Chinese Malay Indian

Confinement period 30 Days 44 Days 40 Days

Dietary requirement  To purge out the "wind" in the body after delivery, promote "blood
circulation", strengthen the joints and promote milk supply

 To avoid "cooling" foods

Confinement food Traditionally, they use a During confinement, a Indians take garlic milk to
lot of ginger, wine and woman follows a special prevent "wind".
sesame oil in their diet. diet in which heating
foods are encouraged and Like the Chinese and
Common dishes include cooling foods avoided to Malays, "cooling" foods are
pigs' trotters cooked restore the balance upset avoided, especially
with ginger and vinegar, by the birth of the baby. tomatoes, cucumbers,
fish soup, chicken coconut milk and mutton.
cooked in sesame oil Some Malay women who
and a traditional tonic have just delivered often Only chicken and shark fish
brewed from 10 herbs. take a special drink called cooked with herbs are
"jamu".It is believed that allowed.
Fish soup boiled with the body's pores are op
papaya is believed to be ened during labour and Other seafood is not allowed.
beneficial for milk "jamu"has properties that
production. can keep the body warm. Chilli is not allowed.

It is also recommended Consuming plenty of garlic

that plain water be cooked without oil is
avoided during this encouraged.
period to reduce the risk
of water retention. Cooking is done with gingly
oil.
Instead, specially
prepared drinks from a
mixture of herbs and
 preserved dates are The oral intake of herbs is
recommended. encouraged to keep the body
warm.

There is a restriction on the

intake of
fluids/fruits/vegetables as
well as cold drinks.

Practices during The Chinese believe in Traditionally, childbirth is Indian mothers are also
staying indoors in the mother's home discouraged from leaving
confinement period throughout the attended by a midan their homes during their
confinement period to (Malay midwife) and the confinement period.
and do and donts
avoid outdoor pollution. umbilical stump dusted
with a mixture of spices. Bathing is discouraged and if
Strenuous physical done, it should be performed
activities are Fortunately, this has been with special herbal
discouraged to prevent replaced by hospital births preparations and turmeric
further "muscle that reduce complications powder.
weakening". and infection rates.
Bathing is only allowed
Some hire a Immediately after birth, between 11 am and 2 pm
confinement nanny to both mother and baby when the temperature its
help with the housework should be bathed in highest.
and caring for the baby. heated water filled with
herbs. Daily body massages without
Other practices may oil are also encouraged.
include: The mother should "keep
warm" through various  Not allowed to entre the
 Not washing the traditional methods. prayer altar room
body or hair during These may include sitting
 Warm water is splashed
the month; near to or lying above a
on abdomen during
especially avoiding heat source, or warming
bathing to expel clots
from uterus.
 contact with cold the abdomen by applying  Washing of hair is done
water. a heated stone over it. on odd days i.e. day
3,5,7... during the first
 Not going outside
During this confinement two weeks. Dry hair
for the entire month
period, a female after washing with
(or at least avoid
masseuse is engaged to incense smoke.
wind).
help the mother regain
 Place incense smoke in
 Not eating raw or
her figure or at least to
between legs to dry
"cooling" foods, or
keep her extended tummy
episiotomy wound.
foods cooked the
trim.
previous day.  Binding of tummy with
six feet cloth.
 Eat chicken, The practice of tightly
especially chicken binding the tummy is  Sex is strictly
cooked in sesame called berbengkong and is prohibited.
oil; pork liver and believed to help in
kidney are also maintaining the body
good; eat five or six shap.e
meals daily and
rinse the rice bowl Sex is also strictly
with scalding water. prohibited during the

 Avoid all wind, fans confinement period.

and air-
conditioning.

 Avoid walking or
moving about; the
ideal is to lie on the
back in bed.

 Do not go into
another person's
home.

 Do not get sick.

 Do not read or cry.

 Do not have sex.

  Do not eat with
family members.

 Do not burn
incense or visit a
temple or altar.

https://www.healthxchange.sg/women/post-pregnancy/confinement-food-chinese-malay-indian
https://www.healthxchange.sg/women/post-pregnancy/confinement-dos-donts