Postnatal heritage
Learn the traditions of postnatal care and its efficacy.
POSTNATAL care is not just about customs and traditions; it is about reliving our heritage. Most importantly, postnatal care ensures mothers are pampered, refreshed and invigorated so they can once again be in their best shape and health.
According to Malay traditions, new mothers follow a strict 44-day confinement period using herbs, spices and oils to enable them to heal and rejuvenate.
If all the recommended practices are closely followed, the new mother is expected to recover almost completely after 44 days, including regaining her original body shape and weight. A full recovery is expected after 100 days. Malay confinement practices revolve around several elements:
> Herbs – Some herb mixtures are ground and spread on the whole body, or on selected parts such as on the abdomen to promote blood circulation and for firming, or on the forehead to dispel wind, and prevent migraine and postnatal blues from lack of sleep. Rinsing the vaginal area with herbal wash is said to help cleanse, soothe, deodorise and heal the vaginal muscles.
> Heat – This may be in the form of direct exposure to heat; the use of a heated river stone ( bertungku) to help break down fats, shrink the womb and regain pre-pregnancy shape for the mother; showering with warm herbal baths to help restore energy, dispel wind and deodorise; application of warming herbal massage oils on the whole body to promote blood circulation and release of water retention; application of a firming herbal blend on the abdomen; and, of course, the intake of herbal medicine ( jamu).
> Postnatal massage – This promotes blood circulation and is said to lift the womb. The body massage is done at least six or seven times during the confinement period.
The secret to Malay postnatal slimming is believed to be the wearing of a traditional abdominal wrap ( bengkung) daily for 44 days, for a minimum of 12 hours a day, to tighten the abdomen and other parts of the body that have sagged after childbirth, shrink the uterus, flatten the stomach, promote good posture while breastfeeding, and prevent overeating during confinement.
During the confinement period, water has to be taken in small sips. This is believed to stop the stomach from bulging. Iced water is forbidden as it is believed to distend the stomach muscles, resulting in a bulging belly. All meals are to be taken in small quantities although they may be taken more frequently. This is also believed to have an effect on stomach firming.
Traditionally, the new mother has to keep herself warm at all times. The intake of cold food is not allowed. Staying in an air-conditioned room is not encouraged.
Chinese traditions
One of the main principles of Chinese postnatal care is preventing “wind” from entering the body, which is said to be the cause of joint problems in later years. Hence, the practice of not allowing the woman to bathe or wash her hair.
The Chinese believe that a woman’s body is at its weakest and most vulnerable after childbirth, and thus a confinement period of at least 30 to 40 days will ensure recovery and long-term health. During confinement, new mothers have to observe a series of taboos and traditional rituals, and follow a strict confinement diet.
The diet consists of warming ingredients like old ginger, sesame oil, pepper, wine and black vinegar. Foods are usually steamed or lightly stir-fried with minimal use of oil. Ingredients are chosen with great care, with emphasis on fresh, natural and organic foods. Cooling foods are avoided, such as cold drinks and “cold” fruits and vegetables like watermelon, pineapple, papaya, kangkong (water convolvulus), cucumber, cabbage and beansprouts.
Herbal soups and tonics are a main part of the diet as they nourish and rejuvenate the body. Chinese herbs such as ginseng and dong quai, too, have restorative properties.
The new mother is prohibited from doing housework and carrying heavy items, as this may cause a prolapsed uterus.
Indian traditions
Just like their Malay and Chinese counterparts, Indians strongly believe that proper confinement rituals can help prevent health problems in later years. The confinement period is between 30 and 40 days.
Indian confinement practices, as with those of other cultures, revolve around ensuring that the uterus shrinks back to its normal size and that the internal “wounds” heal properly.
Herbal baths that use different kinds of leaves are taken to improve blood circulation and reduce fatigue.
Omam, which is a kind of spice, is rubbed all over the body to purify and soften the skin, as well as to relieve pain.
Indian confinement dietary recommendations are mostly aimed at improving the production of breast milk. Green leafy vegetables, garlic, black dhal pudding and boiled fenugreek seeds ( halba) are among the foods believed to help boost milk flow.
The Indians also have their own form of massage and herbal wraps, which are believed to help the mother regain her figure.
Postnatal care is taken very seriously within the different communities in Malaysia. Because Malaysia is multiracial, its people also sometimes mix and match confinement practices.
Convenient help
Agnes Poon, a safety professional with an oil and gas company, 35, recounts her postnatal care: “Being a first-time mother, I experienced severe backache and neck-shoulder strain due to delivery as well as wrong posture during long hours of breastfeeding. Hence, I contacted Tanamera Postnatal and signed up for five sessions of the traditional postnatal massage.”
Each session by a qualified and experienced masseuse lasted two hours and was done in the comfort of Poon’s own home.
“Within the first session, my backache and neck-shoulder strain, which were causing me much pain for a week since delivery, disappeared. The oil massage and herbal tungku brought so much relief to my strained and tired muscles. It enabled me to sleep better and even stimulated milk production. The special massage technique and the daily use of bengkung and a firming blend paste really helped in restoring the womb’s prepregnancy position. I can even fit into my old jeans now!”
For kinesiologist Reyhan Ma-albertson, 27, trying to follow the traditional postnatal care was not as easy since she is based in Hawaii in the United States.
Imagine her delight when she discovered that postnatal care can indeed be shipped in a box!
“It was a piece of tradition that gave me much-needed nostalgic comfort in my home away from home – a mini pantang- in-a-box (taboos-in-a-box) of sorts. My favourite item (in the box) was the virgin coconut oil cold press. With it, I had no stretch marks! I’ll definitely be slathering it again for my next bump.
“As a kinesiologist with a special interest in women’s health, I have to emphasise that good self-care before and during pregnancy, and especially right after childbirth, is crucial to prevent immediate and future health issues.” – Article contributed by Tanamera Postnatal (tanamerapostnatal.com)