to think that confinement rest is an absolutely smashing idea. Lots of rest, lots of nutritious, yummy food and drinks and no chores! The only downside is of course I was supposed to rest at home for one whole month. Yup, no venturing out in case that nasty wind gets me...

The only other time I remember being cooped up at home like that was when I had chickenpox in my teens. I had felt like an absolute captive. I still vividly remember holding onto the window grills and looking out to the trees outside and just wishing fervently that I could hug one of those lovely trees, which before my "captivity" had simply been very ordinary trees...

This time, I have no such thoughts. I was really appreciative of the help and being able to rest as well as just enjoying having family with me, so despite the trees being more special since they are British this time, I had no burning desire to go out and hug them. And having gone through delivery myself now, I have to say that it does tire one out and weaken the body; I just really needed that rest, especially once the reality of night feeds and diaper changes sink in.

With the weekend here and sunny weather, I decided to try my luck. I know Mum and Dad came to help out and care for me after delivery, but I did not want them to just "work" and be stuck at home with me. So, despite my mum's misgivings, we packed Baby and our baby bag and drove out to Shakespeare's county, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

And I am glad we went. Dad was evidently pleased and excited about visiting the Bard's birthplace despite not overtly showing it. I think he did not want Mum to think that he was encouraging us to bring them out. Mum took the chance to wear the new tunic I bought her and I thought she looked lovely, but she kept reminding me that both me and Baby have to be well wrapped up.

It turned out to be an interesting experience. It being the first time we brought Baby out, we had our first taste of packing Baby's bag plus his buggy and car-seat. A lot of work there, as we constantly checked to see we have not forgotten anything. Baby was really quite good during the large part of the drive, except when we were about three-quarters way there... He started making noises before bawling out loud for his feed. And I had my first experience of feeding in a carpark. The same happened on the way back and we learnt then that Baby does not like staying in the car-seat for more than approximately 45min.

But it was a good trip alright; I had clocked a few "firsts"... Not only did we venture out of the house, I also had a glass of Prosecco (alcohol!), some nice buffalo mozzarella tomato salad (soft cheese is forbidden during pregnancy), vongole spaghetti (seafood is not allowed for convalescence), and tiramisu (have been off tiramisu since pregnancy because of the raw eggs inside). Forbidden food always tastes better, doesn't it? :)  And Mum did not say anything; she just let me enjoy every moment of this stolen trip!  Haha, bless her!

We went home, happy. Me because of all my firsts. Henry because I am happy. Mum and Dad because they did enjoy being in such a historic town. Dad especially because now he has new photos for his newest toy - his new FB account :)  Julien was blissfully unaware that he has visited the Bard's birthplace when he is just about 2 weeks old, when Mum and Dad have only managed this momentous visit in our ripe thirties!

But lest you think that confinement is all a bit of an OTT hogwash, I have to admit that my episiotomy wound felt sore from all that walking. And by the end of the trip, I was just glad to reach home, go for my nice herbal infusion shower, and crawl right into bed...

My conclusion?  -  Do not doubt your mother's wisdom :)

To read more about post-natal confinement care, follow this link:

http://www.articlealley.com/article_930637_61.html