April 12th, 2007
End of Confinement
» motherhood
Four weeks has passed since my delivery and I called for an end to my confinement period. This is the maximum length I could go, not one full months or forty days or worse, two months.
My mother in law wasn’t here to help with the confinement this time, so I conveniently gave myself lots of discount. Top of the list of what I did away is the practice of bathing in specially prepared bath water (and even with that special powerful water, I was advised not to bathe daily). What can be more enjoyable and indulging then taking a warm shower daily, especially so when you feel like a sweating walking oven that constantly radiate heat.
And unless we have someone to completely take care of the newborn and any other kids, we would need to change their diapers, wipe their bottoms and clean up whatever other mess they created. How not to avoid all contact with cold water then?
I have known women in some countries bathe themselves using cold well water daily after giving birth, dismissing our practice as ridiculous. Well, somehow I think I am conducting an experiment on myself. If I ever complain of aches and joint pain in future, then maybe it was because of those plenty of water that I came in contact with during the past four weeks.
April 13th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Congratulation! and Welcome the new born
cant wait to see the baby… no pix yet?
Hm… regarding the rules for confinment, I only obey those that is logical, the rest will just obsolete!
I heard that last time woman always washed the cloth at the rivers and the rich minerals content in the river and the chillness caused woman rheumatism, also long time bending to wash the cloth make contribution…
So I rather bathe with those herbal water and quickly dry up myself then letting “mould” to infest and rot my body :p
But I strongly believe in taking nutritious, tonic & balance diet.
The saying that during confinement is the best time to recuperate oneself is very true. So must remember to take those tonic yah and rest as much as you can
April 16th, 2007 at 3:34 am
Hi! congrats… looking forward to seeing some pics of ur whole family soon! miss seeing yau yau too.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Congrats! Didn’t even know you delivered your second baby already. Take good care of yourself and show us pics of your new addition soon if possible.
Ohh by the way do you shampoo your hair during confinement?
April 16th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Congrats on your new bundle of joy! Do show us baby’s photo if possible?
I bathed and sleep with the air-con on during my prev confinement, so far no complaints yet..hehe..maybe not yet
April 16th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Congratulation on your newborn. I also think that my confinement is the worst part of the “pregnancy” with so much restrictions. Whenever I walked out of my bedroom, hoping to watch TV, my mother and my husband will start closing the windows and turning off the fan. Even till now, if I complain of any backache, some of my relatives still say “Oh, you must have not laid on the bed enough during your confinement.”
April 20th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
Is it a brother or sister for Yauyau?
I didn’t follow any of the confinement practices. I bathed and even went out during my confinement. I needed to go out and breathe some fresh air and meet the outside world once again before I become wallowed mentally with post-natal blues.
I figured that since there are cultures out there whose women have done fine without even knowing that there’s such a thing as confinement, I should be okay.
April 24th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Like I’ve constantly reminded my wife, it’s not about contacting water, it’s about keeping DRY after.
As for european women who laugh at asia culture of confinement, have you notice that they age badly. Very very badly. Usually they look 10 to 15 yrs older than asian women of their age.