Posted by Kaman Ryan on Sunday, August 26, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?
At Isla, we are constantly seeking to culturally broaden our horizons.? This week, Kaman Ryan thoroughly explains? her personal experience with the Chinese tradition of Pregnancy Confinement:
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The Chinese refer to the postpartum period following a baby?s birth as ?Zuo Yue Zi.? It was believed that, after childbirth, the mother?s body is weak and requires special protection and nourishment. During this time, new mothers traditionally remained in the family home, resting and eating foods prepared by family members from special recipes. This practice, which in the West is referred to as ?confinement,? was first recorded in the Qing dynasty, although most of the recipes predate that period. While modern medicine and lifestyle changes have had an impact on this ancient tradition, it is still widely practiced, both in Asia and in the West.
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?Zuo Yue Zi? was generally practiced for approximately 40 days commencing immediately after the birth, but in modern times many new mothers have shortened the confinement period to 30 days. The primary purpose of confinement is to ensure that mother and baby get plenty of rest. Mum and baby are not to leave the house, and both are considered susceptible to illness and pollution.
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It is believed that, after birth, the mother loses bodily energies commonly translated from the Chinese as ?heat.? This loss of ?heat? is believed to be caused by the strenuous activity of giving birth, and new mums are encouraged to stay in warm rooms bundled up from head to toe during confinement. It is believed that the absence of ?heat? can allow cold air (commonly translated as ?wind?) to enter the body, resulting in susceptibility to joint ailments later in life.
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While most mothers who practice confinement will adhere to the main practices described above, there are some traditions that are more challenging. For instance, some believe that all windows in the house should remain closed during confinement to prevent ?wind? from entering the home. (Keep in mind that when many of these practices originated, plumbing/electricity was non-existent, which meant no hot showers, hair dryers, or heated rooms.)
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The mother is not allowed to wash her hair, walk around the house, read books or watch television. Bathing is discouraged, though it is permitted to soak the feet and hands in dried ginger skin with hot water, as this is believed to promote ?heat.? Consumption of cold water is not allowed, as it is believed to remove ?heat? and promote water retention. It is imperative that mothers remain hydrated, including by drinking teas and other warming drinks.
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The new baby?s grandmother generally performed the cooking, cleaning, and other household duties needed to support a traditional confinement. However, as times have changed and many Chinese have become more prosperous and less likely to live with family members, there has been a shift in some circles to hire a ?confinement lady? who prepares the traditional recipes and attends to the needs of mother and baby. However, it can be assumed that in the modern economy, the majority of mothers practicing confinement will be doing so without the help of either a grandmother or confinement lady.
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Confinement Cuisine
Confinement cuisine basically consists of ?heating? ingredients, for example old (dried) ginger, sesame oil, rice wine, and black vinegar, which are believed to introduce ?heat? into the body. Chinese herbs such as ginseng and dong qui are also considered to be vital tonics that help the body heal.
Must-have confinement recipes include ginger and black vinegar pig trotters, sesame oil chicken, pork liver and kidneys cooked with ginger and sesame oil, and DOM chicken soup. Hot drinks such as ginger and date tea and longan and date tea were also consumed. A sample of some traditional confinement recipes are listed at the end of this article.
Alcohol such as DOM and rice wine was consumed to keep the body warm, replenish lost nutrients and give the mother more strength and energy. However, modern medicine clearly discourages any alcohol consumption by new mothers, especially those who intend to breastfeed. If you intend to use any confinement recipes that include alcohol as an ingredient you should consult with your doctor beforehand, particularly if you intend to breastfeed.
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After Confinement
After completion of confinement, there is a full month of celebration. This is an opportunity for the new parents to celebrate their baby?s first month of life with relatives and friends. Traditionally, the baby?s name is announced as part of this celebration. To mark the occasion, eggs colored with red dye, known as ?Red Eggs? are given to the guests.
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My Takeaway
Regardless of your view of the traditions of confinement, spending a month at home after giving birth gives mum a great time to rest, recuperate, and bond with her new baby. There are also potential benefits for baby, who will be a month older, stronger and better prepared for the attentions of his or her hordes of adoring fans.
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Nutrition and the Recipes for Confinement
In addition to the main ingredients used during confinement, new mothers need to ensure they maintain a balanced, nutritious diet, with emphasis on an adequate intake of calcium (for breastfeeding), fiber, protein, vegetables, fruit, and sufficient calories in addition to any supplements recommended by your doctor. It is believed that some vegetables and fruits are more warming than others. For example, snow peas, papaya, apples, and pears are believed to be warming, whereas bitter gourd, cabbage, some mushrooms, lettuce, cucumber, bananas, fig, kiwi, watermelon, and grapefruit are believed to be cooling.
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My Plan
My own personal game plan is to observe confinement for 30 days at home with my baby.
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I have prepared one recipe so far: the ginger and black vinegar pig trotter (currently stored in the freezer). Honestly, this was a particular tricky recipe to make, not least because pig trotters are hard to come by in Dublin! I had to call several butchers, and once I found one that could oblige my odd request, I discovered that getting it chopped was particularly troublesome, as the trotters have to be frozen before chopping or they get caught in the meat grinder. I hope I made enough to last for the month because I don?t foresee me making this one again, especially the process of boiling stinky chunks of meat before actually preparing the recipe. Ladies, be warned: this stinks up the house for a few hours. But the result is yummy (well, the boiled eggs are anyway).
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The rest of the soups, teas, and foods will be made with the help of my dear husband.
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I don?t intend to abstain from showering and washing my hair, but for ladies who plan to observe this, dry shampoo and baby wipes will be a godsend.
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Click here for the recipes I have hand picked as the top essentials. All these recipes are courtesy of www.chinesesouplady.com or http://chineseconfinementfood.blogspot.ie. I have modified the ginger and black vinegar recipe to make it tastier as well as the sweet potatoes and ginger soup.
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Notes on the Recipes:
Ginger packs a lot of heat and spice, so if you find it?s too spicy, modify it to your taste. Each person is different.
Ensure that all meat, eggs, and other raw ingredients are fully cooked prior to consumption.
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Resources:
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sgmummy.com/chinese-postpartum/
www.usatoday.com/yourlife/parenting-family/2010-09-20-china-confinement_N.htm
www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/nyregion/bringing-an-asian-tradition-for-new-mothers-to-new-york.html?pagewanted=all
www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/womenhealth/Pages/Myths-about-Confinement.aspx
www.echinacities.com/expat-corner/zuo-yue-zi-and-chinas-traditional-childbirth culture.html
www.4panda.com/chinatips/culture/baby.htm
rasamalaysia.com/recipe-sesame-oil-chicken/2/
chineseconfinementfood.blogspot.ie
www.thechinesesouplady.com
www.shlcares.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/foodexplore.pdf
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Source: http://islaorganic.com/interpreting-traditional-pregnancy-confinement/
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