https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:58:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals/page/2#post-578769 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:45:29 +0000 regberadaisy 578769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@boiledpnut: @jedeve: kinda both. I would gander a guess that most in our generation would not follow any of the traditions if the moms did not make us. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals/page/2#post-571509 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 20:53:10 +0000 SleepyMonkey 571509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: i told my mom that i would be open to following the traditions, so when she told me something to do or not to do, i generally listened, unless i thought it made no sense. the no showering thing was something she and i thought was too much, so i didn't have to adhere to that. if i hadn't been open to following the rituals, she wouldn't have forced it on me. after i told her i would do them, she went out and bought a book on it and it had recipes to cook. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals/page/2#post-571404 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:42:42 +0000 betsyboop 571404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: For me, I think it is because my mom is closer to traditions. She believed in many of the traditional ideas like staying warm, avoiding germs from unnecessary visitors, and the healing properties of certain foods. But there were some things she didn't make me follow because she just didn't see them as applicable in this day and age (not showering). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-571372 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:59:21 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 571372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: Arabs are big on staying in, being warm and eating warm.<br /> We don't have strict rules or specific rules, but in general they do like for the woman to stay in bed &amp; relax. I didnt do any of it and I totally regret it.<br /> Next time around I'm following tradition! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-571040 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:51:30 +0000 boiledpnut 571040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: I was wondering this same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570873 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:05:10 +0000 jedeve 570873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Question...when you talk about your mom "letting" you do something, is it because moms traditionally call the shots in this scenario? Or because moms are closer to the traditions? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570780 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:27:21 +0000 SleepyMonkey 570780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my mom cooked me all the postpartum foods (lots of ginger, "hot" foods, herbs) and made me dry my hair right away when i washed it and made me wear warm clothes (although that wasn't hard because it was cold). she also didn't let me drink cold water or go out with the baby to public places. she said when she had my brother, she was feeling really hot so washed her hands in cold water and she couldn't move her hands for a month! so i think there is some truth to these rituals.</p> <p>i'm guessing most of these postpartum rituals come from when people used to live in tents by the river and survival was the most important thing. getting cold meant you'd get sick and eating hot foods (which i think tend to be more nutritious than cold foods) meant getting more calories. but thats just a guess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570756 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:37:36 +0000 regberadaisy 570756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: I doubt it bc it's NoT fun! A lot of Asians don't even follow it. And the rituals differ greatly from region to region even just in China. Never mind the difference between Vietnam, Korea, China, etc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570715 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:57:25 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 570715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: I totally believe in the postpartum care stuff too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570714 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:54:40 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 570714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I followed most of them, except the no shower thing. I showered right away while I was still in the hospital - that wasn't going to fly with me either! I really enjoyed all the soups my mom made me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570688 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:27:00 +0000 BSB 570688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since my parents have to fly to see me, I doubt I will follow any her our vietnamese traditions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570687 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:25:25 +0000 tysonja 570687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: I think there was at least one post on hello we a while back all about this! It was Korean based I think.</p> <p>I'm Chinese and I followed kind of-- my mom wa pretty good-- I could shower and go out with the baby but she mAde sure I kept warm and dry and I ate all the foods (stewed pigs feet yum, chicken and ginger, papaya soup, etc. I really got tired of ginger though!), and my mom let me eat regular people food too as long as it wasn't too cold:). I appreciated all the help she gave us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570677 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:05:51 +0000 anonysquire 570677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok now I'm curious, do any non Asians do this? I've heard of keeping your body warm for trying to get pregnant but I haven't heard of any rituals in my family. These are all so interesting! Does anyone have a link of where I can find a full list of post partum rituals? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570672 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:55:00 +0000 teaberry 570672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ate the miyukgook but couldn't stand the warm clothing part, so my mom allowed me to walk around in regular summer clothes at home. </p> <p>Interestingly, before I gave birth I was told by multiple (Asian) moms that they wish they'd listened and worn thick socks after delivery for a few months... for one of them, her circulation was never as good afterward and she's always cold, and for another, her body didn't reset until she had another child. </p> <p>Made me think that maybe there are race- / gene-specific traits to birth recovery? If any of the no-no's are linked to emotional health, I might believe that too... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-570667 Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:45:06 +0000 mrsjyw 570667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I def showered and bathed right away. But I did eat miyukgook, kwpt my body warm, dodnt drink cold drinks, and did.t really leave the house for 3+ wks. </p> <p>Im planning on doing the same for future pp care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-169657 Fri, 25 May 2012 20:08:14 +0000 regberadaisy 169657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: I washed my hair and took a sponge bath after delivery! No way I was leaving all the delivery funk on me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-169654 Fri, 25 May 2012 20:05:02 +0000 chopsuey 169654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: WOW. I showered at the hospital a few hours after my LO was born! I ate lots of warm and healthy healing foods, but got to shower! My mom told me not to, but she wasn't pushy or controlling!<br /> I was so stinky post baby.. can't imagine not being able to shower for 20 days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-169645 Fri, 25 May 2012 19:46:28 +0000 regberadaisy 169645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG 90% of my meals is chicken. Cooked the exact same way. It's chicken with noodles or sticky rice. After 20 days I was able to eat some of dinner with the rest of the fam.<br /> I did follow the hair washing rule. My mom pitied me and told me I can wash it and bathe with ginger water at 20 days when I had a wedding to go to. But a few days before that she found out my cousin who delivered 2 days before me snuck a hair wash in!! So I convinced my mom to let me bathe a few days early. So far I had 4 ginger sponge bath and 3 ginger hair wash. I can't wait for a real shower!!!</p> <p>My poor husband.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-169642 Fri, 25 May 2012 19:41:03 +0000 lavender 169642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I give you soo much credit. Just curious, did you follow the hairwashing rule? </p> <p>My mom was very lenient on me and the only requirement she had for me was to eat chicken and alot of it. I think I had chicken 10 times the first two weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-169619 Fri, 25 May 2012 19:02:24 +0000 leelee 169619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: yay you're almost done!</p> <p>My mom hasn't brought it up yet sooo I'm hoping perhaps she forgot? Haha guess well find out when LO comes in a month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-169609 Fri, 25 May 2012 18:53:30 +0000 regberadaisy 169609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm TWO days away from freedom!<br /> Woohoo!!!</p> <p>This was not fun and not looking forward to doing it again for future babies. Hot soup with lots of wine in 80 degree weather is not fun. Sweating and dripped breast milk and not being able to shower is not fun! Thank god for ginger sponge baths! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-135461 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:44:20 +0000 regberadaisy 135461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>**UPDATE**UPDATE**</p> <p>OMG you guys. My mom is hilarious. I just talked to her and she is going to check a suitcase of CHICKEN. hahahha.<br /> She was talking to my aunt and my aunt told her she does it all the time when she goes visit her daughter in Atlanta. hhahaha</p> <p>P.S. Different breed than we can get in the American supermarkets and it will be freshly butchered then frozen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129834 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:56:33 +0000 marley 129834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is something that has been stressing me out. I already told my mom that I'm not going to follow the rituals. I agreed to eat a lot of gingery foods because I like ginger. I'll be definitely taking showers. </p> <p>I think these rules are inapplicable in the modern day anyway, and aren't based on evidence. I mean, what about the non-Asians new moms out there? did they all get aches and pains because they didn't follow these rituals? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129718 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:51:39 +0000 twogirls 129718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: it was really HARD. i had to keep my distance from everyone visiting. only my baby touched me during that month. and forget about pictures, i felt so nasty from head to toe. i tossed the sheets n pillowcases after the month is over. i only lasted 3 days with my first one. but if it could "reset" my system, i'm willing because i really didn't feel like myself for 2+ yrs until now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129712 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:45:18 +0000 regberadaisy 129712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twogirls: you're the first one I know who actually followed it for the full month!!! I can do all the food etc. But the showering.....eeeepppp </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129702 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:39:04 +0000 Clementine 129702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i def didn't eat or drink anything cold for 1 month. i didn't take the baby out until 6 weeks. i did take a shower though after probably 1 week. in between, i did sponge baths. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129699 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:36:16 +0000 twogirls 129699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didn't follow with the 1st one and within a year i started to get aches n pains which i never had before. i never felt normal again. they said that you can "reset" by following with another pregnancy. i followed everything to the T with the 2nd one, no shower, no hair washing, no cold drinks, only eat chicken, pigs feet, and soups so far no aches n pains and i feel great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129678 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:15:35 +0000 enjollah 129678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I showered but didn't wash my hair....and only lasted one week.m it got kinda stinky and itchy. I didn't know this but you sweat a lot after giving birth. I ate and drank the stuff my mom made me and kept from eating/drinking cold things. Supposedly if you follow these traditions you will feel it (strains? Aches?) on your body less when you are much older... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129578 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:24:02 +0000 chopsuey 129578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@betsyboop: I would definitely take postpartum care seriously!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/asian-mamas-did-you-follow-traditional-post-partum-care-rituals#post-129529 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:01:36 +0000 regberadaisy 129529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@betsyboop: my mom kinda "stews" them with the black mushrooms? And we dip them in fish sauce too! I lurve it. And I also love chicken feet. hahahaa<br /> My mom is CONVINCED the reason why so many americans have arthritis later on in life is because they don't follow chinese post partum recovery rituals. </p>