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Experiences of labour and child birth can differ from mother to mother. Some experience almost no pain, while others more so. But ask any mother and you most probably will hear the same answer – giving birth is one of the most unforgettable experiences ever! However, bringing a child into the world is no easy feat. Apart from the many preparations needed before going into labour, mothers must also be as equally conscientious in ensuring that they recuperate well after labour. As such, they adhere to a period of post-partum recovery termed ‘confinement’. You may have perhaps heard a lot about the ‘dos and don’ts’ of confinement, so much so that it has become increasing hard to tell which method works and which does not. This article seeks to do just that – to separate myths from facts.

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<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5243" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/introduce.png" alt="introduce" width="297" height="273" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>What is confinement?</strong>

Largely an Asian practice, the concept of confinement is to ensure that new mothers have the chance to rest and heal their bodies. Different cultures have their own confinement practices determining the length of the recovery period, which food and drink the new mother should avoid and other restrictions or allowances they believe can quicken recovery.

Throughout the confinement period, generally between 30 to 44 days, mothers are usually assisted by a ‘confinement lady’ or midwives, their mothers or other family members who cook, clean, help care for baby and perform other household chores the mother may not be able to do just yet. Some even give massages!

So now that we know what confinement is all about, let us take a look at some of the myths surrounding this practice.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="5/12" el_class="rightside"][vc_column_text]

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5242" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/myth_1.png" alt="myth_1" width="272" height="269" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>Myth 1 : Do not bathe!</strong>

In certain cultures, especially among the Chinese, one of the major activities that new mothers should avoid is bathing and washing their hair. The reason behind this is that the mother’s body is very vulnerable to whatever effects the external elements may bring to the body right after giving birth. In line with this belief, dousing the body and head with water would lead to chills that increase the risk of developing arthritis and/or rheumatism as the mother ages.

However, there is no scientific evidence to support this belief. The possibility of developing arthritis and/or rheumatism does not increase with bathing after delivering a baby. On the contrary, keeping the body and head clean is encouraged for hygienic reasons. In Asian countries with high humidity levels such as Malaysia and Singapore, it is especially important to constantly rid the body of sweat, germs and bacteria, thus keeping infections and illnesses at bay. On top of that, keeping the body clean is even more important for mothers who breastfeed as there would be less chances of germs being passed on to baby.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="5/12"][vc_column_text]

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5460" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/myth_2.png" alt="myth_2" width="223" height="213" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>Myth 2 : Eat plenty of foods can ‘heat’ the body up</strong>

Dietary restrictions are also common during confinement. Mothers are fed with all sorts of herbal tonics, broths and even alcohol to ‘warm’ the body up, as well as to provide more nutrition to compensate for the loss of blood during delivery.

While it is beneficial for the new mother to boost her nutritional intake especially just after giving birth, nevertheless, there is no evidence to show that these herbal concoctions do actually ‘warm up’ the body, or that the body needs ‘heating up’ in the first place. A well-balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables are essential to promote a quicker recovery as it provides the mother with the necessary vitamins, minerals and fibre. Furthermore, mothers who breastfeed may want to consume as little alcohol as possible. Studies show that certain elements such as alcohol and caffeine can pass through the mother to the baby through breast milk. This may then slow down baby’s development.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="5/12" el_class="rightside"][vc_column_text]

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5458" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/myth_3.png" alt="myth_3" width="197" height="193" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>Myth 3 : Water restriction</strong>

New mothers are also advised to minimise their intake of water, juices or other drinks as it is believed that consumption of liquids during the confinement period causes water retention.

On the contrary, drinking plenty of water is actually very beneficial. The body retains a lot of fluids during pregnancy and after childbirth, the kidneys work to expel this excess from the body. As such, drinking plenty of water during confinement actually helps the kidneys to do their job as well as to replace any loss of fluids for mothers who breastfeed.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="5/12"][vc_column_text]

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5459" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/myth_4.png" alt="myth_4" width="228" height="204" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>Myth 4 : No leaving the house</strong>

For as long as the confinement period lasts, new mothers are not supposed to leave the house (and sometimes even the room) for fear of contracting illnesses from being exposed to pollutants outside the home. Because the body is weak after birth, it is believed that new mothers are more susceptible to this than she would have been previously.

Again, there is no proof that mothers would contract illnesses just by leaving the house within 30 days of giving birth. It is true that the body is weaker post-partum, but the chances of falling ill do not differ by being outdoors or indoors.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<strong>Confinement – a necessary practice?</strong>

With our lifestyles today and increased scientific understanding of how the body works, need new mothers still adhere to the age-old confinement traditions? While it is true that most practices are contrary to scientific evidence, nevertheless, there are some confinement restrictions that do benefit mothers and help them recover faster. The most important thing when undergoing confinement is to ensure that mothers do not put themselves or baby at risk, especially in terms of their personal hygiene and diets. In other words, it is imperative to separate myths from facts of confinement. If nothing else, this can be a period of rest and relaxation and an excellent opportunity to spend time to get to know and bond with baby.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][:zh][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

每位母亲的分娩经历都可能各不相同，有些痛不欲生，而另一些则几乎完全不痛。不过如果问起每位妈妈对于生产的感受，那您可能都会听到同样的回答：分娩是妈妈们有生以来最难忘的经历之一！但说到底，将一个孩子带来这个世界绝非易事。除了分娩之前的很多准备工作外，妈妈们在分娩后也同样不能大意，而是必须小心确保将自己的身体调养好。因此，她们都需要度过一个称为“坐月子”的产后恢复期。您或许已经听说过很多关于坐月子的注意事项，但就是无法从这些海量的方法中确定究竟哪个“该做”与“不该做”最正确。而这正是本文的目的所在 — 辨明坐月子的误区和事实。

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<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5243" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/introduce.png" alt="introduce" width="297" height="273" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>什么是坐月子？</strong>

坐月子基本上是亚洲人的一种惯例，其目的是确保分娩后的新妈妈们拥有一个休息及让产后身体恢复的机会。不同文化针对坐月子都有其各自不同的惯例，如恢复期长度、新妈妈的饮食禁忌及其他相信能有利于产后迅速恢复的限制或允许事项。

在通常为30至44天的整个坐月子期间，新妈妈通常会由“月嫂”或助产士协助进行产后恢复；而产妇的母亲或其他家人则负责烹饪、打扫卫生、帮忙照顾宝宝及进行其他新妈妈可能还不便从事的家务。有些时候，甚至还会有人专门为新妈妈按摩！

既然现在我们已经知道坐月子是怎么回事，那让我们来看看围绕这个惯例的一些误区吧。[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="5/12" el_class="rightside"][vc_column_text]

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5242" src="http://tollyjoy.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/myth_1.png" alt="myth_1" width="272" height="269" />

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="7/12"][vc_column_text]<strong>误区1：不能洗澡！</strong>

在某些文化中（特别是华人文化中），一般相信新妈妈应避免的主要活动之一就是洗澡和洗头。这么做的原因是，新妈妈在分娩后身体很容易受到外部因素的影响。依据这一信念，让身体和头部浸在水中会导致寒气入侵，从而增加妈妈们随着年龄增长而患上关节炎和/或风湿病的风险。

然而，这一信念并没有任何科学证据的支持。患上关节炎和/或风湿病的可能性并不会因为产后洗澡而增加。相反，出于卫生原因，产妇更应保持身体和头部清洁。在马来西亚和新加坡等高湿度的亚洲国家，时常确保去除身体上的汗液、微生物和细菌，从而将感染和疾病拒之门外是尤其重要的。除此之外，为减少将病菌传递给宝宝的可能性，保持身体清洁对于哺乳的妈妈而言则更加重要。[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][:]