The first 30 days after delivery are crucial for every new mother in Singapore. Everything that she eats or engages in determines her health in future and her body’s ability to recuperate quickly. Many new mothers in Singapore have to stick to a strict confinement diet consisting of heating foods and herbal soups to restore her strength and blood levels back to normal and protect her from future ailments such as rheumatic arthritis. Some mothers usually develop an intense distaste for confinement foods which fuels the need to add some natural herbs to give them a delicious taste. Below are some of the commonly used herbs in confinement soup and dishes.

1. Ginger

Ginger is a common root in most traditional confinement dishes and soups due to its heating properties and its delicious taste. A mother’s body retains some wind during childbirth that would lead to rheumatism or body pains in future if not dispelled from the body. Adding ginger in your food removes all the wind from the body and lowers the chances of catching musculoskeletal disorders. However, you should moderate your ginger intake especially if your child has jaundice to avoid worsening the condition.

2. Black Fungus

A new mother has to remove all the dirt left in her body, and black fungus will help her achieve that. The herb is also rich in iron, which aids in the removal of any dirty blood and other waste in the body leaving your blood free of toxins. This promotes proper blood circulation in the body leading to healthier and functional organs. You can use black fungus with chicken to prepare confinement soup or add it in your dishes for its nutritional value.

3. Red and Black Dates

Dates are not herbs, but you will find them in most Chinese herb shops due to their heating properties. Chinese dates combined with dried longan are nutritious drinks used in place of water. New mothers tend to retain a lot of water in the body and dates will always help reduce water retained in the body. Black dates are also popular tonics for the spleen, stomach, and pancreas while red dates will replenish vital energy and improve circulation in the body.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric will not only add an attractive color to your food, but will also aid in the fast healing of postnatal wounds. It is also rich in minerals such as potassium and magnesium as well as vitamin C and B6 which are essential for the proper functioning of the body. The herb also contains curcumin, which lowers the risks of catching osteoarthritis and improves incidences of post-partum depression.

5. Fennel Seeds

This is a common seed in the preparation of confinement foods. They are popular galactagogues, making them ideal for a mother who is breastfeeding for the first time. However, you should keep your fennel seeds at a minimum since high intake may affect breast milk production. The spices also contain high levels of fiber and antioxidants that will help ease your baby’s stomach problems. The vitamins and minerals found in fennel seeds will also help restore the blood lost during childbirth.

Herbs and spices are not only good at making the food taste delicious but are also rich in nutrients that a mother requires in restoring her body back to normal. A mother with a strong dislike of most confinement soups may consider adding herbs to her dishes to make them more delicious. Therefore, we provide customization to our confinement meals that cater for every mothers according to their needs and preferences. Thus, benefits of each herb was taken into consideration as each of these herbs plays a significant role in restoring the body. It would be important to balance your consumption instead of relying on a few of them.