If you grew up in an Asian household, you may be familiar with the concept of postpartum confinement. You may have seen some of the women in your family or among your relatives being all wrapped up in thick clothes around the house after they have just welcomed a newborn in the family. That is what is generally known as the confinement period.
What is confinement for a postpartum mother?
Confinement is essential for a mother who has just given birth. During this time, the mother has lost a lot of energy following the flow of events from pregnancy, to labour and delivery. It does not end here since you still have to breastfeed your child. All this can take a toll on a new mother, especially if you are trying to recover as well as taking care of yourself and your newborn at the same time on your own. Therefore, Singaporeans have a tradition of confining the new mother for a month at home where caretakers help her take care of her child and restore her health.
A mother has a special diet during confinement, which constitutes ‘warm foods,’ soups and herbs that keep her warm, restores lost blood, help her recover properly and boost her milk supply. The TCM’s herbal soups, especially, are specially crafted for expectant and new mothers based on the stage they are at to meet their needs accordingly. You might have been advised to take the common Chinese soup during pregnancy as well.
Some postnatal caretakers may not have the necessary skills to make specialised confinement soups, but you can get many companies offering the best soup for confinement in Singapore. Below are reasons why you should consider taking soup during confinement.
- It Promotes Production of Breast Milk
A lack of breast milk is a common problem for most new mothers, but did you know that consuming more soups can help in boosting milk production? Common soups such as the papaya fish soup are rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, and carotenes, which are essential for milk production.
You can consider substituting the green papaya with vegetables in case you end up producing excessive milk to avoid breast engorgement. Of course, papaya is still our top recommendation! Aside from promoting milk production, papaya can stimulate smooth muscles that work to express breast milk
- It Helps in the Recovery After Pregnancy
Child labour and delivery is a complicated process, and it may sometimes damage body tissues. Soups from good quality meat, for example chicken or pork, can help in the healing of tissues that were destroyed during delivery. Mothers who have undergone a cesarean section may also need plenty of soups since they cannot eat many heavy foods available during confinement.
- It Strengthens the Mother’s Immune System
A mother loses a lot of blood and energy during childbirth leaving her susceptible to diseases, viral attacks and infections. A bowl of soup will not only restore some warmth and energy in the body, but it also boosts the mother’s immunity. Additionally, most soups are gently simmered while cooking this extracting all vitamins and nutrients from the ingredients. Some people will use herbs while preparing soups that ideal for strengthening the immune system while calcium from bones is also good for the mother and baby.
- It Helps in Proper Blood Circulation in the Body
Herbal soups are the best choice for a mother with blood circulation problems. Herbs present in the soups will also assist in the fast recovery of her uterus and cleansing of the blood. Most caregivers may not have the necessary ingredients or expertise required to make herbal soup, but many companies can give you an affordable confinement soup package in Singapore. Remember some herbs can be toxic to the mother or the child thus the need to use them sparingly while preparing soups.
- It is Delicious!
Seriously, do you need another reason to love soups? They are not only nutritious, but they also provide warmth and comfort to you, which are things that everyone who is in the process of recovering needs. There are various soups that give you a feeling of homeliness, putting your mind at ease such as the classic chicken soup. A confinement chicken soup is often made with black chicken, but using the regular chicken is just as good and tasty — so the choice is up to your preference!
Summary
There are many types of soups that a caretaker can cook for a confined mother to increase milk supply and aid in her healing. You can combine these soups with other warming ingredients such as ginger, black vinegar, and sesame oil to keep the confined mother warm. All soups should be served warm or hot at all times to ensure safe conditions for the mother and child. Remember that you can always hire professionals to provide confinement soup packages in Singapore if you do not have a caregiver in the house.
