Is confinement necessary??

[jasobias]

Hi mummies,
i love reading the confinement threads.It was an eye opener to me.But i never had any confinement.I am wondering does confinement really help u get back in shape faster n health faster?I didnt get the chance to go for the pre or post natal massages as well.
Healthwise i am in better shape n health than i was pre pregnancy.hmmm..wht abt those mummies who did not have any confinement?How r u guys feeling?
Seems like a great way to rest but then when i read abt the problems with confinement ladies etc..i think it just adds on to the stress.
I looked after my babies myself with the help of hubby.
Wldnt have minded some nice massages though..hahahha..!

 

[diymummy]

Hi jasobias,

I didn't do any confinement. Apart from being forced by my mum to cater confinement food, I looked after baby myself with hubby. I showered as usual, went out for walks, switched on the fan and air con, drank plain water and the stuff like that. I didn't see what was wrong with doing all the above as long as I remained sane and could breastfeed effectively.

My definition of confinement is, rest your body so that it can recover from pregnancy and birth, and eat nutritiously.

I'm doing fine, I have no body aches. Though people swear that by the time I hit 40, I would be aching all over, I think that if I watched over my health and had a healthy diet, I don't see why my body would react that way. Body aching when you hit 40 happens to everyone whether you gave birth or not.

 

[Ivy Miao]

Confinement actually add on to stress. You cant eat this, or that, cant drink plain water except red longan tea, eating all the confinement food with lotsa ginger makes me prespire more. When weather's warm with myself perspiring and limited shower, temper becomes bad. I dun understand why confinement is necessary. Im still doing my confinement now. And just passed 5days!!! More days to go.. (-.-) Told Hub I dun want to do anymore confinement, but he insist... (-.-)

 

[jasobias]

Confinement actually add on to stress. You cant eat this, or that, cant drink plain water except red longan tea, eating all the confinement food with lotsa ginger makes me prespire more. When weather's warm with myself perspiring and limited shower, temper becomes bad. I dont understand why confinement is necessary. Im still doing my confinement now. And just passed 5days!!! More days to go.. (-.-) Told Hub I dont want to do anymore confinement, but he insist... (-.-)

hahhaha..how come ur hubby wants u to do ah?Tell him join u lah then.Dont shower also n cannot drink plain water..see whether fun for him or not:tlaugh:

 

[candy_ian]

Hi mummies,
i love reading the confinement threads.It was an eye opener to me.But i never had any confinement.I am wondering does confinement really help you get back in shape faster n health faster?I didnt get the chance to go for the pre or post natal massages as well.
Healthwise i am in better shape n health than i was pre pregnancy.hmmm..wht about those mummies who did not have any confinement?How are you guys feeling?
Seems like a great way to rest but then when i read about the problems with confinement ladies etc..i think it just adds on to the stress.
I looked after my babies myself with the help of hubby.
Wldnt have minded some nice massages though..hahahha..!

for me i didn't do any confinement either, bathed once 2nd day after c-section in hospital n when my son was admitted for jaundice when he was 5 days old visited him 3 times a day to bf him n pump milk. only thing i had was tingkat confinement food. wished i has massages but nobody to look after son for me as hubby working nite shift n day time wld b slping so gave up the thot of massages loh..

 

[meiteoh]

IMHO, it isn't a necessary practice merely a cultural tradition that is slowly phasing out for a variety of reasons. Many Westerners don't have a confinement practice per se and they plus their children are doing well, especially the older generation. A lot of the Asian reasons for doing confinement (so you won't get wind in your old age, no aches and pains) can be easily refuted by studies and pure logic.

In fact, some confinement practices are bad for the body and mind - not bathing or washing your hair for 30 days? Come on, that's just bad hygiene! I can understand that olden people do take because during winter, bathing would mean going out in the cold and taking water from the well or river. Hot water was considered a luxury for the poor so most people bath in cold water, and it's just troublesome plus dangerous so no bathing. But now with modern inventions like the heater and such, I don't understand why people cannot bath or wash their hair after giving birth. In fact, one African lady told me that she will purposely bath in piping hot water at least three times a day after delivery to help speed up recovery and relax tensed muscles.

With regards to the food, well, I drank red date water for one week while I was in the hospital and abstained from beef/red meat coz of my c-sec scar. Turned out to be the worse decision I made. Red date water is supposed to help replenish blood supply and add iron BUT guess what? When I was discharged, I was diagnosed with mild anaemia and that pissed off my hubby. Before that, he was annoyed to hear that I couldn't take much fruits or veg (before I negotiate with my mum, it was no fruits or veg at all!) only meat and more meat, which can add to constipation - bad bad bad for women who just went through childbirth and especially c-sec. To him, confinement just meant eating stuff that didn't help you at all!

Going out was something my midwife highly recommended. Giving birth, going through the baby blues and being a new parent can be very stressful and emotional. Sometimes you just need to get some fresh air. But for a lot of Asian women, confining them to the homes only makes them feel like they are imprisoned which can add to the baby blues. :/ I couldn't even stand at my apartment balcony to enjoy the breeze. In the end, my hubby decided enough was enough and he dragged me out for a short walk with the baby despite my mum giving him the evil eye. All three of us (hubby, baby and myself) had a great time!

Like diymummy, I believe confinement is more on resting when necessary (get the hubby to help with the housechores and heavy duty stuff) and eating well NOT all these other prohibitations.

 

[NIisme]

guess no confinement for me. no extra cash for that.

 

[Ivy Miao]

guess no confinement for me. no extra cash for that.

I understand the financial situation. Its not cheap to get nanny, especially those 24hrs stay in nannies. But its best to have mother or mother in law to help you, yes? You'll be real tired and temper could be bad.. Take Care! =)

 

[Ivy Miao]

hahhaha..how come your hubby wants you to do ?Tell him join you then.Dont shower also n cannot drink plain water..see whether fun for him or not:tlaugh:

hahaha!!! He said he doesnt me to have all the achings when I get old and complain bout it.. At least I shower with that herbal water everyday. Its just the confinement food with gingers and that red longan tea makes me perspire. I can sleep with air con on and perspire like I just came out from shower room in the middle of the night.

Also, any mummies didnt do the massage, but by just wearing those tight elastic fitting kinda pants and get back to shape?? Im thinking of dropping off the massage... but still want to get back to my pre-preg shape..

 

[jasobias]

hahaha!!! He said he doesnt me to have all the achings when I get old and complain bout it.. At least I shower with that herbal water everyday. Its just the confinement food with gingers and that red longan tea makes me perspire. I can sleep with air con on and perspire like I just came out from shower room in the middle of the night.

Also, any mummies didnt do the massage, but by just wearing those tight elastic fitting kinda pants and get back to shape?? Im thinking of dropping off the massage... but still want to get back to my pre-preg shape..

me didnt get massage but i am still in gd shape..the bikini pic is taken abt 1 month after delivery of 3rd kid!!hehhehe
i was just lucky lah i think.but to lose weight u must be kept active.Looking after the kids on my own helps alot n housework!!No need pay pple go for tht slimming stuff..its a waste of money.Just do plenty of housework.Vacuum ,mop etc.Not only can get gd workout house also will be clean n best of all..its freeeee!!!:tlaugh:

 

[Ivy Miao]

me didnt get massage but i am still in good shape..the bikini pic is taken about 1 month after delivery of 3rd kid!!hehhehe
i was just lucky i think.but to lose weight you must be kept active.Looking after the kids on my own helps alot n housework!!No need pay pple go for tht slimming stuff..its a waste of money.Just do plenty of housework.Vacuum ,mop etc.Not only can get good workout house also will be clean n best of all..its freeeee!!!:tlaugh:

jasobias mummy, you serious??? Im doing my confinement now.. So, cant do any housework. My waistline is still there. Just the black line from belly button down and the excess skin. How long does it take to go back to your pre- preg shape??

 

[jasobias]

jasobias mummy, you serious??? Im doing my confinement now.. So, cant do any housework. My waistline is still there. Just the black line from belly button down and the excess skin. How long does it take to go back to your pre- preg shape??

hmm..actually after give birth 2 days no more tummy liao or excess skin.My gynae did comment tht she has never seen anyone like me b4 so i guess i am the lucky few.Had put on 12 kg for all my pregnancys.by 1 month can wear all my bottoms already.Top more or less waS still the same lah except boobs..now back to my B cup ..no more D cup porno boobs*wail*:001_302:
But i didnt get to rest so much also..i am always on my feet doing stuff..n i love bringing baby out..4 day old can bring out already..the more u walk ard i guess the faster the weight will come off.

 

[Ivy Miao]

hmm..actually after give birth 2 days no more tummy or excess skin.My gynae did comment tht she has never seen anyone like me before so i guess i am the lucky few.Had put on 12 kg for all my pregnancys.by 1 month can wear all my bottoms already.Top more or less waS still the same except boobs..now back to my B cup ..no more D cup porno boobs*wail*:001_302:
But i didnt get to rest so much also..i am always on my feet doing stuff..n i love bringing baby out..4 day old can bring out already..the more you walk around i guess the faster the weight will come off.

Yea! Lucky you.. Im doing alot of walking too. Hub said Im shrinking way too rapidly. Cuz I ate little too with no appetite. Hopefully I can get back to pre-preg shape.. =)

 

[shiyi]

luckily my mum is not that very superstitious kind and can empathise with me.. she only insist i eat those ginger n sesame oil-cooked food n longan drink for only 2wks.. didnt stop me from bathing and washing my hair..

 

[iwan2noe]

My aunt got a fren who took good care of her self but didnt not follow confinement practice now she is very frail and get sick easily. She bathed after she discharge, take normal food, etc and now she suffer...

Body aching doesn't hit everyone when hit 40. Maybe for stronger beings, they have body aches until onlywhen they are older. pple who bathe late at nite and dun take care usually have aches all over even b4 they hit 40. Those who takes good care have ache later in life.

Let's just hope all our us are healthy and happy in life with what ever they do

 

[Ivy Miao]

My aunt got a friend who took good care of her self but didnt not follow confinement practice now she is very frail and get sick easily. She bathed after she discharge, take normal food, etc and now she suffer...

Body aching doesn't hit everyone when hit 40. Maybe for stronger beings, they have body aches until onlywhen they are older. pple who bathe late at nite and dont take care usually have aches all over even before they hit 40. Those who takes good care have ache later in life.

Let's just hope all our us are healthy and happy in life with what ever they do

Oh... I shower after i discharged too. But with the herbal water. Should be ok??

 

[iwan2noe]

Oh... I shower after i discharged too. But with the herbal water. Should be ok??

I have no idea, but the herbal water if u are using dai fong ai is to close pores or prevent wind from entering if I didnt remb wrongly i saw in some post....if so, i think shd be ok...but i cant confirm.... no experience it it... u may wanna ask the elderly folks who r more experienced : =p

 

[jean1986]

i think confinement is necessary in the sense of to take nutritious food. the cannot shower part i think is so unhygienic. i havent give birth yet but i will definitely shower during confinement with the herbs and not blow fan as what the old folks say. now even though i havent give birth, my knees will feel ache when weather is cold, so i think it's important to take good care during confinement but still maintain personal hygience.

 

[diymummy]

Like Jasobias, I shed all my weight within the first month after delivery.

Taking care of yourself should be a lifetime responsibility. Not just during confinement.

 

[cmeilim]

i did just slightly over 3 weeks of confinement by my month and i believe the confinement made my post-natal hormonal swings even worse. i was so weepy and dying to return to our own home where i can have my privacy and independence back. so we found excuse to end our confinement early. hooray! for my next pregnancy, i've gotten my hubby's agreement that we will do confinement ourselves and i will decide which practices i want to follow, and which not to.