Although Chinese, Malay or Indian traditions may have different practices when it comes to postnatal imprisonment, they have one common goal, which is to help the mother regain vitality after the birth of the child.
The guiding principle is based on the theory that the forces of the body of Yin and Yang will be “out of balance” after the birth of a child. The mother's body will be in a stage where yin will dominate due to the loss of blood and energy during the process. Therefore, the period of postpartum confinement is intended to replenish the energy that the body has lost, and restore the balance of Yin and Yang. Postpartum detention in Chinese literally means “to sit in the month,” and basically mothers are freed from most of their mundane duties in order to sit down and recover.
Traditionally, the mother-in-law would be the one who takes care of the new mother. However, most Chinese ladies prefer to attract a nanny for a companion during the imprisonment month, who will be entrusted with taking care of a new mother and child. She will also be responsible for preparing suitable tons and cover dishes for the mother, bathe the baby and make the baby's underwear. It is assumed that the nanny-prisoner should take over the feeding of the child at night, so that the mother can adequately rest.
The traditional conclusion lasts about a month, and, as the terms show, during the period there are many limitations for the new mother. For the Chinese, this started from the day the child was born until the first month. Sometimes families can also extend the sentence if the mother needs more time to recover from a cesarean section.
During the period of deprivation of liberty several rules are observed:
- Stay indoors and avoid as much as possible
- sex after childbirth is prohibited, as the mother is not considered to be completely healed.
- It is forbidden to take cold drinks or eat too much cooling or food.
- Avoid exposure to a “yin” or cold element, such as not washing your hair throughout the entire period. Installation of air conditioners at very low temperatures or high speed fans should be avoided.
- Bathing with specially prepared warm herbal bath.
According to Chinese tradition, non-compliance with the rules will result in the body being exposed to more “yin” of energy or cold energy and is likely to lead to rheumatism and other health-related diseases at a later stage of life.
Some methods of Malaysian retention also included massaging the abdomen and binding it to a long tissue. Hot stones have also been used to expel wind and impurities from the uterus.
Indian mothers daily will be engaged in massage with specially mixed oil extracted from mustard seed. There is also a secondary function, which is to help the mother recover her indicator faster before pregnancy.
